“Are you ready?” Annie King asked.

Lily stared at the minister’s wife, a pretty woman with thick chestnut hair and green eyes. She was polite and cordial and the other women appeared to love her. But her neck was covered with old scars, and it was all Lily could do not to stare open-mouthed at them. She certainly wasn’t going to ask her how she got them. “As ready as I can be,” she replied, then looked at her careworn clothing and blushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry I don’t have a wedding dress.”

“No need to apologize,” Annie said. “Josiah and I happened to have the time to see you and Oscar wed tonight, and decided to take advantage of it.”

“Still,” Lily hedged, “I wish I had one.”

“From what I know of Oscar,” Sadie cut in, “I don’t think he minds one bit.”

Belle added a small giggle. “I have to agree with Sadie. I think Oscar’s too nervous to fret over it, so neither should you.”

The women turned to look at her intended fidgeting next to Preacher Jo, his eyes darting all over. Lily knew he was giving her time to get acquainted with them before the vows. The saloonkeeper, Mr. Mulligan, was now busy speaking with Mr. Dunnigan, who owned the mercantile. They looked like they were telling each other jokes.

“Don’t worry about a thing,” Mrs. Dunnigan told her. “Oscar White’s a good man, and his mother’s a fine woman. You’re marrying into a wonderful family.”

Lily studied the cantankerous older woman, who obviously had a gentle side. “Thank you, Mrs. Dunnigan. That’s nice to hear.”

“Don’t mention it,” she snapped.

Lily hid a smile and glanced once more at Oscar. He caught her look and nodded. It was time.

Before she knew it, she stood before the preacher next to her future husband. The Cookes, Dunnigans, Van Cleets and their other impromptu guests sat in the pews behind them. Annie took her seat at the piano and played a hymn, and they all began to sing. Their happy voices brought tears to her eyes. They didn’t have to be there, nor sing a pretty hymn for her wedding. But here they were, singing their hearts out and sounding like they were glad to be doing it.

Oscar reached over and touched Lily’s hand. She shyly took his hand and was soon holding onto it for dear life. If she thought she was nervous before, that was nothing compared to how she felt now.

When Preacher Jo started speaking, it took her a minute or two to realize he was! She saw Oscar nodding now and then, and thought maybe she should do the same. Then his next words came as a shock: “I do.” She felt her knees grow weak. Surely they couldn’t be that far into their vows already!

But they were, and soon words were spilling out of her mouth right after the preacher spoke them. Then … “I, I do,” she gasped.

“Then, by golly,” Preacher Jo said with a smile, “by the power vested in me by Almighty God and the state of Oregon, I now pronounce you man and wife. Oscar, you may kiss your bride.”

Oscar still held Lily’s hand. He took the other and stared down at her. She noticed he wasn’t breathing and started to worry. In fact, he was frozen in place, just standing there looking at her as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened. Well, that made two of them. Wasn’t he going to kiss her? She glanced at Annie, who smiled back, but it did nothing to calm her fears.

Preacher Jo cleared his throat. “Ahem … Oscar? Anything in particular you’re waiting for?”

Oscar swallowed hard, his eyes still fixed on Lily. “Nossir, Preacher Jo. I just cain’t believe I’m married to this beautiful woman in front of me. Maybe I will call ya Lily Fair, on account yer the fairest thing I ever saw.”

Lily’s cheeks grew hot, but her smile was genuine. “Does that mean you’ll kiss me now?” she asked shyly.

Oscar grinned. “Sure does.” He carefully pulled her to him as if she might break, lowered his face to hers, gently brushed her lips with his and took a shuddering breath. “Mrs. Lily Fair White,” he said, trying the name out. “Lily White.” He smiled again. “I ain’t sure which I like better.”

“Whatever one you want,” she replied. “Or whatever fits the moment.”

“I say,” Colin said. “You mean like when Belle screams through the house ‘Colin Bartholomew’? She always calls me that when she’s angry.”

His wife gave him a playful shove. “I do no such thing.”

“Yes, you do, my sweet.”

“I’ve heard you do that,” Sadie added, nodding sympathetically.

Harrison laughed. “I’d say congratulations are in order.” He stood, pulling his wife up beside him. “May we be the first to say how happy we are to have had the privilege to see you wed.”

Oscar nodded at him. “Thanks, Harrison. Mighty kind of ya to say.”

Colin joined them. “Perhaps we should have that little chat with Oscar now?” he suggested to his brother.

Harrison’s eyebrows shot up. “Right – of course.” He turned to Lily. “But first I must kiss the bride. You don’t mind, do you, Oscar?”

Oscar chuckled. “So long as Lily don’t.”

Lily blushed, not knowing what to do. She smiled at Harrison Cooke and shrugged.

Harrison laughed and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I know I speak for all of us when I say that we wish you both the very best.”

Sadie smiled and took her by the hand. “Congratulations, Lily. Is it all right if I call you Lily?”

“Of course.”

“I wish you could stay in town a few days, but I know Oscar has to be getting back to the stage stop. It’s a lot of work for his mother and brothers to handle when he’s gone.”

“I understand,” Lily said with a tinge of disappointment. “I hope I see you again someday.”

“Why, of course you will,” Annie said. “As soon as we know when the sewing circle is going to start another quilt, we’ll send word with Willie. Don’t worry, you’ll get to be part of it even if you can’t come to town as often.”

“That’s very kind of you. I have to admit, I’m excited to help with your next project. I … don’t sew well, just so you know.”

The women laughed. “Don’t worry, neither did most of us when we first formed the circle,” Sadie said.

“True enough,” Belle added. “And we can write letters too. I know it won’t be quite the same as seeing you in person, but …” She glanced at Sadie and back. “… at least it’s a way to stay connected.”

By this time Lily had tears in her eyes. “Thank you, all of you. You’ve been so very kind. I don’t know what to say.” Probably a good thing – she was getting choked up. Part of her felt like she didn’t deserve their kindness. Ten years ago she’d looked down on women like these. Embarrassed, she looked at Oscar, who was immersed in conversation with Belle and Sadie’s husbands. No matter – she felt too overwhelmed at the moment to say anything coherent to him. If she opened her mouth, she was sure to babble.

She made it through the rest of the well-wishes, congratulations and promises of letters – even from Mrs. Dunnigan. When Oscar finally concluded whatever business he had with the Cooke brothers and rejoined her, she looked at him and smiled.

He smiled back. “Well, Mrs. White, are you ready for supper?”

She nodded, unable to speak. The other women seemed to understand, nodded, then took their husbands’ arms and headed out of the church.

“Everythin’ all right?” Oscar asked.

Lily nodded, still silent.

“C’mon, Mrs. White,” he said gently, sensing her distress. “Let’s go back to the hotel and have somethin’ to eat to celebrate.”

Lily forced herself to meet his gaze, and to speak. “Whatever you say, Mr. White.”

* * *

Oscar leaned over to whisper in Lily’s ear. “Harrison and Colin done gave us some cattle. Wasn’t that nice?”

Lily shook herself and looked at him. She’d been woolgathering again about living so far away from town. “I beg your pardon?”

“Cattle. They’re giving us some cattle as a wedding present. That’s mighty nice of them, Lily.”

“Oh … yes,” she said in surprise. “How many?”

He leaned toward her again. “Two bulls and half a dozen cows.”

She blinked. “Isn’t that a lot?”

“Well, when Harrison married Sadie his new father-in-law gave him a thousand head. But for our family, eight is enough.”

“A thousand head,” she said in surprise.

“Well, Sadie’s pa is a wealthy cattle baron down near El Paso. He wanted Harrison to join the family business, so he built up their ranch and gave them a thousand head to get started.”

Lily could only stare. The Cookes didn’t dress like they were rich, certainly not like she would expect rich cattle ranchers and their wives to. Then again, what did such people wear? How would she know – she was from the South, not the West. Perhaps here that was as good as it got – which would mean she didn’t have to worry about her own tattered wardrobe so much. “That was very kind of them.”

“Sure was. Ma’s gonna bust a gut when she finds out. Harrison said he’d have his foreman Logan bring them in a few weeks. You’ll like Logan – he’s a nice man.”

“Yes, you mentioned him before, I think.”

“I did? Gosh, honey, at this point I cain’t remember much of the last few hours. I’ve still got my head in the clouds.”

She studied him a moment, wondering at the endearment. That was the first time he’d called her “honey.” She smiled as Sally Upton pushed a cart of food into their midst. The small wedding party took up two tables and were the only ones in the dining parlor save for two men in the far corner, who had the busy look of traveling salesmen – hotel guests, she presumed. She wondered what business they had in Clear Creek.

“Chicken and dumplins,” Oscar said. “One of my favorites. I do like Sally’s recipe.” He glanced around, then whispered, “but I like my Ma’s better.”

Lily giggled. “Almost every man thinks his mother is the best cook in the world.”

“Can I help it if mine almost is?”

“Almost? Why is she almost?”

Oscar laughed. “‘Cause she says I’m better.”

Lily found herself laughing with him. It felt good to be in better spirits, and to have food in front of her. Sally had set them up with a huge beef roast, savory vegetables, mashed potatoes and a few things she didn’t recognize, in addition to the aforementioned chicken and dumplings. Her stomach rumbled like a steamship pulling into the harbor.

Oscar picked up the dish of chicken and dumplings and began to spoon some onto her plate. She sniffed at it. “Mm, it smells delicious,” she groaned.

“That’s because it is,” Sally set the last dish – spoon bread – on the table. “Congratulations, you two, and eat up!” She spun on her heel and headed back to the kitchen.

Lily laughed again. “Is she always that exuberant?”

“Always,” several at the table said at once, exchanged looks and burst into laughter themselves. Harrison calmed down first and said a quick blessing over the food before everyone dug in.

Lily was determined to enjoy this sliver of peace and calm and … dare she say, joy? … before she had to face her next fearful hurdle. Her wedding night. Frankly, she didn’t want to think about that yet. Maybe if she were lucky, Oscar would stuff himself so full of food he’d pass out before they got to that. He was such a big powerful man, but seemed kind, gentle and concerned for her. Could she ask for anything more? Dare she? In truth she didn’t think she deserved someone like him.

After tonight, he might think the same thing.

“Oscar, Harrison just informed me he’s sending Logan your way in a few weeks,” Sadie said.

“That’s right,” Oscar said. “To deliver our weddin’ present. I cain’t tell ya how happy yer husband made me, or how happy he’s gonna make my family. Thank ya.”

Sadie waved a hand at him. “Think nothing of it – we’re glad to do it. I was just thinking … if Belle and I can get away, we might take the stage out to your place and visit with Lily and your mama for a day or two. Then Logan can bring us back.”

“What?!” Harrison sputtered over his potatoes. “What’s that you say, wife?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Belle said.

“Wait, wait,” Colin objected. “Shouldn’t we men have a say in this?”

Cyrus and Polly Van Cleet laughed. “Oh, let the women go visit, Colin,” Cyrus said. “Besides, Mrs. White could do with a nice visit from Sadie and Belle, isn’t that right, Oscar?”

“I wouldn’t object,” Lily replied.

“But if the stage stop is busy, there might not be much time for visitin’,” Oscar said matter-of-factly. “More likely Ma will put the two of ya to work.”

Colin broke into laughter. “Oh, then you must go visit, darling,” he told Belle. “Scrubbing floors and changing bedsheets never hurt anyone.”

“Careful, husband,” she riposted. “You’ll be doing that if we’re gone for a while.” She turned to Lily. “And with five children, that’s a lot of bedsheets.”

“Five?” Lily said in surprise. “My goodness.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Cooke,” Oscar said. “We got six bedrooms, most with two beds in them. There’ll be plenty of sheets to go ‘round.”

Belle glared at Oscar, while Colin laughed in response. The good-natured Cookes were a delight to be around – Lily wanted them to visit, even if they did end up working for Oscar’s mother. “I’ll try to make sure the work gets done so you won’t have to do any,” she assured them, sounding more confident than she felt. Well, she’d only said she would try …

“We don’t mind pitching in,” Sadie said.

I may need all the help I can get, Lily thought. She’d have to get used to hard work, even if Belle and Sadie came to lighten her load for a few days. Besides, if she kept busy enough, maybe Oscar wouldn’t be put off by …

“Spinach?” Oscar offered, a bowl in one hand, a serving spoon in the other.

She sighed and nodded. Best not to think about it. In fact, if she had her way, Oscar would never find out. But there’s no getting around it. We’re married now. He’s going to find out sooner or later. She just hoped it was later. She glanced at the next table, where Preacher Jo and Annie, the Dunnigans and the Mulligans sat chatting, eating and enjoying themselves. Once again she found herself staring at Annie’s scars.

Lily glanced at Oscar, closed her eyes for moment and sent up a silent prayer: Please don’t let him be disappointed. Please don’t let him send me back.