BECCA Season of Willows (5 page)

Harrison looked surprised and smirked.
“You made your decision? Already?”

Becca sat a little straighter and lifted her chin. “On my part yes. Call it women’s intuition. If you will have me Harrison McGann, I will marry you.”
Harrison was dumbfounded.

“You’ll marry me? Really? Right now?”

Becca nodded, firming her resolve.
“I have seen all I need to. I know we will have to get to know each other. Perhaps you may come to love me someday, perhaps not. I’m really not looking for love but I am looking for trust and faithfulness. But I feel very strongly that my being your wife is important to all of our happiness.”

Harrison was struck dumb still was in shock. He blinked and reality smacked him in the head. “You’ll really marry me? Now?”

Becca nodded.
“Yes. Right now. If you wish to.”
Harrison wiped rubbed his neck. Since she was bein’ so honest with him he would do the same with her.

“I want a real marriage Becca. Do you understand what that means? I want my wife in bed with me. I want to wake up seeing you next to me every morning for the rest of my life.”
Becca bit her lip and smacked her gloves again. She reached over and placed her hand on his.

“I have been told in great detail what that means by my Aunt. I am willing to be your wife Harrison McGann. I know it seems impulsive but, I feel this is right. Till death do us part.”

Harrison whispered to her.
“So you’ll marry me now?”
Becca giggled and nodded.
“Right now.”
“I won’t make any promises Becca. I know you are not in love with me and I am not in love with you but…we may come to care for each other. If that is agreeable to you then, I’m in.”

Becca nodded as she grinned.

He chuckled looking around.
“Well, we’re at the right place. What do yuh say we go get married?”
Harrison looked at the little church and into the mountains of Colorado Territory and smiled at his good fortune.

“Okay then. Let’s get married.”
Harrison looked over at Mac and Mazie.

“Come on children! We’re gonna have a wedding!”

Mac stopped the swing and helped Mazie jump off.
“A wedding, Pa?”
Harrison laughed.

“Well, you wanted a new Ma, I gotta have a new wife first. Right?”
Mac grinned big at his father’s smiling at Becca.

Harrison turned to Becca and wrapped his big hands around her waist. She looked deep in his eyes.

“You’re sure?”

He lifted her down to the ground like she weighed nothing. He smiled sweetly at her and encircled her hand with his.

“I’m sure, Becca. Let’s go get married.”

Becca smiled and hugged his big bicep as they walked into the church.

CHAPTER SIX

The preacher was sitting in his study at the church when he heard the noise of children’s laughter in the sanctuary. The congregation had built on to the church a small home for the preacher to live. So being the kind of man of the cloth that liked to be close to his flock, he was on call all the time. Harrison knew he would be there.
“Preacher Paul?”

Harrison shouted out into the church as he removed his hat.
A short gray-haired man came rushing out putting on his black coat looking surprised.
“Harrison? Harrison McGann? What a surprise! What can I do for you?”

Harrison grinned.
“Preacher Paul, This woman is Miss Becca Hutchins.”

Preacher Paul shook her hand.
“How do you do, Miss Hutchins. I’m Pastor Paul Getty”

Becca smiled warmly. “How do you do Pastor Getty. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Paul smiled wondering what was going on.

“Paul? Miss Becca has consented to be my wife. We would like to marry now, if you will do us the service?”

Paul’s smile spread so wide Becca thought his ears would meet in the back.
“Harrison! Really? Your going to marry? My dear Miss Becca, I already see a change in him. Why he’s…he’s smiling. Wait here.”
Paul jumped and ran to get his bible and a marriage license. He filled out the names and the date and place and signed the document and sign the church bible under marriages.

“Now Harrison sign right here, and you my dear, dear brave girl, sign right here.

Becca giggled and signed under Harrison’s signature.
Paul stood in front of the pulpit with Harrison and Becca standing if front of him.

Paul grinned. “We ready? Oh! Wait a minute.”

Preacher Paul ran to his back door and yelled.
“SAM! JAKE! Come here! I need a couple of witnesses for a wedding!”
Two men dusted themselves off and wiped their boots. They had apparently been plowing a garden for the Preacher.

Paul got everyone in place again.
“Now! We ready?”

Becca and Harrison both nodded holding hands as the children gathered behind them.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here before God and these witnesses to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony…
 

Mac stood holding his breath watching as his Pa and his new Ma got married.
Pa is actually doing it! It was really happening!

Mac held onto Mazie shushing her as he watched a miracle happen. His Pa was taking a new wife and he was smiling. Mac listened through the whole thing until he thought he finally heard the last of it.

Pastor Paul was rocking back and forth on the heels of his boots grinning like a jackass.
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Harrison McGann. Harrison? You may now kiss your bride.”
Becca turned and looked deep in his eyes and saw hope for the future again in his face. Harrison saw her blue eyes twinkling with happiness and he decided then that he would go through Hell to keep them looking at him just like that.
Bending slowly placing his lips on hers, he felt the first jolt hit him. Softly at first and then he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her the way he always wanted to kiss his wife.
Becca had heard of passion from Auntie but she was not prepared for this thunderbolt. His lips felt so warm…and his scent was so male…and his arms felt so good around her…Harrison was leaving her senseless with this simple breathtaking kiss.

As the kiss ended he looked at her with such joy that Becca felt tears on her cheeks. She caressed his cheek on tip toes and kissed him again.

Pastor Paul chuckled and clapped.
“Whoa! My first double kiss! Wonderful! Alright Harrison, it looks like this woman is a keeper. Congratulations again you two. May you have many happy years together. I’ll go ahead and enter you in the census books too when I file your marriage at the courthouse.”
 

Mac looked at his Pa and his Ma together and said his own prayer of thanksgiving that she would stay. That she would care for them. Becca held out her arms as the children ran into them.

“It’s done, right Pa? She’s all ours now? Our new Ma?”
Becca kneeled down and hugged them.

“I’m all yours now. And I’m your Pa’s new wife. We’ll work together to make this a good life for all of us.”

The children squealed and danced clapping their hands.

Harrison watched the gaiety and never felt so happy in his life. Yes. He had finally gone crazy! Mac had somehow found a good woman for him and he had married her.
She wasn’t flighty. She didn’t have stars in her eyes. She wasn’t expecting love. But Harrison swore once again to make her happy. She was nothing like Delaney! He could tell in her eyes and her kiss. She had kissed him at the alter. Not once, but twice. Delaney turned her cheek to him at the alter and the wedding night was even worse.

Delaney complained bitterly as she laid there waiting for him to finish on their wedding night and looked disgusted as she turned away from him.

After she was pregnant again with little Mazie, she stopped sleeping with him all together. Harrison would never have that kind of woman again. This woman would sleep with him whether she loved him or not, or even whether she liked him or not! She had promised.
 

Harrison helped Becca up in the wagon and she hugged him around the waist and she didn’t let go! Harrison smiled at his good fortune. Yes, this woman was different. He was beginning to look forward to the wedding night.

The ride home was full of laughter and bouncing children. Becca was already deciding on a meal for tonight if she had the time and the right ingredients.

As they pulled into the front of the ranch house, Harrison got out and helped Becca down from the wagon. Mazie was next as Mac jumped out on his own.

Becca shooed everyone inside and had them change into their work clothes. That meant her too.

She had Harrison take her trunks into his room. Harrison set down the trunks and looked at her.

“You sure about this? You really want to be in here with me?”
Becca saw the nervous way he was looking. He wanted it and yet he wanted her to be sure.

Becca was a little frightened too but she nodded knowing it was right. It felt right to be with him. “Yes, Harrison. I’m sure. We are man and wife now. I’m sticking by your side. Here, help me with the buttons please? I need to get out of this fancy dress.”
Harrison fiddled with the small buttons and finally had her dress unbuttoned showing her beautiful back. He cleared his throat.

“Let me leave so you can change.”
Becca was trying not to be shy but she couldn’t help it.

“Thank you, Harrison. I won’t be but a minute.”

He left the room with a change of clothes as she quickly washed and dressed in her cotton work dress and apron.
Closing the bedroom door, she rushed to the kitchen to see what she could find for dinner.

She found a ham and sliced it to fry and boiled potatoes to mash. She found some carrots and peeled them boiling them to soften then bake then with honey butter and cinnamon.
She whipped up a batch of bread to rise and then made biscuits.

The final thing was coring apples to bake. Sugar, butter and spices with a crispy crust was best for a fast but tasty sweet.
 

She had just finished with the potatoes when she heard Harrison come in the kitchen. He smiled and sniffed the air. “It smells wonderful in here, Mrs. McGann.”

Becca giggled wiping her hands on her apron.

“I wanted to impress my new husband, Mr. McGann.”

Harrison chuckled and approached her wrapping her in his arms.
“You already did that when you said ‘I do’.”
Becca giggled standing on tip toes and kissed him. Harrison gave her a long look and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. His tongue swiping her lips to part. And as she did she finally felt what it was to kiss with passion running loose.
Their tongues danced together and Harrison moaned. Or was that her? She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him back.
Mac came running in the kitchen.

“Ah Pa! Quit kissin’ Ma and let her cook! I’m hungry!”
Harrison stood back and brushed her cheek.
“Okay, Mac. Okay. I can’t help it. She’s my new wife and I’m gonna kiss and hug on her a lot.”
Becca smiled looking forward to that and got back to work. The table was set so the food began to be set on the table as Harrison washed up.
Becca’s new family sat down to fried Ham, mashed potatoes, honeyed carrots, stewed tomatoes and biscuits. Harrison sat at the table looking at the feast thinking he had struck gold. The meal was looked delicious.

He and Mac ate like they hadn’t eaten that day. Mazie smacked away at her ham biscuit and sweet carrots.

“Now I have dessert too, so leave some room. It’s baked apple dumplings with sweet cream.”
Harrison thought he would cry.
Delaney never baked. Shit! She hardly ever cooked. Big John did most times. Delaney knew he loved baked goods and made sure she never made them.

Becca already had baked the best biscuits he ever ate, with fresh bread rising to put in the oven and now apple dumplings. He was almost dizzy with pleasure. Yes, he was a very lucky man!

“Becca, thank you. This is the best meal I’ve ever had. I’ll tell you now I love baked goods.”

Becca grinned. Even if she never came to be in love with him, she knew he would care for her and protect her.
“I love baking, Harrison. You can count on me to indulge your sweet tooth.”
She looked at Mac and Mazie waiting for their sweet. Harrison moaned as he took the first bite.
“Lord God! This is good! Becca, I’m impressed.”
Becca chuckled and took a bite of her apple dumpling knowing she was finally at a place to call her home.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Becca had washed dishes and Harrison dried them. Becca put to bed Mazie and Mac. They even allowed her to tuck them in. She kissed them both good night.
She stepped down the hall and Harrison was waiting for her. “Are you ready, Becca? I want to make love to my wife.”