The Diary of Jerrod Bently, J.W. Osborn [the false prince series TXT] 📗

replied as he walked out the door “See you at the wedding.” He seemed to be in a hurry, so I went on my way to the main house. The wedding was to be held at one o’clock and I hoped everything would go smoothly. As I thought about Sam’s Aunt Lillie I wished that we’d eloped like Brian and Essie had. When I reached the back door of the kitchen, I could smell the coffee and knew Esparanza was at work. What I did not expect to find was that she had company and she was feeding him breakfast. “Good morning, Jerrod Bently,” Scrub Pot said as he poured molasses over a stack of buckwheat cakes. The Mexican cook smiled at me as she stirred a pot on the stove. “Sit down, bridegroom,” she said “You will not be eating with the ranch hands this morning.” For that I was grateful.

Sam woke up with the early morning sun streaming through her window. Today was the day that The Flying S would legally become hers just as soon as she was a married woman. At one time that was all that had mattered to her, and she had not expected to fall in love. But now it seemed that Jerrod Bently had always been in her life. At first he annoyed her, then his courage and willingness impressed her. Sam was a stubborn girl and admitting to her feelings about him had been hard, but they could not be denied. After today, she would be forever changed. Jerrod had been there for her when she needed him the most, and somewhere between Texas and Portersville, she had fallen hard for him and knew she could not live the rest of her life without him in it. His crooked smile and those blue eyes of his just melted her, even when she was furious with him. He was far beyond just a handsome man, he was beautiful both outside and with in and how she loved the way he made her feel when they were together. “Together,” she whispered to herself “like Victoria and Uncle Elliot.”
There came a light tapping on her door. “Sam?” It was Victoria. “Are you up?”
“Come on in,” Sam replied with a yawn.
Victoria opened the door and came in, carrying with her a lovely pastel blue dress she bought at a dress shop in Waco. She held it in front of herself , showing it to Sam. “What do you think?”, she asked.
“It’s pretty,”Sam replied as she got up out of her bed and crossed the room to sit down at a dark wooden dressing table. “Are you going to tell him?”
“Tell him what?”, Victoria replied absently as she toyed with the lace on the scooped neckline of the dress she was planning to wear for the wedding.
“The baby.,” Sam prompted “I was looking at you last night and it isn’t much yet, but it looks to me like you are starting to show a little.”
Victoria ran her hands over the front of the calico dress she had on. “It is a little tight,” she said with a sly smile. “I will tell him today.”
Sam began to brush her long dark hair “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course, honey,” Victoria replied as she lay the new dress down on the bed.
“Remember when I was trying on all those things, with that dress that Aunt Lillie brought?
“Yes,” Victoria replied “I told you that I did not think you needed them.”
“I know,” Sam replied “But I kind of liked the way they made me look. And you said you thought Jerrod would like it.” Victoria giggled and blushed a little. “Oh.” she said knowingly “I think I understand. You want to wear that corset and those fancy lace drawers under your mother’s wedding dress.”
Sam blushed too, “Yes,” she said slyly” But not that bustle. I want to surprise Jerrod. A Blackfoot bride doesn’t wear anything under her dress, but I think I will.”
“I love it!,” Victoria agreed “Where is the dress. I have not seen it yet.” A look of panic came over Sam’s face. “Oh no!,” she cried “I left it in the cabin over at Bear Claw.” Victoria was a woman who easily took charge when it looked like things might be staring to fall apart. Sam looked at the large white box sitting next to her dresser and glowered at it “I am not wearing that contraption,” she stated firmly.
“How far it is over to Bear Claw?”, Victoria asked “Fancy is a very fast horse, and I think I could make it and back in time if I leave right now.”
“You are pregnant, Aunt Victoria, “ Sam replied as she started to gather her riding clothes “I will go myself.”
“Sam it is your wedding day,” Victoria defended “You can’t... “ The knock that sounded on the door cut her off. It was Essie Wilburn-Dodge. “I heard you two in here and thought I would stop by to wish you the best,” she said as she walked in. “The best may not happen, Essie,” Sam replied worriedly “the dress I was planning to wear today is still at grandfather’s cabin. “
Essie looked at her “I- I can go,” she said “I remember the way.” Sam had ridden back from the cabin with her and Brian the day before and was confidant that she was a good enough rider to do it.
“It’s about an hour’s ride, Essie,” Sam said “ Do you think you can make it?
“Yes,” the girl who was now her sister- in- law replied “I can. Where is the dress?”
“I left it on the table. There are a few other bundles with it. Bring them all.”
“Give me a good horse, and I will be back here as quickly as possible,” Essie promised.
“All right,” Sam replied “Go tell Brian to saddle my mare. She is the fastest horse I have other than my stud and no one rides him but me. Desert Rose will get you there and back fast..”
Essie whirled around “I will be back in plenty of time.” she said and ran from the room shouting for Brian. A very short time later, Sam and Victoria heard her leaving. Sam ran to the window and watched Essie on Desert Rose race down the lane to the back fields. Sam turned to Victoria and smiled “She rides right well for a city girl,” she said “I think she will do just fine here in Texas.”
“Me too,” Victoria agreed. “Can I help you with your hair.”
Sam sat down at her dressing table again. In the drawer were strings of colorful Indian beads. She showed them to Victoria, “Want to braid these into my hair?”, she asked. “Like I showed you back in Porterville.”
Victoria laughed “I remember,” she said “ Let’s get started and hope that Essie makes it back here fast.”
Victoria had just lifted the glossy dark strands and was reaching for the first string of beads when the door opened and in walked Lillie Stevens-Black. “Ah, Samantha,” she cooed “Your wedding day is finally here. The most important day of a young woman’s life.”
“Good morning, Aunt Lillie,” Sam replied warily as Victoria picked up the hair brush and brushed Sam’s long hair . Lillie seemed to ignore her sister- in- law as she bustled about the room, pulling that dreadful wedding dress and all the accessories out and laying them on the bed. “There,” she said in great satisfaction “I have it all ready for you.” She turned to Victoria “Have you seen my maid?” Victoria continued to gather Sam’s tresses together “No, Lillie,” she lied “I haven’t. Go ask Doc. Maybe he has seen her.”
“Elliot, dear,” the woman corrected “I have never understood why my brother uses such a ridiculous pseudonym. “
”I think Doc suits him just fine,” Victoria stated firmly “Now Lille Belle, don’t you have something to do?” The cold look in her brown eyes told Lillie that it was time to leave Sam’s bedroom and go on about her business.
“Of course,” she stammered as she went to the door “You will need my help with the dress,” she added, “Call me when you are ready. I am going to the kitchen to supervise Esparanza. I just detest lazy servants!”
If the brush she held in her hand had not been Sam’s favorite one, Victoria would have gladly hurled it at Lillie’s head, but she thought better of it and just smiled. Surely after the wedding this dreadful woman would be on the first stage out of town to return to her beloved Philadelphia. “If Doc doesn’t throttle her I will,” Sam ground out as she glared after her aunt.
“Don’t worry, Sam,” Victoria replied “We are going to have a big surprise for her when Essie gets back. Sam glanced over at the bed where Lillie had piled all the wedding garments including the corset and fancy drawers she was planning to wear and burst out laughing and she laughed until tears were rolling down her face . “We sure will,” she got out between giggled “And I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I,” Victoria agreed. “Now, Sam. How do you want me to do your hair?”
“Like a Blackfoot bride,” she answered “Want me to show you how to do it?”