The Diary of Jerrod Bently - J.W. Osborn (mobi ebook reader TXT) 📗

/> “But the next choice would be the rector over in Clover hill. That is a long ride,” Victoria said, disappointment in her words.
“I am going to fetch a friend of mine.” Doc stated “ and he will marry us today. Don’t worry that pretty little head of yours, Vic. I’ll be back in no time. You still want to marry me, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, Doc,” she replied , “but if we have to wait, we will.”
“There will be no waiting, Honey,” Doc stated “Give me till sundown and I will be back here with the Reverend Zachariah Dodge.”
Before she could reply, he leaned down from his saddle and swept her up with one arm, kissing her passionately and then let her down. “Wait for me, Victoria,” he said “I am coming back for you.”
She felt a little dizzy, but her feet were again firmly on the ground. No man had ever kissed her like that, not even the long dead Jack Langford. “I-I’ll be at my cottage,” she said
Doc’s black began to prance in anticipation of a good run. “I ‘ll be making you my wife the minute I get back here with Dodge,” he promised “So be ready.”
Her smile was radiant and her eyes bright and happy “Don’t worry, Elliot Steven,” she said “I will be waiting.”
He tipped his hat to her and gave Smokey Joe his head. That horse took off , throwing dirt clods and dust into the air behind him. Victoria waved after them as they disappeared into the distance. “My life begins anew,” she said in her thoughts, “God has brought you to me and I am ready for it with the likes of you, Elliot “Doc” Stevens.”
“Mrs. Langford?” It was Almeda Wilks bringing her back to reality. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” Victoria replied “He has gone to fetch a preacher. Doc said he would be back by sundown. ”
The older woman smiled “The new sherrif is a man in love, “ she said “Do you want to come in for some tea?”
“No thanks, Almeda,” Victoria replied “I think I will go home for a while and tidy up the cottage.”
“I will have Pede unlock the church and get it ready.” Mrs. Wilks promised. That was when they heard the sound of carriage wheels on the lane not far away. It was La Contessa Francessca Della Beleeza driving her stallion and seated in an elegant two wheeled carriage. As always the Contessa looked beautiful, dressed in the latest equestrian attire and the black leather reins in her gloved hands. Seeing the other two women, she drew her Andalusion to a stop. “Good afternoon, ladies,” she said with a smile.
“Contessa. ,” Mrs. Wilks said with much admiration in her expression “It is so good to see you. How are you?”
“I am well, thank you.” she said “I saw the new sherrif ride off as though the devil was on his heels. Is everything all right?”
“Victoria was still watching in the direction Doc has ridden. “Nothing is wrong,” she acknowledged “He has gone to fetch a preacher.”
The Contessa raised an eye brow in surprise. “A minister?”, she questioned “What ever for? Surely Dallas will well by Sunday.”
“Mr. Stevens has asked Victoria to marry him,” Mrs. Wilks bubbled joyfully “It is all so romantic!”
“Why is Dallas not performing the wedding?,” Francesca asked, her Italian accent not as strong as it had once been.
“The Reverend is sick,” Victoria replied “Doc said he would be back in a few of hours with a friend who is a minister.”
“Hmmm,” said the Contessa. “I believe there is going to be a wedding in Portersville tonight and we have little time to prepare.”
Victoria and Mrs. Wilks looked at each other. “Well,” Victoria began “I thought we ‘d say our vows and that would be it. We decided we didn’t want to wait.”
Francessca raised her hand. “Not a bit of it, Victoria,” she said “You deserve better. I have known you for many years. You were the first friend I made when I came here. Let me help you make tonight special for you and Sherrif Stevens.”
Victoria smiled. “How can I refuse, Francessca,” she replied “I need to keep busy while I wait for him to return or I will be a wreck.”
“I will ask Pede to put some of my garden flowers in the church and to light the lamps as soon as it starts to get dark. “ Almeda promised “ and when Sherrif Stevens gets back with the minister, I will play the organ for you to walk down the isle, Victoria.”
“Lohengrin?”, Francesca suggested.
“Yes,” Alameda Wilks promised. “I know it by heart.”
“And I will witness the vows for you if you like,” the Contessa said as she scooted over on the seat and patted the cushion next to her. “Let us go, Victoria,” she said “I think I may have the perfect dress for you to wear. It will be, as you say here in America “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Or maybe not.”
Victoria stepped up into the carriage. “Thank you Francessca,” she said “ I really didn’t make any plans at all. I was furious with him after a misunderstanding that led to the fight on Sunday. He came to see me to apologize and then he proposed.. Neither of us wanted to wait. We just were going to say our vows and start a life together.”
Francessca smiled reflectively “Yes,” she said “Sometimes love will not wait.” The carriage moved forward with a flick of the reins and the ladies rode off toward the Bellezza mansion that stood high on a hill over looking the small town of Portersville.

Doc pushed that black of his like he had never pushed him before. It was like a ride with the devil chasing them. All Doc could think of was that he had to catch up with Scrub Pot who was now hours ahead of him.


Two Weddings, One Preacher


“Join hands,” Scrub Pot instructed the couple in front of him. Angus had put on a clean shirt and Bird That Talks,( now called “Birdie”) wore a reasonably presentable tunic and Angus’s tartan shirt over it. She had on a long dark blue skirt and a belt around her ample waist that could have been long enough to go around two men. On her head, she wore a crown of wild flowers. “Buffalo that stomps,” Scrub Pot thought to himself. He looked down at the book in his hands. “Dearly beloved,” he began “We are brought here to this place in the sight of God and this company to join Angus Watson and “Birdie” in holy matrimony. If there be any man present who feels this union should not be made, speak now or forever hold your piece.” For a moment the old man felt nervous, fearful that someone might stand up and ruin his plans. No one did, so he went on with the traditional marriage service , an pair of odd, but star struck lovers before him.
Now Doc Stevens was kind of one sided about his need for a preacher and he had no idea that there was a wedding going on when he skidded into camp on his heaving lathered horse and shouting for Scrub Pot. The black was close to collapsing under him.
As Scrub Pot blessed the “ring” Angus had taken off his own finger to give to his bride, Sam dashed away from the group of drovers present to witness to the vows of Angus Watson and the love of his life, “Birdie” to see what was wrong.
“Doc?”, she questioned as he slid out of his saddle and tried to rub the soreness out of his lower back. “What is wrong?”
“I need Zachariah to come back to town with me right away,” he said hurriedly.
“Well, he is kind of busy right now,” Sam replied as she looked at the exhausted condition Smokey Joe was in. “Doc, you have run this horse too far. There is no way you are riding back to Portersville on him tonight.”
“Sam, I couldn’t help it. I had to get here fast,” Doc defended “Joe will be all right once he gets rested and fed. We’ve had many rides like this since he was broke.”
“Are you going to tell me what is going on?,” Sam asked firmly.
Doc grinned. “There’s nothing wrong, honey girl, “ he drawled “I need the old coot to come back to town to marry me and Miss Victoria.”
Sam was thunder struck. “What?”, she said. “May be I didn’t hear you right.”
“You heard me right, Sam,” he said as he was loosening Joe’s girth. “I asked Victoria Langford to marry me and she said yes.”
“Well,” Sam replied, surprised and a little shaken by her uncle’s news. “I’ll be a monkey’s butt.”
Doc laughed “How about “uncle” he said “It sounds more refined.