Page 4 of On a Midnight Clear
Angel stepped onto the train platform in Cheyenne and looked around for any sign of Vincent and his two children. She was still apprehensive about this arrangement, but after Granny’s suggested three days of prayer, Angel had been unable to come up with any reason to turn Vincent down.
When he first stepped from inside the depot, Angel couldn’t help sizing him up.
He looked the same as always. Handsome in that casual, country sort of way.
There was no pretense to Vincent. He had on a well-worn coat and trousers, black hat, and blue shirt and tie.
It wasn’t exactly Sunday-go-to-meetin’ clothes, but neither was it the expected shepherd’s attire.
The two children at his side were precious, and immediately her smile broadened.
The boy was the spitting image of his father, and the little girl with her braided pigtails appeared younger than her seven years.
It dawned on Angel all over again that she was about to take on the role of mother and wife. Her first words and actions would set the stage for all that was yet to come. She put down her valise and smiled.
“Angel, it’s good to see you again.” Vincent drew the children forward. “This is my son, Benjamin, and my daughter, Ava.”
Angel gave a nod toward each one. “I’m very happy to meet you both.”
The children said nothing.
“They’re kind of shy, and of course still grieving their ma.”
“Of course.” Angel sobered and knelt. “That loss will be felt for a long, long time. I know.” She looked first at Benjamin and then Ava. “I lost my mama when I was eight years old. It wasn’t easy to bear.”
“I’d forgotten about that,” Vincent murmured.
Angel straightened and stood. “It’s a loss you understand better than most.”
He looked away as if uncomfortable. “Do you have more luggage than that?” He nodded at the small valise beside her.
“I have a large trunk.” She fished into her purse and produced a ticket. “Here’s the claim for it.”
Vincent took the stub. “Let’s get it picked up, then. I have the justice of the peace waiting for us.”
Angel hadn’t known how things would be arranged.
She only knew that Granny had written to Vincent to tell him she was sending Angel for him to marry.
Angel had thought maybe there would be a time to get to know each other once again, but instead Vincent declared they were to be married immediately.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and followed after him and his children.
Could she really do this? The man she knew him to be had been practical and considerate.
There was no reason to believe he had changed.
Granny would have said as much if he had. Of course, maybe Granny didn’t know.
A half hour later, she sealed her fate and replied “I do” as the justice of the peace officiated over their wedding.
She wasn’t wearing anything at all ceremonial.
In fact, her plum-colored traveling suit was stained with soot and Angel was pretty sure she’d worn a hole in her left stocking.
She remembered the beautiful white satin wedding dress she’d worn for Cam.
She had sewn it herself and later sold it to a local dress shop.
She couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to buy a dress with such a sad history, but the owner assured her there would come a customer who didn’t care in the least and would give the gown a new, brighter history.
“Do you have a ring?” the justice asked.
“I didn’t think of one,” Vincent said, looking momentarily panicked.
“I have my mother’s wedding ring. We can use it.” She pulled the gold band off her right hand and handed it to Vincent. “Pa gave it to me to remember her by. Doesn’t matter which hand I wear it on. I’ll always remember her.”
He gave her a sheepish, apologetic smile. “Sorry that I forgot to buy one.”
“It’s quite all right.”
He placed the ring on her left hand and looked to the justice. “Is that all?”
“Just about.” The man closed his little black book. “You may kiss your bride.”
Vincent looked at Angel for a moment, then bent and gave her a very quick kiss on the lips.
“I pronounce you husband and wife. Sign here.” The justice of the peace pushed a piece of paper toward them.
And that was all there was to Angellyn’s wedding.
No flowers and no music. No church full of friends and family.
In all actuality, it reminded her of the time her father had bought a horse from the livery man in town.
They met, discussed the horse and the price, signed a paper, and headed home . .. with the horse.
Only this time, she was the horse.
Vincent stopped by the mercantile on the way out of town. He showed her a list of things he’d purchased for winter on the farm.
“We don’t get to town very often, so let’s go in and get anything else you think we might need that’s not on the list. I have two milk cows and a dozen chickens.
I’m due a bunch of pork, including hams, in trade for a ram.
It’ll be delivered in about two weeks. I didn’t get the garden planted this year, and there’s not much left in the way of canned goods.
Elsa always put up vegetables and meats for the winter months, but we’ll have to buy what we need this year. ”
Angel looked over his list. He’d already purchased a great deal of flour, lard, sugar, salt, and coffee. There was also an ample amount of oats and molasses. Seemed he was still practical.
“I should get some baking soda and powder, yeast and vinegar—oh, and a variety of spices.” She looked at Vincent to ascertain his reaction to this. “Canned goods too.”
“You might find other things once you’re inside.”
And she did. They shopped for nearly an hour with Vincent commenting on the children’s likes and dislikes, and the lack of fruits and vegetables in his pantry. By the time they finished, Angel was satisfied they had a strong start on surviving any lengthy period away from civilization.
However, as they journeyed away from the town and quickly met up with vast prairies of nothingness, Angel couldn’t help but wonder at what she’d just gotten herself into. She was now Mrs. Vincent Duran. A married woman with two children to care for.
God had given her a husband by Christmas. Two months early, in fact.
Merry Christmas to me.