Page 36 of Short-Straw Bride

Meredith laughed softly. “You? On a horse? That would’ve been something to see.”

Cassandra pulled a face and shuddered. “A horrendous sight, I’m sure. But I would have done it had Papa not relented and allowed me to join him in the wagon.”

Travis’s impression of the little princess bumped up a couple of notches. Perhaps there was a woman of character behind all the flirtatious smiles, after all. But the quick glance she darted toward Jim before linking her arm through Meredith’s left no doubt that her being here still spelled trouble.

“The first thing we have to do,” she said, as she steered Meredith toward the house, “is find you a different dress. You can’t get married in that old thing.”

“But I don’t have—”

“Yes you do. I packed your trunks.” Cassandra paused long enough to toss a softly pleading look Jim’s way. “If one of these strong Archer men would be kind enough to bring them inside for us?”

In answer, Jim strode to the back of the wagon. Travis followed. It was only fitting that he help cart his future wife’s belongings. Crockett could deal with Everett Hayes and the preacher.

The women left the front door ajar behind them, and when he and Jim entered the house, the aroma of cinnamon and baking swirled around them. Jim twisted toward the kitchen and raised an eyebrow but didn’t pause on his way down the hall. Travis, on the other hand, took a moment to breathe in the delicious scent. He hadn’t smelled anything like it since his mother passed on.

Cassandra was showing Jim where to set the first trunk when Travis arrived at the bedroom, so he took the opportunity to sidle up next to Meredith. “What’re you baking?”

“Cinnamon rolls. They just came out of the oven.” She dipped her chin as if embarrassed, although about what he couldn’t figure. “I hope you don’t mind. I know it probably seems silly considering the unusual circumstances surrounding the wedding, but I thought it would be nice to have some way to mark the occasion. You didn’t have much sugar left, so I decided against a cake. I found a tin of cinnamon buried behind the coffee and thought sweet rolls might be an acceptable substitute.”

He grinned. “I can’t wait to taste them.”

She smiled back, and a little frisson of pleasure coursed through him. Reluctantly, he stepped away and pulled the trunk off his shoulder to place it against the wall next to the one Jim had brought in. Travis turned back to Meredith, but before he could continue their conversation, Cassandra maneuvered between them and expertly shooed him out of his own room.

“Thank you, gentlemen. Why don’t you show my father around while I help Meredith change?”

She closed the door before Travis could answer, which was probably for the best, since she was bound to dislike his response. There was no way he’d be showing Everett Hayes anything on his land except maybe the charred shell of his barn. The man was in business with Mitchell, and despite the ties he had to Meredith, he was the enemy.

“I have a surprise for you.” Cassandra released the door handle and spun to face Meredith, her eyes glowing with secret glee. “Come see.”

Meredith’s tummy fluttered in anticipation as she followed in Cassandra’s wake. Her cousin unbuckled the straps of the first trunk and threw open the lid with a flourish. “It’s polished muslin instead of satin brocade, but it’s blue and there’s plenty of lace. What do you think?”

She twirled around, an Egyptian blue-and-ivory-striped gown pressed to her torso.

Tears welled in Meredith’s eyes. “You’re letting me borrow your courting dress?” Aunt Noreen had commissioned that dress from a local seamstress, and to the best of Meredith’s recollection, Cassie had only worn it once.

“No, I’m giving it to you. Consider it a wedding gift. I let out the hem last night, so it shouldn’t be too short.” She slid an arm under the skirt and held it out for Meredith’s inspection. “My stitches aren’t quite as fine as the dressmaker’s, but no one will be looking at your feet.”

“Oh, Cass. It’s b-beautiful.” She barely got the words out before a sob lodged in her throat and cut off her ability to communicate.

Cassandra laid the dress on the bed and rushed to Meredith’s side. “Now, don’t start crying,” her cousin admonished in a teasing voice. “You don’t want your eyes to be all red and puffy when you exchange your vows with Travis.” She reached into the pocket of her skirt and retrieved a handkerchief, then paused with her hand only half extended. “You are marrying Travis, aren’t you?”

Meredith nodded vigorously as she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.

Cassandra let out a hearty sigh and handed her the lacy handkerchief. “Good. For a minute there, you had me worried.”

Meredith dabbed her eyes and blew her nose before setting the soiled handkerchief aside and lifting her chin. Cassie was right. Travis wouldn’t want to see her all red-eyed and weepy. He’d told her he admired her courage and fortitude. He wouldn’t want a maudlin bride. She drew in a deep breath and squared her shoulders.

Cassandra nodded her approval and gave her a gentle push toward the bed, where the dress lay. “Now, let’s get you changed.”

Meredith smiled at her cousin as she reached for the buttons at her neck. “So, dear fairy godmother, did you bring me glass slippers, too?”

Cassandra laughed. “Didn’t you hear? Glass slippers went out of fashion last century. All the fairy godmothers are providing kid leather nowadays.” She knelt down by the trunk again and rummaged around until she finally pulled out Meredith’s Sunday button-up heels. “See?”

The two giggled just like they had as girls huddled together on Cassie’s bed, reading Perrault’s tale of Cinderella. Meredith’s worries floated away on the laughter. She felt lighter than she had in days.

Stepping out of her simple work dress, Meredith reached for the blue-striped skirt of Cassie’s courting costume. “You really are my fairy godmother, you know,” she said in all seriousness, fitting the skirt over her hips. “I was trying so hard to be practical about this impromptu wedding, telling myself that little things like a dress and a cake and a bouquet of flowers didn’t really matter, but deep down I ached over not having them. Then you roll onto the ranch with everything I need to make this day special. Including yourself.”

Cassandra helped her with the fastening at the back of the skirt, and once it was in place, Meredith twirled around and wrapped her arms around her cousin. “Getting married without Mama and Papa is hard enough, but I was certain that Aunt Noreen would keep you away, as well. Having you here is like a miracle, Cass. A lovely miracle that gives me hope for my future.”