Unconventional Series Collection (33 page)

Jenny watched Ryder from across the sanctuary.
Pastor Merriweather had just blessed the food and instructed Mina's family to
begin dishing up their plates. She sat on a bench pushed against the wall and
Joy sat on her lap. Joy spotted Ryder and said, "Look, mama, Yder
here."

Mina's words whispered across her mind again,
Don't
waste life bein' afraid to live.

Jenny watched Ryder say something to her pa,
shake his hand, place his cowboy hat on his head, and exit the sanctuary. Her
heart pounded. Ryder was leaving. After a moment's hesitation, she said,
"Ma, will you hold Joy for a minute." She handed her daughter to Abby
beside her.

"Of course, honey."

Joy said, "Mama, where you go?"

Jenny replied, "I'll be right back, honey,
and then we'll get you something to eat."

Jenny rushed to the door. When she stepped
outside, Ryder had already mounted his horse. She called from the top step,
"Ryder!"

In the midst of turning his mare toward the
road, he paused and looked back her. She ignored the curious stares of two
old-timers enjoying a smoke under one of the oak trees and ran down the steps
and over to Ryder's horse. "I have your answer."

He dismounted, holding the reins of his horse
while he waited for her to speak.

"My-my answer is yes; I'll marry you."

A slow smile lit Ryder's charcoal eyes first and
then spread to his mouth.

Jenny continued while she had the courage.
"But I need time to adjust." She turned pink and looked at the
ground. She felt so embarrassed she didn't know how to say what she wanted.

Ryder said in a serious tone, "I understand
what you're asking and I agree. We'll not share the same bed until you’re
ready."

Jenny's face flamed, but she lifted her gaze to
Ryder's. "Thank you."

Ryder smiled and reached to touch her cheek.
"Darlin', I'll come over tonight so we can set a date for the wedding. I
want your wedding to be everything you've always dreamed of." He moved his
hand to smooth a wayward strand of hair that had blown across her cheek.

Jenny's eyes were drawn to Ryder's mouth. How
she longed to kiss him. She said, "I've got to get back to Joy. I'll see
you tonight."

* * *

Ryder whistled most of the way home. Jenny had
finally accepted his proposal. At his ranch, he dismounted, handed his horse
over to one of his two hired hands, and took the steps of his porch two at a
time. Tossing his hat onto a table, he removed his suit jacket and hung it on a
peg by the door. The happiness in his heart made him want to paint. Quickly
crossing to the hallway, he followed it to the back of the house and entered
the room he had converted into a studio. Jenny had never been inside his
home—soon to be her home—and the thought of showing her the studio they would
both share caused him to whistle some more.

Walking to his latest painting, he began mixing
colors corresponding to beautiful memories. The portrait of him, Jenny, and
Joy, was coming along beautifully. It would be his wedding gift to Jenny.

It wasn't until the sun had set that Ryder
started cleaning his brushes. In a short time, he and Jenny would have a
wedding date and he hoped it was soon. He also hoped it wouldn't take him long
to woo her into his bed. His rejection of her after taking her virginity had
created emotional scars that ran deep. He would have to be patient and gentle,
assuring her daily of his love.

During his horseback ride to Jenny's cottage, he
considered all the ways he could demonstrate his love aside from making love to
her.

When she opened the door to his knock, the first
thing he said was, "I love you, Jenny."

* * *

Jenny opened the door to Ryder and wanted to
throw her arms around his neck when he said he loved her. Instead, she politely
stepped aside so he could enter. She said, "Joy was so tired from all the
activity today, she fell asleep right after supper."

"Would you mind if I slipped in and looked
at her? I won't wake her."

"Of course not. I'll pour us some coffee
and meet you in front of the fire when you're ready."

Ryder smiled. "Thank you."

Jenny prepared coffees and returned to her small
living room. Settling into one of the rockers, she sipped hers and stared at
the flickering flames. A few minutes later, Ryder entered the room and picked
up his coffee from the small table next to the other rocker.

Jenny said, "I love these old chairs. They
belonged to Pa and Ma, and later Ma Abby. I remember hearing the rockers creak
while laying in bed at night and listening to my parents talk about their day.
When Pa built new rockers shortly after I moved here, I asked for these. I know
he understood why I wanted them."

Softly, Ryder said, "We'll bring the
rockers to our own home and sit before the fire talking about our own
days."

Jenny smiled at Ryder and then stared into the
flames. A log cracked and hissed and a beautiful feeling of peace enveloped
her.

For a long time, they just rocked and enjoyed
the fire, sipping strong black coffee. Finally, Ryder said, "Is there a
date you have in mind for our wedding?"

"How does a month from now sound?"

Ryder laughed, "I would marry you tomorrow.
But a month is better than two or three or more. How does four weeks from today
sound?"

"All right."

"I'll notify the preacher. Do you want a
large wedding?"

"Goodness, no. Just family and friends."

"Would you like to go on a honeymoon now or
wait? I'll take you anywhere you want to go—Paris, London, Dallas, even
Bingham," he laughed.

A log fell in the fireplace, spitting sparks.

Jenny said, "Can we wait on the honeymoon?
I-I just need time to adjust. I've been unhappy for so long, I'm afraid to be
anything else."

At Jenny's confession, Ryder set his coffee
aside, lifted out of his rocker, and knelt before her. Placing his hand in
hers, he said, "I'll make you happy, Jenny, I promise. I know how you
feel. When my world stopped being one long nightmare, it took time for me to
adjust, too."

Jenny raised her free hand to smooth Ryder's
hair. Courage to ask a question that had long plagued her brought the words to
her mouth. "Ryder, how did you lose your arm?"

Ryder lifted her hand to his lips, kissed it,
and then laid his head in her lap. Jenny stroked his hair away from his
forehead. With a sigh, he said, "I was traveling from New York to Boston
and there was a train layover in New Haven. I was walking across the street
from the depot to a diner when I heard a woman scream. A carriage with runaway
horses was barreling down the street and her child had broken away from her
grip. The mother's scream frightened the child and he didn't know what to do.
The driver of the carriage fought for control, but I knew if something wasn't
done, the child would surely die. In that instant the boy looked at me and I
swear I saw the face of my own son. There was no power on earth that could have
stopped me from saving that boy. I reached the boy before his mother and pushed
him out of the way, but I was trampled myself. Two days later the doctor
amputated my arm to save my life. Of course, after that, I might as well have
been dead." He lifted his head and drank in Jenny's face. "That is,
until I met you. You are my salvation, Jenny."

Tears streamed down Jenny's cheeks and Ryder
lowered his head back to her lap. The fire warmed them and Jenny closed her
eyes to bask in Ryder's presence.

Jenny watched Abby open her trunk and remove the
wedding gown she'd packed away years earlier after her marriage to Jenny's pa.
She shook the wrinkles out of the gown. "Honey, remember how you always
said you wanted to wear my wedding dress when you married? If you still want
to, I'll alter it to fit you."

"Ma, I'd love to wear your dress, but then
it won't fit you anymore."

"Nothing would honor me more than to see
you in my gown, and if they've a mind to, Joy, Eva, Charity, and any future
children, too. I sewed this dress with a heart full of expectation. Although
it's silly, perhaps some of that expectation is lingering in the fabric and
will touch all who wear it."

Abby held the gown up to Jenny. "Just
think, you're about to begin a new life with the man you love; just like I did
with your pa. I'm so happy for you."

Jenny hugged the gown to her body and confided,
"I'm scared, Ma. What if Ryder is sorry for marrying me after a time? I
feel so inadequate."

Abby placed her hands on Jenny's shoulders and
held her at arm's length, studying her eyes. "Ryder loves you! Every time
he looks at you he wears his heart in his eyes. Why do you think Luke was so
keen on hiring him when he asked for a job, and why do you think we sided with
Luke's decision? If your pa or Luke had thought Ryder wasn't on the up-and-up,
he would have been run off our ranches faster than a snake could strike."

"Ma, I want to feel secure in his love, but
unhappy memories won't go away."

"My sweet daughter, when you realize you
are loved for who you are and not for what you do or say, you will stop
doubting Ryder." Abby hugged Jenny and laughed, "Honey, put the dress
on so I can take some measurements and we can see how beautiful you're going to
look on your wedding day."

* * *

Two weeks before the family's annual trek to the
graves of Jenny's mother, brother, and beloved dog, Wally, on a lovely spring
morning, Jenny sat in her brother's carriage in front of the church wearing
Abby's wedding gown. During the final fitting the day before, Abby had told her
the gown was now hers to keep in her own trunk and save for her own daughter,
or daughters, if she was so blessed. Jenny's pa had stepped into the room when
Abby called to him and his look of love and sadness had brought tears to
everyone's eyes. He'd said, "My dear daughter, you look so much like your
mother. I know she'll be attending your wedding in spirit along with your
brother." Then he'd wiped his eyes and pulled Abby into a fierce hug.
Bending to kiss her cheek, he'd whispered, "Thank you, Abby. I love you so
much."

Now, sitting with Angel and Luke while they
waited for toothless Charlie to open the sanctuary door and motion that it was
time, Jenny closed her eyes and twisted her hands in her lap. Angel covered
Jenny's hands with her own. Jenny said, "I don't think I've ever been this
nervous."

Angel patted her hands and Luke chuckled. Angel
said, "Although Luke and I were married under different circumstances, I
know exactly what you're saying. I almost couldn't step inside the
church." She lifted her eyes to her husband's. "But marrying Luke
changed my life from one of anguish to joy. And now we have two precious
daughters."

Luke reached and covered Angel's hands on top of
Jenny's. He said, "I can't imagine my life without you and our children,
Angel."

Angel looked past him. "Looks like it's
time, Charlie just opened the door."

Jenny inhaled sharply, lifted a hand to pull
down her short veil, and quickly hugged Luke and Angel. "Okay, I'm
ready."

Before they stepped from the carriage, Angel
chuckled, "It's a good thing Ma Abby got Charity to sleep; her cry is so
loud I swear she's going to be an opera singer."

Jenny laughed, which helped her nerves, and then
the next few minutes became a blur of entering the sanctuary, walking down the
aisle with her pa, seeing her ma's smiling eyes liquid with tears, and meeting
Ryder's gaze as she walked toward him.

After her pa handed her over to Ryder and they
stepped in front of Pastor Merriweather, Mrs. Merriweather slipped quietly from
the piano to sit beside her children. The freckle-faced pastor gazed out over
his congregation, smiled, and began the service.

In a loving gesture, Ryder squeezed her hand and
lifted it to his lips for a gentle kiss. His action calmed Jenny and she
listened to the beautiful words joining her and Ryder in matrimony.

When Pastor Merriweather spoke the words,
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ryder, you may kiss your
bride," Ryder lifted her veil and touched his lips to hers in a short,
sweet kiss. When he raised his head and grinned, Charity let out the biggest
squall Jenny had ever heard.

Jenny laughed, "She
is
going to be
an opera singer."

The rest of the day became a lovely blending of
family, friends, celebration, and best wishes.

After they kissed Joy goodbye and promised to
pick her up from her grandparents in three days, Ryder helped Jenny onto their
buggy. Amidst shouts of congratulations, he flicked the reins and streamers
trailed in the breeze as they headed off to begin their new life together.
Jenny lifted her eyes skyward, whispering a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving
for such a wonderful day. When Ryder drove the buggy to the front of their
ranch, sudden shyness overcame her. She avoided his eyes when he helped her
down. He leaned and whispered next to her ear. "Lovely Jenny, I wish I
could carry you over the threshold."

His sweet words entrenched themselves in Jenny's
heart and she knew she would remember them often throughout her lifetime.

Inside the doorway, Ryder helped her remove her
cloak then removed his own suit jacket, and said, "I have something I want
to show you."

After they had set their wedding date, Ryder had
proudly taken Jenny on a tour of her soon-to-be home, but there was one room he
hadn't shown her. When she'd looked at him curiously, he'd grinned, "Soon,
you'll see it."

Now he led her to the back of the house and
opened the door to that room. Jenny's heart thumped when she stepped inside.
Ryder had turned the room into a studio. Two easels with blank canvases were
placed to capture light from an enlarged window. Shelves stocked with every
imaginable supply took up one wall. Jenny twirled so she could see everything.

"Do you like it, Jenny?"

"It's-it's magnificent!"

Ryder grinned. "Honey, we can work
side-by-side creating our masterpieces." He winked.

Jenny blushed and turned thankful eyes on him.
"You are the true master, Ryder. I will learn from you."

Ryder walked to stand in front of her and bent
to softly brush his lips across her forehead. "No, Jenny, my work is
nothing without your inspiration."

Jenny swallowed the lump in her throat.

Ryder said, "I have one more surprise for
you." He took her hand and gently led her to one of the bedrooms.
"This is your room, honey, until you're ready to come to mine." He
opened the door and waited for her to enter.

The first thing Jenny saw was the painting above
the four-poster bed. Ryder had painted himself, Jenny, and Joy sitting atop the
same rise Jenny had painted her stark pictures of Ryder and herself. However,
this painting encapsulated a beautiful spring day with pink and yellow flowers
budding in meadows below, and instead of barren, towering trees blown by a
fierce wind, these trees billowed in a gentle breeze, as if laughing with the
occupants beneath their branches. Muted colors allowed viewers to feel as if
they were entering a dream—a dream one would not want to awaken from.

Jenny turned to Ryder with her heart in her
eyes. "I've never seen anything so beautiful."

Her husband smiled and said softly as he backed out
of the room. "I love you, Jenny. I'll see you in the morning." He
closed the door with barely a click.

Jenny looked from the closed door to the
painting and back again. In a moment of time, she made her decision. Rushing to
the door, she threw it open, ran into the hallway, and yelled,
"Ryder!"

He turned swiftly at her shout, his eyes
questioning hers, and waited for her to speak. Her response was to run and
throw her arms around his neck, tucking her face against his chest. "I
want to stay with you all night," she said breathlessly.

Ryder slipped his arm around her waist, pulling
her tightly against him. "Jenny, are you sure? I don't want you doing
anything you're not ready for."

She stood on tiptoe and placed her lips on his.
"I'm ready…so very ready. Stay with me in my bed, under the picture."

Ryder cupped the back of her head and angled his
mouth over hers. She could tell he was trying to be gentle, but passion
dictated his response. Her own passion ignited and she kissed him repeatedly,
like she had dreamed of for years.

Walking her backwards into her bedroom, Ryder
tumbled her across her bed and began unfastening her gown. It was tedious work
and he chuckled at her impatience, soothing her with whispered words. Smiling,
she closed her eyes, giving herself over to Ryder's touch. When his hands
finally grazed the bare flesh of her stomach, she opened her eyes to see him
leaning above her, his own body bare of his shirt. Lifting her hands, she
smoothed them down his chest and stomach, remembering the feel of him from
their joining that had created their daughter.

She watched Ryder close his eyes at her touch
and when he opened them again, mirrored within their depths was the same
exquisite longing. He smiled and she smiled back.

For hours they spoke words of love while
caressing and reacquainting themselves with each others bodies. In an act of
courage, Jenny rose above him and began kissing him on his forehead, slowly
moving the length of his body. His groan of ecstasy solidified the verity that
throughout their marriage she would explore everything that gave him pleasure.
When he grasp both her wrists in his hand and held them above her head,
whispering, "My turn," she knew he would do the same for her.