The Glenmore's: Caught (20 page)

“I’ll go and get everyone ready” Virginia left with Millie, Nellie and Alice. The girls chatted excitedly while Caleb began to dance around.

“Be careful ya don’t drop the rings off the pillow son” Rebecca told Caleb.

“I won’t drop ‘em ma” Caleb assured her.

Joseph poked his head in the door. “Wow; Justine, ya gorgeous!” He kissed her cheek. “I was told to tell ya that everyone’s ready” Justine thanked him and he returned outside to Virginia.

“Okay, here we go” Josh said and everyone took a deep breath.

“C’mon Caleb” Rebecca took her sons hand and began walking outside to where the guests waited anxiously.

Caleb looked very smart in a brown linen suit, crisp white shirt and new brown boots. At his throat was a leather string tie. He was dressed like the men and as he walked he stood tall with his chest pushed out. In his hand was the pillow with the two rings attached.

Rebecca and Jenny had chosen pale lavender silk dresses with deep lace frills at the hem. There were small, embroidered, dark lavender butterflies all over the bodice and their hair was pulled back with pale lavender ribbons. In their hands they carried white blossoms.

Caleb, Rebecca and Jenny walked down the centre of the rows of and joined the men at the front where they stood with the preacher. They turned to watch as Josh proudly walked Justine towards Ben. Josh squeezed her arm as they saw Ben’s mouth drop open in shock.

Justine wore a dress in the palest pink silk. The bodice was cut extremely low, as was the latest fashion, and the tops of her breasts were clearly visible. Millie and Virginia had agreed that although the dress was quite daring they considered it proper. The body sparkled with gems and the bottom six inches at the hem and the wrists mas of the most exquisite lace Justine had ever seen. In her hair she wore pink ribbons dotted with gems.

James elbowed his brother and whispered. “Wow, little brother. She’s really beautiful”

Ben agreed and he felt his knees begin to tremble as he watched her approach. He’d always thought she was beautiful but the woman floating towards him was more gorgeous than any woman he’d ever seen.

Josh placed Justine’s hand into Ben’s, kissed her cheek, shook hands with Ben and went to sit beside Millie.

********

Ben looked into Justine’s eyes as he took her hand and saw they sparkled with happiness.
The sadness he’d seen when he’d first met her was finally gone. He leaned over and placed a kiss on his bride’s lips.

“Ahem” the preacher cleared his throat to draw their attention. “Are ya ready?”

Justine blushed as Ben nodded to the preacher and he began “Dearly Beloved …..”

Ben and Justine looked into each other’s eyes as they promised to take care of each other until death. When the preacher asked for the rings Caleb proudly stepped forward and held out the pillow. Ben winked at his nephew and Caleb beamed back.

When the preacher announced they were now man and wife and told Ben he could now kiss his bride; Ben swept Justine off her feet, into his arms and kissed her long and hard. Friends and family hollered and clapped as the newlywed couple turned to face them. Justine received kisses and hugs while Ben received handshakes, kisses and hugs.

Ben walked his bride over to the drinks table and poured them both a glass of lemonade. “You are absolutely gorgeous and I cain’t wait to get ya into bed” He peered down the top of her dress. “I’m gonna have to talk to Millie about showin’ my wife’s breasts off like that though”

Justine giggled and kissed Ben on the cheek. “I wish ya could have seen ya face honey, ya lip nearly hit the ground” ben chuckled.

The food table was bursting with goodies and in the centre sat a fruit wedding cake which had been decorated with ribbons and bows.

“Are ya happy sweetheart?” Ben asked.

“The happiest I’ve ever been. I never thought I would have a wedding day Ben and to be so much in love with ya feels wonderful”

Ben kissed her and held her close in front of him with her back against his front so people could speak with them.

Virginia had organised for a fiddler, guitar player and harmonica player and as the music began Ben whisked Justine onto the dance floor for the first dance as husband and wife. As Ben whirled her around; Justine giggled and laughed.

Justine then danced with Josh, Joseph, George, Nick and Max. Even Matt and Jack insisted on a dance with the bride stating she was now also part of their family. The cutest sight of the night was when Justine danced with Caleb and everyone stood to watch. Justine realised she’d gone from being an only child to an orphan and then to the wife of a man with the largest family she could have ever imagined. She loved her new family and was so proud to belong.

Ben finally claimed her back in time for a waltz.

“Well Mrs Glenmore; are ya ready to go?” Ben asked as he held her tight.

“Yes I am Mr Glenmore” she giggled.

They were staying at Justine’s home for the next three days while Josh and Millie stayed with Virginia and Joseph to give the newlyweds some time alone.

Ben signalled to
Ky and within a few minutes he’d brought the buggy around. Josh signalled to Levi to head home.

Everyone farewelled the happy couple with hugs, kisses and handshakes. Ben lifted Justine into the buggy, climbed in beside her and lifted the reins. He put his arm around Justine and pulled her close to him as he trotted the horse towards the ranch.

Levi had left a few minutes earlier and after Ben lifted Justine from the buggy he handed the reins to Levi who took the buggy and horse to the barn.

Ben carried Justine into the house and down to the bedroom where he finally stood her back on her feet. He took her into his arms and kissed her passionately before they removed each other’s clothes, climbed into bed and made love throughout the night.

EPILOGUE

9 Months Later

Ben walked up and down the hallway of his home waiting for his bedroom door to be opened so he could go to his wife. Waiting in his parlour were George and Jenny with their twin girls, Lucy and Linda who were now 13 months old; Rebecca, James, 9 year old Caleb and 4 month old Jeremy; Laura and Nick with 2 month old Noah; Kate and Max with 4 month old Jill; Josh and Joseph.

“Push Justine!”
Virginia told her daughter-in-law who’d now been birthing for almost sixteen hours.

“You goddamn push!” an exhausted Justine yelled back. “Where’s Ben? I’m gonna kill him!”

Virginia and Millie laughed. “Ya can kill him later sweetheart. Push for me” Virginia asked.

Justine grunted and groaned but the baby still wasn’t out!

“Nearly there darlin’.” Millie told her. “C’mon; push!

“Get this goddamn baby out! Ben
get in here!” Justine shouted and Ben chuckled.

“One more
push Justine” Virginia urged.

Justine pushed with all her might and the baby’s head finally appeared. “Just the shoulder’s now darlin’ and it’ll be over” Millie encouraged.

Justine felt another excruciating pain. “Ben get ya cute ass in here right now!” She screamed and Ben chuckled again. “This has to be a boy; only a boy could be this goddamn ornery. Ben, you’re havin’ the next one!”

“PUSH!”
Millie and Virginia shouted in unison.

Justine pushed down and the baby finally slid out and into Millie’s waiting hands. Justine collapsed back onto the pillows as Virginia cut the cord and Millie cleaned up the baby.

Ben heard his child begin crying and raced to the door. “C’mon ma; Can I come in?” he begged.

“Not yet Ben; not much longer son” Virginia shouted through the closed door as she delivered the afterbirth.

They quickly washed Justine, put on a fresh nightgown and brushed her hair. They then handed the baby to her and opened the door for Ben to come in. Ben raced through the door and skidded to a stop when he saw his beautiful wife sitting up with their child in her arms. He had never seen such a beautiful sight and his heart swelled with love.

He walked over, sat on the bed and kissed his smiling wife. Justine placed their child in his arms. Ben looked down at the baby and chuckled as it wrapped
it’s tiny fist around his finger.

“My darlin’, he’s beautiful but I have to say the last time I heard that much cussin’ was in the saloon!” Justine blushed.

“Fancy ma callin’ ya ornery huh son? Us men are gonna have to stick together ain’t we” He leaned down and kissed the baby’s cheek as he ran his hand over the thick thatch of chestnut hair.

“He’s so beautiful ma, Millie” he watched as his mother Millie lifted their eyebrows and Justine began to giggle.

“What?” Ben asked.

“Ben; say hello to ya daughter. Amelia Jane” Justine laughed.

“Oh” Ben was shocked. “Well she’s gorgeous, like her mother!”

“We’ll go and tell the others” Virginia and Millie left the new parents alone.

Ben hugged Justine and kissed her deeply. “Thank you my darlin’. I love ya both so very much”

“I love ya too Ben and
I’m the happiest and luckiest gal in the world. Thank you for lovin’ me and givin’ me a future”

“Darlin’ it was easy. From the moment I saw ya shapely little backside in ma’s kitchen I knew you’d be mine!”

Justine giggled and they looked down at their sleeping daughter.

THE END

Thank you for reading The Glenmore’s series. I hope you have enjoyed them and
will watch out for future books.

Susan