Page 45

D aisy stood back and looked at herself in the cheval mirror that had been left behind when the last renters moved out.

Her white dress might not be fitting in some folks’ eyes, considering her past, but it did look like something straight out of Godey’s anyway.

“This is far more beautiful than the dress I wore to my first wedding,” she whispered.

“But whatever am I going to do with it after today?”

“You are going to pack it in your trunk and wear it for Claude every year on your anniversary,” Lily told her, then gave her a hug. “I’m going to miss you so much. Write to me often and let me know how things are going. I can’t believe that you are really leaving.”

“I will,” Daisy promised. “Do you think the others will make it in time for the wedding?”

“I do,” Lily answered. “Mainly because I hear a wagon coming right now.”

Daisy swung the door open and squealed, “They’re here at the farm! They really are, Lily. Elijah, bless his heart, got them here before the wedding.”

“Did I hear there was a bride needing a ride to the church?” Elijah called out.

“Yes, you did, and thank you,” Lily answered. “But y’all stay in the buggy. We’ve got to be at the church in just a few minutes.”

Elijah hopped out of the driver’s seat, opened the door into the back, and helped Daisy and Lily inside. “I’ll get the whole bunch of you there. Not to worry, Lily. I can see you are wondering where their things are, right?”

“I am worried that they might change their minds about staying and decide to go somewhere else,” she said as she sat down on the seat in front of the other three.

Holly adjusted her hat and tucked a strand of light brown hair back behind her ear.

Her brown eyes sparkled when she said, “Not a chance. We already love this place better than Nechesville. We looked for a letter from you right up through this morning when we boarded the train, so we just prayed that you would take us in.”

“I wrote to you the very next day after we got your note,” Lily said. “I suppose that letter saying we were glad you were coming to the farm is somewhere between here and there.”

Daisy smoothed the front of her skirt. “But since it didn’t arrive, then count this as a welcome.”

“Thank you, but—”

Daisy reached over and took Holly’s hand in hers. “No but s today. Just be happy for me.”

“Okay, but would you please tell us what was in that letter?” Iris asked. She was the only woman of the seven with jet-black hair and clear blue eyes. Miz Raven used to say that Iris was the dark red rose in her bouquet of flowers, and with her short fuse, no one had better mess with her.

“That you are welcome to stay here with us,” Lily answered.

“That we have a house for two of you, and the other one can move in with me since Daisy is—or rather has moved out. That she is getting married today and joining a wagon train going north tomorrow morning. And that we are having a party at the campsite tonight as her reception.”

And I really don’t want to go and deal with Abigail on Daisy’s special day.

“Now, please tell me you were not run out of town without even your personal things,” she said.

“Another wagon is bringing our trunks. We didn’t expect to be picked up in a fancy buggy,” Jasmine added. “I want to hug both of you, but I’ll wait until we are at the church.”

“This is a lot to take in. Until Mr. Elijah told us that we were going to a wedding, we had no idea that ...” Holly paused and focused Daisy. “You are a beautiful bride. But are you sure about this? You can’t have known this man very long.”

“I’m very sure,” Daisy answered.

“Does he know?” Iris whispered.

Daisy nodded and shifted her focus from one woman to the others.

“He knows ...” She went on to tell them the story that Matt had told Lily.

“We kind of fell into a pile of fresh horse manure in Autrie when Cooter Wilson stirred up all that trouble. But then we were welcomed out here, and all that was washed away, and we came out smelling like roses without even the first thorn on the stem. Lily and I both feel like a higher power has led us to where we are.”

“Well, then, I hope that higher power is still working for us,” Jasmine said.

The buggy came to a stop, and Elijah opened the door for them. “Ladies, I believe we are at the church, with five minutes to spare. Do all y’all, except our bride, want to go on inside and find a seat?”

“I’ve got to get out and give my friends a real hug before I go into the church,” Daisy said and followed the rest of the women out of the buggy. “And, Lily, you can’t go in just yet. You and Matt are walking in together since he’s the best man.”

“This is really happening, isn’t it?” Holly asked as she used her hand to wipe the dust from her dark green skirt.

“It is,” Lily answered, “and I’m going to miss her something fierce.”

Daisy gave her a hug. “These three will help keep you busy.”

Claude’s sister, Mary, and her family parked their wagon right behind the buggy, and she hurried over to hand Daisy a bouquet of yellow roses. “A bride needs flowers,” she said with a smile.

“Thank you. That is so sweet,” Daisy said.

Evidently Mary had a sweet, forgiving nature and wasn’t at all like her cousin Abigail.

“You are beautiful. My brother is going to be speechless. Now, we’ve got to get on in the church.

One little girl is tougher to get dressed than all four of her brothers.

We’ll see all y’all at the reception,” Mary said and then turned to whisper in Lily’s ear, “Abigail told me how she felt about you. Don’t pay any attention to her.

She’s the baby of the family, and quite spoiled. ”

Easier said than done, Lily thought, but she said, “Thank you.”

“What was that all about?” Daisy asked when she was waiting outside with her friends.

“She was just wishing me well,” Lily lied. “Your dream is coming true in a few minutes, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.” Daisy’s eyes sparkled. “I never thought I would find this kind of love. Be happy for me?”

“You know that I am,” she replied. “But we’ve been like sisters so long.”

“No, darlin’, we are cousins,” Daisy said with a nervous giggle.

Miz Raven’s British accent was back in her head again. No dark clouds in the sky to warrant a bad sign. A lovely breeze is blowing, so everyone in the church won’t be scorching hot in their best finery. A party awaits the new bride and groom. Don’t be sad for yourself. Be glad for them.

Exactly what I want for Daisy, and I won’t be sad, Lily promised.

“All seven of us will forever be more than just cousins. We are sisters of the heart,” Daisy whispered. “I hear piano music. That means you and Matt are supposed to walk inside now. I will be right behind you in a few minutes.”

“You ladies look so beautiful,” Matt said when he reached them. “Are we ready, Lily?”

“I am if you are,” she answered and kissed Daisy on the forehead. “See you on the other side.”

Daisy grinned and blew her a kiss as she walked away; then she turned to Elijah. “I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything for you,” Elijah said.

“I’m a little nervous and could sure use an arm to lean on as I walk down that aisle. Would you please give me away?” she asked. “You’ve been so good to me and Lily, and supported us when very few others would, especially after you knew our background.”

Elijah looped her arm through his. “I would be very honored. I’m going to miss you and Claude both, but a person has to find his own path, even if it leaves loved ones behind.”

She rose on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for this and everything else.”

Elijah straightened his back and put a broad smile on his face. “Let’s get this over with so I can dance with the pretty ladies from the wagon train.”

Lily had only been to a couple of weddings, but never one where the church was packed and where she was the maid of honor.

Her hands trembled as she let go of Matt’s arm and took her place on the other side of the pulpit.

She locked eyes with Matt and wished that she was the bride that day, or maybe that she and Daisy were having a double wedding.

Then there was Daisy and Elijah in the doorway. Her best friend looked radiant, and it seemed so fitting that Elijah was playing the part of the father who gives away the bride.

Trust. That was the only word that Miz Raven had to say to her during the whole ceremony.

Then the preacher pronounced the bride and groom husband and wife , and said, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may kiss your bride, Claude.”

Claude cupped Daisy’s face in his hands and kissed her—long, lingering, and passionately—and the whole congregation clapped and whistled for them.

When the noise died down, the preacher said, “Now, let’s all go out to the wagon train camp for the reception.

Claude and Daisy will be leaving with them tomorrow morning, so bring out the bagpipes, the fiddles, and the flutes, and let’s give them a good old Irish send-off. I know Uncle Elijah loves to dance.”

“Yes, I do!” Elijah shouted from the front pew, then rushed outside.

Claude and Daisy got into Elijah’s buggy in a hailstorm of rice, and Elijah drove away with them.

Matt slipped his arm around Lily and said, “You and your friends can ride in my wagon. I should have brought a buggy, but I didn’t know how many we would be transporting.

We have to go slow, though. Mama made the wedding cake.

I’m in charge of getting it out to the camp, and even if I am twenty-six years old, she will take a switch to me if I ruin it. ”

“We’ll ride in the back,” Holly said. “I will protect that beautiful cake with my life.”

Matt helped each lady into the back of the wagon and then rounded the side and hopped up on the buckboard beside Lily.

“You are even prettier than the bride,” Matt said. “When are we going to do this?”

“Someday, when the man who is courting me does the asking,” she answered with a sly wink. But hidden deep within her heart, a small doubt lingered when Abigail’s words came back to haunt her.