No Place for a Lady (39 page)

Crystal slowly lifted her eyes to look at Luke's pleading blue
ones. His nearness made it difficult to breathe. "I'm so embarrassed that I just assumed a role that I was not entitled to. What
will everyone think?"

"It doesn't matter what they think as long as we set it straight.
They won't care, believe me. They love you, and you have treated
us all like family. Just like Kate did. I wouldn't have expected any
less." Luke continued to hold her hands. "I never meant to hurt
you. I wanted to protect you. Don't you see? I don't care about the
ranch, I care about you, and I don't think I could live without you
if you left. I realized that fact on the trail drive, and that's why I
had to break it off with April. I'm sorry for everything you've had
to go through since you came here. And I'm sorry for all your
losses you had in Georgia. I'm sorry for that smart comment
about Drew too. If you'd let me, I'd like to take away that loneliness you have. I want us to be real partners, Crystal, if you'll have
me. I've already been praying about this, and I believe we would
have God's blessing."

"Oh, Luke, I'm sorry too;' she whispered. "I was afraid that
you really wanted Aspengold instead of me. I have judged you
wrongly."

His fingers reached up to graze her face, and he pulled her to
his chest. Crystal welcomed his embrace and encircled his back
with her arms. She was right where she'd always wanted to be
since the first day she'd met him. Thank you, God. You've kept
the best for last.

Crystal pulled back and turned her face up to him, inviting
a kiss. Luke was so tall that he had to lean down and lift her up
to kiss her. Crystal had waited months for this kiss. A flicker of passion quickened deep within her heart as she returned his kiss.
His moustache tickled her upper lip, and she giggled and pulled
back for air, breathless.

"You are so beautiful, Crystal, inside and out. I love you and
cannot bear thinking of spending one day of my life without you"
Luke set her feet back on the floor. His eyes shone, full of love
and expectation.

"I love you too, Luke. But you know I can't cook very well. Are
you sure about this?" Crystal laughed, but she seriously wanted
to know if he loved her with all her flaws.

"That's one of the things I love about you-your honesty and
humor. Don't ever change. I love everything about you:" He pulled
her to him and crushed his lips against hers again. "Don't guess
I'll ever get that fried chicken?"

"Together we might have fun learning how to whip up a whole
dinner on the church grounds" She reached up to touch his eyebrow with her thumb. "Yes, I think it'll be fun to live in the Wild
West."

A black-crested, brilliant blue Steller's jay swooped down and
perched on the ledge of an open window of the little white church,
as though called to be a witness of the ceremony taking place
inside. The day couldn't be a more perfect one on this pristine
June afternoon. Despite a chilly start, it had warmed to an agreeable temperature. Luke couldn't be happier than he was at this
moment. He surveyed the small room and smiled to see so many
in attendance.

Guests crammed the pews. Friends, cowboys, farmers of the
Yampa Valley, and merchants from Steamboat had driven miles,
excited to be a part of this happy occasion. Emily, now expecting
again, sat with Jube's arm curled protectively around her shoulders. Luke nodded at them. He was tickled for them and prayed
that God would protect this child. Kurt sat with the Johnsons.
Everyone Luke cared about was here, except Kate and Curly, and
he felt his eyes sting at the thought.

He was surprised to see the McBride family present. April was
sitting between her parents, and josh was next to his mother.
Crystal insisted on inviting them. Luke guessed that April didn't want to miss any social event if there were eligible men present.
When he had run into her in Steamboat, he'd talked to her, but
she had been cool toward him. Luke didn't wish her any ill will.
He hoped one day she could find happiness, and he prayed God
would change her heart.

The organ music started playing the wedding march, and Luke
and Reverend Alden turned to face the back of the church, awaiting the moment Crystal would walk down the aisle.

Carmen entered in a green gown. Hadn't he seen that somewhere?

Even though it was a mild day, Luke was sweating beneath
his necktie and vest. His nervousness took him by surprise. He'd
waited all winter for this very moment.

He had stayed in the bunkhouse, despite Crystal's offer to move
into a hotel, and had spent a lot of time with Rusty, fixing up the
log house when weather permitted. Crystal had decided that she
and Luke would move into her aunt's larger room once they were
married, so Rusty had helped her clean the room and get it ready
for the couple. Luke had wanted to make sure that he and Crystal
would have free time to get to know each other more and, who
knows, maybe start a family.

Now it was all he could do to wait, and he nervously shifted
his weight from one leg to the other.

Crystal entered the church door on Rusty's arm, an exquisite
vision of loveliness, and Luke's chest swelled with pride as she
glided down the aisle toward him. He knew Mary had created
the wedding gown from the cream silk fabric he had recovered
after the tornado.

He was so glad he had found it now, after seeing what a beautiful wedding dress Crystal and Mary had designed. The columbine
broach was pinned on the lace at her throat. She wore the cream
hat but had attached a thin layer of tulle that fell over her face.
Luke could see her eyes shining brightly beneath it. He smiled
widely at her, his clammy hands hanging at his side.

In her hands she carried a bouquet of bright blue columbines
held together with cream ribbons. Luke swallowed the huge lump
that had formed in his throat. Thank you, God, for this gift you
have given me. I will make you and Kate proud.

Crystal was barely aware of the approving sighs from the guests.
She could not take her eyes off her handsome bridegroom. She
walked toward the front of the church, where he stood waiting
with the reverend. The love she saw shining in the depths of his
blue eyes covered her like warm sunshine covered the wildflowers. He looked so handsome in his new suit.

Her heart was thumping hard against her chest, and she gave
him her best smile, though her bottom lip quivered. Don't cry
now. Thoughts of her parents and Kate threatened to cause her
to crumble. She pushed the sad feelings aside, knowing that they
would all be happy that she had found the love of her life and a
new beginning.

It had been a very long winter indeed, cold and harsh, but the
one thing that had kept Crystal's spirits up was looking forward
to the future. When the aspen leaves had turned from their scarlet
colors and had fallen to the ground, leaving their limbs bare in the
winter, she had leaned on God and His promises. In the spring,
when tiny green buds had begun to sprout on the aspen trees, it
seemed a signal to her of the new inner strength and hope she
had gained.

She had come a long way since she came to this rugged land
that was so foreign to her, and she loved the people here. Most of
them were genuine, honest, and hardworking folks determined to
carve out a future for their children. But, even more surprising,
she had come to love the land too, and the longings for Georgia
seemed to be a sweet memory.

Thank you, God, for bringing me out here to find this strong,
faithful man who wants to please You and care for me. I'm so grateful, Lord. For You know the thoughts that You think toward me ...
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give me an expected end.

She barely remembered Rusty saying, "I give this woman in
marriage;' as she handed her bouquet to Carmen, who was crying.
Reverend Alden took her hands and placed them in Luke's, and
they turned to face each other, hearts bursting with love, ready to
speak their vows in commitment to God before His people.

1896

Utica, Montana

I need a wife.

Josh McBride rode down a grassy slope to the sparkling creek,
allowing his horse, Pete, a drink while surveying with a keen eye
the parcel of land he'd purchased three years before.

It's pretty here-the best spot on God's good earth.

But that didn't keep him from feeling lonely.

He was enjoying the beautiful Montana mountains this morning, and the satisfaction of pursuing his own dream and place in
the world instead of his father's. On these solitary morning rides,
he treasured the peace and privacy with his Creator, feeling His
presence.

He took his bandana from his neck and dipped it into the cold
stream to wipe his face. The creek narrowed at this juncture to
not much more than a trickle, or Josh might have missed the
handful of small blue pebbles that had collected there. Reaching into the icy water, he scooped the pebbles up for a closer look. The sunlight reflected off the translucent blue pebbles,
their hue unlike anything josh had ever seen. Instinctively he
knew these were not just blue pebbles or ordinary stones, but
what he did not know was how they would ultimately change
his life forever.

Josh slipped the handful of blue stones into his leather vest
pocket and mounted his horse. He headed back to the grassy rise
overlooking the valley, pausing to gaze with pride at his sizable
herd of sheep. Suddenly Josh's white and amber dog, Shebe, ran
up to gaze at him lovingly, her tongue lolling from the side of
her mouth.

"Hey, girl. Looking for me?"

Shebe's short bark was her answer, and josh laughed. "We've
sure been through some lonely times, haven't we, girl?"

"Boss McBride!" A rider below waved his hat at josh and pushed
his horse up the grassy ridge.

Josh called back a greeting to his youngest sheepherder, Andy,
and nudged Pete's flanks with his boot heel. He'd left his spurs
behind when he rode off his father's cattle ranch. Besides, he and
Pete understood each other perfectly. Josh sometimes thought
Pete and Shebe understood him better than anyone else, and his
affection for his horse and sheepdog ran deep. But still, he wanted
a wife. A dog and a horse could not take the place of a companion
and fill the lonely space in his heart.

"What's up, Andy?" Josh reined Pete in next to Andy's horse.

"There's a grub-line rider down at the camp. Said he was passing
this way from Lewistown. Think he said his name was Charlie:"

"Does he want to join up, or is he just looking for a place to
light for a few days?"

"I'm not sure, Boss. Reckon you'd better talk to him yourself.
He's a bit different, and carrying some strange-looking canvas case
with him." Andy folded his arms across his saddle horn, waiting
for the boss's direction.