The Blessed Blend (25 page)

“But he’ll keep it mighty short!” Mrs. Wilcox added with a smile. “Don’t want to take away from the bride’s big day!”

Caleb laughed and waived at them as he pulled past them. Mrs. Wilcox would head for the kitchen as soon as they pulled up so she could help out. She was as good-natured as her husband, if a bit talkative, but she wasn’t a gossip and didn’t put on airs of any kind. Her thick glasses made her look kind of owlish and both she and the reverend were rather plain-faced but no one really paid much attention to that after getting to know them.

Once at the gate he gave the two Mikes Jim’s instructions and the two-way radios. “Go on and shut the gate,” he said. “Let people in as they come.”

You don’t think them folks will really try somethin’ today, do you?” asked Mike Cumbow. “Good Lord A’mighty, Callie
would
kill ‘em for sure!”

“Or Granny Robertson would stop ‘em in their tracks,” added Mike Dalton. “I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be on the receivin’ end of her stuff. You remember when she made ol’ Jack Parnell drop like a fly that time he was drunk and a-beatin’ poor ol’ Albert Carter up?”

Caleb nodded. “He was froze stiff for an hour. Couldn’t move nothin’ but his eyes. Sobered him up instantly, though, an’ he ain’t touched a drop since.”

“You don’t think she’d, you know, do them people in, do you?” asked Mike C.

Caleb shrugged. “She’ll do whatever it takes to protect them kids. They all will. Personally I’d rather face off with a hundred hogzillas than the Robertson women. The odds of survival would be a hell of a lot better.”

Once Caleb got back to the Lodge, Jim gestured to Darlene that it was time to get things started. He had changed into a ribbon shirt and dress slacks and Darlene was wearing her favorite winter dress suit - deep red wool blazer and calf-length slim-line skirt, white silk blouse, and a pair of black boots - with a Robertson tartan sash pinned over her shoulder. Jim smiled to himself as he looked at his wife and she winked at him and smiled back. Twenty-one years of marriage and they were still nuts about each other. How lucky could a man get?

As they began getting the assembled kinfolk to the tent, Brother Wilcox could be seen walking with Euan, his hands gesturing as he spoke. Red Wolf and Mountain Rose stood at the bottom of the stairs with Layla and Eli as Jim and Caleb waited for Callie to come down. Caleb shooed Lacie along to the tent after she had come downstairs, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Oh, Callie looks so pretty you wouldn’t know it was her you were looking at!” she said. She had meant that as a compliment, of course, but sometimes Lacie’s mouth moved faster than her brain and things came out the wrong way.
 
Everyone knew that, of course, so folks seldom took offense.
 

Callie heard Lacie and started laughing. The girl had pestered her all morning taking pictures of the bridal preparations. The twins were flower girl and ring bearer and Lacie had taken multiple pictures of them as well as their father, the groom. Callie’s siblings and Uncle Dave had happily mugged for the camera, going so far as to have a contest to see who could make the silliest or grossest face.

Then there were some of their distinguished guests being recorded for posterity by Adelaide Finch, who wrote the society column for the weekly local paper: Judge Connelly, Sheriff Tatum, County Mayor Whitley, most of the county commissioners, and their wives. Hell, so many folks were taking pictures that Callie was sure she’d be seeing flashes in her eyes clear into next week.

With such a crowd present, she wasn’t sure how she would deal with it when her senses hit overload. It wasn’t like she’d have the excuse of Euan whisking her off on a honeymoon as a reason to leave the crowd behind for a while. She admitted it
would
be nice for them to just go somewhere for a few days, with the twins of course. Maybe somewhere warm.

Jolena asked, “Are ye ready, Callie?” Her warm smile and gentle touch helped to ease any jitters Callie was feeling. She adjusted the floral crown and smoothed down Callie’s hair before stepping back and nodding. “Like a princess!” Jolena exulted. Giving Callie a kiss on the cheek, she excused herself to join Papa downstairs.

Callie walked down the hall and stopped at the top of the stairs. Her parents and siblings looked up and Jim and Caleb whistled. “Baby Girl, you look
bee-yoo-tee-ful
!” Jim proclaimed, grinning proudly. “There’s not a prettier bride in the county!”

“That’s because I’m the only one getting married in the dead of winter, Dad,” Callie sighed.

It didn’t matter how many times she heard it or who said it, Callie never felt like she was pretty. And no matter how many times she blew it off, sometimes feeling so plain did bother her. She wasn’t sure what Euan saw in her. A man that handsome could have his pick of tall, slender, beautiful women who were polished, poised, sophisticated, and accomplished.

Caleb spoke up. “No, sis, you
are
beautiful! More than that, you’re a knock-out!”

Mountain Rose smiled at Callie. “You’re so pretty, Mama! Daddy’s gonna smile big when he sees you!”

Red Wolf smiled shyly and nodded at his mother. Callie could imagine Euan’s eyes filled with love and pride at seeing her in her bridal regalia. His son’s sure were.

Jim held out his hand and Callie came down the stairs. Taking his arm, she walked out with her family to the big tent where their kin and her husband were waiting. The cold slapped her right in the face and seeped quickly through her cotton dress as they stepped out of the Lodge. At least the long johns, moccasins, and thick socks kept her from freezing. Not exactly the fancy undergarments that most brides wore under their wedding dresses, but Callie was more concerned with comfort than style at the moment.

“Damn, its cold!” Darlene observed.

“It’s gotten pretty warm in the tent, Mama,” Eli said. “Everybody’s in there and the woodstoves are going. It’ll probably chill down real fast once the sun starts setting, though.”

“Good,” said Jim. “That means folks’ll clear out of here at a decent hour.”

 
“I wish some of them would help clean up, though,” Layla sighed. “I don’t want to be out here in the dark with a flashlight in the freezin’-ass cold picking up food and trash.”

Darlene chuckled. “Oh, I’m planning on asking everyone to help pick up before they go! And I told the sheriff to make sure he took plenty of leftovers for them to feed the staff and inmates at the jail. Brother Wilcox already asked for some to give to the needy and even brought plenty of containers and boxes to haul it in.”

As they reached the entrance to the tent, Callie took a deep breath. She didn’t just hear all of the people in there, she could
feel
them- felt the interplay of their emotions within and between each other and at various levels. Her chest tightened and her stomach became queasy. She closed her eyes and drew from the mountains around her. Up on the ridge, a chorus of howls rang out as the pack sang to her. She could feel them in her heart and it brought a smile to her face.

Papa and Jolena entered the tent and walked up to their seats in the front row. Papa was wearing his Sunday suit, the only suit he had. Jolena was in her best Sunday winter dress and coat. As nice as their attire was it couldn’t beat the smiles on their faces.

Eli and Caleb entered the tent first in order to accompany Euan up the aisle as his groomsmen. Dressed in ribbon shirts and dress slacks like their father, they were tall and handsome- prime examples of why Cherokee men were so darned popular with women everywhere.

John couldn’t get the time off from work to make it in to be Best Man and Euan just couldn’t give the honor to anyone else. His presence was sorely missed.

Layla was Maid of Honor and Callie’s cousins Annie Stockett, Elyse Mullins, and Suzanne Cumbow were her bridesmaids. They proceeded up the aisle and stood opposite the groomsmen. All wore Tear Dresses in colors matching the ribbon work on Callie’s dress and color-coordinated bridesmaids’ bouquets. Their fine features showed the beautiful blend of Native American, Scottish, and Melungeon ancestry - high cheekbones, full lips, fine noses, honey-toned skin, thick dark hair, and large dark eyes. The women of the Robertson clan were known for their beauty and these young ladies were among the fairest flowers in the mountains.

Jim handed his two-way to Johnny Teale, a close friend of Caleb’s. “If there’s a problem, poke your head in here and signal me,” he instructed. “Mike and Mike are watching the gate, be listening for them and check in with them every five minutes.”

“Yes sir,” the young man replied.

Euan stood in front of the preacher, waiting for Callie. He was excited, glad to be taking her to wife in the presence of her family. But he was anxious, worrying about what his parents were up to and if and when, as Jim had put it, the shit would hit the fan. He didn’t want this day ruined for Callie or the Robertsons by his bloody parents. He most especially didn’t want his children caught in the crossfire.

Red Wolf and Mountain Rose entered, holding hands as they walked up the aisle. Both beamed at the sight of their father and he smiled back at them, a lump in his throat and a bit of misting in his eyes. He was so very proud of them, so very honored to be their father.

They came to him and took his hands. Layla whispered and motioned to Mountain Rose that she was supposed to come over and stand with the Maid of Honor, but Mountain Rose wasn’t having it. She frowned at Layla and held onto Euan’s hand that much tighter.

Callie waited with her parents for a minute or so, collecting her thoughts. Looking up at Jim, she nodded and he pulled back the flap for her to enter. Jim and Darlene escorted their eldest daughter up the aisle. Folks stood in respect as they made their way and there were murmurs of admiration throughout the assembly as Callie passed by. For this day, she
was
a princess.

Euan felt his spirit leap at the sight of she who was the very heart of him. There wasn’t a woman anywhere who compared to her in his eyes. He was proud of his wife, thankful to be her husband, and more than blessed to be the father of her children.

He caught her eye as she approached and that slow easy smile of hers lit up her face. Her eyes sparkled like sunlight on the water and a pretty blush bloomed across her cheeks. The air around her shimmered joyfully, enhancing her quiet beauty just that much more.

Callie looked at Euan, dressed in his kilt and formal jacket, his long dark red hair pulled back and falling down his back. His regalia showed off his long lean frame and broad shoulders perfectly.
Damn, what a good-looking man
, Callie thought.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Euan winked at her and smiled, love shining in his eyes.

Jim placed Callie’s hand in Euan’s. “This is my daughter,” he said. “Love her with all your heart, provide for her to the best of your abilities, and protect her with your life.”

Euan bowed his head to Jim. “I will do all o’ this an’ more, sir,” he vowed.

Jim and Darlene each kissed Callie with happy tears in their eyes and hugged her tightly. Jim took his place as a groomsman and Darlene sat down with her parents. Callie looked up at Euan as Mountain Rose and Red Wolf tugged at their parents. “Mama, do we get to stand here with y’all?” Mountain Rose asked.

Brother Wilcox cleared his throat. “Is the bridal party ready?” he asked.

Callie bent over to whisper to the twins, “You can stay here but you have to be very quiet and stay still, understand?”

The twins nodded. “Yes ma’am,” they whispered back.

Callie stood and again took Euan’s arm. They shared a loving look and turned to Brother Wilcox. “Proceed, Reverend,” Euan replied to the preacher.

Brother Wilcox began by explaining the Scriptural foundations for the institution of holy matrimony, reciting various verses and passages in the Bible as he did so. He asked if Euan and Callie understood the Lord’s commandments in regards to marriage and how spouses were to relate to each other and they answered in the affirmative. He asked if anyone opposed the marriage and someone yelled, “Hurry it on up and get ‘em hitched afore the groom comes to his senses!”

The assembly erupted in hoots of laughter.

As Euan and Callie recited their vows, the rest of the world fell away. They were bound up in an aura of joy that was powerful and deep, rooted in the Mystery that was the source of all Creation, the source of life from which all things came and to which they returned. This ceremonial joining was what should have been long ago, and yet the separation of the past four years no longer mattered.

They were in the here and now.

To those assembled it seemed as if the air around the couple shimmered. Those not familiar with the Robertson’s
gift
reasoned that it was some optical illusion due to atmospheric conditions. Everyone else knew better.

There was a moment of comic relief when Callie reached the part of her vows where she promised to obey Euan. She grinned wickedly and everybody laughed. Euan chuckled as a wide grin spread across his face. She blushed and lowered her gaze before looking back up at him through her lashes.

When the rings were called for, Euan turned to Red Wolf and the boy pulled a velvet pouch out of his sporran and handed it to his father. Euan had ordered these rings in secret; they were platinum and embossed with Celtic knots and eternity symbols to represent that the two of them were forever intertwined, their love incorruptible. Callie was caught completely by surprise and he enjoyed the look on her face as she glanced up at him.