out and make your wedding
cake. I make a real good orange pudding cake.”
Big John is a fair chef, but he cooks with a lot of
commotion. For day-to-day meals, the Flowers handles the preparation. But the Flowers really did have her hands full with Ricky and maybe
couldn’t take on the task. Big John’s pudding cake was tasty if a little bit
like a birthday party. In fact, the last one I had had was at my eighteenth
birthday party.
“That would be lovely,” I said , not
sure if I was lying.
“I always think of my wife when I make it,” Big John added.
It was one of the few times he had ever spoken of his late wife. Like me, Big
John didn’t spend much time looking back. “She taught me how. It’s her recipe.
I’m sure I remember it.”
“Then I’m doubly honored.”
Big John grinned happily. Chuck wouldn’t really mind if we didn’t
have chocolate cake, I assured myself. Especially not when he
found out about Ricky. The child had to come first. Orange cake—if Big
John remembered the recipe correctly—was fine. Cheerful even. Weddings should be cheerful. And even if it was awful, there would be lots of
other food. It was the thought that counted.
“Oh. We might have another tiny problem,” Big John mentioned
casually.
“What?” I asked warily. I didn’t need more problems. I was
beginning to worry that I wouldn’t finish my dress and I’d have to wear it
without the lace appliques—which would look stupid—and Madge would feel bad and
take it back and I’d be getting married in jeans.
“Well, did you know that it’s tradition in the Gulch for the
groom to go out and hunt for the wedding feast? It’s for luck, eh?”
“Yes. But Chuck isn’t here.”
“I know—but maybe he’ll still get back in time.”
“Let’s hope so,” I said, but my heart wasn’t in it. Chuck
doesn’t like hunting any more than I do. And there was always plenty of food at
community events. We didn’t need roasted wild beast. I didn’t believe those old
superstitions anyway. I wasn’t having something borrowed … well, except my
dress. And nothing blue…. Except my shoes. My only
nice shoes were pale blue. But that was an accident. It had nothing to do with
lucky charms.
“Well, we’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Big John said,
rubbing his side.
I didn’t ask if there had been any word from the Mountie.
Big John would have told me at once if Chuck had called. I tried not to acknowledge
the growing anxiety at his silence, but he was in a really remote spot and the
wedding was now only two days away.
“ You feeling okay?” I asked Big
John as he continued to rub right above his hip.
“Oh sure. Just a
stitch in my side. Doc gave me some pills. What are you doing today?”
I pointed at the heap of satin on the sofa.
“I’m still taking in my dress. It’s going to be terribly
pretty when it’s done,” I added to encourage myself. My fingers were very sore
and I was beginning to not like the dress at all.
“I’m sure it will,” Big John answered, getting to his feet.
“Don’t worry about anything. This wedding is going to be the most unforgettable
one ever.”
“I’d settle for one with a groom present,” I said lightly,
but meant it. “By the way, did I see the Bones and Linda leave town this morning?”
“ Eyuh . There was a logging accident at the rez . Two injured.
They’ve gone to help.”
“Oh dear.”
“Don’t worry,” Big John repeated. “If it were really bad
they’d have flown them out already. The Bones will patch them up and be back in
time to see you married.”
I was actually more concerned about the injured men than the
Bones being at my wedding, but I just nodded.
“ Slan leat ,” Big
John said as he closed my door.
“ Slan ,”
I answered, turning to stare at my dress.
* * *
The Braids went out after sunrise and checked on her sheets.
Perhaps leaving them out overnight had been a mistake. The dew had collected
along the edges and
cake. I make a real good orange pudding cake.”
Big John is a fair chef, but he cooks with a lot of
commotion. For day-to-day meals, the Flowers handles the preparation. But the Flowers really did have her hands full with Ricky and maybe
couldn’t take on the task. Big John’s pudding cake was tasty if a little bit
like a birthday party. In fact, the last one I had had was at my eighteenth
birthday party.
“That would be lovely,” I said , not
sure if I was lying.
“I always think of my wife when I make it,” Big John added.
It was one of the few times he had ever spoken of his late wife. Like me, Big
John didn’t spend much time looking back. “She taught me how. It’s her recipe.
I’m sure I remember it.”
“Then I’m doubly honored.”
Big John grinned happily. Chuck wouldn’t really mind if we didn’t
have chocolate cake, I assured myself. Especially not when he
found out about Ricky. The child had to come first. Orange cake—if Big
John remembered the recipe correctly—was fine. Cheerful even. Weddings should be cheerful. And even if it was awful, there would be lots of
other food. It was the thought that counted.
“Oh. We might have another tiny problem,” Big John mentioned
casually.
“What?” I asked warily. I didn’t need more problems. I was
beginning to worry that I wouldn’t finish my dress and I’d have to wear it
without the lace appliques—which would look stupid—and Madge would feel bad and
take it back and I’d be getting married in jeans.
“Well, did you know that it’s tradition in the Gulch for the
groom to go out and hunt for the wedding feast? It’s for luck, eh?”
“Yes. But Chuck isn’t here.”
“I know—but maybe he’ll still get back in time.”
“Let’s hope so,” I said, but my heart wasn’t in it. Chuck
doesn’t like hunting any more than I do. And there was always plenty of food at
community events. We didn’t need roasted wild beast. I didn’t believe those old
superstitions anyway. I wasn’t having something borrowed … well, except my
dress. And nothing blue…. Except my shoes. My only
nice shoes were pale blue. But that was an accident. It had nothing to do with
lucky charms.
“Well, we’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Big John said,
rubbing his side.
I didn’t ask if there had been any word from the Mountie.
Big John would have told me at once if Chuck had called. I tried not to acknowledge
the growing anxiety at his silence, but he was in a really remote spot and the
wedding was now only two days away.
“ You feeling okay?” I asked Big
John as he continued to rub right above his hip.
“Oh sure. Just a
stitch in my side. Doc gave me some pills. What are you doing today?”
I pointed at the heap of satin on the sofa.
“I’m still taking in my dress. It’s going to be terribly
pretty when it’s done,” I added to encourage myself. My fingers were very sore
and I was beginning to not like the dress at all.
“I’m sure it will,” Big John answered, getting to his feet.
“Don’t worry about anything. This wedding is going to be the most unforgettable
one ever.”
“I’d settle for one with a groom present,” I said lightly,
but meant it. “By the way, did I see the Bones and Linda leave town this morning?”
“ Eyuh . There was a logging accident at the rez . Two injured.
They’ve gone to help.”
“Oh dear.”
“Don’t worry,” Big John repeated. “If it were really bad
they’d have flown them out already. The Bones will patch them up and be back in
time to see you married.”
I was actually more concerned about the injured men than the
Bones being at my wedding, but I just nodded.
“ Slan leat ,” Big
John said as he closed my door.
“ Slan ,”
I answered, turning to stare at my dress.
* * *
The Braids went out after sunrise and checked on her sheets.
Perhaps leaving them out overnight had been a mistake. The dew had collected
along the edges and
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