Gerrity'S Bride by Carolyn Davidson

Author:Carolyn Davidson [Davidson, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780373288984
Amazon: 0373288980
Goodreads: 1126340
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1995-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

It seemed a party would include the whole of the countryside, Emmaline finally realized. Maria had taken up the banner with little urging and was busily planning a menu that sounded more appropriate for a jamboree than for a wedding reception.

There would have to be a compromise of sorts, Emmaline decided firmly. Something between a barbecue and a dinner party, with the barbecue being the choice of Matthew, of course. Glumly she realized that her thoughts of a rather formal introduction to the neighboring ranchers and the townspeople would be going by the boards. More likely was Maria’s suggestion, complete with a whole steer turning on a spit over an open pit. Somehow the thought was gaining a bit more of her approval as she dwelled on the idea of having the party outside, keeping the community outdoors, beneath the scattering of trees that bounded the area between the house and the barns.

Maria sighed with satisfaction. “I think we’ve listed everything we’ll need from town,” she said. Passing her list across the table for Emmaline’s approval, she narrowed her eyes as she concentrated. “We’ll need to decide on tables and benches, too.”

Emmaline glanced up from the paper she’d scanned, still wondering at the enormous amounts of food Maria deemed necessary. “We need tables? Can’t they all sit under the trees and eat?” she asked, considering the task of locating seats for so many guests.

Maria chuckled and shook her head. “The young ones will be happy to sit on the ground, but the men will sit about the tables and argue and tell stories for hours.”

“What about the women?” Emmaline wanted to know.

Maria shrugged. “They will serve their men and have their own place to sit and eat.”

“How will we locate so many tables and benches?” Emmaline looked at the list she held. The planning was assuming immense proportions.

“Our men will make them, out in the barn. They have a stack of wood, ready to use for new stalls or putting up partitions. They just use it for tables this time, and then for something else later.”

Such temporary measures were foreign to Emmaline. Used to fine china and formal dining, she was finding it difficult to form a picture in her mind of the party to come. Serving the menfolk was not her pleasure, but she supposed that for Matt’s sake she could be a docile wife for one day. She laughed as she thought of herself acting that part, but then sobered as she realized that already she was fitting into the mold he expected her to fill.

“I’ll leave it up to you, Maria.” She rose and gripped her list firmly. “I’ll have to write out the invitations and have them delivered.”

“One of the men can take them to town, next time we send someone in for supplies,” Maria said. “The rest can be given to the neighbors as we see them. Someone is always stopping by.”

Such a haphazard way of doing things was beyond her, Emmaline decided forlornly as she went down the hallway to Matthew’s office.

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