The Saddle Creek Series 5-Book Bundle. Shelley Peterson

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СКАЧАТЬ University to be her maid of honour. Maria Brinks was statuesque, with thick dark hair and an engagingly sweet smile. Sandy’s best friend, Nick Mays, was enthusiastically paired with her.

      Sandy’s beautiful fourteen-year-old sister, Rosalyn, walked on with her proud father, Rory.

      Abby held the arm of Luke Best, a very humourous person and Sandy’s long-time friend. He told everyone that he was the “best” man.

      Norma Dinniwell, Joy’s great friend and soulmate since childhood, looked healthy and radiant. Beside her walked Charlie Watson, Robert Wick’s chum since the day they’d met in kindergarten.

      Christine James was very pleased to be escorted by Pete Pierson, and Laura Pierson was cheerfully attended by Robert’s brother, Daniel Wick.

      Helena Casey was proudly escorted by George Farrow, who appeared amazed to have the blond beauty on his arm.

      Maria and Nick led the way on stage left, followed by Rosalyn and Rory, and Abby and Luke.

      Norma and Charlie headed the lineup on stage right, with Christine and Pete next, then Laura and Daniel. Helena and George followed, completing the party.

      They were all sizes, ages, and postures, but the common feature was the happy smile worn by each person. There was a short pause in the music when the wedding party arrived in place on the stage.

      The music ensemble dramatically began playing the wedding march.

      Breaking with tradition, the two couples had choreographed a unique solution to the lack of fathers to give away the brides. Hilary and Sandy started their walk together from the back of the stage, heading downstage, slightly stage left. At the same time, step for step, Joy and Robert strolled forward to settle beside them, slightly stage right.

      The grooms were in black tuxedos with snowy white shirts and bow ties. They stood on the outside with the brides in the centre.

      Hilary’s gown was creamy white satin, streamlined down to the ground, showing off her elegant, feminine shape. The back was cut low to her waist, and the neckline sat at her collarbones. In her upswept hair perched a glittering rhinestone tiara. A sheer lacy veil trailed from the tiara, billowing back and attaching to her tapered sleeves. The slit that ran up the back of her gown revealed more of the sheer lacy fabric.

      Joy had chosen a three-piece ensemble of shades of cream. The floor-length skirt draped becomingly from her waist, flaring at the back to create a train. A silky camisole dipped to reveal a lace bodice beneath, and was completed with an open bolero jacket of the same fabric as the skirt. Joy had chosen not to wear a veil at all, but a small diamond tiara similar to Hilary’s glinted in the lights through her freshly coiffed silver curls.

      In the plush purple seats below sat the invited guests, whose attentive faces showed their appreciation of this magical service.

      The two couples had agreed that the service be performed by the same clergyman who had married Rory and Christine five years earlier. They logically concluded that since that marriage had worked so well, why not duplicate, and triplicate, the success?

      The local pastor slowly and with a great sense of occasion walked up the four stairs to the stage. He wore a white clerical collar, and a simple black suit covered his ample stomach. He carried a large, flat, black leather book.

      As the couples walked to the lip of the stage, Ambrose Brown whispered in Abby’s ear. “I’m going now, Abby. My vigil is complete. Robert will live the rest of his life happily, and I will finally get some rest. It was nice meeting you.”

      “I loved meeting you, Ambrose,” said Abby as quietly as possible. “Will I ever see you again?” She moved her lips only slightly.

      “You’ll see me again, just not when you expect it. Will you miss me?”

      “Of course I’ll miss you! I’ve grown to adore you. And you’ve taught me so much.”

      “I’m glad you recognize that, Abby. Most youth are callow. You’ll have a great career, if you work hard at it. Now, goodbye, and God bless.”

      Ambrose was gone. It wasn’t like other times. Abby knew he was really gone, up to heaven or wherever spirits go to rest. She was happy that Ambrose was at peace at last, but she felt a great tug of loneliness in the pit of her stomach, and she wiped a tear from her eye.

      “Are you all right?” asked Sandy’s friend Luke, with a worried expression on his face. “And do you always talk to yourself?”

      “Only when I feel like it,” she answered sweetly, batting her eyelashes. She heard Ambrose laugh his approval.

      The wedding march ended with the wedding party fanning out to create a semicircle behind the brides and grooms. The pastor, with his back to the congregation, stood erect and breathed deeply, taking a long dramatic pause before beginning his task. He importantly opened his mouth to speak.

      There was a thunderous knocking at the side door fire exit, stage right. Everyone was startled. The pastor turned to look. The great disturbance continued, shattering the mood and alarming everyone in the theatre. It sounded like a battering ram.

      Hilary James suddenly gasped with recognition. She ran in her elegant wedding gown, veil flying out behind her, down the stage stairs to the double doors. She unlatched them and threw them open.

      Dancer stood outside, eyes blazing, front right leg ready to knock again.

      “Dancer!” Hilary cried aloud.

      The mighty chestnut stallion snorted indignantly. He tossed his majestic head and whinnied imperiously. Rearing up on his powerful haunches, the sleek horse pawed the air and whinnied again. When he felt that he’d sufficiently expressed his displeasure at his exclusion, he dropped down and proudly walked through the doors. He gently nudged Hilary with his nose to ask her to walk along with him, an invitation she gracefully accepted.

      Together they arrived at the stage. Hilary ascended the stairs and took her place. Dancer stood regally in the aisle, cooly assessing the wedding party and guests.

      Hilary smiled broadly. She squeezed the hand of the astonished Sandy and winked at Joy and Robert, whose eyes had widened in amazement. It was clear to everyone that there was no point in trying to remove him from the theatre.

      It was as if he had come to give Hilary away. Hilary’s eyes blurred with sudden tears as she thought of her father and how much it would’ve meant to have him with her on this special day.

      Dancer was the most serious creature there. He stood with pride and dignity as everyone around him convulsed with surprised laughter. It came and went in waves. The laughter would subdue, then rise up again, one person’s chuckle reinfecting the others.

      When the uproar finally subsided, the pastor began the service. People accepted the sight of the large animal in the audience, but when the pastor asked the question, “Does anyone know of any reason why these men and these women should not be joined in holy matrimony? Speak now or forever hold your peace,” Dancer snorted. The entire crowd lost control once more.

      The pastor threw up his hands in dismay. He slammed his leather book shut and stomped down the stairs.

      Rory stopped laughing immediately. His son Sandy would be devastated if this marriage didn’t happen. He ran to the pastor, who brushed СКАЧАТЬ