Page 35 of A Groom for Millie
Beatrice corroborated everything that Millie and Robert said.
When he was done, Mr. Darcy snapped closed his notebook. “I’ll write up my notes for the circuit judge, but I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about. The Marshal from Flat River sent a report because he thought that the men might be headed this way. If I have any further questions, I’ll let you know.” He turned to look at the Pastor who was trying to calm a hysterical Beatrice. “Pastor Collins, I was wondering if we could use your wagon to carry these bodies back to town.”
Pastor Collins looked around as if seeking an escape. “I – I – of course. It would be a charitable thing to do.” He turned and glared at Millie. “And I will bring these atrocities to the board. We can’t have an unmarried woman teaching our children.”
“That won’t be a problem, Pastor,” Robert said moving forward. “We have every intention of getting married and it would be an honor if you perform the ceremony.”
Pastor Collins finger tugged on the scarf around his neck. “Married you say? Well then of course I will be more than happy to oversee the joyous occasion. Stop by the parish tomorrow and we’ll make arrangements.”
Robert placed his good arm around Millie’s shoulders. “I hope you don’t mind that I did that.”
Millie smiled at him. “Not at all. That is what I was coming out to talk to you about.”
“See, Millicent,” Regina interrupted. “I told you he was one of the good ones.”
“Yes, you did, momma. Yes, you did.” Millie stood on her toes to kiss Robert. “He’s definitely one of the good ones.”
Epilogue
February 1878
Millie couldn’t believe she was getting married again. If anyone told her that she would love her new husband just as much as the one she lost, she wouldn’t have believed them. Her heart was finally starting to mend.
She swayed slightly in her wedding gown. It took Regina, Heather, and Millie nearly two weeks to complete. They spent every evening sewing by the fire while the children played games or practiced their writing.
Now she was wearing the beautiful creation. The dress was comprised of two different dresses. One that originally belonged to her mother and the other one that had been sitting in the back of her closet for years. With a few alterations it was a perfect dress to celebrate her marriage to Robert.
The emerald green jacket had gold ribbon sewn on bodice. Dark green velvet trimmed the collar and cuffs. The skirt was made from the same green material and wrapped around her ankles as she twisted from side to side. She wore a linen blouse with her mother’s cameo at the neck.
She felt beautiful. She felt like a bride. She felt alive.
Robert’s arm was finally healing. He still had quite a bit of recovery ahead of him, but he was making great strides with the use of his arm. After the barn incident, as it was known through town, Robert moved in with Mr. MacFarland until he was well enough for the wedding. It had only been two months that they were apart, but to Millie it was a lifetime.
Michael Darcy wrote letters to the territorial judge, informing them of the events that transpired and of Robert’s innocence. Robert dropped the deuce moniker and promised Millie his gambling days were over.
He made a point of walking to the school every afternoon. He waited on the porch so he could walk Millie and Mary Rose home.
Pastor Collins would stand at the window of the parsonage and watch to make sure there was nothing inappropriate going on until the wedding day. Robert was the perfect gentlemen during those moments. But if the pastor couldn’t be seen, Robert would sneak a kiss, and sometimes even two.
Most nights, Robert would stay for dinner before riding back to the livery. Regina enjoyed his company and especially his stories of traveling from town to town.
Her mother had decided to stay in Last Chance and Heather even rode to Grand Platte to send the telegram to Millie’s brothers.
The sound of the door opening behind her brought Millie out of her daydreams about her soon-to-be husband. Through the mirror she spied Heather coming up behind her.
“You look beautiful,” Heather said adjusting the ribbons woven in Millie’s hair. She handed Millie a bouquet of snowdrops wrapped in a blue ribbon. “The first flowers of spring.”
Millie instinctively lifted the blossoms to her nose. They smelled fresh, but there wasn’t the perfume-floral scent she expected from flowers.
“I guess it is almost time?” Millie asked.
Heather nodded. “The last time you did this, we were married together.”
Millie grabbed Heather’s hand. “You’ll find your special someone soon. I promise.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just go back east.”
“You’ll do no such thing Heather Barnes. I won’t be in Last Chance without my best friend.”
