83. The Wedding 

The next morning the Ponderosa threatened to sink into chaos.

“Joseph! You can’t be serious! OUT with them!!” Ben vehemently pointed to the door. “Those are for the yard only!”

Little Joe sighed and began to take all the red and blue lampions with their colorful ribbons from the hearth’s wall. He had just finished hanging them up there. “I think they look rather pretty…”

Ben blew a snarling sound. “It’s a wedding, not a party! There’ll be nothing but white roses in this room!”

“And green leaves,” Adam remarked. “You can’t help the green leaves, as they are fast attached all around the roses…” He smirked as he saw his father’s face. “Besides, Pa, these here are lilies.”

“We put the roses there – and there – and there, and the lilies there – and there – and there!” Ben’s finger vigorously pointed from spot to spot.

“Hey, Pa, whadda we do with those?” Hoss pulled a garland from one of the crates. “Those are lilies and roses all mixed together with some other white flowers. Rip them apart?”

A grizzly bear couldn’t have growled any better. “Of course NOT! We put the garlands all between – here – and here – and here – and over there – and there around the banister – and there – and there… Oh, where is that Pickles fellow?? He should’ve been here already!” He stormed out of the door to have another look, approximately his tenth.

“Pa, Wily isn’t due until ten, and it’s not even nine…” Adam made a step backwards as his father came storming back in, lest he be trampled over.

“Joseph, get that colorful tinsel out of here! And there’s still a red ribbon hanging on the hearth – I don’t want to see any ribbons in here!”

“But Pa…” Hoss held up another garland. “There’s all those little white and golden ribbons on that one…”

“There’s a DIFFERENCE between big red party ribbons and little white and golden wedding ribbons!” Ben flew around. “No, Hop Sing, the candelabra are going here – and here – and there!”

“No, Mistel Cahtwight, feng shui says candelabla standing here – and here – and here to not block good luck coming in!”

“Feng Shui? Feng Shui?? Who in the blue blazes is that again?”

Adam suppressed a laugh and lent Joe a hand to carry the offensive crate with the colorful party stuff out of the door. Hoss was already outside to haul in another one filled with white garlands that had accidently been stored on the porch.

The big man shook his head. “Dadburnit, Joe, I don’t know ’bout you, but I sure ain’t too eager to get married myself anytime soon.”

“Yeah!” Joe chortled. “Seems we’ve been luckier than we thought, seein’ we never got roped in before.”

Adam laughed. The chaos helped him a lot to overcome the strange feeling of not being whole after he had awakened without Lilyah in his arms. “Believe me, brothers, it’s worth it, though.”

“Boys! BOYS! Hurry up with those garlands!” Ben stood gesticulating in the doorway. “Hoss, have you gotten the boards for the tables outside? And where are the tablecloths for the yard?” He began rumbling through one of the crates. “Joseph! We need the chairs! And I want two flower bouquets on each table! And garlands around the door post! Adam, lend me a hand here! And WHERE IS THAT PICKLES FELLOW??”

The brothers simultaneously rolled their eyes and went to work, even though it wasn’t exactly clear why they should have bothered at all. Every flower bouquet they placed somewhere, their father was after it to rearrange it, even if he’d just turn it a bit to the left or the right. Every garland they hung at the wall or under a beam, their father was up on the ladder to pick around in it and shift it a little. He personally straightened out every tablecloth on the makeshift tables in the yard and moved the flower bouquets placed on them around until their positions finally met his approval. And of course he controlled each and every lampion hanging from the ropes spanned above them.

But the final result proved to be worth all the hassle at last. The yard alone was a prettier sight than everybody had thought possible, the porch was a floral arcade and the great room a temple of white flowers. And much to everybody’s silent relief, Wily Slim Pickles was on time, too.

“Hey, gang, top of the morning y’all!” The skinny old man waved his battered top hat while jumping from the buckboard. “Gimmie a hand withe melodeon, will ya?”

“Howdy, Wily, old tinker boy!” Hoss and Joe laughingly ran to the wagon.

Ben gulped. “What’s he wearing?”

“Probably his best bib and tucker,” Adam replied amusedly. “Likely from his glory days as a board pianist on a Mississippi riverboat. Hey, Wily!” He hurried to the buckboard as well.

This time it was Ben’s turn to roll his eyes.

The melodeon was swiftly hauled into its place in the great room and Ben himself adorned it with a flower bouquet and a garland while Wily Slim began his tuning.

A noise from the yard caused Ben to jump up. “Ah, that’ll be the reverend!” He marched to the door and opened it.

“WHAT IN TARNATION…”

The brothers hurried to the door and their mouths fell open. On the porch, amidst of all the floral garlands and pretty lampions, hung the carcass of what looked like a big deer, skinned and gutted.

“Adam, laddy, reckon ye never dought we coulda make it down here, did ye? Ha!” A lanky, long-haired figure wrapped in ragged furs and leathers appeared from behind the carcass. “But lo and behold, pup, here we are!”

“Grumpy!” Adam laughed all over his face. “So you got my message?”

“The Sleeping Fox did not sleep, but brought your words!” Walking Deer stepped closer and proffered Adam a large deer hide, presumably from the animal hanging on the beam at the porch. “For you. We brought the deer for the feast meal.”

“And someding real nice fer da liddle girl, too! She sure will love it!” Grumpy called out. “Eh, Deer, where’s da gift fer da girl?”

“You had them, Grumpy.”

“Oh…” The old mountaineer scratched his furs and looked around. “Where can dey be?”

“Adam?” Ben glanced at his son.

“Oh, Pa..” Adam was still trying to figure out the best way to bring the deer to Hop Sing’s attention without causing a Chinese temper tantrum. “These are two very dear friends of mine and of Lilyah’s – this is Old Grumpy and this is Walking Deer! They once saved my life.”

“Yo, and regretted it evah since. Terrible nuisance, dat son of yers. Glorious day to ye, Sir!” Grumpy shook Ben’s hand while the old Indian politely bowed his head.

“And my brothers, Hoss and Little Joe!” Adam’s eyes were sparkling with laughter. His father stood there like paralyzed. “And this is Wily Slim Pickles over there – he’ll play the melodeon for us!”

“Howdy, Sirs!” Wily Slim waved from behind his instrument.

“Hey!” Grumpy pulled his fiddle out of his fur satchel. “Ye know da ‘Camptown Races’, lad?”

“But of course I do, old fellow!” Wily Slim laughed and began hammering the lively tune into his melodeon. “Played it up’n down the Mississippi in my day, from St. Louis to New Orleans and back again. Ah, those were the days!”

“Aaah!” Grumpy’s bow flew over the strings as he began dancing about. “Da Camptown ladies sing dis song doo-daa, doo-daa, da Camptown racetrack’s five miles long, oh de doo-daa day…”

“Ease up. Pa.” Adam put his arm around his father’s shoulders, his eyes twinkling. “And thank your lucky stars it isn’t Mrs. Pennyweather sitting there…” He broke off as something crashed near the desk.

“Oh, dere dey are!” Grumpy called out. “Adam, dey’re da gift fer da girl!”

Adam burst out laughing as he spotted the two young goats munching at a flower garland, obviously having toppled over one of the candelabra in their attempt to get to the higher parts of the thing. Walking Deer already had one by the horns, while the other one escaped the Indian’s grip and fled in the direction of the dining room, bleating rapturously. Little Joe jumped after it, but was too slow and belly-landed on the floor. And Wily Slim Pickles happily played on.

“Pa!” Hoss had looked out of the door. “The reverend has arrived!”

Ben closed his eyes – and then ran as he remembered the deer carcass.

* * *

“What happy music!” Lilyah raised her head. “Is this the wedding march?”

Esma bit down the laughter. “No, child, it is not. Have you never been on a wedding outside of Morocco?”

“No… and we have very different music at home. Oh!” She rose from her seat. “Esma, that’s a goat! It sounds like a goat!”

“Sit down, child!” Esma pressed her back on her seat. “You’re certainly not thinking of running downstairs in your underdress.”

“Of course not…” Lilyah’s eyes wandered to the mantle clock on the sideboard. Still more than two hours to the wedding – the time simply didn’t seem to pass. And she hadn’t seen Adam all morning, had woken up without him at her side for the first time in months and had felt terribly lonely in doing so. She had taken her breakfast in her room, had taken a lengthy bath in her room, had spent all those hours grooming and primping herself, and while the company of Esma and Ruby was delightful and made everything a lot easier to bear, she slowly developed a serious condition of restlessness. Maybe it would have been better had she taken an extended ride in the morning. It certainly would have been possible to get to her horse without Adam seeing the bride.

“It won’t be long now,” Esma remarked not without amusement. “Look at you, what do you say?”

“Oh… Esma, it’s beautiful…” Lilyah looked at her hairdo in the mirror. Esma had worked a miracle with it, doing some braids to pin a good amount of hair up and still have the bulk of it flowing down her back – as they both knew Adam liked it that way. “I’ve never managed to pin it up like that. When I try it, it always falls down.”

“You have to braid a part of it, it’s too heavy to hold otherwise.” Esma fastened a few golden combs. “I’ll show you how to do it in some easier and less time-consuming manner. Come on, let’s put the dress on!”

Lilyah got up and took another under-garment, glad that she wouldn’t have to wear one of those awfully uncomfortable European dresses which she wouldn’t have even been able to get into without help. And the new dress was particularly comfortable – since the red robe, like practically all the dresses she had brought from Morocco, was a riding dress, chosen more for its convenience for long distance rides than anything else. But then again, these had been her favorite dresses ever since.

“Lilly, stop.” Esma laughed. “You’re going to your wedding, not to cloister. Wear it this way and put that wrap away.”

“But it belongs…”

“Who says that?” Esma resolutely moved the upper layers of the dress apart to reveal a fine décolletage. “Do you want to see your husband’s eyes shine or not? Also, the lace garment and the golden veil still are to go above this.” She arranged Lilyah’s dark curls around her shoulders. “Now look at you, what a beautiful bride you are!”

Lilyah’s eyes did not last long on her own reflection, but sneaked back to the mantle clock. It was like the hands refused to move at all.

Esma amusedly shook her head and gave Ruby a stealthy nudge. “Ruby, what about your hair? Wouldn’t you like to try another style?”

The girl understood her grandmother’s wink and bit down a laugh as she readily slipped onto another stool. “Oh, yes, I’d like to try one! Lilyah, what would you say if I put it up?”

Lilyah dragged her eyes off the mantle clock and as Esma had hoped, the task of assisting her younger friend in doing her hair diverted her increasing restlessness.

* * *

“There were three main types built in the Roman thermae…” Natty Turner set his glasses straight and ogled all about him. “The caldarium was the hot bath, the tepidarium was the warm bath, and the frigidarium the cold bath. There also were two types of steam baths, the sudatorium and the laconicum, with the sudatorium being the moist steam bath and the laconicum the dry steam bath. With the exception of the frigidarium, which often was a quite large natatorium, they all gained their heat from the hypocaustum, a masterpiece of Roman architecture. This is just one more thing Vitruvius described in his brilliant ‘De Architectura’…”

Sheriff Coffee made a few inconspicuous steps backwards and then turned around and fled to the melodeon where Wily Slim Pickles, stealthily but ever gracious, shared his whiskey supplies.

“Ah, Adam gave me a copy of this book.” The haggard Leon Vanderville seemed to be the only one not bored to pieces by the plumpish constructor. “I find the system of the pilae stacks allowing the furnace to heat the hollow floors fascinating. We would gain enormously if only we’d be willing to learn from the old Romans.”

“I don’t get it, Joe.” Hoss mumbled in a low tone, fumbling about with one of the flower bouquets and pretending to arrange the flowers. “From all of Adam’s vast herds of business partners, he had to invite these two dunderheaded stump orators…”

“They’re probably the most entertaining ones,” Joe replied in the same low voice. “Wait ’til they start whaling away on Shakespeare. That Vanderville fellow is a friend of Edwin Booth.”

“Say it ain’t so, Joe…” Hoss’s face folded into a grimace of most pitiable misery that could have made a granite boulder melt, and he shortly considered a stroll to the melodeon himself. After all, even the reverend had taken a good swig from there, and he sure had needed one after he had walked into the deer carcass, then stumbled onto the tall Indian brave, and then got run over by a galloping goat. Kindhearted and helpful as it used to be his manner, Wily Slim Pickles had been there with the whiskey before their father could call for a more dignified brandy. It probably had been the reverend’s fourth shock. Right now the poor wretch stood there and likely pondered the psalm about the great tribulations.

“… it must have been a splendid experience, entering the atrium through the covered portico, and then proceeding to the apodyterium. From there, one could choose between the trepidarium and the frigidarium, enjoy a refreshing plunge in the baptisterium, or natatorium…”

“Where’s Adam?” Joe looked about. “In the kitchen?”

“Prob’ly ran away from dadburnium and doggonitarium,” Hoss grumbled.

“Nonsense, he loves that sort of gibberish, he could out-blather that feller on it anytime.” Joe grinned. “I rather think older brother’s having a serious case of nerves.”

“Yeah…” Hoss forgot about his sufferings and his face broadened into a smirk. Adam had been fairly relaxed and his usual nonchalant self for most of the morning, but the farther the forenoon had proceeded, the more nervous he had gotten. And just as their father had started to somewhat become bearable again, he had started to get erratic. Pacing up and down, staring at the grandfather clock or comparing its time with that of his pocket watch, pestering the reverend to memorize the bride’s name while he himself barely managed to concentrate on what anyone said to him. Their father had attempted to start a soothing father-son talk, but got sidetracked when Pico had turned up from who knows where and started to adorn each and every flower bouquet with colorful flowers and twigs he had gathered outside. Adam hadn’t listened, anyway.

“Let’s go look for him!” Joe suggested and first headed for the kitchen, his brother in tow.

Adam wasn’t in the kitchen where a lively discussion took place between Hop Sing, Walking Deer and Henry Miller about what to do with the deer carcass. A corner of the kitchen was sheltered with a large blanket, but as Hoss attempted to look behind it, the cook threw them out – quite obviously, this was where he hid the wedding cake that no one was to see until after the ceremony.

“In his room perhaps?” Hoss scratched his head as they returned to the great room.

“Nah.” Joe shook his head. “We would’ve seen him, and Pa would’ve been after him to make sure he’s not sneaking up to Lily.” His chin pointed to their father who silently suffered from the debilitating effects of Roman architecture.

“Outside?” Hoss furrowed his brow. There were pretty few other options. “Outside!”

The brothers went outside where the dishes and glasses were already placed on the lavishly decorated tables. As soon as they had passed the kitchen extension they stopped dead in their tracks, knocking each other in the side to ensure they both saw the image in front of their incredulous eyes.

There was their older brother at the corner of the barn, in his finest black suit, with a string tie and a white flower in his lapel, fulminantly brushing the black stallion. His own mare stood aside, waiting her turn.

Joe already had to gulp down his cackle as they approached.

“Adam, whadd’ya doin’?” Hoss asked, still in disbelief.

“Grooming a horse,” was the curt answer.

Joe’s face widened in a grin. “Guess that’s why it’s called a ‘groom’…”

Hoss bit down his laughter.

Adam’s brow had furrowed. “It’s Lilyah’s horse, alright?”

“Oh!” Joe feigned open-mouthed surprise. “That’s Lily’s horse? Do tell!”

“Dadburnit!” Hoss slammed his right fist into his left hand. “I remember seein’ that horse runnin’ around here before, and I was plum wonderin’ where it came from.”

Adam didn’t look like he could take a joke. Both hands on the stallion’s back, he gave his brothers a dark glare from the corner of his eye. “Lilyah wouldn’t want her horse to be unattended and not cared for all day. The first thing she does every morning is look after her horse! And she couldn’t do it today because of this hair-brained ‘tradition’!” He brushed a few times over the stallion’s coat. “The alleged ‘tradition’, which isn’t a ‘tradition’ at all, but nothing but a fad!” His hand with the brush swished through the air. “That socalled ‘tradition’ with a white dress and the white cake and not seeing the bride didn’t start until the English queen Victoria married her consort in 1840 or something, that’s just about 24 years ago. And all of a sudden, every Johnny and his dog wanted a white dress and called it a ‘tradition’.” He dived under the stallion’s belly to start brushing the other side.

“Listen here, Adam…” Hoss began in a tone as if he were talking to a sick child.

But his older brother wasn’t finished. “I still remember the weddings on the trail. The wagons stopped, the vicar said a few words, the bride wore her usual Sunday best and the whole thing was a matter of ten minutes. And no talks of bad omens or not seeing the bride on the wedding day or whatever rubbish there is. And that’s how it should be done.” He fastidiously began brushing again. “I haven’t seen my wife all day…”

Joe began laughing. Not his usual loud, screeching laughing fit, and he even kept a hand in front of his mouth to curb the volume, but he still couldn’t stop it.

Adam cast him an exasperated glower and continued brushing the horse.

“Looky here, older brother…” Hoss started again, but a sound from the house interrupted him.

It was the silver gong their father used to beat before an announcement.

Adam raised his head, his lips parted. “What…”

“Aw, never mind that, older brother.” Hoss put it off in feigned casualness. “That’s just another part of that rubbish fad, like Pa gettin’ the bride or so…”

Adam’s eyes widened and the horse brush fell off his hand.

And then he ran.

“Wow!” Joe still had his laughter all over his face. “He’s fast!”

“Yeah.” Hoss nodded in agreement. “Bet he could even outrun the grasshopper!”

Joe started laughing again. “He’s afraid he misses his own wedd…” He broke off and stared at Hoss who stared at him.

And then they ran. They weren’t much slower than their brother.

* * *

“Alright, I’m going to get the bride!” Ben glowered over to his sons, to Hoss and Joe shoving Adam to the makeshift altar in the study while inconspicuously dusting off their brother’s black suit – which looked like Adam had brushed horses or something. He had better brush himself, as some of his curls were dangling over his forehead. Ben had noticed before they had grown quite long in the wild, and his son had not bothered to fix them down for his wedding day. And still – Adam’s eyes were so full of anxious anticipation that Ben couldn’t help a smile. A smile that immediately died off when his gaze fell on the whiskey bottle on the melodeon. “Mister Pickles!!”

The pianist grinned sheepishly and the bottle disappeared in some unseen corner. Ben dipped his head and looked over the small group of guests who had all assembled, including Hop Sing who just scurried in from outside, beaming all over his face. Only Pico was missing, but maybe the boy was outside picking even more flowers. The reverend was in position in front of the altar, holding his Bible.

“And we’re playing ‘Here Comes the Bride’ when she appears on the staircase!” Ben went on, eyeing Wily Slim Pickles again who jovially lifted his top hat to signal his understanding.

“Good.” Ben straightened himself, brushed over his fine grey suit and solemnly walked up the staircase and on to the door of Lilyah’s room. There, he collected himself and took a deep breath before he knocked.

The door flew wide open.

“Ah, finally! It’s high on time, old boy, the poor child is falling apart already!” Esma’s massive figure filled the whole door frame and Ben gulped a little as he realized that she apparently wore her Sunday best which was even more colorful, even more gipsy-like and even more adventurous than her usual outfit. The heavy golden earrings dangling from under the red, polka-dotted head scarf seemed to have increased in size and length, as well. And as she stepped aside, his gaze first fell on Ruby who looked like she had dressed up for a flamenco festival. Two or three more years and the girl would turn every man’s head for five miles.

He made a few steps into the room and regarded his future daughter-in-law who stood there, nervously clasping her hands. And he was suddenly glad that all his plans for a big wedding had fallen flat, that Adam had been so adamant to only invite a few good friends – people who didn’t look at the outer appearance. Lilyah was a beautiful woman, even when she didn’t really match the broad idea of prettiness with her serene features, the high forehead and the slightly aquiline nose. She looked decidedly foreign and in the white dress her skin appeared even darker than it actually was. Adam had probably been right all along to radically sort out bigots and xenophobes from their acquaintances and not even bother to try and win them over, knowing deep down it was a lost cause and not worth the effort. It had been a wise decision by a proud and caring man who knew what he was doing. Like Henry Miller had once put it so aptly, it takes a man to stand to a woman like this. And Ben had acted like a bumbling idiot and denied his son the one thing he should have given him – the full support of a loving father, the full protection of his family, for both him and the woman he had chosen for himself.

Ben slowly took both of Lilyah’s hands in his own. “I once told you I wouldn’t believe you could make my son happy,” he began in a low voice. “I was wrong. I was wrong in so many ways.”

A shy smile stole over her lips. “Fathers sometimes do weird things when they think they have to protect their children. I know… I had one myself.”

“You have a father-in-law now.” Ben stroked her hands with his thumbs. “You’re a lovely and remarkable woman, Lilyah. I’m proud to have you in my family. Adam couldn’t have found a better wife.”

Lilyah looked up to him and her dark eyes threatened to get moist. “Thank you…”

Ben bowed his head and lightly kissed her on the cheek. “Come on now – we won’t let him wait any longer for his beautiful bride.”

She smiled and put her hand on his arm.

* * *

Adam’s eyes began to shine as he watched Lilyah coming down the stairs, on his father’s arm. Whatever affectivities he had been through in the last few hours, they were all gone and forgotten the moment he spotted her small figure, so graceful and lithe in her flowing white dress. He barely heard the wedding march which Wily Slim Pickles managed to play with an amazing tenderness, he didn’t see the faces of his brothers and friends. She was so beautiful… so beautiful… He felt his eyes getting moist as he saw her looking at him, saw the small movement that looked like she wanted to start running into his arms before she caught herself, and just a few moments later he chuckled as she halted her step in surprise after spotting the two old mountaineers.

“Grumpy! Walking Deer! Oh, how kind of you to…” She broke off as Ben softly reminded her to focus on her walk down the aisle, or rather to the spot where the reverend waited. The golden veil covering her face was so translucent that Adam could see her cheeks blushing beneath the delicate lace. And his heart swelled until it threatened to burst out of his chest.

Lilyah’s smile brightened as she reached her place at the altar, and she inadvertently made another step closer to him, her free hand reaching out for him who raised both his hands towards her. Had it not been for Ben’s quick reaction, they probably would have embraced and kissed right there and then.

“Dearly beloved!” The reverend began, a wee bit louder than necessary – or maybe just loud enough to get the couple’s attention. Seriously looking from one to another, he curbed his volume and started again. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is…”

“Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry…” A bright voice came from the door, accompanied by the pitter-patter of little hooves and protesting bleats. “Sorry, we’re late…” Pico dragged the two goats through the small crowd. Each of the animals was gloriously decorated with flower garlands, bows and ribbons. “Sorry, Adam, they wouldn’t stop eating the flowers.”

Ben closed his eyes; the reverend turned his gaze upwards.

“Pico!” Esma’s voice thundered from behind. “What did I tell you about your best behaviour on this day?”

“But, Grandma, they’re Lilyah’s wedding gift from Mister Grumpy, and I thought…”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Ben hastily cut in. “It’s alright, Pico. Just put them… ah, just keep them… take them… ah, make sure they behave.” He exhaled an exhausted breath. “My apologies, reverend…”

“Oh, Adam look…” Lilyah couldn’t hold it. “Look how beautiful they are.”

“One is all white, and one is spotted!” Grumpy sounded off with no qualms whatsoever. “Da Paiutes say dat’s good luck for da young couple. Is dat so, Deer?”

“It is so, Grumpy. And now shut up or it’s bad luck for noisy old nuisance.”

“Reverend… ” Ben threw an apologetic look at the reverend who stood there, clasping his bible. “If you may…”

The reverend cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved…” His eyes glided over the divergent assembly, admonishing, lest no one would dare to disturb the ceremony again. “We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted by God and therefore is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and in the love of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.”

Lilyah saw nothing but Adam, standing there with his hands clasped before him, not taking his eyes from her, a soft smile on his lips, his hazel eyes bright with twinkles and yet so tender and so full of love. There was a wayward lock of hair falling in his forehead, and it took her all her willpower to not brush it back. To not touch his lovable dimples. To not… She caught herself as Ben gave her a very, very light nudge.

The reverend looked at them, quite obviously undecided whether he should be annoyed or touched, before he asked, “Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?”

Ben raised his head. “I do in her father’s place! We all here do in her family’s place – wholeheartedly, happily and proudly so!”

For the first time Adam took his gaze from Lilyah to look at his father, with all his gratitude and happiness showing in his eyes. Ben warmly returned his son’s smile and motioned Lilyah to stand next to Adam before he stepped back.

The reverend turned to Adam. “Adam Cartwright, do you take this woman, Lilyah bint…” He interrupted himself and inconspicuously glanced at a small slip of paper placed in his Bible. “Lilyah Sharayah bint Rashid ibn Hassan Al-Sharieh, to your lawful wedded wife, for better or worse, for richer or poor, in sickness and in health, to love, honor and cherish her for as long as you both shall live?”

Adam’s smile warmed even more. “I do!”

“And you, Lilyah Sharayah bint Rashid ibn Hassan Al-Sharieh, do you take this man, Adam Cartwright, to your lawful wedded husband, for better or worse, for richer or poor, in sickness and in health, to love, honor and obey him for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” She could not take her eyes off Adam.

The reverend nodded his head and turned to Adam again. “What token of your love do you offer? Would you place the ring in my hand?”

Adam turned around to Hoss who was obviously so enraptured by the ceremony that he needed a hefty push from Little Joe to remember his role as his brother’s best man. “Oh… sorry… dadb… uhm…” He fumbled in his pocket. “Here you are, older brother.”

Adam took the ring and handed it to the reverend, smiling as he sensed Lilyah’s surprise. She hadn’t even known there was a ring.

“May this ring be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate unity.” The reverend held the small golden band up. “These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Adam, in placing this ring on Lilyah’s finger, repeat after me: Lilyah, you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity and with this ring, I thee wed.”

Adam took the ring and gently put it on the fourth finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly – he had taken the measure of her finger while she had slept. “Lilyah, you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity.” He took her hand to his lips and kissed it before he lovingly held it in his. “The engravings on this ring were made after my drawings. They’re small, for the ring had to be in a size that would not bother you while wearing it, but those little leaves and blossoms on it represent parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.” His eyes sank into hers. “And with this ring, I thee wed.”

Lilyah’s eyes were swimming in tears and still her smile brightened her features. She wanted to admire the engravings on the ring, but she couldn’t take her eyes from his face, her hands caressed his hands and refused to let go of them. And his hands made no move to let go of hers.

The reverend could not help the suspicion that neither the bride nor the bridegroom paid much attention to him as he continued with the benediction. “May you always share with each other the gifts of love, be one in heart and in mind, may you always create a home together that puts in your hearts love, generosity and kindness.” He cast a quick look around and noticed that at least the rest of the congregation followed his words, particularly the bridegroom’s heavyweight brother.

“Hoss!” Ben gave his middle son a stealthy knock as Hoss’s snivelling threatened to drown out the reverend’s words.

“Aw Pa…” Hoss blubbered as silently as he could, his face taking on a red color. “It’s jest so beautiful… after all they’ve been through ‘n all…” He snuffled so noisily that everybody looked.

“Here, son…” Ben proffered his handkerchief and regretted it deeply just moments later. Hoss blowing his nose produced a sound that threatened to blow the roof off the house. Little Joe nearly suffocated in his attempt not to laugh out loud.

The reverend steadfastly soldiered on, ignoring the suppressed chuckles all around. “Inasmuch as Adam and Lilyah have consented together in marriage before this company of friends and family, and have pledged their faith are now joined. You have pronounced yourselves husband and wife but remember to always be each other’s best friend.”

“Each other’s best friend…” Adam repeated softly and Lilyah nodded her head, still holding on to his hands. Each other’s best friend…

The reverend was pleased to notice that they had listened to him, after all. “And what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. And so, by the power vested in me by the Almighty God, I now pronounce you man and wife – and may your days be good and long upon the earth.” He smiled at the couple and gave Adam a nod. “You may now kiss the bride.”

Adam lovingly pushed back the golden veil that had done so little to hide anything. She smiled under tears of joy and he couldn’t stop looking into her dark eyes, into the warm, velvety depths that had proven to be the world for him. “I love you…” he mouthed, barely audible. Her lips repeated the words without any sound at all. He pulled her tighter into his arms and their lips met, lightly first, softly and gingerly touching each other, before he opened her mouth with his and her arms closed around his neck.

And Wily Slim Pickles played a tune that didn’t exactly belong to his staple on the Mississippi riverboats, but which he still had practised well on the groom’s wish.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Little Joe was the first to break the spell, heartily slapping his brother’s back. “Hey, hey! Congratulations, Adam! Lily, little sister, come into my arms!”

“No, come into mine!” Hoss laughed, but he was very careful as he hugged his new sister-in-law. She was so tiny against him that he feared to break something. “Welcome in the family, sister, as dadburnin’ crazy a family it is! And if you ask me, Lily Cartwright sure is a lot easier to memorize than that mile long Arabic simsalabim.”

“Hey!” Adam protested as his wife was taken away from him, but he was soon run over by congratulations and well wishes, patted, slapped, knocked and pushed, and he laughingly shook everybody’s hands.

Lilyah couldn’t escape more friendly hugs, until Adam and his father joined forces to shelter her between them, well aware of her Arab peculiarities. And still she laughed and gracefully took the congratulations, shaking everybody’s hand and greeted the guests she didn’t know yet, and of course took ample time to admire the two goats Grumpy had brought.

“Mrs. Cartwright!” Sheriff Coffee winked at her. “And I got so used to your beautiful name…”

“You have explicit permission to keep calling her by her name,” Adam laughed. “I don’t think she would mind.”

“Of course not.” Lilyah looked up into Adam’s face. How happy he was… and how much it meant to him to have his wedding in the midst of his family and his friends. She could have hugged each and every one of them just for that.

“And now on to the wedding cake!” Hoss rubbed his big hands together.

“Just a moment!” Esma stepped between and shoved her way through the guests to make room. “Hop Sing?”

“Bloom is coming, Missus Esma!” Hop Sing scurried by, carrying a broom that he placed on the floor in front of Adam and Lilyah.

“And now you jump over it!” Esma demanded with a broad smile. “Do it hand in hand!”

“What?” Adam asked.

“Where’s the challenge in that?” Joe called out, his eyes glittering. “We should at least place it between two chairs, a few feet from the floor.”

“You keep your impish beak shut, whippersnapper!” Esma humourously brushed him off and turned to the couple again. “Just do it – for good luck.”

Liyah took Adam’s hand and gave him an encouraging nod – and they both hopped over the broom.

“Good!” Esma declared contentedly. “You’ve just jumped into your new life together. May it be easy and blissful for you two!” She pulled them both into a mighty hug and whispered, just for their ears to hear. “That was a good old traveller’s wedding.”

“And now the wedding cake!” Hop Sing cried. “Hop Sing has blought wedding cake outside to eat for loving couple!”

“Hey, and what about the hungry guests?” Hoss flared up.

“Guests and evel-hungly Mistel Hoss also get a piece.” Hop Sing declared. “But first cut and first piece is for loving couple!” He happily marched out of the door and into the yard.

And then there was his blood-curdling scream. The whole company stiffened, Joe instinctively jumped to the credenza to get his gun belt and everybody scrambled in a flurry to have a look.

“Oh… oh… oh…. oh…. oh….” Hop Sing seemed to be shattered to his bones, eyes aghast and fixed on the flower decorated table where he had put his wonderful wedding cake.

The cake was still there, or rather its remains, along with a black stallion and a big chestnut mare blithely slobbering away on the whipped cream covering it.

“Outside for loving couple…” Hoss grumbled in deepest disappointment.

“Chai!” Lilyah wrapped her robes and ran to the scene of the crime.

“Mariah!” Adam followed just as hastily. But like Lilyah he was mostly driven by the worry that their horses might have eaten something that wasn’t good for them. The soft biscuit of a cake could well cause choke or colic in a horse, and this explained why they both not only hastened to push their horses away, but also grabbed for some flatware to poke around in the sorry remains in order to ascertain what had been devoured. Little did they care that those who had come last from the house didn’t really know what had happened. The initial expression on the reverend’s face was a sight to behold.

“It seems they mostly got the whipped cream.” Lilyah breathed a little sigh of relief.

“Yah.” Adam nodded his head. “Looks like there were plums, apples and pears beneath the cream. Raisins, too. They didn’t even touch the biscuit parts, but just slurped out the fruits.” He threw a look at his mare who still licked her cream-covered muzzle. “Mariah, how could you – a distinguished lady like you. I’m shattered!”

“Adam, look…” Lilyah pointed to a beautiful rose, artistically formed from gum paste, the petals rosy in color and the leaves green. As it seemed, the whole cake had been covered with such exquisite decoration. For the horses, of course, the sugary masterpieces had likely been the best of the loot.

“Aww…” Adam read her thoughts in her face and they simultaneously turned around to Hop Sing who still stood at the doorway, too shocked still to even threaten to quit. “You or me?”

“I’ll go. You put the horses away.” Lilyah touched his side and took the gum paste rose before she hurried back to Hop Sing.

“Hop Sing, I’m so terribly sorry – we both are.” She even put her hand on his shoulder, a rare gesture for her. “I don’t know how they got out of the pasture.” She looked at the rose in her hand. “It must have been so beautiful, and so much work. I will keep this one here for as long as it lasts. Thank you.” She breathed the ghost of a kiss on his cheek. “And I’m sorry.”

“Aw, Missy…” Soothed and comforted, Hop Sing could even muster a little smile again. “It was the horses, and horses don’t think much. Hop Sing still has blidal meat pie to serve now, and can make deer for later meal.”

“Hop Sing…” Ben stepped up. “Why don’t we just grill the deer over the open fire? And you can make your famous sauces to go along with it.”

“Good idea,” Esma chimed in. “That’s not as much work, and Hop Sing won’t stand in the kitchen all the time, but can eat with us. I’ll help with the sauces.”

“And Hop Sing make salads!” The cook’s world was whole again. “Hop Song gets started light away!”

“Wonderful!” Ben cried. “Boys, come and get the grill!”

With everybody busily running about and Adam releasing the two equine culprits onto the pasture, Lilyah had a moment’s time for herself, looking down at the ring at her finger, admiring the little engravings. Without even knowing it, her lips mumbled, “I’m married, Papa…”

* * *

They still had a good time and a wonderful meal, first with Hop Sing’s delicious bridal pie and later with freshly roasted deer, accompanied by yummy sauces and tasty salads. The melodeon had been hauled into the yard and after an extended version of ‘Scarborough Fair’ to allow the newlyweds their wedding dance, Wily Slim Pickles played his Mississippi riverboat repertoire up and down and back up again. Old Grumpy and little Pico had no problems devouring the rests of the mutilated wedding cake while Hoss left no doubt that there wouldn’t be much left from the deer. There obviously wasn’t much left from Wily Slim Pickles’ whiskey, either, and even the reverend had a mighty good time.

It was close to midnight when the last guests bid their farewells, with the exception of the shepherd family who went to sleep in their wagon, and Wily Slim who had fallen asleep in the load bed of his buckboard, snoring like a bear.

Adam and Lilyah had one last look at their horses to make sure both animals were alright after their unusual snack, and they spent a little more time kissing in the moonlight before they returned to the house, nestled into each other’s embrace.

* * *

“Adam, wait…” Ben nodded to Hoss and Joe who loitered on the sofa, their legs strechted out. It was well after one o’clock and they all were more than just spent. “I know it’s late, but there’s something I would like to address.” He turned to his desk and lit the lamp there.

“Yes?” Adam saw from the corner of his eye that his brothers were grinning, stealthily knocking each other in the side.

“Lilyah, this concerns you, too.” Ben pulled put a large map and rolled it over the desk, weighing its corners down with books and tools. “This is the land you bought, Adam, right? The land at the northern shore of the lake.”

“Yah.” Adam stepped closer and noticed that his land was already marked on the map.

“And here is where the Ponderosa ends, with these hills here.” Ben’s finger pointed out the location on the map. “Good woodland, by the way. Anyhow, there is a large stripe of land between your land and the Ponderosa that is still public. It also covers parts of the plains at the lakeside here.” His finger tapped on the parchment.

“Yes, I know.” Adam nodded his head. “I couldn’t buy it all back then, but I got the best part of the plains and all the meadows along with the brook, also that stripe of woods here.” He depicted the parts. “I’m planning to get the rest of it as soon as I can, up to the Ponderosa border.”

Ben opened a drawer and took out a folded piece of paper. “You don’t have to, son.” He proffered the paper to Adam. “A wedding gift from your father and your brothers. It covers all the land between yours and the Ponderosa. We also decided to add half of the wood-covered hills in between. It’s good timber growing there, so you’ll always have something to fall back on, just in case.”

“Yeah!” Hoss laughed. “Just in case breedin’ grasshoppers ain’t turnin’ out to be the business idea of the century.”

“And we could still be in the lumber business together!” Joe added. “Later, when you’re back.”

Adam stood silently, the paper unopened in his hand, the muscles in his face working. He scrambled for words, but he didn’t know what to say.

“It’s good land, son,” Ben said calmly. “Good land to come back to.”

Adam had to blink as something wet threatened to get into his eyes. “Course I’ll be back…” He was in his father’s arms before he even knew he had made the step. “Thanks, Pa…”

Ben didn’t reply, his hands brushed over his son’s back, patted and cuddled him.

“You’re all crazy, you know that?” Adam sounded almost angry, but the lump in his throat still could be heard as he got out of his father’s embrace.

“Not half as crazy as that older brother of ours!” Hoss hugged his brother as well and Joe did the same, until they started laughing and pushing each other around to not get too sentimental.

“That’s enough, boys!” Ben laughed and closed in on Lilyah, placing his arm around her shoulder. “Lilyah must think she’s married into a family of crackpots.”

“But she has,” Joe quipped. “And luckily for us, it’s too late for her to back out.”

They all laughed, and Adam’s heart warmed as he took his wife out from his father’s arm into his own. While she had been his wife ever since they had exchanged their vows at the banks of the Walker River, it was still a good feeling to know that she now was very officially Mrs. Lilyah Cartwright. She had been his wife before, but now she was a part of his family.

“Now all of those plains are yours to ride on,” he softly said, his hand tenderly brushing over her cheek.

“Ours, Adam…” she corrected just as softly. There was so much happiness in his eyes, it warmed her heart through and through. “Ours.”

“Keep them here for us.” Adam handed his father the papers. “It makes no sense to carry them all the way to Morocco and back again.”

Ben nodded his head and locked them away in his desk, with a little shade of sadness sneaking into his happiness. Unlike all three of his sons, he knew that Adam’s journey would likely be much longer than planned and if Lilyah’s plans worked out, lead him to places of which he had dreamt almost all his life. Places he would love once he saw them. Places that could give him so much. Places that could cast their spell on him.

“It’s late, sons.” He turned down the lamp. “Let’s go to sleep.”

* * *

Adam and Lilyah started laughing when they came into Adam’s room which now was officially their room. No one had found the time during the day to clean it up, and the mattress still lay in front of the closed indoor. They hauled it back onto the bed and prepared the bedding, but soon realized they were too tired for anything else. Not only had it been a long day, they had also spent the best part of the previous night playing their instruments on both sides of that door.

Letting their clothes lie were they fell, they slipped under the blankets and nestled into each other’s arms, savoring each other’s nearness and warmth and falling asleep before they could even kiss each other good-night.

* * *

Merely two weeks later five riders arrived on the top of a long uphill stretch a couple of miles outside of Carson City, on a spot from which they could look far and wide into the endless plains extending before them, across a vast sea of greasewood and sagebrush. It was early in the forenoon, the sun had barely climbed up on the eastern horizon.

Adam halted his mare and inadvertently rose in the stirrups as he took in the endless width, his eyes shining in barely concealed anticipation. This was where their great ride would start. Their greatest ride that would lead them far beyond anything he had ever seen.

“Lil…” He stretched out his hand to take hers as she pulled up next to him. “Lilyah, this is it. It starts from here…”

Lilyah smiled to herself as she tenderly regarded his features, the expectation on his face, his bright eyes. It was as if he already looked far beyond the plains before them, far into lands of which up to now he had only read. And if Allah willed it, he would see much more of them than he thought of at this moment, all the places he had dreamt about. And before that, he would show her where he himself once came from, years ago as a child, the places he had passed on the long trail westward. It would be a ride into the past and into the future – and they would ride together, side by side. Her heart swelled when Adam lovingly squeezed her hand and she saw the affectionate smile on his lips as his gaze locked with hers. Each other’s best friend…

The three other riders were by far less expectant, but they did their best to play over it.

“Dadburnit!” Hoss exclaimed and looked from his father to his younger brother. “Now you tell me – how dangnabbin’ crazy do ya have to be to spend your honeymoon ridin’ 1800 miles through the dust?”

“Crazier than a donkey chewing on a cactus,” Little Joe quipped. “And just look at them, grinning like two weasels in the hen house!”

“Yeah!” Hoss nodded his head in agreement. “They ain’t even started and the sun’s already gotten to them.”

“Ah, come on boys, stop that!” Ben laughed, although he ached inside. He drove his horse close to Adam and Lilyah. “You won’t forget to send a telegram from Denver City, son…”

“No, Pa, we won’t forget that.” Adam smiled. “And we’ll send one from St. Louis and also from Boston before we board the steamer.”

“Good…” Ben began fingering at the wide veil Lilyah wore over her head and hair to protect herself from the dust. “You’re sure this will be sufficient to protect you from the sun, dear? It’s much hotter out there on the plains than you might think, even for September…”

“I’ll be fine, don’t you worry.” A mild smile stole over her face.

“Sure…” Ben laughed half-heartedly and maneuvered his buckskin backwards. One look at the black stallion in his full Arab tack should’ve reminded him that this was a horse born and bred in the desert, with a rider who knew the desert inside out – and a much harsher sort of desert at that. His eyes glided to his oldest son who appeared so strong and secure on his big, powerful chestnut mare. They knew what they were doing. And there was nothing more to say, they’ve been through everything before. The luggage was on its way to St. Louis, except for a small part sent to Denver City where Adam planned a break. They had their tickets for the steamer. Hop Sing had promised to care for the two goats. And they had said all their good-byes already, had had all their hugs and good wishes before. He and Hoss and Joe had merely wanted to accompany the couple on the first few miles and wave a last good-bye. And Ben knew deep down that all he wanted was to push the moment that had finally come back again, just one more time. Swallowing the thousand things he still wanted to say, he rode forward again to hug his eldest on horseback and then hug his daughter-in-law. “Godspeed, my children… Godspeed and may the Lord protect you…”

A last round of hugs and hearty slaps and Adam nudged his mare into a canter to ride out into the plains. The black stallion nickered and held his muzzle high into the wind as he followed in playful leaps. Both Adam and Lilyah raised one arm as a last greeting and then they were on their way.

Ben sat silently on his horse, his eyes following the two riders until they were tiny specks on the horizon, recognizable only by the traces of dust their horses’ hooves had left behind, thinned out in the distance, blurred by the sun. He sat and watched until even that had vanished in the endless width, until his eyes started tearing from searching for any sign, any witness it had been there at all.

“Be safe…” he murmured, his heart heavy with emotion. “Be safe and come back – both of you…”

The End