Home to Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 3) (20 page)

Chapter Sixty-Five

    
 
O
n the eve of the wedding Colleen paced her room restlessly. Her gown was finished and everything she would need for the following day was laid out carefully. Unable to sleep and having given up any further attempts to read or enjoy her crocheting, she slipped on her dressing gown and descended the stairs to the second floor.

      Colleen hesitated at the door to Mark’s bedroom. She had never entered the room as long as she had been at Stavewood, although she would like to see it. She and Mark had agreed that they would spend their wedding night in her larger room, convincing her that he did not know about her surprise.

      She began to walk away, to return to her own room but turned, walked to Mark’s door and tapped quietly.

      “Come in,” was his response and Colleen slipped inside and closed the door behind her. She stood in the center of the room and looked around. The room was large, the woodwork stained dark and the walls lined with shelves which were filled with books. The bed was unmade, as though possibly he had gotten into it as she had into her own and then abandoned it as well. Light streamed from the bath and Colleen peeked inside.

      Mark stood before the mirror, wearing an undershirt and slacks, looking unhappily into the big mirror. His face was lathered with a thick white froth and he held his razor awkwardly.

      “You’ll make a mess of your face that way,” Colleen spoke quietly.

      “What are you doing up?” He looked at her in surprise.

      “I came to save you from slitting your throat before our wedding day.”

      Mark sighed deeply. “I swear I’ll never get the hang of this.”

      “Come here.” Colleen directed him to a large chair and took a bowl from a side table. Filling it with hot water, she indicated that he lay back in the chair and she draped a towel across his chest.

      “Do you know how to do this?” Mark eyed her nervously.

      “If I don’t, you will not make a very handsome groom tomorrow.”

      Mark nodded seriously and surrendered to her shaving.

      Colleen slid the blade slowly along his firm jawline and Mark quickly realized that what seemed like torture at his own hand was pure pleasure at the hand of the beautiful Colleen.

      She stepped across his knees and leaned over him, concentrating on the shaving and Mark was certain that if she were not wielding the razor she would be immediately pulled onto his lap. She set her bare foot into the edge of the chair, leaning over him slightly, giving him clear sight of her smooth calf and an enticing view of her soft cleavage. He swallowed hard and fought to hold very still.

      Colleen shaved him closely and carefully, never once bringing the least bit of blood running into the foamy lather. His face was young and smooth, far easier to shave than that of her aged father. She wrung out the towel in the warm water and cleaned the remainder of the lather from his face and smiled at how nicely shaved he was.

      He looked up at her hungrily and Colleen stepped back.

      “I’m glad you showed up.” Mark stood up from the chair and took her into his arms.

      “I couldn’t sleep and I wanted to see you, to see your room. I’ve never been in here.” Colleen stepped away casually and walked slowly around the room. The feel of him so close to her, in his thin shirt, tortured her.

      “Have you read all of these?” She pulled a large volume on animal husbandry from the shelf and the book fell open to a graphic photograph featuring a large stallion breeding a mare. “Saints in heaven!” Colleen gasped and snapped the book closed.

      “That one I have read several times.” He smiled devilishly.

      “Oh, you,” Colleen blushed and laughed. “We will be married tomorrow and I have every intention of waiting until then.” She put her hand on his chest.

      “Maybe I have other books that might change your mind.”

      “Do you?” she teased.

      “I have one that shows specific parts of a similar horse.” He looked into her eyes.

      “What I want to see is probably not in any of these books.” She ran her finger along his freshly shaved jawline.

      “Are you ready for tomorrow?” he asked.

      Colleen pushed her tumbling curls away with her wrist and Mark smiled at her fondly. She had taken to tying a ribbon around her hair, tied in a fetching bow at the top of her head, but at that moment he realized how much he missed her hair everywhere, falling provocatively in her face every time she looked down.

      “I am very ready,” she assured him, looking into his face seriously. He was healthy now, his color warm and his hair shining. He was not a lost young man wounded and suffering on her barn floor. She smiled at him in appreciation, thankful that he was well again and that she was beside him.

      “Are
you
?” She looked into his eyes.

      “Tomorrow I marry the angel who saved my life.”

      Colleen smiled sweetly and Mark gave her a soft peck on her forehead.

      In the hallway outside of her room he kissed her goodnight very respectfully and she closed the door behind her and listened to his footsteps disappear down the hall. It would be the last night she slept alone, she thought, as she climbed by herself into the bed.

Chapter Sixty-Six

    
 
T
he morning arrived mild and sweet, the air bearing a hint of warmth and the promise of spring. Colleen slipped from her room silently and stepped out onto the turret, as she had begun to do every morning. She pulled the fresh air into her lungs and it calmed her and filled her with a feeling of promise.

      Colleen had her breakfast alone in her room, in order not to cross paths with Mark on the day of her wedding, as was the custom. She bathed slowly and sat combing her hair when she heard a knock on her door.

      “Are you ready?” Rebecca swept into the room, carrying a tray loaded with several bottles and sprays of flowers.

      Emma entered behind her, nearly at the end of her term now. She held her back and lowered herself into a chair.

      Louisa chattered on about the flower petals and how she knew exactly what to do with them since she had been a flower girl now so many times.

      “I think I’m ready,” Colleen sighed.

      The women set to work on the young bride, Rebecca arranging her hair, while Emma gave suggestions and Louisa turned quiet watching the transformation.

      When they had finished they stepped back and Colleen looked at herself in the mirror.

      Her gown, a pure white, fit snug at her waist and formed a stiff bodice, beaded in trails of minute pearls with white ribbon laced across the bust line. It bore neither sleeves, nor straps and pushed her curvaceous bust up beautifully. Below her rounded hips the skirt flared in volumes of stiff chiffon that rustled whenever she moved.

      Rebecca had arranged her hair onto the back of her head, several tendrils of curls falling around her face and to her shoulders invitingly. She adorned it with a spray of miniature white flowers and slipped a necklace of tiny pearls around the girl’s neck. A delicate pair of pearl earrings adorned each ear.

      Louisa climbed from the bed where she had been watching and walked around the girl, her face serious.

      “How do I look?” Colleen asked the child.

      “Like Mark said you would. You look like an angel.” Louisa nodded in approval.

      “An angel? Really?” Colleen looked into the tall mirror.

      “She really does!” Emma gasped and Rebecca smiled proudly.

      “In just a little bit you will be my daughter, Colleen. I could not be more proud.” Rebecca smiled.

      Colleen sighed and took a deep breath.

      “We’ll send Timothy up for you.” Louisa and the women hurried downstairs and Colleen stood alone in the now silent room. She had never felt so beautiful, so elegant, barely recognizing the beautiful girl looking back at her from the mirror. She would, in minutes, be Mrs. Mark Elgerson. Colleen could not decide if she ought to whoop or faint. Timothy tapped on the door.

      Rebecca greeted the Evens in the beautiful foyer and welcomed them into the house warmly. Everyone was so pleased they had wanted to attend Mark and Colleen’s wedding.

      “Thank you for coming!” Mark smiled. “We are just about to begin.”

      “Colleen!” Timothy spread his hands out before him and lifted his eyebrows. “You look very beautiful.”

      Colleen smiled, “Thank you, Mr. Elgerson. And thank you for giving me away today.”

      “I’m sure your father would be very proud, I know I am.” He smiled at the girl with genuine affection.

      Colleen took the man’s arm and he helped her down the hall, supporting her elbow when she teetered nervously once on the stairs.

      When the violinist saw them at the top of the stairs she took her place and began to play softly and Louisa began her procession, dropping white petals along the floor.

      Timothy and Colleen stepped into the doorway and Mark looked up and saw her there.

      He held his breath for a moment. Through all the weddings he had witnessed at Stavewood he had looked forward to the day that it would be his turn. He didn’t know then who his bride would be, but he had an elusive vision of what she would look like. That bride would be beautiful, of course, but she would be special, magical, like an angel. Standing before him was exactly that woman and when Timothy placed her arm upon his, the day he had imagined began to unfold.

      “An angel,” he whispered to her.

      Colleen smiled and looked into his eyes with love.

      He had tied his hair back and looked dashing in his dark jacket, tall and elegant and she sighed, appreciating how handsome he looked to her.

      The young bride repeated her vows, admiring her groom, her heart beating hard.

      Mark slipped the band onto her finger and proudly repeated “I do.”

      Louisa sniffed back her tears. She loved her brother dearly, and now she understood that he loved Colleen and wanted her very much. She did not want him to ever leave again and she wanted him happy. If he was happy with Colleen then Louisa could be happy as well, she decided.

      Catherine fought hard to keep a smile on her face, she and Nils both struggling to accept the loss of Sam and wishing the very best for Mark and his bride.

      Isabel watched another wedding at Stavewood with pride and hoped she would witness many more.

      Timothy Elgerson popped open the champagne and began to fill glasses immediately following the ceremony.

      Mark took Colleen’s hand and led her quietly into the den.

       “Wow,” he spoke softly. “Colleen, you look amazing.”

      Colleen smiled and kissed him ardently.

      “And you taste amazing.” He pulled her to him, her dress rustling loudly.

      “Both of you will have to wait until later for that. Come have some champagne and we have gifts!” Timothy filled the doorway.

      Colleen laughed. She loved the Elgerson family, but soon it would be only her and Mark, even if for just a little while, and she could barely wait.

      “Mark, you did not exaggerate when you said Colleen was beautiful. How wonderful to meet you at last,” Catherine Evens offered her hand and Nils nodded in approval of the lovely bride.

      “Thank you for coming,” Colleen smiled.

      “We asked ourselves,” Timothy began his speech, “What does one give to a young man who already has a fine home with his family in one of the most beautiful houses in the world? I was at a loss until Roland and Emma came up with the perfect gift. Roland,” Timothy gestured to the man.

      “This is from Emma, Ottland and me.” Roland nodded his head seriously and handed Colleen a large envelope. Her and Mark’s names were written carefully on the outside.

      Colleen slid the papers out and handed them to Mark and they read silently together for a moment, while the family waited anxiously.

      “It’s the deed to the Weintraub ranch,” Mark looked up in confusion.

      “Well,” Roland gestured towards the papers. If you read the second page it is now the property of Mark and Colleen Elgerson.”

      Mark took a ragged breath and looked at Colleen.

      Colleen stammered. “Y-you bought him…us… that horse farm?”

      “I expect you’ll be decent neighbors.” Roland nodded.

      Mark and Colleen hugged and thanked the Vancouvers profusely, shocked at the generosity of their gift.

      “And, since you are likely to not want to return to living in a barn,” Timothy announced, “the carpenters will be out in two weeks to begin work on the house.” Rebecca handed Colleen a large folded paper.

      Mark helped his bride open the poster which bore an artist’s rendering of a lovely farmhouse, filled with wide windows and open porches.

      “I won’t expect you back counting at the mills for a while. I presume you’ll be too busy getting your new house built.” Timothy said, putting his arm around Rebecca shoulders.

      Colleen nearly swooned. “This is all too much.”

      Mark’s eyes clouded with tears and he swallowed hard and thanked his family genuinely.

      “I have a gift as well.” Mark announced. He took Colleen by the hand and led her to the front door, pulling it open wide. There stood a fresh young cow, eyeing them casually where she was tied to the porch.

      “A milk cow?” Colleen laughed.

      “Of your very own,” Mark smiled.

      Colleen tiptoed down the stairs and pet the young bovine softly on the head. The family all burst into laughter at the sight of the beautiful young bride in her white wedding gown inspecting the cow’s underside curiously.

      “I suppose we’ll have stock to put in our barns!” Mark laughed.

      “I have something as well. It’s not entirely from me,” Colleen announced as they all returned to the parlor. “Had I known how much everyone was already giving I would never have asked.”

      “It’s a wonderful idea and I’m glad you did,” Emma interjected.

      “Tonight we are spending our honeymoon alone.” Colleen looked with stern affection at the Elgerson family. “We will be honeymooning at the Vancouver cabin.”

      “For as long as it takes,” Roland commented and everyone laughed in surprise at the man’s remark.

      “Really?” Mark looked at Colleen, grinning. “All the way out there where no one can hear a thing?”

      Colleen sipped her champagne and smiled devilishly at her husband.

      Isabel nodded to Rebecca, knowing that the cabin would be a surprise for Colleen as well.