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

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I was not allowed to see Sam. It was bad luck for the groom to see his bride before the wedding as I had been told by her Aunt Lillie. That was all right, for all of those months I ‘d waited for Sam, a few more hours weren’t going to matter. Victoria had assured me, earlier that morning when we met in the kitchen, that the wait would be well worth my time. Brian seemed a little nervous and worried about something and kept watching the back forty. I was not aware that he was anxiously waiting for his bride to return from Bear Claw. It was about an hour before we would say our vows and already guests for the wedding had begun to arrive. I watched Lillie Steven-Black as she greeted everyone and showed them where to put gifts, and where to sit. One would have gotten the impression that SHE owned the Flying S instead of Sam. However, she seemed to be pretty good with people, but I was glad she had not had time to look up and see Brian and me sitting on the step waiting for whatever it was that Brian was so anxious about. I’d seen Doc a few times since he’d come by the bunk house and give me Sam’s ring. I knew that everyone was somewhere doing something, and at the chosen time, we’d all assemble in our designated places. Strangely enough, I did not feel nervous at all, but Brian was up and walking the porch. Where was Essie? I ‘d passed the corral a few times in my travels that morning, but had not noticed that Desert Rose was gone or Trouble pacing and as nervous as my best man seemed to be. As Brian Dodge paced about the front porch of the ranch house, my thoughts turned to Scrub Pot and the early morning breakfast we’d enjoyed in Esparanza’s kitchen. What was going on between those two? When we got back to Grant’s Creek at the end of the summer, they seemed to really dislike one another, but now, something had changed. Oh well, it was none of my business . I looked down at the white linen wedding shirt Sam had gotten for me as a gift. It was a perfect fit when I pulled it on and looked at my reflection in that old mirror that hung in the bunk house. I’d changed a lot since my days in New York. My shoulders seemed much broader and maybe I stood a little taller than the five foot eight inch measure my Ma told me I was. Sam thought I was a handsome man, and never failed to tell me so. I loved her so much and in just a little while, we’d finally be saying our vows. I loved it all, her, the horses the ranch and Texas.


Victoria laced the delicate satin corset up the back and pulled it closed around Sam’s narrow waist “All right Sam,” she said “I am going to pull it tight now. Ready?”
“Not too tight,” Sam cautioned “I want to be able to breathe and I sure hope Essie gets back soon. We are running out of time.”
“Have faith, Sam,” Victoria replied as she began pulling laces “She’ll be here.”
“I hope so,” Sam said as she looked down at the corset and fancy lace drawers she had on,”I don’t want to get married in this.”
“Floyd Jax told me he’d never ridden a horse that was faster than your Desert Rose is, Sam. “ Victoria replied confidently “Bear Claw is not that far away. Essie will make it.”
A sharp knock sounded at the door again “Samantha?” Lillie called “Are you ready yet?” You know you don’t have much time.” The door opened and she swept in, giving her niece and Victoria a haughty look. Then she smiled when she saw Sam wearing the under garments she’d brought, “all the way from Philadelphia.”
“Samantha, it is too warm for you to put the dress on yet,” she rattled on “And what about your hair? Victoria? I would have thought you would have had that done by now. You will be wearing it up with the veil?” Victoria and Sam looked at one another. “I am doing her hair right now,” Victoria replied “Why don’t you go down stairs and check on the wedding cake. I’d feel a lot better to know that Doc brought it up from the spring house for me.”
“Very well,” Lillie replied “I have to work so hard to make things right. And, by the way, Victoria. Have you heard any thing about from or about my maid? She has been gone since last night. Surely those dreadful savages haven’t carried her off.”
“No,” Victoria replied, trying not to laugh out loud, “I don’t know where she is.”
“That ungrateful girl is out of a job when we get home to Philadelphia,” Lillie stated firmly “She is just too independent for her own good.” Sam bit her lower lip, trying not to burst out laughing and she could tell that Victoria was trying to remain serious too. Obviously, her aunt had no idea that Essie and Brian were planning to stay in Texas. “I’ll be back to check on you,” Lillie bantered “and get her hair up, Victoria. In Philadelphia , the cats and rats and mice style is all the rage. It is perfect for Samantha. If you don’t know how to do it, I will help you.”
At that Lillie bustled away to oversee the wedding cake. Sam and Victoria both heaved a sigh of relief as her left the room. “That was close,’ Sam said worriedly. At that moment they heard a horse coming fast up the trail from the back forty. Victoria closed her eyes “Thank you Lord,” she said. Sam flew to the window. “It’s Essie!“ she cried. Victoria whirled around and raced out the door and down the steps. She streaked passed Doc and Scrub Pot who were about to step outside to greet guests. It was twelve thirty by the tall grandfather clock in the foyer. Victoria sprinted to the paddock where Brian was taking charge of the lathered, heaving mare. “Essie,” Victoria cried “Give it to me!” Quickly Essie threw her two wrapped bundles, before she was even out of the saddle. “You did good, Essie!,” Victoria said “Now come get dressed we have very little time.”
Victoria was back in the house and in Sam’s room a few seconds later. Sam Dodge had never been so relieved as she was as her aunt handed her the bundles. There were tears in her eyes as she unrolled them on the bed, pushing aside all the lace and ruffles that lay there. “It was my Grandmother’s wedding dress,” Sam said “My mother wore it when she married my father.” She shook the beautiful doe skin garment out and held it in front of her. “Oh,” Victoria marveled “It is just beautiful. So perfect and it is you. It is who your are.”
“Siksika,” Sam said with tears of joy in her dark eyes.
“Blackfoot,” Victoria replied with a warm and loving smile “And you will look like a princess in that dress.”

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It was a glorious late autumn day. Early November with a crisp morning and a golden afternoon. The sherrif of Grant’s Creek showed up with his wife and family and from Bear Claw there were all those “wild savages” who had been happy to help Sam procure ownership of the Flying S Ranch and to rid themselves of a bad neighbor. Wolf Standing and his family were there in full regalia . Two cultures coming together for the uniting of a young couple.
From the parlor window, Scrub Pot looked out watching the people being seated on the chairs and benches that had been brought outside from the house. A tear was in his eye but he quickly blinked it away. “Why Zachariah Dodge!,” Doc declared as he walked in on the old man’s solitude “You look like a real preacher.” Scrub Pot was wearing a new pair of dungarees , his favorite boots , a white linen shirt with a vest made of deer skin. His long grey and black hair was in it’s traditional thick single braid and around his neck he wore a black bolo tie, tipped with silver that matched the slide. He looked elegantly handsome , his gray hat sitting on the parlor table next to his bible and his book of service.
“The women folk are still upstairs,” Doc said “My wife tells me that I can’t go up there. So I guess I will just wait here with you,” he added as he looked around the room. “Where is Bently?”
“Have faith, Elliot.,” Scrub Pot answered “He will be here. I gave Brian my shot gun a little while ago.”
Doc burst out laughing “No need for that, you old coyote,” he guffawed. Scrub Pot shot him a glare. “I didn’t give it to him for THAT!,” he stated “Esparanza wants to cook a rabbit and Brian said he would shoot one for her.” Doc chuckled as he sat down in one of the high backed leather chairs and set his black hat on his knee. He was wearing a clean crisp white linen shirt with a silk striped vest. His silver watch chain led down to his watch pocket, but he was not thinking of checking the time. His boots were clean