Bargain Bessie Final Chapter

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Jubilee Springs, Colorado – first Sunday of October 1881

Chapter 13

~o0o~

E

ddie Joe fidgeted while he stood next to Zeb at the front of the community church. His unease had nothing to do with wearing what he called his town clothes. His leather vest over a tan collarless shirt on which, at Zeb’s insistence, he had attached a stiff white collar and wore a black string tie, felt comfortable enough. He did not own a suit coat, but wore his dark tan leather duster instead. He also wore his newest pants and boots—clothes good enough he would not feel ashamed to wear them at his own wedding. No, the irony of the situation annoyed him.

            Here he had been writing to a couple of women for months, and he had yet to see a bride arrive in Jubilee Springs for him. On the other hand, all it took was for the boss to decide one time to make the trip into the Springs for supplies, and the next thing he knew, Zeb announced his upcoming nuptials. As pleased as he felt over Boss getting married so there would be another woman on the ranch besides Juanita, he would feel better about the whole situation if he knew when one of his letters would pan out and a woman would agree to come to Monarch Bend to marry him.

            “Quit squirming, Eddie Joe. I’m nervous enough as it is without you bouncing around. Whoever came up with the idea of having church weddings to marry people, anyway? This standing around waiting is driving me crazy.”

            Eddie Joe forced himself to be still as he eyed his boss. Nothing ever seemed to faze Zeb Jacobson—well, except getting married, it appeared. “I suppose you could have taken her down to the county courthouse in Buena Vista and said your words before the judge. However, most folks feel getting married at the church puts God’s approval on the whole affair.”

            “I’ve got nothing against doing this at the church. It’s just that we already sat through an hour of preaching and singing only to be told she needed time to change into her wedding dress. What was wrong with what she wore to church? I just want to get this over with. Bessie and I have a train to catch.” Zeb twisted around to study the back of the chapel. “Where is that woman, anyway?”

            “Not until Tuesday morning, Boss. The train, I mean. Hear-tell women take weddings real seriously, Boss. They want just the right gown to marry in to make sure they look their best. She’s probably outside fluffing her veil, or something. In the meantime, Boss…ah…the boys in the pews behind us are keeping an awful close eye on you. You might want to hold still and not say much, so as to not give them much to talk about after this is all over, if you get my meaning.”

            Zeb turned and took a deep breath as he once again stared at the front of the building. “You’re not helping, Eddie Joe. You sure you have everything set up so things at the ranch will run smoothly while Bessie and I are gone?”

            Eddie Joe grinned and answered with exaggerated patience. “Yes, Boss, we went over all this yesterday, and nothing’s changed. And, as you pointed out to me about a month ago, you’ve been going on these buying trips in October for years. Until you get back, we’ll do like we’ve always done.”

            Zeb muttered to no one in particular. “First time I’ve ever made the trip with a wife. Don’t want her to come home to a bunch of problems.”

            Eddie Joe glanced over his shoulder and nudged Zeb. “I think she’s coming.”

            This time as Zeb turned to face the back of the sanctuary, Eddie Joe watched as Zeb’s smile erased the worry lines that had creased his forehead. No doubt about it, Zeb liked what he saw. Her hand on her Uncle Simon’s arm as she walked down the aisle, Bessie wore a stylish two piece suit, deep gold in color, which brought out the gold tones in her dark brown hair. A short veil crowned with fall leaves and yellow flowers Eddie Joe could not name highlighted the white lace collar and pearl buttons on the front of her gown. She carried a bouquet to match. Her bright brown eyes appeared focused on her groom, just as Zeb’s gaze seemed to have blocked out everything but the sight of his bride.

            Shuffling feet and a few low murmurs prompted Eddie Joe to turn to the ranch hands sitting behind him. His glare warned them he would not tolerate any shenanigans during the ceremony. It had taken some doing on his part to convince Zeb life was passing him by, and it was time for him to find a good wife. He also had a feeling this was a one-time event for his boss. He refused to allow the men to turn this day into a circus. Fortunately, they seemed to get the message and immediately settled down.

            As Bessie joined Zeb before Pastor Alwin, Eddie Joe folded his hands in front of him and stood to his boss’s side, just as Desi Brinks stood as a witness on the other side of her niece. Soon the solemn words—words Eddie Joe hoped to hear spoken and responded to by him and his bride before too much time passed—were spoken. Promises were exchanged, and Boss placed a gold band on Bessie’s finger. Eddie Joe stepped back and, with a big smile on his face, watched as his boss kissed his new wife.

~o0o~

            From the time she had agreed to marry Zeb, Bessie had felt like she was living in a dream. Who would have guessed that, at her age, she would have found just the perfect man for her? What made the situation even sweeter, he had made it clear from the start that he felt she was perfect for him.

            Bessie had expressed her gratitude more than once to Simon and Desi for all the help they had given. First, they helped her move to Jubilee Springs. Second, they helped her prepare for this wedding and her new life on Jacobson Ranch.

            On those days she was unable to be with Zeb during the month between her engagement and the actual wedding seemed agonizingly long. Unfortunately, that same month felt frightfully short every time she read through her list of everything that needed to be done before the wedding so she could board the train afterwards.

            Bessie smoothed the silk of the gown she and Desi had made for the wedding, grateful she had decided against wearing white, which had become increasingly popular ever since Queen Victoria in England had worn white for her wedding. The deep gold suit with its modest bustle would be stylish and comfortable to wear while traveling on the train and for any events she and Zeb might attend during the weeks they planned to spend in Denver. He already warned her he intended to take her shopping. However, even though she had been raised in a family that had more money than most, and she was used to a large wardrobe full of stylish clothes, she did not want a closet-full of fancy gowns. One or two would be nice for those times they traveled to Denver. Otherwise, she preferred to dress suitably for her new role as a ranch wife.

            Bessie stretched forth her left hand to again study the beautiful gold ring Zeb had placed upon it not even an hour before. How blessed she was, at her age, to have found love and marriage.

            “Having second thoughts, Mrs. Jacobson?”

            Upon hearing the teasing words her husband whispered in her ear, she turned and offered him a smile. “No, Mr. Jacobson, I’m not. You’re stuck with me now.”

            “That’s good.” Zeb leaned back and surveyed the room. After the church services and wedding, most of those who attended followed them to the River Valley Inn where Zeb had reserved the dining room for a reception. He turned his gaze back to her, the intent behind the glint in his eyes unmistakable. “I have a room upstairs for us, you know. I had Simon already put your trunk and valise up there before the reception. How long before we can sneak away from the festivities and go our room to be alone?”

            Bessie choked back a laugh. “We still need to cut the wedding cake. How long we stay after that may depend on how nice you are to me when it comes to us feeding each other bites of cake.”

            Zeb leaned in with a whisper. “I may just smash it all over your face just to give us an excuse to go off by ourselves on the pretext of cleaning you up.”

            Her eyes still alight with humor, Bessie shook her head. “Oh, no, please don’t do that. I plan to wear this gown on the train tomorrow. I don’t want anything to stain it.” Bessie closed her eyes as Zeb placed his cupped palm against her cheek. She also wished to leave the celebration for others to enjoy so she could be alone with her new husband.

            Zeb heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Then I will behave myself, Mrs. Jacobson—for a little while. However, as soon as the cake is cut and the obligatory bites shared, it will be time for you to toss your bouquet. Then the two of us will sneak away so we can be by ourselves. At my age, I can’t afford to waste time, especially when it comes to being alone with my wife, the woman I love. I am pushing forty, you know.”