Yetta's Yearning by Michele Lindsey

Author:Michele Lindsey [Lindsey, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-24T06:00:00+00:00

A short time later they pulled into town. Yetta hadn’t seen much of it the first time she was here. It wasn’t what she had expected—a sleepy frontier town. Nor was it the more extreme saloons and gun-slinging spectacle that she’d heard was common in the West.

It looked like a charming little town, bustling with activity. But not at all like New York City, with its paved and cobblestone streets and people dressed to the nines. Here, instead of men in grays, blues, and blacks, they wore various shades of brown. Even the women wore subdued colors and simple bonnets for practicality instead of fashion.

“So, this is Colorado Springs,” Nathaniel announced. “It’s a nice little town—still growing. We get some miners coming through on their way to Colorado City, which is the main supply hub. But the Springs is beginning to attract the tourists.”

They continued making their way down what seemed to be a main street, with narrow alleys splitting off every now and again. A simple white church came into view up ahead.

“If we’re lucky, Reverend Hale hasn’t left for supper yet. He usually goes next door to the Chandler Boarding House.”

The wagon stopped out front. Nathaniel hopped out and helped Yetta down. They hurried up the stairs and into the church. The door closed with a knock, and an older man, who Yetta assumed was the reverend, stepped from a doorway in the corner.

“Well, hello, Nathaniel,” the man said. “What brings you by?”

“Reverend,” Nathaniel greeted with a nod. He grabbed Yetta by the hand. “We’d like to get married.”

“Right now?”

“Do you have a few minutes?” Nathaniel asked.

He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Sure, I’ve got some time.”

While the reverend prepared for the marriage ceremony, Nathaniel went next door to fetch a witness.

Alone in the quiet church, Yetta inhaled a deep breath and sat in a pew. She couldn’t believe it was happening—she really and truly was getting married. Catching a whiff, she sighed to herself. This would be so much more romantic if I didn’t smell like pickles.

Nerves had her fidgeting. She removed the pins from her hair and ran her fingers through it, pulling it into a chignon and fastening the pins again. She realized her knees were bouncing furiously, so she placed her hands on her lap and steadied them. With another deep breath, she smoothed her dress with her palms. Her right one itched a little. But if that was the worst of the effects from the poisonous flowers, then she couldn’t complain.

The floorboards creaked, announcing she was no longer alone.

Yetta turned in her seat.

Nathaniel had returned. He stood in the aisle with a smile on his face and a bouquet of pale-pink roses in his hands. Yetta beamed. It was as if he’d read her mind. He held them out for her taking.

Yetta took the bouquet with both hands and buried her face in them, inhaling their intense, sweet fragrance. Gone was the assault of vinegar on her nose.

“Are we ready?” Reverend Hale asked from the altar.

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