CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

 

 

 

“Before I get this guy on Skype, I want to warn you about something,” Alivia tapped the key to turn on the monitor of the huge computer screen hanging on the wall in front of them. “He’s eccentric, but he’s smart as a whip.”

“He also saved Alivia’s life,” Saxon said evenly. When Benjen cut his eyes over in surprise, Saxon elaborated, “When Alivia was shot, she needed blood. The crazy psycho who was killing all the beauty queens worked at the blood bank. Knowing we were on his trail, he destroyed all of Alivia’s blood supply she’d put back for herself. The only other blood we could find was in the British Isles. A friend of ours went after it, but we needed a miracle to keep her alive and…”

“Miracle worker, that’s a new title for me. I’ve brought refreshments, Alivia. Who’s the hunk?”

Upon hearing the somewhat mechanical voice behind him, Benjen jumped and turned. “Uh, hello.” He was a bit shocked to see this very life-like robot coming toward them with a tray of wine and cheese.

“Hello, honey. Are you married?”

Alivia and Saxon laughed indulgently. “Benjen Blackhawk. Meet Savvy.”

“That’s Savvy Hart Abbot at your service, eye candy.”

Benjen almost turned his chair over when she gave him a slow wink.

“All right, Sav. Quit flirting. Mr. Blackhawk is taken. He has a lovely girlfriend named Apple.”

“Huh. A piece of fruit. I think I’d be a good upgrade.” She set the tray on the table next to Benjen.

“I’m sure you’re a lovely…lady, but I am in love with Apple.” Benjen felt odd explaining himself to a robot. “So, this is one of those house helpers?”

When Savvy laughed, Benjen knew he might be in trouble.

“Actually, miracle worker is a better job description than house helper. I do things around the house, for sure. But I’m also capable of doing much more. To quote Alivia, I am a very pleasing package, a droid with Artificial Intelligence. My brain is so powerful, it is surpassed only by the TaihuLight supercomputer in China. I can do anything you could imagine a computer doing, only better and faster. Plus, I’m learning and adapting every day, showing the characteristics of a human who is adjusting to a new culture. In other words, Mr. Blackhawk, you are looking at the future. I’m going to go where computers have never gone before. I’ve already told Alivia that I want to get married and have a baby.”

Benjen’s eyes were bugged. “Okay. Good luck.”

“As for the miracle…” Savvy wasn’t through. “You’re about to talk to Dr. Dolman, but I found him. While Alivia lay dying, I filtered through all my connections and found an answer to her problem. She needed a certain type of blood to save her life and no one could get to it fast enough. I found this man, this Dr. Dolman, who invented and perfected a viable blood substitute. He sent enough of his creation to save Alivia’s life. Right Saxon?”

“That’s right.” He winked at Savvy. “No brag, just facts.”

Alivia sighed and muttered dryly, “We have got to work on her lack of self-confidence.”

Benjen laughed. “Well, I’m glad to meet you, Savvy. You have managed to make me feel even more hopeful than I did before I got here. With you on her side, Nita will be just fine.”

“With that sterling introduction, let’s bring Dr. Dolman into the conversation. To sum it up, he’s not only an A grade doctor, he’s also a researcher at Rice in Houston, and an expert on anything to do with blood. I’ve briefed him on Nita’s background and condition.”

After tapping a few keys, the monitor came to life and Benjen found himself face to face with a man who looked like he’d just come in from a hard day on the range. He sat down on the chair in front of his computer and pulled off his dusty boots. “Pardon me, people. I’m all tuckered out. My tractor broke down in the north forty and I had to walk home.” Once his feet were free, he wiggled his toes and propped them up on the table, fairly close to the camera. “You must be Benjen Blackhawk, good to meet you.”

“Good to meet you too, Dr. Dolman.”

“Call me Allan.”

Benjen had to bite his lip. The name Allan left a bad taste in his mouth – but this man might be the one to save Nita’s life. “All right, Allan. I take it you’ve been briefed on Nita. Do you think you can help her?”

“I don’t know why not. What I need is to examine her myself, map her DNA, and start a search for a donor. So, you’re not aware of any family other than the missing grandmother in Honduras?”

“No, we have no information on any other relatives. Her father, an American soldier, has no family left either that we’re aware of.”

“We’ll just have to shake the bushes, won’t we?” He looked at Alivia. “Do you think your bucket of bolts can help on the project?”

“I heard that,” Savvy said from outside the door.

“Quit eavesdropping, Savvy,” Saxon called to her. “If you want to listen, just come on in.”

“I didn’t want to intrude.”

Benjen pressed his lips together. The robot was a hoot and a half.

“Yes, of course she can help, Allan. If needed, we have access to 75 registries in 52 countries. If there’s a good match out there, we’ll find it.”

Allan Dolman nodded. “All right, Mr. Blackhawk, I’ll call Baylor, Scott, and White to make sure I still have my privileges. Get her to the nearest branch of that hospital tomorrow and get them to look up my orders on the main computer. We’ll take a blood sample and start identifying the child’s HLA markers. After that, we’ll start our search.” Seeing the quizzical look on Benjen’s face, Dr. Dolman answered the question before he could ask it. “I can’t tell you what the timeline is. We’ll push forward – full speed ahead. I will come down day after tomorrow and examine her myself. Once we find a donor, she’ll have to go through a bit of chemo and radiation therapy. We have to get rid of some of her bone marrow to make room for the new. One good thing, the way I do it, we’ll have much lower doses than most people use. For a child her age, that’s going to be key.”

“I’m grateful you’re willing to help us, Doctor,” Benjen voiced with sincerity.

The tough looking man waved a callused hand. “I have to get my jollies where I can. I get tired of herding cattle from pillar to post.”

“Been there. Done that,” Benjen sympathized.

“Good deal. I’ll talk to you sidewinders manana.”

The screen went blank.

Benjen met Alivia’s eyes and Alivia laughed. “I warned you, he’s quite a character.”

“Yea, but he sounds confident. I like that.”

Alivia punched him. “So, let me see the ring.”

Benjen pulled it out of his pocket. “What do you think?”

“Gorgeous!” she exclaimed. “You did good, Blackhawk.”

“Thanks.” Benjen patted his pocket. “I have the marriage license right here and a big box of surprises to shower her with when the time is right.”

“She’s going to love it,” Alivia assured him with a big grin.

“Let me see the ring.” Savvy came closer and sighed. “Oh, I want one of those so bad. The alarm on my biological clock is going off as we speak.”

Benjen looked at Alivia who shook her head. “She doesn’t really have a biological clock.”

Savvy snorted. “No one really has a biological clock, Ally.” She sighed and put her hands on her hip. “But I have urges.”

Benjen laughed and stood up. “On that note, I think I’ll head home.” He doffed his hat at Savvy. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am. I hope to see you again.”

“I hope to see you too, handsome.”

“Savvy…” Saxon warned her.

The robot held up her hands. “Hey, I’m just looking. I may be metal, but I’m not blind.”

 

* * *

 

The next day…

“Look! Buscar!”

“What?” Benjen jumped when Nita hollered. “What do you see?” They were headed to their first doctor appointment of the day. Apple’s gynecological appointment. After they finished up there, Nita would go for her lab work.

“Helado! Ice Cream!”

“Oh, Nita,” Apple worried, “It’s so early. You haven’t even had lunch.”

“Pul-lease!” she begged with her little hands together.

“Oh, let’s get her some.” Benjen helped Nita who was pinning him with a stare in the rearview mirror. “I’m just glad she’s hungry enough to want it.”

Apple sighed. “You’re right. What flavor, Nita?”

“Choclate!”

“She’s got that word down pat,” Benjen murmured, turning into the ice cream parlor. “I think I’ll get a malt. How about you,” he asked Apple.

Apple frowned. “I’m about to gain so much weight. I shouldn’t indulge.”

“Ah, indulge, honey. You don’t have an extra bit of sugar on you except in the places I like it most.”

“Sugar? Apple got sugar on her? Wet me see.”

They laughed as Benjen drove through the drive-thru, getting them all something good. Apple chose a dip cone and Nita declared she wanted to try that next.

When they arrived for the gynecological appointment, Apple declared her nervous state, “I don’t like doctors.”

“Me e-ver,” Nita agreed as she toddled along beside Benjen, holding his hand. Apple reached down to pat her head. She felt like walking – and that was good. Seeing her on her feet and knowing how old she was, it was painfully obvious she was much smaller and weaker than she should be at that age.

“Neither of you need to be afraid. You know why?”

They both looked at the most important man in their life.

Benjen shrugged his massive shoulders. “Because I’m here, that’s why. I won’t let anything happen to either one of you.”

Apple felt the truth of his statement sink in to her very bones. “That’s right, Nita. Nothing bad can happen to us when Benjen is around.”

Apple kept reminding herself of that fact as she went through a barrage of tests. After the doctor confirmed her pregnancy and learned about her previous problems, he ordered everything from X-rays to a pap smear to lab work.

When time came to hear the results, he called both Benjen and Apple into his office.

“Well, you’re pregnant!” he announced with a sly smile.

Apple wanted to roll her eyes so bad she could taste it. “Thank you, Dr. Mallory.”

He waved his hand, slapped the desk, then a mask of seriousness dropped over his face. “I’m surprised. This baby must really want to be born. You still have scar tissue and you still have Asherman’s.” He looked at the calendar. “You’re already past the first hurdle. Most women with Asherman’s miscarry quickly.”

Benjen tensed.

“We’re going to have to take some extra precautions, really monitor the baby to make sure those bands don’t strangle him or cause birth defects. Now, all of this is going to be complicated by the fact that you have one kidney. You’ll undoubtedly have to have at least one surgery when the baby gets big enough to be in danger from being wrapped up in the bands.”

“Bands? I don’t understand,” Benjen asked, his chest tightening by the second.

Dr. Mallory looked from one to the other, then dug in his drawer for a chart or two. “I’m talking about band-like adhesions from the scar tissue. You never know how those bands are going to interact with the baby, how it might restrict its movement or tangle it up, cause a limb not to grow properly.”

Benjen swallowed nervously. “Is this dangerous for Apple?” As much as he wanted the baby, he wanted her far more. “Should we consider an abortion?”

“No!” Apple stated loudly, firmly, an unequivocally.

Dr. Mallory held up his hand. “No, none of this is particularly dangerous to the mother at all. We’ll just have to be careful with Apple, considering all of the complications as a whole.” When he saw their worried expressions, he did his best to reassure them. “I know, I have a poor way of putting things sometimes. I just don’t believe in beating around the bush. None of this means we can’t have a healthy baby – but what it does mean is that we’re going to have to take some extra measures.”

Extra measures.

Benjen felt weak from everything he’d heard. Apple stayed calm, asking questions. He heard what they were saying – the due date, the plans for a birthing room, prenatal vitamins – but he was too deep in a daze of worry to process all of the details. He sat there holding a sleeping Nita and wondered how he’d survive another eight months of agonizing stress, praying his wife and his child would survive the ordeal of pregnancy and childbirth.

“What can I do?” he asked weakly.

Realizing Benjen’s distress, the doctor turned to him. “Just what you’re doing. Love her. Be supportive. Rub her back. Rub her feet. Buy her the crazy things she’ll crave.”

“Okay, I can do that,” Benjen agreed weakly.

“And your wife and I will do the rest.” He spread his hands and smiled.

“How about sex?”

Apple’s question caught Benjen off guard. “Maybe we shouldn’t…”

He jumped when Apple whacked him on the knee. “Shhhh.”

The doctor laughed and laughed. “You two are a perfect pair.” He laughed some more. “Have as much sex as you can now. I promise you when that baby comes, you won’t have as much time.”

After making Apple’s next appointment, they made their way to have Nita’s blood drawn. Thankfully, the locations weren’t very far apart. When they arrived, Benjen removed the child from her car seat and carried her in. “I wish she could sleep through this. I’m afraid it’s going to hurt.”

Apple frowned and put a finger to her lips and shook her head.

Too late.

“Wat’s gonna hut?”

“Beegee’s gonna hurt after Apple spanks his bottom,” Apple said, which made Nita dissolve into a fit of giggles.

She pointed her finger at Benjen. “Beegee’s gonna get a spanking!”

Benjen gave Apple a wicked wink. “I don’t think Beegee’s bottom is the one that’s gonna get spanked.”

Nita’s mouth opened and formed a perfect little O while one of her hands went behind her back. “Not me!”

“No.” Benjen laughed. “Not you.”

By that time, they were inside the lab and headed to the room to meet the technician. When Nita finally figured what was going on, her little face crumpled and so did Benjen’s heart. While Apple held her arm and the tech took her blood, Benjen knelt on the floor and let her cling to him as hard as she could. His heart constricted so hard, he thought it might be the big one. Closing his eyes, he wondered how he would get through watching Apple and Nita suffer. If there was a way under the sun, he’d endure every pain, and take every risk from them. “It’s okay, lamb. It’s okay.”

When it was finally over, Nita buried her face in his neck and sobbed.

“I’m sorry, darling. I’m so sorry,” he told her softly while Apple filled out the form for the medical records. “It had to be done so we can make you all better. The doctor needed the blood to see how he could help you.”

“It’s all wight, Beegee.” She touched his hair. “It’s all wight.”

Apple walked up about that time. “Hey, who’s comforting who?”

Benjen looked sheepish. “I got upset too.”

“Awww. Come on you two. Let’s go home.”

Once they were on the road, Benjen brightened. Checking his watch, he grinned knowing the hour was fast approaching when she would be his completely.

 

* * *

 

When they arrived home, Apple was surprised to see Sara’s car. “Oh, great! I didn’t know she was coming, did you?”

“No, I didn’t. That’s good. I wonder what’s up?” White lie. White lie. He did know. He’d arranged the whole thing. Sneaky, sneaky, Benjen.

Sara came out to meet them. “Hey, I’ve been waiting for you guys. Hi, Nita!” She removed the little child from the car seat. “How did the appointments go?”

“We survived,” Benjen muttered. “Barely.”

“Oh, don’t mind him. Nita and I were troopers.” At Sara’s quizzical look, Apple waved her hand in the air. “I’ll explain everything. What’s going on with you?”

“Oh, not much.” As they walked toward the house, Sara looked back over her shoulder and winked at Benjen. “I thought we could give one another mani-pedi’s and try out some new makeup I bought. Maybe do something with our hair.”

“Sounds fun! I love it!” Apple almost squealed with delight. “I haven’t done anything like that for myself in ages.”

“Me too?” Nita asked as she bounced along in Sara’s arms.

“Oh, yea, for sure. I brought the prettiest pink nail polish for you. You’re gonna love it!”

“I will. I will!” Nita cheered.

“Thanks, Sara,” Benjen called after them. “You girls have fun!”

As they went into the house, Benjen followed slowly, feeling pretty good about himself. Only the worry of what his family would have to go through in the coming months put a damper on his good mood.

His family.

Yea, he loved that little girl as much as Apple did.

He also loved the child he had made with Apple.

Benjen looked up into the sky and sent up a prayer of protection for each of them.

…Once inside, he called his brothers, making sure each one was covering their part of the plan. Unbeknownst to Apple, he’d arranged a ceremony. A little mix between cultures. Perfectly legal and attended by family and just a few friends.

Sara had proven to be worth her weight in gold. She’d seen to the music, the flowers, the preacher, and making sure everyone was notified about the particulars. Easy was back and he was in charge of the dogs. Daniel had taken care of the preacher, while Sam had rented chairs and a pretty canopy for them to stand under, setting everything up in a pretty spot down by Honey Creek. Taking his to-do list from his pocket, he checked it again. “Yep, everything is taken care of.”

Now, all he had to do was wait.

…Waiting didn’t prove to be as easy as he thought it would. He’d always heard of nervous grooms, but he never thought he’d be one. After checking his watch for the third time, Benjen decided to pace for a little while longer. He was waiting for the perfect moment to take in the boxes containing his girls’ dresses and assorted wedding paraphernalia. “God, I hope I didn’t leave anything out.” He started to check the boxes again but decided not to when his cell phone began to buzz.

Seeing it was Zane, he assumed he was calling about the wedding. “Counselor? Don’t tell me you two can’t make it tonight.”

“Oh, we wouldn’t miss it. I wanted to update you on the progress I’ve made with the adoption quest.”

“I hope it’s good news.”

“Well, it’s news. I am in the early planning phase. There’s a lot of legwork to be done.”

“I can see the pile of billable hours piling up from me.”

“Hardy-har-har.”

“I took that number you gave me, the one Simone called Apple on and it’s been disconnected.”

“Oh, hell. I’ve heard horror stories about that area.”

“Right. Anyway, we traced the number to an address So, I’m sending one of my best investigators down there to make triple sure we can get the grandmother’s signature – if we can locate her – and verify there are no relatives who could lay claim to Nita later on.”

“I’m praying there’s not. Apple has her heart set on adopting that little girl.” He did too, but that was beside the point.

“I understand. We’re going to do everything we can and do it right. My guy will meet with our ambassador down there to ensure we deal with the right parties. Every country has their own rules about people from another country adopting their children. While we’re there, we’ll see about getting death certificates to confirm the parents are no longer living. We’ll also work here with the Office of Refugee Resettlement.”

“Good gracious, that sounds like a nightmare.”

“That’s why you pay me the big bucks, bud.”

“So, no real news yet.”

“Nope, I just didn’t want you to think I was here sitting on my laurels.”

“Nah, I figured you were at that fancy desk of yours sitting on your ass.”

“Nice. See you tonight, groom.”

…Benjen didn’t share Zane’s news with Apple. Even though it wasn’t bad news, he wanted her to be able to concentrate on their celebration tonight.

When the hour drew closer, he changed clothes, then took the two white pasteboard boxes from the closet and went to find the ladies. Benjen located them in Nita’s room and when he saw Apple, he froze, his heart pounding in his chest. “God, you’re pretty.” She was all fixed up. Her hair lay in gorgeous curls and she wore just enough makeup to enhance her natural beauty.

“How bout me?” Nita called for his attention and he gave it to her.

“You look like a princess.”

Benjen gave Sara a grateful look. “You three look like you’ve had a good time.”

“Yea.” Apple twirled around. “All fixed up and nowhere to go.”

“Actually…you do have somewhere to go.”

“Where?” she asked with a blank expression on her face. “Am I missing something?” She looked at him again and noticed his clothes. “You look nice. What’s going on?”

“If you don’t get dressed…” He handed her the biggest box. “You might miss your wedding.”

“Wedding!” Her mouth flew open and so did Nita’s.

“Yea, get dressed girls. We’ve got a ceremony to attend!”

Sara pointed to the door. “I’m going to give you three a minute while I check on the other details.”

“You knew about this!” Apple addressed her future sister-in-law.

“Guilty.” She waggled her fingers at them all and sashayed out the door.

“I can’t believe this,” Apple muttered, coming to Benjen and wrapping her arms around him. “I thought we were just going to the courthouse.”

“Yea. Well. I wanted this to be special. We can still have a big celebration on our one-year anniversary, but I wanted you to have some special memories on this day too.” He glanced down at Nita who was staring up at him like he could move mountains. “We can’t leave a certain person to go on a honeymoon, so I thought I’d do what I could to make you happy in other ways.”

“Oh, I am happy. So happy. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, baby.”

“How bout me?” Nita tugged on the leg of his blue jeans. “Do you wuv me too?”

“You bet your bottom dollar, I do.” He picked her up and they hugged the small girl together. “Now, I want to see if those pretty dresses fit.”

After untangling themselves, Apple and Nita tore into their boxes, finding handmade buckskin wedding dresses. Butter soft, pure white, and decorated with turquoise and silver beading.

“Oh, my God. These are so beautiful!” Apple screamed. “I love them! I love them!” She threw herself in Benjen’s arms, then pulled back to admire her dress some more.

Nita held hers up in front of her. “I’m gonna be an Indin pincess,” she announced solemnly.

“As soon as you’re dressed, I’ll come back and help you with the rest.”

Giving them some privacy, Benjen slipped out to get a breath of fresh air. When he did, he reached into his pocket to make sure he had the rings. Just touching the bands of gold made him happy. For a moment, he thought of Kelli. “Yes, I loved you, but I never got the chance to love you like I do Apple.” Now, he knew love matured. It grew. It was fed by touch. By tears. By laughter. He pulled the ring out and stared at the perfect circle. “Infinity. Eternity. God, if you’re listening. Give me those things with this woman. Protect my children – both of them. Help me be worthy of those I love.”

“Beegee! We’re ready!”

With a smile he returned to continue doling out the items he’d gathered to make this day special for his beloved.

Inside, Apple stared at herself in the mirror. What she wore wasn’t a traditional wedding dress. No, it was the perfect wedding dress. She felt beautiful in the garment Benjen had chosen for her. When he entered the room behind her, Apple’s eyes met his in the mirror. “Where did you find this gorgeous thing?”

“A woman I know makes them. She’s probably seventy years old now, but she does the finest handwork in the land.” After giving her a kiss, he went back to the box and drew out a chain of wildflowers. “I made this for you.” He placed it around her neck. “And this.” He placed another, smaller chain in her hair.”

Apple picked up the delicate, natural jewelry. “You made this. With your own two hands.” She marveled at the braid work. How he’d woven eagle feathers in between the blossoms. “It means something, doesn’t it?”

“Yea, it does.” He bent and placed a miniature version of the flower chains on Nita – who was enraptured with everything they were saying and doing.

“Here’s something old.” He gave her a bracelet that belonged to his mother. “And here’s something new.” Benjen pulled the engagement ring from his pocket and got down on his knees. “Will you marry me, beloved? I will give you everything I have, my whole life, and all my tomorrows.”

Apple was crying, by this time. “I’m going to ruin my makeup Sara applied so carefully.”

“Perfection can’t be improved upon, my love.”

“No, you’re right.” She held out her hand, bending to give him a kiss while he slipped the ring on her finger. “You’re the perfect one, cowboy. And I’m the most fortunate woman in the world.”

“No, I am!” Nita called out with confidence.

They both laughed, while Benjen returned to his box. “Something borrowed.” He pulled out a delicate piece of lace. “My mother’s wedding veil.”

While she gasped, he fit it on her hair in just the right way to frame the small crown of flowers.

“Amazing.” Apple admired herself in the mirror. “I just can’t believe all of this.”

“And something blue.” He gave her a wicked grin when he showed her a blue garter for her to wear on her thigh. “For good luck.” While Nita laughed with glee, Apple lifted her foot for him to slip the garter on and pull it up to a good four or finches above her knee. “I’ll enjoy removing that…later.”

Apple’s heart was skipping beats. “Will we have guests?”

“Oh, yea. I’m sure they’re all ready and waiting for us.”

“This is crazy,” she told him with tremulous lips. “You’re crazy.”

“Yea, for you.” He bent to the boxes. “One last thing.” Benjen pulled out two pair of the softest moccasins anyone could imagine. They weren’t the bulky fringed ones, these were slim, narrow, form fitting and covered in turquoise jewels.

“Wow!” Nita exclaimed. “We’re gonna be Cindawella!”

“Yes, you are,” Benjen affirmed with a soft kiss to the little’s girl cheek and a full-blown one on the lips of his future wife. “But when the clock strikes midnight, we’re not going to turn into pumpkins, we’re going to be a family.”

…A little while later, Apple felt like she’d entered a dream. Sam had horses waiting for them. Once they were mounted, Benjen and Apple rode ahead while Sam walked beside Nita on her small white pony.

“Where are we going?”

“Just wait and see.”

Apple held her breath as they wound their way to the water. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw everyone seated and waiting for them. In addition to Benjen’s family, her eyes found Dr. Cleveland, her daughter, and Mandy from the vet’s office. Sitting behind them were several of the McCoy family, including Ryder and her husbands, Pepper and Judah, Jaxson and Tamara, and Philip with a woman Apple had never seen before. On the second row from the front sat Zane and Presley next to Alivia and Saxon. There were several others she didn’t know, but they all looked happy to be there.

Not as happy as she was – however.

When they drew near, Benjen dismounted, then came to get his ladies. While a romantic flute played, he walked them down the aisle where a preacher waited for them beneath a canopy of white silk decorated with sunflowers. After the first few steps, Apple saw a sight that made her laugh with joy.

At the end of the way, standing with Easy, were all the dogs. All the dogs, including the pit bull pups. Each dog wore a ribbon on their collar. On either side of the preacher waited Daniel and Sara. In Sara’s hand, Apple saw the red ribbon tied in the love knot that Benjen had placed on her hand what seemed like a lifetime ago. “Oh, I’ll never forget this moment. I’ll never forget it.”

“I know you won’t. I won’t either,” Benjen whispered as they took their place and the preacher joined their hands. Nita stood happily next to Sara, holding a bouquet her new aunt had slipped into her hands.

“Dearly Beloved. We are gathered here to join this man and woman in Holy Matrimony. Apollonia Wright and Benjamin Blackhawk wish to welcome you to this ceremony. To begin, our groom will salute his bride.”

Benjen took Apple’s hand. “Our guests don’t know this, but this isn’t our first wedding.” Hearing a few gasps, he explained while he looked deep into his beloved’s eyes. “I wanted to do anything I could to hold on to you, so I took you to a special place and I slipped a ribbon around our joined hands. The words I spoke were a blessing, but they weren’t the exact words. Today, I’ll do it the Apache way.” Taking both of her hands in his, he brought them to his lips for a kiss. “Now you will feel no rain, for I will be a shelter to you. Now you will feel no cold, for I will be your warmth. There will be no loneliness, for we will be a companion to one another. We are two persons, but we have only one life before us. Beauty will surround us in our journey all of our years and happiness will be our companion. We will go now to our dwelling place to enter into the days of our togetherness, and our days will be good and long upon the Earth.”

Apple’s hands trembled in his. “May I say something?”

“Of course,” the preacher said, bowing his head.

“Benjen Blackhawk, in the presence of our friends and family, I give you my heart forever as your sanctuary of warmth and peace. I pledge my love and devotion to you as I join my life to yours. I promise I will walk with you, hand in hand, wherever our journey leads us. Living, learning, and loving together forever. I take you to be my partner for the rest of my days. I see these vows not as promises, but as privileges. For I’m the one who gets to laugh with you, cry with you, care for you, and share with you. I get to run with you and walk by your side, build a life together and live with you in it. From this day forward, I am yours.”

“Beautiful.” The preacher held out the Bible. “Join your hands and lay them on the Word.” Once they did, Sara gave him the red love knot. “Slip your joined hands within this symbol of your love.” Very carefully, they did so. Once it was in place, the pastor drew it together, binding them as one.

“Do you Benjamin Blackhawk take this woman to be your wedded wife.”

“I do.”

He gave her a smile, showing those precious dimples. Apple almost swooned.

“Apple, my love, I take you as my wife – to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part, in the presence of God I make this vow.”

“Do you Apollonia Wright take this man to be your wedded husband.”

Apple glanced at Nita, then held Benjen’s gaze. “Si. Yes. Si.”

Benjen choked out a laugh, then wiped a tear from his eyes.

“Benjen, my all, I take you as my husband – to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part, in the presence of God I make this vow.”

“May we have the ring?”

Benjen turned to Daniel who placed the golden band in his hand.

Placing it on her finger, Benjen whispered, “With this ring I thee wed.” His eyes smoldered and his voice dropped in timbre. “With my body I thee worship.”

Apple swallowed, knowing the man had just made her wet. “Oh, God, I love you.”

Benjen smiled and finished. “With all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Taking the preacher’s direction with enthusiasm, Benjen pulled Apple to him with a full dimpled grin. As all the guests cheered, he wrapped an arm around her waist, dipped her back, and kissed her for all he was worth.

“It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you – Mr. and Mrs. Benjen Blackhawk!”

With that announcement, everyone rose, and Benjen escorted Apple down the aisle to ride off into the Texas sunset together.