Chapter 22
As Amy walked down the aisle to the sound of the wedding march, she realized how many of her friends had come to see her marry. They smiled in her direction and she nodded, feeling flattered.
Maid of Honor Vanna and Best Man Manny stood at the altar. She noticed the longing in their expressions as they started at each other. Could they ever work out their problems?
Her heartbeat increased when she saw Wyatt standing tall in his tuxedo. Eyes clear, body relaxed, and devastatingly handsome, he stared at her with desire. “Beautiful,” he whispered.
She wanted to run to him but could imagine the shocked reaction of her friends and the minister if she did. So, she counted the seconds until she would pledge her love to him.
“Who gives this woman?” the minister asked.
“I do.” Mr. Cameron spoke loudly. He backed from the alter and quickly sat in a pew.
Dressed in white and gold vestments, the pastor smiled. “Thank you.” He winked at Amy, as if to say, “Relax.” She’d known the cleric since she was a kid in Sunday school.
“We are here in the sight of God and in this company to unite this man and this woman,” the minister said. “If anyone knows why they should not be joined in holy matrimony, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.”
The front doors of the church crashed open and a man pushed his way into the chapel and then belched.
Amy gasped—Wes.
She twisted to see Wyatt’s hands make fists.
“Westley Cameron, you are in God’s house. Remove your hat,” the minister demanded. “If you have something to say, speak with respect and be seated—I said, take off that Stetson.”
“Sorry, Padre.” Wes belched again and wavered slightly. He yanked the hat off his head and stumbled down the aisle. Dirt tracks from his work boots marred the red carpet. He hadn’t even bothered to stomp off the dust before entering the place of worship. Amy found her hands had fisted as well.
“We are waiting, Westley.” The minister sounded as Amy remembered when an unruly child had interrupted the church service.
“Got nothing to say.” Wes forced one of the cowboys in a nearby bench to scoot over and he plopped down.
A collective sigh of relief echoed in the small chapel and Wyatt’s hands relaxed.
“As I was saying when I was interrupted,” The preacher glared at Wes, but smiled at Amy. “we are here in sight of God and in this company to unite a man and a woman in holy matrimony. Welcome to all who celebrate with Amy and Wyatt. Like many of you, I’ve known them since they were young children. I’m aware of their hardships and I’m pleased by the way they’ve handled them.” He paused. “A lifetime commitment to each other is entered into only after profound consideration. I’m confident they’ve done their due diligence.”
He cleared his throat. “I understand you both wrote personal vows. You may go first.” He looked at Amy.
“Thank you.” Heat burned her cheeks. Could she express her private emotions in front of everyone? Without realizing it, she touched her blushing face.
“Amy, we’re all friends,” the minister added. “Whenever you’re ready.”
She glanced at the congregation and her heart thundered. With a quick breath she started, “Wyatt, when I returned to Sierra Creek and met you again. I thought you were the most handsome, arrogant, self-centered, irritating person I’d ever met.”
Everyone in the chapel gasped, then hushed.
“But now I realize no man is as strong and loving as you. Because of your patience and understanding, I discovered what generosity, kindness and loyalty to family feels like. Every day I thank God for your love and I promise to try to deserve it, today and forever.”
“Amy, my love, when I spotted you standing at the bus stop the day your returned, I was immediately attracted to you. But I found you naïve, unrealistic, and stubbornly annoying.”
He reached for her hand. “Honey, you’re not only gorgeous on the outside, your heart is beautiful too. Stubborn, yes, if that means determined to do the right thing. Naïve, oh yeah, enough to do the impossible. You worked harder than anyone else and got the job done. Unrealistic because you gave your love to a self-centered cowpoke who didn’t deserve it.” He paused and swallowed hard. “I vow my love to you from now and until the end of time.”
“Oh, Wyatt.” Amy couldn’t stop tears of joy from running down her cheeks.
“Do you, Amy Louise Long,” the minster’s deep voice asked, “take Wyatt William Cameron to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, or worse, for richer, or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part, according to God’s holy ordinance and thereto plight thee your troth?”
“I do.”
“Do you Wyatt William Cameron, take Amy Louise Long...
The man Amy loved more than she thought possible, with shoulders back and head high, declared his love.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” He slid the wedding ring on her finger.
When she slipped the gold band on his hand, he smiled.
“I now declare you husband and wife,” the minister said. “You may kiss the bride.”