Nobody's Lost (Rescue Me Saga #5)(70)
The sun smiles on us today, our wedding day,
and how can it not, for our love is stronger than forever.
Our hearts beat together as one.
Ryder, I promise to be a true and faithful partner
from this day forward,
as we face all of life’s circumstances together.
In the joys and sorrows,
the good times and bad,
in sickness or in health,
I will always be there for you,
to comfort, love, honor, and cherish you,
today and every day of my life.
They exchanged the rings they had chosen at a unique jewelry store in Santa Fe and promised to live by their vows forever.
After a brief invocation wishing them a happy future, the JP announced, “You may kiss your bride.”
“Not yet, ma’am. There’s still one thing we must do.”
Megan had no idea what he planned until he turned to Carlos, who presented him with a pottery vase with two spouts and a single handle between them. The tan vase had been painted with corn stalks and other symbols using black and a reddish-orange paint, and then the vase had been glazed.
“This vessel was made by the wife of the shaman who conducted my purification ceremony last—.” Ryder’s eyes grew misty and his voice broke. Megan took his hands and squeezed them, encouraging him to continue. “—last week. The shaman prayed a blessing over the water in this vessel last night and again this morning, one that wishes us many happy years as we continue on our earth’s journey together. The two spouts represent our separate lives and the handle our joining together as one.”
Now the tears were in Megan’s eyes.
“You will drink first, and then I will drink from the same spout.” He held the vase to her and tipped it for her. The water came out a little faster than expected, and she dribbled some. Ryder smiled as he asked her to tip it for him so he could drink. Not wanting to mess up his uniform, she lifted it carefully so as not to spill any.
“Now we do the same from the other spout. I will drink first this time.” They repeated the process in the reverse order and she smiled. Ryder took several steps and stood side by side with her. “One more time. This time, we want to try harder than ever not to spill any because it is said if the couple can drink from the vase at the same time and not spill a single drop, good understanding and a cooperative spirit will always be a part of their marriage.”
“Oh, we need that!” She winked at him, hoping he didn’t think she was making light of the ceremony, only agreeing to the importance of not spilling a drop.
“Among other things. But we are strong and together even stronger. Still, if the Great Spirit will favor us even more with understanding and cooperation, we will go far together.”
Unable to speak, she swallowed hard and nodded. Ryder brought his head closer to her height—already showing his cooperative spirit—and they placed their lips on sides of the two spouts. In unison, they lifted the vase slowly until the water first touched her upper lip. She opened wider and drank the holy water. Overcome by an intense emotion she felt a tear slid down her cheek. When Ryder began to turn the vase upright again, she was reluctant to release it, but when she did, not a drop spilled.
Ryder handed the vase back to Carlos before turning to face her again. At least there would be no curse on them for having tears of emotion as far as she knew. But she thought she smelled her daddy’s aftershave and knew at least one of her parents witnessed the ceremony today. More tears did spill, but she didn’t care.
Ryder smiled and turned to face her. He cupped her. “Megan Wilson, you’ve done me the greatest honor a man can know. I will work harder than ever to provide for you and be the man you deserve.” He bent to kiss her, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, wanting to be as close to him as possible.
When they broke the kiss, she took a deep breath, not wanting to even be a few inches apart from him.
“Today begins the adventure of a lifetime with the man I never even dreamed of finding. Thank you, Ryder. I can’t wait to get our journey started.” Silently, she thanked her coyote spirit animal—and her brother Adam—for helping her find such an unexpected treasure.
Epilogue
Ryder opened the door to their home. “Wait here while I put our wedding vase in a safe place and stow your suitcase.”
He flipped the switch and went into the kitchen where he placed the vase on the counter for washing later. What made it even more special was that the shaman from the sweat lodge had instructed his wife in the creation of this vessel more than a week ago as he prepared for the purification lodge ceremony. He told Carlos he had received a vision of Ryder drinking from a wedding vase just like this one.
The Universe continued to prepare the way for when he was ready to move forward on his life and spiritual journey again.
Ryder carried her suitcase into the bedroom and returned to fetch his bride.
“Your wife’s freezing out here at a time when she should be hotter than a recently fired pistol.”
Ryder grinned. Impatient woman.
He met her outside the door and, without hesitation, scooped her into his arms. She squealed in surprise, although she must have realized by now he was a traditional man. Megan smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. He bent to kiss her as if he’d never done so before stealing her breath away. When she shivered, he lifted his head from hers. “You taste better than any nectar on earth, Mrs. Wilson.”