Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(57)

She held him equally as tightly. “I don’t know. I think maybe I didn’t really want to trust anyone.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

She stepped back, made for her horse then looked back as he didn’t move. “Seth?”

“You are so beautiful,” he said, walking towards his own horse and leaping on it.

“So are you.”

And an hour later Seth Grant and Hannah Rachel Barwell stood in the church with a few people who had been rounded up to witness the wedding, which included the other brides with their new husbands. Hannah stood at the back of the church before walking up the aisle and rather felt she knew which one was Seth. Older, balding but the look he gave his bride when she said something to him was one Hannah liked. How she wanted them all to be as happy as she was.

Seth at the front of the church looked back as the music started and Hannah began to walk up the aisle. He looked to the side where Seth sat with another woman who was more his age than Hannah, and he wasn’t that ugly. He lowered his head to grin before looking up to watch Hannah again.

Her eyes were fixed on him while she walked. He was so beautiful and coming here was worth it, except for those who had died in the earthquake. But now she would be able to help rebuild houses and she could maybe start a fund to assist in the process. She could, along with Seth, continue to assist Wilfred and Monica. She walked down the aisle on the arm of Rex who was at the ceremony.

The couple’s expressions as they made their vows were ones that warmed the Reverend’s heart. These new additions to the community were going to make a valuable contribution to it, he felt sure. Linda, after the ceremony, handed Seth and Hannah a large cake.

“Your wedding cake,” she said.

“Thank you,” the couple chorused.

“We fell in love,” Seth added.

“I can see that. You weren’t so happy this afternoon.”

“No. It’s a long story. Can we tell you when we next see you?”

“I look forward to hearing it. We went to visit Wilfred and Monica this evening and they thought you were married.”

“We were not living as a married couple,” Seth said. “But we did not want them to feel awkward.”

“We didn’t say anything,” Linda replied.

“We’ll tell them ourselves when we see them tomorrow, God willing. Thank you for everything.”

“Yes, thank you,” Hannah added, looking at Seth. Her husband and for some reason and every reason she felt shy. “We’ll see you soon.”

“Spend some time together and get to know each other before you start making calls. You need that.”

But they had been doing that already, Hannah thought, and what she got to know she liked. The journey home did not take long and when they reached the house and Hannah went to walk in Seth put out his hand.

“Lucille would tell me to carry you over the threshold,” he said. He lifted her and bounced her a bit. “Petite. I’ll have two broken backs now.”

“Put me down,” she said. “You don’t have to carry me over again.”

“I do. I definitely do.” He kissed her slowly, stepped over the threshold and set her down. “I love you, Mrs. Grant. I love you, love you, love you.” His expression was a bit intense. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to go too fast. Please forgive me. We can wait for you to become my wife in reality.”

“I never want to be without you,” she replied.

He kissed her slowly, they put their arms round each other and made their way upstairs.





Chapter 12


“That is the most heart warming romantic story I have ever heard,” Monica said, placing a plate of food in front of Hannah. “It would have been dreadful if you had to marry the people you thought you had to marry except that Rachel was a fictitious character, of course. The other Seth is far too old for you, Hannah, though he’s a pillar of the community.”

“That’s more or less what Seth told me HE was,” Hannah said, looking at him with a little smile.

“What’s a pillar of the community?” Aaron asked, going to begin his food.

Wilfred put his hand out. “Let’s thank the Lord first.” He took Aaron’s hand on one side and Lucille’s on the other. “We thank You, Father, for this food and for all your blessings. We thank you for this wonderful couple and all their kindness. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

“Amen,” everyone repeated.

“A pillar of the community,” Monica said. “Is someone who is reliable, trustworthy and someone on whom you can depend.”

“That describes Seth,” Hannah said.

“And you’re a pillaress,” Monica said.

“Is that a word?”

“I’m not sure but where you are concerned it definitely is. Have you told your families yet?”

“My family is arriving in about a week,” Hannah said. “And Seth’s mother and stepfather are coming the day after. As soon as daddy received the telegraph he sent one back to say they would be coming. I think he wants to see if he approves of Seth.”

“Which is what I would do,” Wilfred said, looking at Lucille. “He sounds like a good man.”