Authors: Linda Bridey
Once he was done with Tim, Joe turned to Joey.
I’m proud of him for honoring his commitment to Snow Song. Look at that gleam in his eye! He’s been excited about marrying her ever since he proposed. It’s easy to see how much in love they are. That’s how I still feel about Lacey, so I understand. He’s not a boy anymore. He’s got to finish school and all, but he’s really a man now. He’s still gonna listen to me, though. All right, Joe. Enough of that.
Joey stood still while his father readjusted the tie he’d just done up and went over his tuxedo. He was as amused as Tim, but it didn’t irritate him. It was just one of the many ways Joe showed his love for people, and he loved no one more than his wife and children. It also reminded Joey of the way that Joe groomed a horse. No one was pickier about grooming than Joe, who never rushed through the job.
He remembered when Joe had started teaching him how to brush horses and pick their hooves out. A memory popped up unbidden and made him laugh aloud.
“I know I’m picky,” Joe said. “I can’t help it. You’re gettin’ married today and you only do that once. Well, you’re supposed to only do it once.”
“That’s not what I’m laughing at. I was just remembering the first time you let me pick out a hoof on my own,” Joey said.
“You couldn’t have been more than eight and you kept begging me to let you,” Joe said. “You kept sayin’, ‘I can do it, Daddy. I swear I can.’ You were so damn cute. You all were.”
Joey grinned. “That horse kept leaning on me, but I wouldn’t give up. I was gonna finish that horse’s hooves if it killed me.”
“I thought it was gonna,” Joe said. “Your face was beet-red from the weight that stupid horse was puttin’ on you, but you never complained until you were done and scolded him for it. The problem was that you shoulda scolded him while he was doing it.”
Lacey laughed. “But you didn’t tell him that did you?”
“No, because it was just so funny watching him turn red every time he went to clean one.”
They laughed together and then Joe pronounced Joey’s appearance perfect. “There. Now you’re ready for your bride.” Joe’s eyes misted over.
Tim said, “Don’t do that, Daddy. You’ll get Mama started.”
Lacey said, “That’s right. Knock it off, Joe.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Joey’s expression turned a little bashful. “Do you fellas mind if I have a word with Mama?”
Tim and Joe acquiesced without complaint and stepped out of the room.
“I know that the groom normally asks his father for marriage advice, but I’d like to hear what matters most to you as a wife. That’s not something Daddy would know,” Joey said. “I want to be a good husband.”
Lacey smiled up at him, remembering when she’d had to look down at him. The years had gone too fast. “Well, it’s simple. If there’s one thing Joe’s good at, it’s loving people. That’s what makes a wife happiest—knowing that her husband loves her more than anything. Your father never makes me wonder if he does or not. And if you love Snow Song like that, you’ll do anything to make her happy and she’ll do the same for you.
“You’ll have a wonderful marriage like ours if what makes you the happiest is making your mate happy. I’m not saying you won’t squabble or have hard times, but as long as that love is still there, you’ll work through whatever comes,” Lacey said.
Joey smiled. “I
do
love her more than anything, Mama. I know everyone was mad at us, but I’m not sorry about anything that happened. I’ve loved her for a long time and I want to be with her.”
“You’re right; we were furious with you,” Lacey said. “But with everything that happened and the war and all, there was no sense in staying angry. We’re very lucky to be gaining a daughter like Snow Song. We love her and I’m very happy for you.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
“You’re welcome. Besides, I can’t stay mad at you kids for very long.”
Joey hugged her. “I’m glad. I love you, Mama. Thanks for the advice.”
“You’re welcome, honey,” she said. “It’s almost time to start. We’ll let you know when to come out.”
“Ok,” he said, smiling as she closed the door behind her.
It was soon opened by Skip and Sawyer.
“Wow! Look at you,” Skip said. “You’re like a younger version of Joe. Sort of like you traveled through time. Wouldn’t that be great if you could do that? You could wait until you were old and knew all of the things you were supposed to fix and then go back and fix them. You know, like when you broke stuff as a kid that would get you in trouble? Or the right answers on a test! Hey, Mrs. Samuels says that school will start back up on Monday since the flu is starting to die out now. That means we’ll be playing football again, too. I’ll bet Mr. Dwyer is really glad you got your hair cut, huh?”
Joey laughed. “All that and you didn’t even take a breath. I guess that’s good about school. We’ll be back from our honeymoon on Sunday night, so I guess we’ll go on Monday. It’ll be fun being up at our cabin all alone.”
Sawyer shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re getting married and going on a honeymoon before me.”
Joey said, “Well, if you’d hurry up and ask Devon to marry you, you wouldn’t be that far behind me. You know you belong together.”
“It’s under advisement. I don’t want to rush anything,” Sawyer said. “We’re doing great right now and that’s the way I want it to stay.”
“Ok, but don’t wait forever,” Joey said. “That’s all I’m gonna say about that. You boys look good. Did Daddy fuss over you?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure he will,” Sawyer said.
“I wish you were standing up with me,” Joey said to him.
“I will be, just not up in front of everyone. I don’t want to sit in a chair up there and my shoulder won’t tolerate standing up there on crutches for that long,” Sawyer said.
“I understand. But I got my best man Skippy here,” Joe said, clapping him on the back. “And Tim, too. I wish Kyle was here, but I know he’s thinking about us.”
“That’s right,” Skip agreed.
The door opened and Matt smiled in at them. “Well, don’t you three look handsome? I’m ready for you, gentlemen.”
Joey grinned. “C’mon, fellas. It’s time for me to get hitched to the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
As they followed Matt to the huge drawing room where the ceremony would take place, Skip asked, “Aren’t you nervous?”
“Oh, yeah,” Joey said. “I don’t want to mess up my lines.”
“Vows, Joey. It’s not a play,” Skip said, chuckling.
“I still gotta say them and I don’t want to make a mistake,” Joey said.
Sawyer said, “Just take your time and you’ll be fine. You’ve seen enough weddings to know how it goes.”
Matt said, “It’s a little different when you’re the one getting married, though. I remember what that was like, but you’ll be just fine, Joey. Just follow my lead.”
“Thanks, Pastor Mac. I appreciate everything,” Joey said.
“You’re welcome,” Matt said as they lined up at the altar.
Tim joined them. “Ready, little brother?”
Joey nodded as he looked around at the wedding guests. All of the chairs were filled and people stood wherever there was room. He smiled at a lot of them as they waited for his bride.
*****
Zoe stifled her tears as best she could. Her baby was getting married and, being an emotional person, it was difficult not to cry. Snow Song was her father all over again in looks except for her slightly lighter skin tone. She was strong-willed and daring much like him, too. Watching Snow Song smooth her white satin dress that was adorned with colorful beads and fringes on the tight sleeves, she couldn’t believe how beautiful her daughter was.
Her short, coal black hair was shiny and her luminescent eyes needed no makeup to enhance them. Her straight, pretty nose was set above full lips that curved sweetly when she smiled. The dangling blue and white feather earrings she wore accentuated her long, graceful neck and her dress showcased her svelte figure.
Snow Song saw tears in her mother’s eyes and flapped her hands a little. “Ma! Stop it! You’re making me cry!”
“I can’t help it. I was just thinking about the day you were born. I can’t believe it’s been almost eighteen years ago. Beth said your grandfather paced and paced during the delivery. It’s so funny how wound up he gets whenever a baby is born,” Zoe said, laughing.
“I know. I can’t believe that he stayed with Beth while Jonathan and Bianca were being born,” Snow Song said.
Zoe giggled. “I wish you could have seen his face when he came out of their bedroom holding Jonathan. I thought he was going to pass out. Poor Beth. Jonathan was a big baby. So was Bianca. I know what that’s like and you might, too.”
“Don’t say that! Oh, God! I’m so nervous. I don’t want to cough or hiccup or do anything stupid during the ceremony. Pa better not let me trip or I’ll kill him. Of course, I’m not wearing high heels or anything. I shouldn’t trip in these slippers. I’m glad I’m not clumsy like you are.”
“Hey! That’s not nice,” Zoe said.
But it was true. Raven was forever having to save her from tripping or falling. He also caught things that she dropped before they hit the floor. It was like watching the two of them do a strange sort of dance.
“Poor Dusty,” Snow Song said. “It’s too bad you passed that on to him.”
Zoe said, “You shouldn’t make fun of your mother like that.”
Snow Song hugged her. “You know how much I love you. I’m so glad that you’re my mother. You’ve always been so loving and fun.”
Zoe embraced her tightly. “And I’ll still be those things to you. I can’t believe you won’t be living at home anymore. It’ll be so empty now with your brother and sister gone. Of course, it won’t be too long until they’re home, thank God.”
“I’m so excited for them to get home. I wish they could be here today,” Snow Song said. “I miss them so much.”
“Me, too, but we’re going to have a wonderful day and they’re here in spirit,” Zoe said, trying not to give in to her sadness over their absence. This was Snow Song’s special day and she didn’t want it marred by any sadness.
“You’re right.”
Her matron of honor and cousin, Kiya, came into the empty bedroom in the Dwyer mansion, followed by her bridesmaid, Devon. She’d felt it only right to include Joey’s sister in the ceremony. They looked beautiful in their turquoise blue dresses that matched some of the beads on Snow Song’s dress.
“They’re ready for us,” Kiya said. “Are you ready?”
Snow Song looked into her vibrant blue eyes. “No, but yes.”
Kiya smiled at her. “Don’t be nervous. I’m so happy for you. And jealous.”
Me, too,
Devon thought. She’d been wondering if Sawyer would propose to her again. She hoped so.
The door opened again and Raven’s big frame filled the doorway. His midnight eyes took in Snow Song’s beauty and he had to blink away the tears that threatened. Calling on his warrior’s detachment, he attempted to quell the wellspring of emotion inside.
His thoughts were much along the same vein as Zoe’s. It seemed as though the time between when he’d helped bring her into the world and now had passed like the blink of an eye. He remembered how the snow had fallen so quickly and the way the wind had sung through the trees as Zoe had labored and he’d urged her on.
Unlike his father, Raven became excited at the prospect of a new baby being born and he’d thoroughly enjoyed assisting in the birth of all three of their children. Snow Song had been named after the weather on that day. He’d asked Zoe if she wanted to choose a Christian name, but Zoe had loved the name he’d picked so much that she’d insisted that no other name was necessary. And now here she was about to get married and leave home.
Entering the room, he smiled at her. “You are beautiful, daughter,” he said in Lakota.
“Thank you, Father. It is time then?”
“Yes, they are waiting for us.”
Zoe hugged and kissed her then. “I’ll see you out there.”
“All right.”
Raven hugged Snow Song. “I love you and I am proud of you. Never forget that.”
“I won’t. I love you, too.”
He sighed and released her. To her bridesmaids, he said, “You both look beautiful as well.”
They thanked him and then left the room, heading down the hall to the dining room where they met up with Hunter and Jasmine, the ring bearer and flower girl respectively. Both of them had black hair like their father and Emily’s hazel eyes. They looked adorable in their fine clothing.
As they began the procession, they chatted with each other until Emily quieted them. It wasn’t long until they were talking again, though. Everyone smiled and chuckled as Hunter tried to instruct his sister on how to distribute the flower petals. Jasmine just rolled her eyes and told him to mind his own business.