The Claim by K'Anne Meinel

Author:K'Anne Meinel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: K'Anne Meinel, Historical, Pioneer Women
Publisher: Shadoe Publishing
Published: 2012-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

I didn’t see Michael that morning even though I knew he was around. Tom and he were doing the chores and setting things up outside. Michael had made me the gift of a large store-bought dining room table from back east with matching chairs as well as a glass enclosed hutch for my china. The dining room table already held several gifts that people had mailed to us, including a beautiful china washbasin and pitcher with roses drawn on it from Jenny and Chet. A few of the gifts I didn’t know the senders since they were from Michael’s friends back east. He’d written to invite them but none had come; instead they had sent regrets and a gift. A thank you letter had gone out immediately signed by both of us.

At 9:30 I was washed and ready. My wedding gown was made of silk and lace. I could afford it and felt it would go to my children someday. Lorna had thought she’d died and gone to heaven when I placed the order for the material last spring. I’d spent quite a few evenings (when I could) to cut and stitch it. I wasn’t a great seamstress, but Lorna knew the one that had settled in town and opened her store. I’d paid her to finish the finer seams. She’d been braver about cutting the material and sewing it than I. The result was beautiful. She’d also made petticoats to go with the dress as well as a matching coat to cover everything until I got into the church. I’d also made arrangements with her to make several dresses for me. I could afford it now and I certainly hated making them myself. The cost was negligible in comparison to the quality that she produced. I was now the proud owner of several church dresses and a few day dresses. I’d never owned more than two or three dresses at a time and having all of these now made me feel quite decadent.

Tom met Lorna, me, Maggie and their children at the door in my buggy. Michael had gone ahead in his wagon to meet me at the church and to change his clothes and wash at the hotel. The children and Maggie crowded into the front seat with Tom and I sat in the back with Lorna. She was buried by my gown but we laughed all the way to church. As a result, my cheeks were flushed beautifully when I arrived and they stayed that way as I walked up the aisle alone to Michael’s side. He was struck by a beauty he had never seen in me before. As I get older, I was happy to discover I look more and more like my mother. As she had been a beautiful woman in her time, I suppose I was becoming one.

And so we were married, for richer, for poorer, for sickness and in health, ‘til death parts us. I was pleased that no mention was made to obey my husband but we both vowed to honor each other.

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