A Truth Revealed (The Heart of Cheyenne #3)

Epilogue

On April thirtieth, Laura and Will were joined together in holy matrimony. It was a beautiful Friday evening, and since the weather had been so nice, they decided to hold the affair outside in a new park area the city was working to put together. It wasn’t all that much to look at, but they had cultivated an area of grass that, due to the warm spring, was already coming in nicely.

Laura’s father had been dead less than three weeks, but she had no regret in marrying Will so quickly. Her father had been laid to rest without a funeral. Laura knew he would have been appalled to be so quietly disregarded, but she felt the sooner they were able to forget the man, the better. Will helped her to arrange it all with the undertaker, who sent a brief note when everything was completed.

She only thought of her father once that day, and it was when the pastor asked who was giving the bride in marriage. Laura had forgotten about that part of the ceremony. It had never dawned on her to arrange for that, but Will hadn’t forgotten.

To Laura’s pleasant surprise, a chorus of voices sounded from behind her. “We do,” they said in unison.

She turned to find Granny and Jed Taylor, Faith and Gerald Cooper, Marybeth and Edward and their children, Melody and Charlie Decker and their new babe, and Etta Duffy all standing together. They gave her broad smiles, and Laura couldn’t help but giggle. Their love made her happier than she’d ever been.

The ceremony continued, and Laura found herself swept up in the vows she made to Will. She had no idea what their future would hold, but it was sure to never lack adventure.

“Will you promise to love this man, Wilson Allen Porter, for the rest of your life?” their pastor asked.

She smiled. “I didn’t know your middle name was Allen,” she whispered, then spoke louder. “I will.”

Will chuckled, and when it was his turn to pledge his life, he leaned close. “I only recently learned your middle name is Elizabeth.” He looked up at the pastor and gave a nod. “I will.”

“Then by the powers vested in me, I declare that you are husband and wife. Wilson, you may kiss your bride.”

There was no time lost in accomplishing that deed. Will pulled her into his arms and gave her a gentle, but firm kiss that lasted perhaps a few seconds longer than expected. Laura opened her eyes to find him smiling.

“Are you ready to begin our lives together, Mrs. Porter?”

“Quite ready, Mr. Porter.”

“It’s my turn to kiss the bride,” Marybeth Vogel said, coming forward with the others in congratulations. She kissed Laura’s cheek, then handed her the baby. “Little Robbie wanted to see his honorary aunt.”

Laura looked down at the little one. “Hello, Robbie. How you have grown.” Despite seeing him several times since she’d helped to deliver him, Laura was in awe of how much he’d changed.

“It seems every day he’s just a bit different,” Marybeth declared. “I had worried he would never grow into a name such as Robert Klaus Vogel, but I believe he’s well on his way.”

Melody Decker edged in and handed Laura her wrapped bundle. Laura balanced a baby in each arm and laughed. The Decker boy outweighed the Vogel child by at least two pounds.

“Goodness, just look at them both. Except for the size difference, they’re like twins.”

Like the Vogels, the Deckers had named their son after their fathers. When he began to fuss, his mother admonished him to quiet. “Michael Bertram Decker, you hush now. Your aunty is holding you and loves you very much.”

“I thought you named the baby after your father,” one of the church ladies said. “But his name was Clancy.”

“Yes, but his middle name was Michael,” Melody replied. “We preferred it to Clancy and knew Da would approve. He was never all that fond of his name but said that a man could hardly put such things aside.”

“Well, I think they are properly and most adequately named,” Laura said, turning to Will. “Would you care to hold one of them?”

He waved her off. “No, no. You’re doing a wonderful job.”

“Are you afraid of holding a baby, Will?” Marybeth asked in a teasing tone. “I think the practice might do you good. You never know when the Lord might bless you with your own.”

Will looked a little pale at that, and Laura laughed as she handed the babies back to their mothers. “Come along, husband. It’s been a hard day for you. I wouldn’t want you fainting dead away at our wedding.”

“No, indeed,” Granny declared. “You’d never live that one down in all your days.”

Will chuckled. “Granny, don’t be silly. I have no intention of fainting. I just find the idea of fatherhood a little daunting. After all, I’ve only just taken on the job of husband.”

Laura looped her arm with Will’s. “I do hope everyone will pray for us daily. I think we’re both going to need as much help as we can get for the months to come. There’s still so much to be settled. The government has put a hold on all of my father’s assets, so the store and house—even the new house—are all under their jurisdiction, and I have no idea where it will all lead.”

“But we have my inheritance, and that gives us plenty to live on as we prepare for our trip west. We’re trying to figure out what to pack for the reservation,” Will added. “There are all sorts of things we’ll need. When Mr. Blevins gets back from Washington, he plans to go over all of it with us, but we’re trying to prepare ourselves as best we can before then.”

Granny gave each of their hands a squeeze. “You’re in the service of the Lord, and when you are seeking His kingdom and righteousness, all the rest will be added unto you. The very best God has to offer.”

“The best has already been given, Granny,” Will said, looking at Laura with so much love she thought she might well cry.

“The best,” she whispered. “The very best.”