The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.) (163 page)

Adela had almost choked trying not to laugh. What they would do if she told them the truth about her husband- to -be didn’t bear thinking about.

Daniel had laughed when she’d told him and said, “Fucking yanks” and told her he couldn’t make it as he had prior engagements, he didn’t say what they were and Adela didn’t ask, mostly because she didn’t really care. As it turned out none of them came to the wedding and strangely enough Adela didn’t feel the least bit guilty about being relieved that they hadn’t. That life was behind her now, she was about to start a whole new one.

The next day Jennifer’s husband Tom and their two children
Devon and Dominic arrived.

Lando of course had been very uncomfortable with so many people in the cabin, but had been somewhat mollified when the kids had taken a real liking to the animals and had helped feed and clean them out. Dante, who had at first been as nervous and on edge as Lando, soon got used to the attentions lavished on him by the kids.

But they had respected Lando’s privacy and elected to stay at one of the hotels in town.

Of course everyone in town was by now aware of the forthcoming wedding between Lando and the English woman. Some had expected it, Lomax for instance, and according to her, Rose Hosewater too. No one pointed out that she always seemed to know everything after the fact. But most were shocked, they had never completely discovered what had transpired at Lando’s cabin only that Lando had been a hero that day.

Jill the waitress and Sammy Know it All were amazed and delighted especially as they had probably been amongst the first people to actually speak to the prospective bride, not to mention the two bad guys who it was rumoured tried to kill her and Jonas Lando.

The town talked of little else but the wedding, in the diners, in the café’s and of course in Rose Hosewater’s hardware store.

The odd person said that they hoped the English woman knew what she was getting herself into; after all he had killed one wife already. But they were given short shrift by  the other customers and evicted from Rose’s shop with a warning not to come back until they could keep their tongues in their heads and their heads outta their asses.

The romantics amongst them said that it was so lovely that she had come here for her first vacation overseas and married the first available man she met. They said that Jonas Lando had been alone too long and that wasn’t good for a man.

That with her soft smile, her bright mischievous eyes and warm friendly personality, she had done the impossible and tamed the wild man in the woods. She had brought him out of his pit of despair and into the light.

The less sentimental amongst them, all men of course, said that the thick mane of luxuriant hair and those muscular tanned legs, not forgetting those sweet plump breasts must have gone a long way in causing Lando to see the light. But these cynics were mostly ignored.

On the whole there was much happiness and excitement in the town of Alban at the prospect of a wedding and not just any wedding either. Mostly because they all without exception had been invited. They didn’t know it, but strangely enough it had been not Adela’s, but Lando’s idea.

Adela had been completely knocked for six when Lando had somewhat reticently suggested it as she had been that he had opted for a church wedding. He said he had his reasons and she did not push him on what they might be.

On the day of the wedding the little church had been filled to overflowing. The reverend Hugh Richards had never seen his church so full and had joked that he wished Lando and Adela could get married every day, at which the congregation had laughed heartily, Adela included, but mostly at the look on Lando’s face.

As for Lando, he had been uncomfortable and very nervous as she walked down the aisle towards him. But as she got closer to him his fear seemed to evaporate as he took in her happy, smiling, joy filled face. She looked beautiful in her simple but elegant wedding gown. She wore no veil but had small white flowers woven into her hair which hung down her back standing in for the veil.

As she passed some people actually gasped and some older ladies had tears in their eyes, the younger ones looked on with envy in theirs.

The emotions that rose in him left him breathless and light headed as did the vision that walked towards him. How could anyone have ever thought her plain?

At the alter she smiled a soft smile so filled with tenderness and love that he felt his throat constrict.

The odd thing was he
had
been nervous, frightened even, but of being surrounded by so many people. The last time he had been with so many folks in one room had been in prison and he had never liked crowds, big or small. But he had felt no fear of what was about to happen, even thoughts of his first wedding did not intrude upon this day. It just felt so right standing beside this woman who was smiling and happy and radiant.

As for Adela she had worried about him all day, she knew he must be remembering his wedding to Adrianne and the subsequent tragedy and hoped he would be all right. She had offered to have the wedding in the next town in a civil ceremony, but he had been insistent that he wanted her to have a proper wedding. But looking at him now, so handsome, so fine in his black suit with a black shirt and dark blue tie, she knew he was okay. So yes, he had been nervous but it was the usual apprehension experienced by any groom on his wedding day. There was no apprehension in his eyes, no fear, only love.

Surprisingly, considering she was uncomfortable in crowds of people too, she wasn’t in the least nervous. Jennifer who was her matron of honour, (her daughter Devon was a bridesmaid and Dan Rivers who had contacted Lando a few weeks before, Lando’s best man), had remarked on her calmness.

But Adela was not surprised, why should she be nervous? She was marrying the man she loved, the best and finest man in all the world. Jonas Lando.

Minister Richards had talked about marriage being the coming together of two people who desired to share their lives together. He talked about them individually, about how Lando had been a decorated police detective.

Adela glanced at Lando as he tensed but the minister skipped over his incarceration and went straight to the fact that Lando had come back to his roots, to the very home in which his grandparents had begun their married lives and lived in until they died many years later. And now their grandson would be starting his married life there with the woman who had come
to Alban for a week’s vacation and now would be staying to share her life with the man she loved.

Lando visibly relaxed and even smiled at the minister who looked somewhat relieved.

Then came the vows and Lando’s voice was rather hoarse and raspy as he spoke and Adela’s heart went out to him, then it gave a lurch in her chest and her eyes filled as he slipped on her wedding ring and said, ‘I, Jonas Greyford
Henry
Lando, take thee,’ he paused and looking into her eyes said with deep feeling, ‘Adela Anne Faraday to be my lawfully wedded wife.’

He had deliberately waited to call her by her name until now, now when it meant something, to him, to her.
He never wanted to say her name until he knew she belonged to him. And now she did. Her heart was so filled with love she could barely say her own vows. But say them she did, clear and distinct and with great feeling. As she slipped the wedding ring onto his finger, something he had not had in his first marriage, she said, ‘I, Adela Anne Faraday take thee Jonas Greyford Lando to be my lawfully wedded husband.’

She had told the minister that she would like to add some words of her own. So now she looked into her almost husband's eyes and said softly, “Jonas, I want you to know that, ‘“Whither thou goest I will go, where thou layest I will lay, and thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. And I shall love thee and honour thee all the days of my life.”’

It was his eyes that now misted and he had to blink repeatedly to bring her back into focus.

The minister beaming, now pronounced them husband and wife together and told Lando he could kiss the bride. Which he did with alacrity.

Then the congregation rose as one and applauded the happy couple as they walked down the aisle. Lando looking awkward and self conscious, Adela smiling and thanking them as they passed.

At the reception later Adela discovered why her new husband had invited the whole town to the wedding. When it was his turn to make a speech he stood and loosened his tie and fidgeted with his wine glass. He had no notes so his words came from the heart as he said, ‘I’m glad that most,’ he looked around the room, ‘if not
all
of y’all were able to be here today.’ This got a hearty laugh but did nothing to relax him. He went on to say that he was happy as could be that the lady sitting next to him had been brave enough, or maybe if what he’d heard around town was true,
crazy
enough to take him on.

More laughter this time even louder ensued. He took a moment to look once more around the room then his voice low but very sincere said, ‘I’m glad so many of you are here for two reasons, one, of course to help us celebrate this very happy occasion. But also because it gives me the opportunity to say something I should have said five weeks ago but didn’t,’ he looked at Sheriff Lomax, ‘
'cos I’m an idiot. And it’s, thank you, thank you for everything y’all did for us. For saving my…
our
home. For saving our lives. For being there when we needed you.’

There followed a profound silence in which Lando looking distinctly uncomfortable sat back down. Adela, tears now running unashamedly down her cheeks, took his hand and squeezed it tightly as she looked at him with pride. Suddenly someone began to applaud then the whole room rang with applause and cheers. Then someone shouted, ‘hey, are we dancing tonight or not?’

Everyone laughed and looking at the newly married couple took up the chant, ‘dance, dance, dance.’

Since he had no choice Lando got to his feet, helped Adela to hers and escorted her onto the dance floor.

Adela followed Lando’s lead as he very self consciously led her around the floor. As it turned out he was really rather good, much better than Adela anyway. He very quickly forgot his nervousness and saw and felt nothing but the woman in his arms.

Towards the end of the reception Adela was talking to her new husband, Jason Berringer and Ellis Leyton, who had fully recovered from his ordeal, physically anyway. Earlier he had shook Lando’s hand and told him he was a lucky S.O.B. Lando, still suspicious and jealous of the man, managed to hide it. Just.  She suddenly stood and said, ‘I won’t be long, there’s something I have to do.’

Lando frowned because Adela had looked nervous and uneasy something she had not been all day. He watched her walk away thinking she was headed to the bathroom. But his eyebrows shot up when instead she climbed up onto the stage where the band consisting of two local brothers and their friends had been playing, very well indeed as it turned out.

She said something to the singer who smiled and nodded then to Lando’s, not to mention everyone else’s amazement, she stepped up to the microphone and from where she stood  looked down on the crowd. Adela now wondered about the wisdom of doing this, but she was here now and there was no going back. The last time she had sung in public had been to Hennessey,
for
Hennessey, and more than anything she wanted to erase that night from her mind, and she could only do that by replacing it with another memory.

She stood nervously at the microphone before saying, ‘um, ladies and gentlemen.’ There was silence in the room as she continued, ‘I would like to sing a favourite song of mine, a song which for me has real meaning tonight and will continue to have all the rest of my life. This is for the man whom I love more than anything in this world,’ she smiled now, ‘and he’ll be relieved and happy to know that I mean my new husband.’

Everyone laughed and she began to feel better. Lando knew why she was doing this and was at once concerned and honoured.

Adela nodded to the boys in the band and they began to play. Whatever those present expected it wasn’t what they got. Adela took a deep breath and began to sing, “When I am down and oh my soul so weary, when trouble comes and my heart burdened be.” She sang from her heart Josh Grogan’s beautiful song to her husband never taking her eyes from his. As for Lando he could barely contain his emotions. He recalled Hennessey saying she had a beautiful voice; for once he had to agree with him. He couldn’t help but think proudly, that’s my wife up there.

When the song ended there was not a dry eye in the house. She stepped down from the stage amidst thunderous applause straight into Lando’s arms. His eyes shone with pride and love as he held her to him, ‘that was beautiful.’ His whisper was urgent now, ‘I can’t wait any longer; can we
please
get outta here now?’

She laughed and nodded her head enthusiastically. She turned to the party and said, ‘thank you all very much for coming. We’re going to leave now, but please stay and enjoy the rest of the evening.’

Amidst cries of congratulations and good nights and also...to Lando’s chagrin...hoots of encouragement for the new husband, they left.

As it was a lovely warm evening they walked in companionable silence their arms around each other to Lando's cabin.

When they reached the more wet areas and as Adela was still wearing her wedding dress he picked her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way. She ran her hands up his biceps and complimented him on his strength, he pretended to drop her which caused her to laugh though Lando couldn’t help but notice it had a slightly nervous edge to it.