Pioneer Love: Damaged Hearts Head West: Mail Order Bride 5 Bundle (8 page)

Chapter 2

Jolene let go of her best friend and looked her up and down before squealing, "Surprise. Did you miss me?"

Anna laughed and turned to the two men who stood watching the exchange with bemused expression on their faces. Finding it hard to control her joy Anna made the introductions. "Ryan, Ian, this is my best friend in the whole world, Jolene Tisdale. Jo, this is Ian, my betrothed, and his brother, Ryan."

Jolene turned towards the two men and curtsied.

Ian grinned so much he looked fit to burst. "So, you're the infamous Jolene I've heard so much about,” he said. “I had become quite jealous of you, what with the many times your name came up in the conversation. It’s good to finally put a face to the name."

Jolene grinned back and turning to Anna. "I like this one,” she said. “I can see the appeal."

Anna knew everything was finally perfect and she could not keep the huge grin from her face.

Ryan was staring at Jolene, and he pulled out a seat for her to sit. "You must be hungry and tired after your long journey. Please, join us for dinner," he said.

Like the perfect lady she was, Jolene sat in the seat he held out. "Thank you, I'm absolutely famished."

"So, Jo, why all the mystery?” Anna said. She knew she was talking too fast but could not stop the words from coming. “I thought you said you couldn't make it here in time for my wedding. Were you just teasing me or was it because of yours? Have you extended the date to your wedding and where is my invite?" Anna finally stopped herself talking and let out a tinkling laugh of pure delight.

The joy seemed to slip from Jolene's face and for just a moment she was staring through the wall to some distant land that only she could see. There was worry and fear etched onto her features, but it was gone so quickly Anna wondered if she were mistaken.  She had to be mistaken, Jolene feared nothing, and now her smile was back. Maybe the look had simply been longing for her fiancé.

"Something like that,” Jolene said, but still her voice seemed flat. “Honestly Anna, there was no way I would miss your wedding, now could I? So, here I am and just in time too."

Jolene looked like her old self, confident and holding all the eyes in the room. Well maybe not Ian’s. With even more delight Anna noticed that his eyes were securely on her. "How is Jonathan?” Anna asked, determined to keep her friend in the conversation and to catch up on as much as she could. “I wish he had come with you. He should've come you know I invited him as well," Anna said feeling that this had just made the wedding so much more special. But perhaps Jolene was tired as her eyes had a faraway look again.

"It was too difficult for him to come as well,” Jolene said her head bowed. She raised it and looked straight into Anna’s eyes. “Anyway, enough about me tell me how the preparations for the wedding are coming. What can I do to help?"

Anna forgot about all her doubts and they delved into her plans. And so they spent the dinner, after dinner and late into the night, discussing the wedding plans and arrangements. Anna forgot about Jolene’s faraway look and just basked in the joy of having everything. Her father would be here soon, she was to marry the best man ever and she was able to catch up with Jolene. God had truly blessed her.

The next two days flew by in a blur of last minute preparations and nerves. Anna and Jolene never seemed to get a minute alone and after they had finished Jolene was always tired. How Anna wanted to catch up, but she would not push her friend.

The Gellman brothers were hardly ever seen either. Ian was living in the bunkhouse until the wedding and Anna missed him so. She would spend her days working on her dress, or flowers or the catering with the cook all the time telling Jolene how wonderful Ian was. Jo had taken to finishing her sentences. Anna would start on a tale about something wonderful. Like how Ian had rescued her from a rattlesnake and just as she was about to reveal it was Ian, Jo would laugh and say “Ian Gellman is truly an amazing man. Then they would both fall about laughing. Still Jo would not talk about Jonathan no matter how hard Anna tried. She kept meaning to take her friend aside and ask her what the problem was but Jo seemed to know when to avoid her.

One day they were coming through the kitchen together. Anna grabbed Jolene’s arm. “Come to the library and tell me all about Jonathan.”

Jolene had pulled her arm away and winced at the touch.

“What is it?” Anna asked as they entered the hallway. “Are you hurt?” Quickly she had pulled back Jolene’s dress. There was a nasty yellow bruise on her arm. It was old and almost healed, but it looked bad. “What happened?” Anna asked her heart filled with sorrow and fear for her friend.

“It was nothing,” Jolene said. “I fell out of the stagecoach one night. I was just so tired.”

Anna searched her friends face. Was she lying? It was funny Jolene had always been able to tell when she was lying, but she was never very good at it. “Are you sure?” she asked. “If you are in trouble I can help… I want to help.”

Jolene laughed her good hearty laugh. “What trouble could I be in?” she asked.

With a bad feeling, Anna nodded and let it go. Jolene was right, how could she ever be in any trouble? After all, everyone loved her.

Anna’s father arrived the day before the wedding. She was so excited to see him that she forgot all about Jolene’s bruises and any trouble she may be in. They hugged and talked and hugged some more. If only her father could move West things would be even more perfect.

Finally, the grand day came when Anna and Ian were to be wed. Anna woke early and found Jolene was already having breakfast.

“Come let’s make you the most beautiful bride ever,” Jolene said after they had eaten.

With a squeal of delight, Anna took her to her room. This would be the last night she would spend alone. Tonight she would sleep in a different room with her love. Her stomach was a knot of both delight and worry but what about Jolene. Her eyes were bloodshot and there were dark bags beneath them. “Did you sleep alright?” she asked.

“I’m just so excited for you,” Jo said. “Now come let’s get you ready.”

Soon she was in her big, white, lacy dress. It was so beautiful and she felt like a princess. Jolene took her arm and led her through the boarding house. All the staff was stood at the front door where her father waited with a carriage. There were shouts and cries of encouragement as she passed. How quickly this had become home and how wonderful it felt to be coming back as Mrs. Gellman.

Soon she walked down the aisle, in a beautiful, frilly, white dress, attached to her father's arm. She was ecstatic that her father had loved Ian and Ryan so much and was happy for her.

Ian stood at the end of the long walk, looking like an angel in a long black tailored jacket, his green eyes blazed with a ferocious love.

The wedding was a blur. The bride and groom said their "I do's," promised to love each other till the day they died and were finally pronounced man and wife for all to witness. And then they kissed. That kiss was like an explosion of love and she was married.

Back at the house the ballroom had been set up for the occasion; lined with roses and garlands. Candles were lit up all around and it looked magnificent. The chefs had prepared a delicious feast for the guests but Anna could hardly eat. She noticed Jolene was only picking at her food and thought that maybe she had lost weight. Maybe she was missing Jonathan? Yes that must be it. Perhaps she could do something? With a smile on her face she made up her mind to help out her friend as soon as she got back.

All through the night Anna wanted to talk to Jolene, but she could not get a chance. Jolene seemed subdued but every time she tried to talk to her someone came up and interrupted. It seemed the Gellman’s friends and relations did not mind about her limp and seemed happy to accept her as one of their own, but what about Jo? Just before they left, she got her alone. “Is everything all right?” she asked. “I want to help you?”

“I am fine,” Jolene said. “Go enjoy your honeymoon and we will talk when you get back.”

Anna was whisked away and all she could do was nod. Holding hands with Ian they accepted everyone's congratulations, danced and mingled about and soon were on their way to the city for their two-day vacation.