Westward Dreams (24 page)

Authors: Linda Bridey

Epilogue

Black Fox struggled against the tie and Marcus swatted his hand away. “Stop it. I’ll do it.”

The Lakota chief sighed and stood still as Marcus made the adjustments.

“How did I let myself get talked into this?” Black Fox said.

Marcus laughed. “Because you can’t say no anymore than Seth can. I swear you two are related sometimes. There now don’t mess with it. You look great. Besides, it’s only fair. Hannah went through the Lakota ceremony and now there has to be the white ceremony.”

Black Fox scowled at Marcus and looked in the mirror. He’d only seen himself in a mirror on rare occasions. He had to admit that he sort of liked the way he looked. Owl turned away from the window where he’d been standing and smiled at his older brother.

“Careful, brother, or you’ll get to like wearing white man’s clothes,” Owl said.

Black Fox snorted. “No, I won’t.”

Owl laughed. “That’s what I said the day I walked Sammi down the aisle and look at me now.”

He Who Runs had absolutely refused to wear a suit or stand up front. He wore his best finery, but he was not comfortable in actually participating. Owl didn’t mind. He understood He Who Runs’ aversion and didn’t hold it against him. Dean bumped the chief out of the way and made sure his tie was straight. Owl had asked Marcus to be his best man, but he’d also asked Dean to be a groomsman.

Unlike his father, Raven was enjoying being dressed in a suit and he looked sharp in it. Hannah had asked Raven to be their ring bearer and Aiyana would be their flower girl. He moved in front of Dean and smiled into the mirror.

“I look good, huh?” the boy said.

Dean laughed and put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Yeah, buddy, you look great. Just wait a few years and you’ll have all the girls chasing after you.” He remembered when Jack was Raven’s age and as always wondered where the years had gone.

“I will wear this in our village one day and see what the girls say.” Raven’s statement made them all laugh.

Claire and Sammi helped Hannah with the finishing touches and pronounced her beautiful. Hannah smiled into the mirror. “I can’t wait to be Mrs. Night Sky. It sounds so exotic, doesn’t it?”

Claire said in a very formal tone, “Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Night Sky.”

They laughed and Hannah could have jumped up and down with happiness. Sammi laughed when Hannah let out a little squeal of excitement. “You sound like me the night I found my engagement ring and rifle.”

“It seems as though our men have all found unique ways to propose to us,” Claire said.

“Yes, it does,” Hannah agreed.

Someone knocked on their door and Claire opened it and gasped. Black Fox entered the room and Sammi said, “Oh, good Lord! Get a load of you! You clean up good, chief.”

He smiled at Sammi and said, “I do, don’t I?”

Hannah said, “Yes, you do. I can’t thank you enough for doing this for me.”

“You’re welcome. I think they are ready for us,” Black Fox said.

It was an unusual ceremony but beautifully blended with both cultures. Hannah’s dress had hints of Lakota beadwork in it and she wore her hair loose. It flowed around her shoulders and shimmered in the light. Black Fox proudly walked Hannah down the aisle to Owl who couldn’t stop looking at his bride. She was having a similar problem and really didn’t hear Black Fox state that he was the one giving her to Owl.

He didn’t say it, but Hannah saw in Owl’s eyes how beautiful he thought she looked. They recited their vows in a sort of dream state where their attention was focused intently on each other. Their kiss was a slow, lingering embrace that made Dean poke Owl on the back when it went on too long. Marcus stood by laughing and was no help at all.

Finally the couple was separated and Joe made sure their pictures were taken. Of course, he had to be in a couple of them. He said it was because he was mayor and it was good for posterity. Owl told him to stay out of the rest of them or he would put the mayor on his behind.

The reception dinner was also a blend of the two cultures and everyone had fun trying each of the dishes that were unfamiliar to them. He Who Runs found that he liked the cake and tried to steal Seth’s piece. Seth promptly stabbed He Who Runs’ hand with his fork. Owl and Hannah’s dance was graceful and sweet and brought tears and smiles to many faces.

A collection had been taken up and the couple was being sent for the weekend to Wolfe Point. Joe loaned them his Standardbred team, King and Rook to take for the trip. As Owl and Hannah pulled away from the community center, Raven and Mikey ran behind them for a little bit and then waved goodbye to their uncle and aunt.

Their hotel room was beautiful, but Owl and Hannah really didn’t notice much. That dreamlike focus they’d shared at the church came back to them now. Slowly Owl undressed his bride and said, “Hannah, I lo—‘”

Hannah put a finger to his lips and said, “Shh. Show me.”

The End

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CLICK HERE to read book 8 in this series (Westward Holiday)

Westward Holiday Synopsis:

Dawson, Montana isn’t what Georgian socialite Rebecca Walker had bargained for when she answered Jake Henderson’s ad for a bride. Neither is Jake or his saloon, the Watering Hole. The handsome saloon owner captivates her from the beginning, but Rebecca has a lot to learn about the way of life in Dawson. Jake isn’t sure that Rebecca is going to be able to adjust to the rowdy atmosphere of the Watering Hole, but her beauty and her gifted musical ability casts a spell on him. As Christmas nears, they’ll have to learn to compromise and listen to each other or be trapped in a loveless marriage. In the season of joy and good will, can they find it their hearts to let go of their pride and reach out to one another again?

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Westward Winds (Montana Mail Order brides Book 1)
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