(Friday morning)

Cee climbed up into the cab of the SUV. Jen and Ric were sitting in the seats directly behind her; Deb and Gary were in the back seats. Eli was helping Michael check on suitcases and equipment a couple of SUVs ahead. She closed the door and sighed. She’d tried to get Maddie’s attention all morning, but the woman was either on the phone or taking care of business elsewhere in the hotel. Now they’d all checked out and were on their way to the Grand Canyon.

“Opportunity lost,” she said.

“What was that?” Jen asked, scooting forward.

“Nothing.” Cee turned around and smiled at them. “You girls should get some sleep. How's your wrist, Deb?”

"Hurts, but I'll live," Deb called from the back.

Cee faced the front again and pulled the schedule out of her briefcase. Maybe she and Eli could get away next weekend... just the two of them head out to Goldfield and get married. It wasn’t exactly the wedding she wanted, but it would do.

Or, maybe she’d plan a “cowboy wedding” in Miami once they got back. She smiled and suppressed a giggle, imagining the contrast of cowboy hats and rustic setting with the sunglasses and art deco look of the Florida city. She shook her head and realized it didn’t matter where the wedding was held: a cowboy wedding in Miami with everyone around beat a “just for two” wedding in Goldfield. Besides, as long as she was married to Eli when it was over, what difference did it make where the wedding was held?

Eli opened the driver’s side and got in. “Saw Maddie,” he said quickly, shutting the door.

Cee brightened. “Did you ask about the schedule?” she asked.

“Yep,” he replied, adjusting the rearview mirror. Then he looked at her. “Darlin’, there’s no time in the schedule to take out a few hours to do what you want to do. I’m sorry.”

Cee nodded her head. She’d expected that answer. “S’Okay, Eli. I know what I want to do instead.”

“Do what?” Jen asked. She was still forward in her seat.

“Never you mind,” Eli replied. “We’re setting to head out. Everyone put on your seatbelts.”

“Yes, Dad,” Jen giggled, sitting back in her seat and fastening her belt.

“Are we there yet, Dad?” Deb called from the back seat. Both she and Jen giggled louder. Even Ric and Gary chuckled.

Eli just looked at Cee, smiled and shook his head. Cee laughed and pulled some packages out of her briefcase.

“Who wants M&Ms?” she asked, half turning in her seat.

“It’s too early for chocolate,” Ric protested, sticking out his tongue.

“It’s never too early for chocolate!” Jen, Deb, and Cee insisted.

The caravan pulled out of the hotel and made its way through the city streets of Phoenix. Cee donned her sunglasses and watched the buildings pass by.

“We’ve got a ways to go, why don’t you get some sleep?” Eli suggested. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he added, “Looks like the girls are already taking that suggestion.”

Cee turned around. Sure enough, only a few blocks from the parking lot, and Jen and Deb appeared to be fast asleep. Deb had her head leaning on Gary’s shoulder, and Jen was curled up as much as she could be in her seat while still belted, hand reaching across to hold Ric’s.

Cee smiled and faced forward again, leaning her head back against the headrest and closing her eyes. The sun was strong through the windshield, and after only a couple of minutes, she opened her eyes again and reached up to adjust the sun visor.

“Wait a minute,” she said. “Why is the sun coming through the windshield?” She turned toward Eli. “Where are we going?”

“To the next spot on the schedule,” he insisted, keeping his eyes on the road.

“Eli, the Grand Canyon is north of Phoenix. We’re heading pretty much due east.” She shielded her eyes and looked ahead on the road. “All of the cars are headed due east.” She looked at Eli again. “This is not on the schedule, Eli!”

“Yes, it is, Darlin’.” He turned to her with a grin. “Oh, that’s right...” He opened and reached into the console next to his seat. “You didn’t get the updated schedule.”

She started reading the papers he handed to her. Sure enough, the schedule was marked amended with Goldfield added for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. “What the hell, Eli?”

“Figured you need a day to get things together. We can have the wedding tomorrow.”

“But you said there wasn’t time,” she countered.

His grin grew wider. “I said there wasn't a few hours available. Two days is longer than a few hours.”

“Wow,” she said quietly. “Just... wow.” A smile spread across her face. She unbuckled her seatbelt, reached over and grabbed the armrest of Eli’s seat and pulled herself close to him.

“Hey, careful... I’m supposed to be driving!” he protested mildly when she kissed him on the cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. “And, you’re setting a bad example for the kids. Sit down and buckle your seatbelt.” He laughed as she went back to her seat. “Now, call your mother.”

“My mother? Is there time for her to get here?” She pulled out her cell phone and dialed the number.

“What’s up?” Deb asked from the back.

“Just going over the change in plans,” Eli announced.

“Hi, Mom,” Cee was saying over the phone. “Hey, Eli and I are on our way to Goldfield, Arizona. Do you think you and Adam could...” She stopped and listened for a while. “Really?” She turned to look at Eli. “Since when? Uh huh. Hey, Mom, can I call you back in a little bit? Yeah, I’ll call you right back.” She snapped her phone shut.

“Uh oh,” Eli sighed.

“Funny, Eli, my mother happens to be in Goldfield with Adam. Just how long have you been planning this? And, how did you find out about Goldfield?” Her eyes widened. “Elias James! You went snooping on my computer!”

“What’s going on?” This time it was Jen asking, stretching as she sat up.

“We’re on our way to Goldfield,” Gary explained.

“We just came from there,” Deb replied. “Did we forget something?”

“For Cee and Eli’s wedding,” Ric continued.

“Don’t tell me I’m the last one to know about this!” Cee exclaimed.

“I didn’t know about it!” Deb said, clapping her hands. “Ow,” she moaned, rubbing her wrist. “That hurt... But, cool! A wedding!”

“Yay! Are we having a party, too?” Jen asked.

Cee held up her hand. “Not so fast.”

“Cee,” Eli began. “You were so worried about not being able to have the wedding you wanted. I just did a little bit of snooping,” he explained, holding up his fingers with a small gap between his index finger and thumb.

“Just a little? Yeah... I think I need to add a password to my computer.” She crossed her arms across her chest.

“Don’t get mad, Darlin’. I was just trying to help.”

“Okay, I appreciate that.” She turned toward him again. “But, if you want to marry me tomorrow, you have to do this today.” She got out of her seat again to lean over and whisper in his ear.

“I didn’t hear that,” Jen said. “Did you hear that, Ric?” She twisted around to Deb. “Did you hear that?” Deb shook her head.

“Absolutely not!” Eli protested, glaring at Cee. “That doesn’t have anything to do with us getting married!”

Cee sat back down and crossed her arms again. “If you want to get married tomorrow, you’re gonna do that today.”

“You can’t be serious,” he returned. “Buckle your seatbelt.”

“I am totally serious,” she replied. “Watch the road.” She pulled her seatbelt across and buckled it.

Deb leaned forward. “Are Mom and Dad having a fight?” she whispered. Jen shrugged her shoulders. All four of the passengers listened intently.

“Call your mother back so you can talk about the wedding,” Eli insisted.

“Not until you agree to do what I asked,” Cee countered.

Jen and Ric, Gary and Deb all looked at each other, lifting their eyebrows and shaking their heads.

“I’ve never done that before,” Eli admitted.

“Well, it’s not what I was thinking,” Ric said quietly.

“I know,” Cee replied to Eli. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“To you maybe. What if I fall off?” Eli asked.

Deb threw up her hands. “It can’t be what I thought it was.”

“That won’t happen,” Cee assured him.

“I don’t know how,” Eli admitted.

“Nope.” Jen shook her head. “Not what I had in mind.”

Cee snapped her fingers. “What if we make it a group outing? Would that help?”

“Huh uh.” Gary shook his head. “What I had in mind isn’t a group activity. Well, I guess it could be.” He ducked as Deb swung at him.

“I don’t see how that makes it better,” Eli thought out loud.

“C’mon, Eli,” Cee continued. “You had to know I was going to get you to do this eventually.” She put her hand on his arm. “Of course I’ll marry you if you don’t do it, but... would you do it for me? Please...?”

Eli looked at her. He blew out a sigh. “Okay, I’ll do it. Won’t guarantee I’ll like it, but I’ll do it.”

“Do what?” everyone in the back asked at once.

Cee glanced back at them and laughed. She picked up her cell phone and started dialing again. “I am finally going to see what Eli looks like sitting on a horse!”

She put the phone to her face. “Hey, Mom, it’s me. Yeah, we’re still getting married.”

Goldfield Ghost Town

"Back in the 1890's Goldfield boasted 3 saloons, a boarding house, general store, blacksmith shop, brewery, meat market and a school house. Just when it looked like the town would outgrow Mesa, the vein faulted, the grade of ore dropped and the town died a slow painful death. After several unsuccessful attempts to reopen the mines, the town did come to life again from 1910 on and off until 1926."

Goldfield Ghost Town is a family attraction that grew up around an almost-defunct Arizona mining community. The former gold mining town now boasts such attractions as Mammoth Gold Mine and Goldfield Museum, Lu Lu's Bordello, Superstition Reptile Exhibit, Mammoth Steakhouse and Saloon, the Goldfield Livery Stables, and the Church at the Mount.

The group piled out of the vehicles after the almost hour drive from Phoenix. After greetings of "Surprise!" and "Congratulations!" from those who arrived in the other SUVs, Cee, Eli, Sam, and Kusa made it to the Saloon where Sonja and Adam were waiting.



"You don't look too happy," Sam said to Eli's scowl. The two men and Adam were standing on the porch just off from the women, who had started going over the schedule and plans Sonja made during her short stay in the town.

"I'm not," Eli replied honestly, his arms folded across his chest.

"Cold feet? That's not supposed to happen until tomorrow, brother."

"Oh, I've got no problems with the wedding, Sam," Eli explained. "It's the horse riding lesson I got blackmailed into that I'm not too pleased about."

"I went horseback riding yesterday!" Adam announced.

"Hey, you did?" Sam asked his son. "Cool! How did you like it?"

"It was fun!"

Sam turned to Eli. "See? It was fun! Nothing to worry about, Eli."

"Sam." Michael and Fi walked up to the saloon, followed by Maddie and Virgil, H and G. "Do you know where we're staying?"

"I do," Cee interjected as she, Kusa, and Sonja rejoined the men. "Over there." She pointed at the one rather contemporary-looking building in the town.

"The Coming Thing Hotel," Sam read off the sign about the entrance. "Cool name, wonder who thought that one up?"

"Completely modern amenities," Cee insisted, seeing Michael's dubious look. "Even has a salon and a spa." She turned to Maddie. "Where's everyone else?"

Maddie waved the air. "Off... somewhere. There's a lot to see."

"Wow, for an old West town, I get four bars," Michael said, checking his cell phone. "I'll send a text."

"Okay, Mom pretty much has all the planning info set up," Cee started explaining. "Basically, we have an appointment at one with the clothiers. Outside of those in the wedding party, I don't care what anyone else wants to wear to the wedding." She smiled. "I'm just happy you all are here!" She paused. "Wait, what about Boomer and Ashley?"

"Jackie and Bill are bringing Jie, Ashley, Phi, Barry, and Boomer this afternoon," Kusa assured her. "We'll need someone to go back to Phoenix to pick them up."

"I'll do it." Michael raised his hand. "I don't mind returning to the twenty-first century."

"Don't you want to pick out a cowboy outfit?" Fi asked with a snicker.

"Armani doesn't make 'cowboy outfits'," Michael responded. "No offense, Cee."

"None taken," she replied. "I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea. I accept that."

"What's up?" Jen asked, as she and Ric, Di and Q, Deb and Gary, and Trini and Nate joined those already at the saloon.

"Where's 23 and Shawn?" Maddie asked.

Deb rolled her eyes. "Last we saw them, they were headed to the bordello."

"Yeah," Di continued, popping Q in the arm. "These guys would have followed them if we hadn't insisted on them coming with us."

"Well," Q explained. "Aren't you the least bit interested in how they're presenting a whore-er, bordello where the advertisment says 'Bring the kids'? Isn't the first thing the kid is gonna ask is: What's a bordello?"

"Dad, what's a bordello?" Adam looked up at Sam.

"I rest my case," Q announced smugly.

"Uh, didn't your grandmother go over that with you yesterday?" Sam asked.

"No, we spent our time at the livery and the reptile exhibit," Sonja explained. "Some things are better explained by a father." She chuckled.

"Uh, thanks, Ma," Sam mumbled. "We'll talk about it later," he said to Adam. "Right now, there's a lot of stuff to do."

"Exactly." Cee stepped up to explain to the others. "As I was saying, only the wedding party needs to 'dress up', everyone else can wear what they want."

"I want to dress up, too!" Deb insisted. "And so does Gary."

"Well, truth be told—" he started, then noticed Deb's stare. He swallowed hard. "Truth be told, there's nothing I'd like to do better than dress up like a cowboy."

"Same with Ric," Jen insisted.

"Same with Q," Di insisted.

The two guys just nodded, knowing better than to disagree.

"Everyone who wants an outfit, meet over at the Mother Lode Merchantile at one pm," Cee repeated. She read over the schedule her mother had handed her. Never had her life been so planned out in advance. "Okay, Eli and I have a meeting at the church with the minister at three pm. The rehearsal is tonight at seven at the church with dinner afterwards at the reception room in the hotel." Her hands pointed to the locations of the different buildings as she talked.

"When's the wedding?" Maddie asked.

"Oh, yeah." Cee looked up sheepishly. "That is what we're here for, right? According to this, the wedding is tomorrow at five thirty at the church."

"They don't do weddings until after the last gunfight," Sonja explained. "The gunfights are every hour on the hour from noon until four. There was already a wedding scheduled at four thirty, so Cee and Eli's wedding is at five thirty."

"The reception—" Cee went on.

"With booze?" Virgil interrupted.

"Yes, full bar," Sonja answered. "Funny, I thought my son would be the one to ask that question."

"Ma!" Sam whined.

Cee laughed. "The reception is in the back of the saloon after the wedding. Dinner, dancing, and, I guess, drinking." She looked over at her about-to-be-husband, still with his arms crossed in front of him, leaning against one of posts of the saloon. "Eli, what's wrong? Are you upset about something?"

"Yes, I am," he replied. "You know why I'm upset." The four who had been in the SUV with Eli and Cee on the way to Goldfield snickered... until Eli turned to glare at them. That shut them up quickly. "Then again," he said, facing Cee and dropping his hands to his side. "Doesn't sound like there's a lot of extra room in that schedule. Maybe there's no time for—"

Cee shook her head. "There's time. Four thirty today, plenty of time for a riding lesson before the rehearsal." She went back to addressing the rest of them. "Okay, everyone's free until those who need to come back to the Merchantile at one."

"Hold on." Eli held up his hand and everyone stopped. "I need to speak with Cee for a moment. Everyone just stay put."

The rest of them watched as he pulled her over to the side of the porch. The couple talked for a few minutes, sometimes glancing over to the group. Their conversation didn't seem to be heated, and both of them nodded at different times during the course of it. They were holding hands when they came back.

"Okay, Eli just pointed out to me that I keep saying 'wedding party', and none of you know who that includes," Cee explained. "In fact, I didn't know, either, until we had our discussion." She looked out at all of those gathered. "Boomer is going to usher. Adam is going to be the ring bearer." She looked at her nephew. "You may be a little old for that, Adam, but you'll do it for us anyway, right?"

"You bet, Aunt Cee!" the boy agreed.

"Thank you. Uhm, Kusa is going to carry the flower girl, Miss Ashley, down the aisle with Jie."

"Yeah, Bill and Jackie are bringing the girls' dresses they wore at the Civil War ball," Kusa offered.

"Fantastic! Perfect!" Cee commented. "Sam, you promised me something on Cumberland Island. Do you remember?"

"I sure do," Sam replied. "And, I'd be more than happy to give you away." He turned and bowed to the awwws chorused among the women.

"That just leaves two spots to fill," Cee said a little nervously. She looked to Eli.

He rubbed his forehead. "Yeah, Horatio and Gia, uh... could you two come over here for a quick meeting?" He jabbed his thumb to the side of the porch.

H and G looked at each other in surprise. "Sure, Eli," H said, taking G's hand and following Cee and Eli.

"I know this is last minute," Eli began when the four were off from the others.

"This whole thing is last minute." Cee laughed.

"Well, I'd appreciate it, H, if you'd be my best man," Eli continued.

"And, I'm not crazy about the term 'matron of honor'," Cee went on. "But, G, I'd love to have you stand up in front of the church with me."

"Wow," G said quietly. "I wasn't expecting this."

"Neither was I," H agreed. "You're okay with this?" he asked Cee.

"Absolutely," she assured him.

He looked at G, and she quickly nodded her head. "Yes, Eli," he said, holding out his hand. "I'd be honored to be your best man."

"Thanks, H." Eli shook his hand.

"You got it, girlfriend!" G exclaimed, grabbing Cee in a big hug.

"Uh, H, I was hoping all of the wedding party would be costumed... but, if you don't want to," Cee stammered when G had let go of her.

"Absolutely," H replied. "I'm all for that, too. May I?" he asked Eli, his arm stretched toward Cee. Eli grinned and nodded his head, and H hugged Cee while G grabbed Eli in a bear hug.

After a few more comments between them, the four returned to the group. "H and G have graciously agreed to stand up for us in the front of the church," Eli announced. The group cheered. "As his first duty as best man," Eli continued when they'd quieted down. "H is going to get me out of this damn riding lesson this afternoon."

"Well now, Eli." H stepped up. "I don't think that's actually part of my duties, and..." He waved his hand toward Cee. "I know better than to tangle with her. I'm afraid you're on your own with the horse, my friend."

“Cee said you didn’t have to dress up,” G told H, helping him adjust the western-style tie around his neck.

“I know, but... It’s their wedding, G. I want to make sure it’s as special as she wants it to be.” H pulled on the sleeves on the jacket.

“You’re sweet, H.” G reached up and gave him a kiss.

“Don't let that become common knowledge. But, uh, maybe the gesture goes a little way in mending fences with you?"

G frowned. “H, sticking me out on that training mission was a low blow. And then, to find out our backpacks were bugged? Seriously, H!” She laughed. “Still, this is sweet. I'll have to think about it.”

“What are you wearing?” he asked, looking at himself in the mirror.

“Dunno yet.” G handed him his hat. “I’m not the one they’re supposed to be looking at anyway.”

H put it on his head. “Wow, I could pass as an oil tycoon, don’t you think?”

“You don’t look half bad.” She smoothed the fabric over his shoulders. “I’d definitely do you,” she admitted.

H just looked at her reflection in the mirror. She laughed at the shocked look on his face.

“Agent Sanders,” he replied. “I... Well, hell, I don’t know what to say.”

“Where’s Sam?” H asked when he and G made their way out of the dressing room.

“In, tried on his suit... He’s gone.” Kusa smiled. “He and Adam went off to the reptile house or somewhere.”

“Eli?”

“He and Cee are still in the dressing room.” She chuckled.

“Ah.” He winked at G. “Think they might need a chaperone?”

Kusa looked at her watch. “I’m giving them ten more minutes, then someone needs to see what they’re doing.”

Inside the dressing room, Cee was tying Eli’s tie. “Do you think this is silly yet?” she asked him.

“Dressing up for the wedding? No. Making me ride a horse. Yes.” Eli ran his fingers through his hair. “Maybe I ought to get a haircut before tomorrow.”

“If you want,” she said, reaching for the hat. “But, if you do anything to that mustache, I just might change my mind about the wedding entirely.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he chuckled. “Let’s finish off this outfit.”

She handed him the hat, and he put it on his head. “No, not quite... More like this,” she said, moving the hat a little more foreward.

He turned to look at her. “Well, does this meet your approval?”

Cee grinned... The grin turned into a smile... The smile nearly became a leer. “Be still my beating heart,” she whispered loudly, fanning herself with her hands. “Oh. My. Ged. Eli, you are...” She suddenly lunged for him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling her body close to his... and giving him a deep, long kiss. He was taken off guard at first, but he quickly melted into her mood, putting his arms around her and drawing her even closer.

“I think, I think,” he stammered when they finally came up for air. “I think we’ll be buying the hat.”

“Ya think?” she laughed, then rubbed her nose against his. “I love you.”

“I think what you’re feeling right now is more akin to lust, Darlin’,” he chuckled. “But, that’s fine. I lust you, too.” She giggled, and they leaned in for another kiss.

Before they could get as lost in it as they had the first one, there was a knock on the door. They ignored it, and the knock came back... even louder.

“Eli! Cee!” Kusa called out from the other side of the door. “You two aren’t thinking about starting the honeymoon in there, are you? That’s not allowed. There are people out here waiting for you!”

They reluctantly broke the kiss, but kept their arms around each other.

Kusa knocked again, harder. “Hey, you two!”

“We hear you!” Eli called out.

“She has a point,” Cee said, just a little dreamily. “There are a lot of things that need to be accomplished today. We have to stay on schedule.” She stole a little kiss.

“Whatever you say, Darlin’,” he replied, stealing a kiss for himself.

“Then again, maybe just a little rearranging of the schedule...” Her voice trailed off as she lost herself in Eli’s eyes.

The next knock sounded different. “Eli,” came H’s voice. “Is there a problem?”

“Hell, yes, there’s a problem!” Eli said forcefully. “You guys keep banging on the damn door!”

“We’ll make the alterations this afternoon. The suits will be ready by tomorrow morning.” The woman finished making notes on the tablet of paper.

“No problem?” Cee asked. Kusa and Gia stood nearby. Sonja and H sat in a nearby chair. Eli and H had left minutes before to see what the others were up to.

“No problem.” The woman smiled at her. “Minor fixes. Now, what do we dress you ladies in?”

“I’ve been looking at that dress over there,” Cee answered, pointing at a mannikin. “I think it would look pretty good on you, G... What do you think?”

The long, bare-shouldered gown was slightly gathered in the front and fastened with a jeweled adornment. The extra fabric cascaded down the from the decoration.



“Wow, Cee! That looks great!” G exclaimed. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, and the gloves will help hide that gash on your arm. But, if you want to go with bare arms to show your bandage, that’s fine, too.”

“No, gloves would be great.”

Cee leaned over to whisper in G’s ear: “You’ll have to hide your gun under the skirt.” Both women laughed.

“I’ve got a duplicate of that in the back.” The woman pointed to a door just off from the changing rooms. “I’ll bring it to room three if you want to go ahead and get undressed. I’ll be right in with the gown.”

Cee sat down next to her mother as the woman and G left the room. “I’ve got a problem,” she said.

“What’s wrong?” Sonja asked, patting her daughter’s knee.

“I have no idea what to wear.” Cee looked up at Kusa standing next to her. “I mean, I’ve pictured this wedding over and over, but... I’ve never been able to ‘see’ what my dress looks like.”

“The dress you picked out for Gia isn’t exactly old-fashioned,” Sonja said.

“I know, but it ‘suggests’ the era... kinda. It will look good on her. I know I picked out morning jackets for the guys, which match the time period. I’m just not sure I’m ready for another vintage gown. I think my ribs are still recovering from corset-induced trama.”

Kusa laughed. “Yeah, thank ged we don’t have to do that every time we want to dress up!”

“You say that because you girls are too young to remember girdles,” Sonja sighed.

The woman returned from the back. “Your friend is almost ready. Do you know what you want?”

Cee shook her head. “No.”

“Have a color in mind? White?” the woman asked.

Cee laughed. “Oh ged, no. Not even ivory. A color, I want color.”

“May I make a suggestion?”

“Please!” Cee insisted.

The woman pulled a catalog out from behind the counter. She flipped through a few pages, spread the publication open wider, and flipped it around, pointing at a picture. Cee got up and walked over to see what the woman picked out. Kusa followed.

The strapless dress was beautiful. The fabric around the waist was gathered to the side instead of the front, fitting over the hips. The skirt layered in tucks around the front, looping around in a diagonal pattern. A pearl decoration in the back of the skirt held a pleat that finished off the tucks. The short train was a series of pleats.



“I have it in lavendar. The size should fit you. The periwinkle of your friend’s gown will compliment it well.”

“It’s beautiful,” Cee whispered.

“Definitely,” Kusa agreed.

“But, I’m too old—”

Sonja interrupted. “Eli’s words before he left were: Make sure she gets whatever she wants.”

Cee picked up the catalog and brought it over to her mother. “What do you think?”

“I think you should try it on.”

The girls were so excited about the wedding they could hardly stand it. The only regret was that it was such short notice, they wouldn’t have a longer period of time to savor the preparation for the event. They all wanted to help Cee, but Maddie and Kusa told them that going to the Mercantile to choose dresses for the wedding was the best possible use of their energy at the moment.

So, the Mercantile it was. They searched through all styles of late 1800’s dresses, but at first, everything looked so schoolmarmish or Laura Ingalls to them. Then they discovered the bustle.

“Good Golly, Miss Molly….look at my tush!!!!” Jen called out in disbelief.

The other agents turned and jaws dropped. “Holy Mackerel!”

“Hey, I want one of those!”

So bustles it was, all around. Even Maddie, Kusa, Phi, and Jackie were game for one. “Oh, I don’t know,” Maddie said, finally, eyeing herself in the three-way mirror. “It looks like Battleship Mountain back there.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Di told her. “Maddie, you look stunning…Virgil’s gonna drool!”

“Hmmm, you think so?” Maddie asked, still eyeing.

“I guarantee it,” Di told her.

“You don’t think I look like a madam or a saloonkeeper?” Maddie asked her.

“You look hot, Maddie…that’s all Virgil’s gonna care about.”


After the girls were finished and carted their dresses back to the hotel, the guys came in to pick their wedding wear.

“You’re a much calmer group than those ladies that were just here,” the shopkeeper told them. “My ears are still ringing.”

“We’ve learned to ignore it,” Gary told him.

“I think I may keep earplugs under the counter for future use,” the shopkeeper told them.

Ric slapped him on the back. “Good idea, man...gotta say!”

“Hey, guys,” Cee said, walking up to Sam, Adam, and Boomer hanging out in front of the livery. “Where’s Eli?”

“I thought he was with you,” Sam replied.

“No, I haven’t seen him since we left the church a half hour ago. I had to go over to the The Blue Nugget to pick up the rings.” She shaded her eyes and looked around, not seeing her fiance. “I figured as much.”

“He didn’t seem too happy about getting on a horse,” Sam admitted.

“I know. I think I made too big of a deal out of it. Are you guys going to ride?” she asked the boys.

“Yep!” Adam replied.

“You, too, Boomer?” She turned toward her other nephew.

“Yep, me, too.”

“Cool, did you pick out a horse, yet?” She walked over to the corral with the guys.

“That’s the one I rode yesterday,” Adam announced, pointing at a smaller pinto, mostly white with patches of brown.

“Oh, that one looks a fine horse. Are you gonna ride him again today?”

“If I can. Dad says we had to wait for you and Eli. Is Eli coming?”

Cee looked at Sam. “I don’t think we can count on it.”

“So, how much trouble is Eli in if he doesn’t show up?” Sam asked with a chuckle.

Cee laughed. “Probably not as much as you’d like him to be in.”

“Don’t say that, Cee. I like Eli.”

“I like Eli, too,” Boomer spoke up. “If you two are getting married, can we start calling him Uncle Eli?”

“Wow,” Cee replied. “I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe you ought to as him that question yourself.”

“Ask who what?” Eli asked. He’d walked up behind them while they were talking. They all turned to look at him. The boys let out whoops of “Wow!” and “Cool” when they caught sight of him.

In the time since he’d left Cee, Eli had gone back to the Merchantile and made another clothing purchase. Dressed now in jeans and boots, he also wore a fringed jacket with a bandana around his neck. A cowboy hat was perched on top of his head.



“Well, you look the part.” Cee smiled and curled her fingers around the lapel of the jacket, pulling herself up for a quick kiss.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he replied, tipping his hat. “That’s why I’m late. I must’ve had twenty people ask me for information between the store and here.”

“You do look like part of the scenery,” Sam admitted.

“Are you a real cowboy?” Adam asked.

“No, Adam, I am not,” Eli assured him.

“Then why are you dressed like that?” Cee asked. “I’m not complaining, mind you... Just asking.”

“I just thought you’d like it, that’s all.”

He put one hand around her waist, the other around her back, and pulled her closer. She licked her lips and reached up on her toes, her hands still gripping his jacket. Their next kiss wasn’t so quick, causing Adam to roll his eyes and Boomer to look at his dad impatiently. Sam just shrugged his shoulders.

The girls and their guys found their way to the stables while Cee and Eli were still liplocked.

“What’s up, Sam?” Di asked. “We’re looking for Cee, have you seen her?”

Sam chuckled and made a quick point in the couple’s direction.

“Hey, why are you letting your sister kiss that cowboy?” Jen remarked. “What’s Eli gonna think?”

“They’re still getting married tomorrow, aren’t they?” Deb wondered out loud.

“Uhm, I think the cowboy is Eli,” Gary replied, tilting his head to get a different view of the couple.

“That’s about enough,” Sam mumbled. “Hey, you two... You’re gathering an audience. I’m going to find a bucket of water to cool you down if you don’t ease off on that stuff,” Sam said loudly in their direction.

“Very nice, cowboy.” Cee was still grinning after the kiss. “If I wasn’t getting married tomorrow, I might be tempted to—” She pushed off from him a bit. “You think you’re slick, don’t you, Eli?” she asked, still smiling. She reached up for the jacket’s lapels again. “You’re not dressed up like the cowboy of my dreams by accident, are you?”

“What are you talking about, Darlin’?” He bent down for another kiss, and Cee eagerly accomodated him.

“I bet you thought you’d mosey on down here.” She emphasized the statement with a quick kiss. “Distract me with these most excellent clothes,” she continued, taking another kiss. “And get me to forget that you said you’d get on a horse today.”

“Mmm... Did it work?” he asked quietly.

She nodded, her face close to his. “Almost... almost.” The nod turned into a slow shake. “But not quite.” She took a step back. “But, I appreciate the effort, Eli. You get an ‘A’ for effort.”

Eli sighed. “Okay, okay, let’s get this over with.”

He took her hand and led her over to the stables. The boys and Sam followed. The rest of the group gathered by the corral fence to watch.

A man dressed remarkably similar to Eli came out of the livery and joined the potential riders next to the horses. They talked for a while, and the man whistled in the direction of the stables. A young man not much older than Boomer came trotting out. Between the two of the livery employees, five horses were quickly saddled and ready to ride.

The gang watched as Eli talked to the man intently. The boys were already on their horses. Sam stood next to his horse, and Cee waited halfway between her horse and the one designated for Eli.

Eli turned to his bride-to-be. “Are we riding or not?” he asked her. She was surprised to see he was actually smiling.

“We’re waiting on you,” she replied.

Eli put his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself over the horse. “No, you’re not,” he chuckled as he settled into the saddle. The group at the fence cheered, and he tipped his hat to them. “You might want to hold off on that until I’m done,” he told them. “There’s still plenty of opportunity for me to make a fool of myself.”

“Eli, is that you?” Maddie asked. She was sitting in the back pew of the church. Kusa, Ashley, the Coles with Jie were waiting there as well.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a smile, tipping his hat. The group at the livery had all come directly to the church after the uneventful riding lesson. Eli and Cee were the first into the church; Sam, the boys, and the rest of the gang followed.

“Gamma! I got to ride the same horse!” Adam exclaimed, rushing up to her.

“Is everyone here?” the minister asked.

Cee looked around. “No, H and G aren’t here yet.”

As if on cue, the church door opened again, and the best man and matron of honor walked through with the sheriff, properly dressed in a vest with a silver star.

“You’re the one I’ve been hearing about for the last hour,” the sheriff remarked, pointing at Eli.

Eli looked a little worried. “Did I do something wrong?” he asked. “Is there a law against impersonating a cowboy in this town?”

H chuckled. “No, I doubt that. G and I were just over at the sheriff’s office, letting him know we’re here,” he explained.

“And I just thought I’d come past and meet the rest of you,” the sheriff continued.

“Are you a real sheriff?” Boomer asked the man.

“I am, son. But things usually stay pretty quiet around here. We haven’t had a hanging in over a week.” He laughed at both boys’ shocked expressions. “I’m just joking. Most people through here are tourists. I can’t remember when we last had an unplanned ruckus in town.”

Eli reached out to shake the sheriff’s hand. “Are you planning on attending the wedding tomorrow?”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“No intrusion. In fact, you could do me a favor. You see that fellow over there?” Eli took a sideways glance at Sam. “When we get to the part in the wedding when the preacher says, ‘Speak now, or forever hold your peace’? Well, if he so much as opens his mouth, I’d appreciate it much if you would shoot him.”

“That’s a little harsh, Eli,” Sam replied as everyone else laughed.

The rehearsal at the church went smoothly. Cee and Eli had gone over a simple service with the minister earlier in the day, and the “try-out” was just to make sure everyone was on the same page with the order. Boomer practiced walking all the girls and their “dates” up the aisle to their seats, while Adam walked carefully around the church, balancing two Life Saver candies substituting for the rings on the pillow he would carry the next day. Ashley and Jie giggled as Kusa carried and led the two girls to the front of the pews, both girls clapping and Jie announcing “Ta da!” when they reached their destination.

Another schedule, Cee thought to herself as she listened to the minister talking about the options in the order of the wedding. She leaned her head against Eli’s arm, stifling a yawn. She’d noticed Kusa, Maddie, and the girls all trying to hide yawns, too.

When they were finished at the church, the group migrated back to the hotel. The reception room was set up a long food line full of corn on the cob, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, and deviled eggs. Picnic tables with red gingham table clothes were set up on one end of the room, and a sound system was set up at the other end. Coolers full of ice and beer sat close to the food table, with pitchers of tea and lemonade nearby. Waiters were setting out platters of smoked ribs and chicken as everyone filed into the room. Texas sheet cakes and cobbler waited for the end of the meal on outlying tables. All the amenities of a first rate outside barbeque had been brought inside.

Each one of the group migrated through the food line, piling their plates before taking seats at the tables. Cee and Eli, first through the line at the others’ insistance, tried taking places at a table just off from the main ones, but they were soon surrounded by the others, laughing and joking. Michael and Fi, having skipped the rehearsal at the church, arrived after everyone else was already seated.

It was obvious when the group was eating, because that was about the quietest they’d been all day. Cee sat and went over things in her head, making sure everything was ready. They had the rings; the church was set; the dresses and suits were going through final altering. As long as the clothing was ready tomorrow, they were all set. The early arrival of her mother to set things up had really helped: Sonja had done the legwork to gather things together; mostly what Cee had done was approve and check off the list.

“Thank you, Mom.” Cee gave Sonja a hug when her mother sat down. “This wouldn’t have happened without you. We’ll have to go over the bills later.”

“You’re more than welcome,” Sonja replied. “But, I’ve been trying to track the cost, and I keep getting told, ‘It’s taken care of.’ I thought Eli had called ahead and made financial arrangements.”

Cee looked at her fiance. “Eli?”

“No, Darlin’. It wasn’t me.” He put his fork down and looked at her. “I tried checking in with the hotel earlier today, and I was told the same thing, that we didn’t owe a penny.”

“If anyone shows you a bill for anything, then they’re in big trouble,” Bill called from the next table. “Because they’re right: it’s all taken care of.”

Cee looked at Eli and slowly shook her head. He put his finger to his lips and mouthed the words, not now.

-----

Sam was talking to Kusa, Bill, and Jackie when Boomer and Adam walked over to them.

“What’s up, guys?” he asked the boys, taking a swig of his beer.

“Dad, we have something we need to discuss with you,” Boomer said, quite solemnly.

“Is there something wrong, Boom?”

“I think it’s best if we talk to you in confidence, Dad,” Adam replied. “We’ll meet you in the corner where it’s not so crowded.” The two boys turned and walked off.

Sam shot a quick glance to Kusa. She shrugged her shoulders.

“Sounds serious,” Sam said, standing up. “If I found out someone in this room gave either of those boys the ‘bordello’ talk, I’m knocking some heads together,” he announced, pointing at different people around the room, ending with 23 and Shawn.

“Dad,” Boomer began when Sam joined the two boys. “Adam tells me that you’re planning on giving Aunt Cee away tomorrow.”

“Well, sure,” Sam responded. “That’s part of what we went over at the church.”

“You can’t!” Adam exclaimed.

“But, Adam, if I don’t give your Aunt Cee away, who will?”

“We don’t want anyone to give Aunt Cee away. We want to keep her,” Boomer objected.

Sam chuckled, then sobered when he saw the boys’ earnest faces. “Hey, guys, ‘giving away’ is just term of speech. I’m not really giving her away, that is... She’s not going anywhere.” He turned around and called, “Cee! Hey, some help over here, please? Yeah, bring Ma and Eli with you, too.”

“What’s up, guys?” Cee asked when she joined the group. Sonja and Eli were right behind her. “Is there something wrong? You guys are gonna do a great job tomorrow, I know.”

“Apparently, Cee, they’re afraid that I’m gonna give you away... I mean, really give you away. Like in, going away.”

“And, we don’t want you to go away!” Adam complained.

“Listen, boys,” Sonja began. “Your father has been trying to give Cee away since he was five years old. I caught him pulling his wagon down the sidewalk with your aunt sitting inside, trying to find someone to take her. She was just a baby.”

“Ma,” Sam interjected. “I don’t think your story is helping.”

“Well, let me finish,” she said, lightly slapping him on his arm. She turned back to Boomer and Adam. “Like back then, I’m not going to let him give her away. When we say that your father is going to give Cee away, we’re saying that he’s going to give her to Eli, to be his wife.”

“Aunt Cee and Eli aren’t leaving again?” Boomer asked.

“No, guys, we aren’t going anywhere. We’re still going to be living just a couple of condos down from your dad and Kusa,” Cee assured them.

“Good!” Adam wrapped his arms around her waist.

“When you get given to Eli, can we call him Uncle Eli?” Boomer asked.

“Uh, yeah,” Cee explained, turning to Eli. “That’s the conversation we were having right when you showed up at the stables.”

“Uncle Eli...” He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. “Well, sure, that would be fine.” He grinned.

“Yay!” Adam rushed from Cee to Eli, wrapping his arms around Eli’s waist instead.

“I’m glad we got that settled,” Boomer said with a sigh. “C’mon, Adam, I want some peach cobbler.”

“Okay.” Adam let go of Eli and followed Boomer back to the food tables.

“I don’t know.” Sam turned his palms up and raised his hands halfway up his body. “Crisis averted, I guess.”

Sonja and Cee laughed and went after the boys. When Sam started to go next, Eli put his hand on his chest to stop him.

“Sam, I need to tell you,” Eli began. “When I bought that ring for Cee, I had the thought that I should talk to you and get your permission to ask her to marry me. But...” He paused and a smile grew across his face. “Then I had the thought of what she would do to me if she thought I thought I needed your permission. And, then, what she would do to you if she thought you thought you needed to give me permission.”

Sam considered Eli’s words for a minute, then slapped the man on the back. “Good thinking, Eli. You probably saved our lives. Let me buy you a beer.”

Eli was talking to H at one of the picnic tables when Cee sat down next to him. She leaned her face against his arm again and just listened to the conversation, trying to stay awake. Sam was at the next table, watching, and he ribbed Kusa, then leaned over and whispered in her ear. She shook her head while he nodded for a while, but then she finally shrugged.

Cee tried to stifle another yawn but wasn’t quite as successful this time. Eli put his arm around her. “Long day, Darlin’?” he asked.

“Not quite as long as a hot day in the middle of the desert,” she admitted. “But, I am pretty tired.”

“Then, let’s call it a day,” he said. “Horatio, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He shook H’s hand, then stood up and helped Cee stand. They both told Sonja good night and turned to leave.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Sam stood up and the couple froze. “Just where do you two thing you’re going?”

“To our hotel room,” Cee replied, her eyes narrowing.

Sam crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t think so, at least not together.”

“What are you talking about, Sam?” Eli questioned.

“Well, a rehearsal of the wedding is allowed. A rehearsal of the reception, which you could say this is.” His hands swept around him. “That’s allowed, too. But, a rehearsal of the honeymoon?” He shook his head. “Not allowed. And you two have been caught twice today trying to ‘rehearse’ the honeymoon. We can’t allow a ‘third time’s the charm’ chance.” His arms went over his chest again. “So, one of you has to find a different room to sleep in tonight.”

Eli and Cee looked at each other. “Sam Axe,” Cee began. “That’s such a load of bull—”

“Darlin’,” Eli interrupted her. “Don’t.”

“C’mon, you two,” Sam continued. “It’s unlucky for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day before the wedding. I’m just doing you a favor.”

“Cecelia, you can stay with me,” her mother offered. “Adam is staying in Boomer’s room, and there are two double beds in my room.”

“Eli, I’m too tired to argue with him.” Cee leaned against him. “My suitcase is in the room, I’ll need to get it.”

“Sure,” Sam replied. “Kusa and I will help you pick it up.”

Cee and Eli finished saying their good nights to everyone else, then went up to their room, followed by Sam and Kusa.

“I should just call hotel security and have them kick your ass out of here,” Cee angrily remarked as she opened her suitcase to make sure she had everything. “Eli, can I get one of your t-shirts?”

“Sure, Darlin’.” He picked up and put his suitcase next to hers on the bed, opening it up, pulling out a shirt, and handing it to her. Then he sat down in one of the chairs and glared at Sam.

“Nothing to say?” Sam asked.

“You don’t want to hear what I have to say,” Eli replied.

“I’m not trying to make enemies, Eli,” Sam insisted.

“Here, you’re carrying it to Mom’s room.” Cee handed her suitcase to her brother. “May I at least kiss him goodnight?”

“Sure,” he answered. “But just a kiss.”

“Don’t you ever get tired of being so damn bossy?” she asked Sam as Eli stood up behind her. She turned around. “You’re still going to be at the church tomorrow at five thirty, right? Big brother isn’t scaring you away?”

“Not a chance, Darlin’” He put his arms around her and gave her a kiss. When they tried to kiss a second time, Sam grabbed Cee’s arm and pulled her away.

“Sam!” Kusa protested this time.

“C’mon, they’ll do this all night if we don’t put a stop to it.” He turned to Cee. “Say good night, Gracie.”

“I’m thinking of about a million six things I could do to you to make your life miserable,” Cee mumbled as Sam reached for the door. “If I wasn't so damn tired.”

Eli watched them leave, then dropped onto the bed.

“Son of a—”

Saturday dawned bright and cheery. For the women, the day was planned with massages in the morning and manicures and hair appointments after lunch in the hotel’s restaurant. The guys ended up gathered in 23 and Shawn’s room to play poker while the girls were away. They even managed to drag Eli into the game for a while.

After hair and makeup was done for the wedding, Deb, Trini, and Jen decided to gather in Di’s room to dress. The guys were all for this, fearing the same corset and button problems they had faced on Cumberland Island.

“I think mine’s the biggest,” one of the girls said.

“Not a chance. Look at mine!”

“Sorry, gals…mine rules!”

“How do you sit in these things?” one asked.

“Yeah, how are we gonna sit in the pews?”

“Maybe women used to stand back in those days.”

“Heck, I’m not standing for the whole evening!”

“I think we can sit, but our backs won’t touch the back of the pews because of the wiring.”

“Yeah, if we scoot back, the wiring will go out of whack and we’ll have deformed tushes.”

“Geez, it was murder to be a woman in those days! No wonder the life expectancy was so low. They killed themselves getting their clothes on and off!”



Finally dressed, the girls were ready to head down the lobby to meet the guys. They knocked on Phi’s door and found Jackie, Maddie, Fi, and Kusa helping each other with buttons and bustles. After everything was securely in place, they headed downstairs. The guys looked up with smiles of admiration as the well-dressed ladies headed down the steps toward them. The smiles quickly turned to astonishment.

Sam was the first to respond, giving a low wolf-whistle. “What have we got back there, baby girl?” he asked, giving Kusa a pat in said location. He gave her some appreciative eyebrow action.

23 snuck up behind Di, Deb, Trini, and Jen as they were waiting for their boyfriends who were talking to the manager at the main desk. He leaned over and made a typical 23 comment starting with “booty” and ending with “licious," then something about "junk in the trunk." Four female arms reached back and smacked him at the same time. He ducked, laughing.

The guys were as impressed by the girls as the girls were by the guys. Each of the men looked handsome in their frontier town coats or gunfighter coats, along with vests and pocket watches. They all admired the bustles and Phi had to physically restrain Barry from looking under her dress to see what was causing the rear action. The guys were like little boys, patting here and there, undeniably curious.

At last, Sam offered his arm to Kusa and along with Ashley, Adam, Boomer, and the rest of the clan, led the procession to the church. The group stood outside talking while Sam escorted Kusa, Maddie and the children in early. He then left to return to the hotel to pick up Cee, Sonja, and Gia.

The men wore...

The women had chosen the following dresses...


Kusa


Maddie


Jackie


Fiona


Phi


Deb


Di


Trini


Jen

Wolves stood outside the church wondering if he should do his "Kill Bill" impression?? I wonder if any of the girls Maddie has trained has achieved the skill level of Kiddo or O-Ren Ishii???




Let's see then I'd also have to Kill Virgil, Sam, Maddie and a whole bunch of people I don't know..... while tempting I think I'll just sneak in the back and observe first.



He had to smile at how beautiful they all looked in thier 1800's outfits. Even Sam looked dapper as a riverboat gambler. Wolves scanned the room looking for Virgil to get an update now that Karla and Victor were neutralized. Or were they.....see what happens when you go to Katmandu for a few months!

Di, Deb, and Jen spotted Wolves standing near the church gazing their direction. They could tell his discomfort by the expression on his face...weddings were NOT Captain Wolves' thing. He would probably sooner undergo waterboarding than to attend a wedding or, heaven forbid, a baby shower. Such an event would be like sunlight to a vampire.

The girls headed over his direction. "Looking for Gia?" Jen asked.

He nodded. "She called and said something about being a bridal attendant or was it a bride? She better not be getting hitched on my time. Where is she, anyway?"

"Still at the hotel," Di told him. "Dressing. H is inside the church, though, we think. He's in the wedding, too."

"Not the groom, I hope?" Wolves asked, testily raising an eyebrow.

"Not the groom," Deb told him. "Why do you ask, Wolves? You'd have something against Gia getting married?"

"I look at it this way," he told them. "Minute Gia gets married, she'd probably start nesting and popping out babies. I'm not ready to lose my best agent."

The girls laughed, shaking their heads. "Oh, Wolves, you're such a hard case!" Deb chided him.

"You coming in, Wolves?" Jen asked. "You could sit by the guys and us."

He shook his head. "Nah. Gonna make the round of the saloons. Tell Gia I'm here, will you? She and I need to talk."

The girls exchanged a look. Possibly Wolves had no idea how pissed Gia was with him at the moment, making her take the desert survival training. Probably a good thing he was on a fast track to getting drunk.

They told him goodbye and watched him walk off to the saloon down the street. "We'll save you some wedding cake," Jen called.

He closed his eyes for a split second and pretended he didn't hear. He hoped he had lots of cash. Time for the bartender to start lining them up...

Sam knocked on his mother’s hotel room door. Gia answered.

“Hey, G, lookin’ good!” he said as she let him in.

“Thanks, Sam. Your mom and Cee are in the bathroom, making sure Cee’s together.” Gia picked up Cee’s violet bouquet. “Cee looks amazing, just wait and see.”

“Sam, is everyone else at the church?” Sonja asked as she joined Sam and G.

“Yeah, Ma. They’re all waiting for the bride. And there she is...” he said as his sister emerged from the bathroom. “G’s right, Cee. You look amazing.” He tried to kiss her on the cheek, but she turned her head away. “Aw, c’mon, Cee. When you say ‘I do’ in a few minutes, my job as big brother is officially over. I just wanted to have one last bit of fun.” She glared at him. “Oh, I recognize that look. You and Eli practice that look together?”

“Is Eli okay?” Her mood brightened at the mention of his name. “Is he waiting at the church? Or did you chase him off?”

“Cee, wild horses couldn’t drive him away, to borrow a cliche appropriate to the area. Yes, he’s fine and at the church. How long shall we keep him waiting?” He offered her his arm. “C’mon, Cee... forgive me?”

She looked at him for a moment, still angry at first, then she smiled. “I’ll forgive you. Truth is, I was so tired last night, I was going to do nothing but sleep... Eli in my bed or not. So, you didn’t stop anything with your little stunt.” She looped her arm in his. “And, for the record, your ‘big brother’ duties ended decades ago. But I appreciate the fact that you still care.”

Sam offered his other arm to his mother. “Gia, I’m sorry, lady. I only have two arms.”

“S’okay Sam, I’ll take the rear. I’ve got your bouquet, Cee.”

The Church on the Mount holds an organ from the 1880’s, a pulpit that was once a pipe organ in the Hammond Theatre, pews built in the 1930’s and chandeliers made from wagon wheels.

Boomer had dutifully and gleefully led all the guests down the aisle to their seats and was now waiting at the door at the church for Sam and the ladies to arrive. Eli and H sat in the front pew of the church while the organist played.

“Problem?” Eli asked when H’s phone chirped.

“No,” H replied, reading the screen of his cell. “Just a general BOLO. Uh, I should have warned you. I can turn this off during the service, but it has to go back on during the reception.” He pressed a few buttons and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

“Not a problem, H.” Eli sighed. “Is it five thirty yet?”

H smiled. “Anxious, my friend?”

“No, just ready.”

“They’re coming!” Boomer announced from the back of the church.

“Show time,” H whispered, as he and Eli stood up.

Boomer led Sonja down the aisle to the front and helped her sit down, then slid into the pew to sit next to her. The organist changed the music and everyone in their seats turned to see who was coming next.

First down the aisle was Kusa carrying Ashley. The baby was swinging a small basket, and Kusa had to duck occasionally to keep from getting hit. Ashley was having a good time, though, giggling and laughing all the way. Kusa sat next to Boomer and decided Ashley didn’t need her basket anymore, taking it from the child and sitting it on the floor. Ashley laughed and clapped her hands.

Jie came next, smiling but taking her job as flower girl rather seriously, holding her basket full of flowers carefully while she took measured steps, one foot in front of the other. Behind her, Adam was taking his job seriously, too, balancing the rings as if they weren’t securely tied to the pillow. He heaved a huge sigh of relief when he made it to the end without a problem.

Eli chuckled at the look on H’s face when H first saw Gia walking down the aisle in her periwinkle gown. G smiled at H, figuring she knew what he was thinking, but knowing there would be time enough for that later on. Jie reached for her hand when G walked over next to her, and Gia took it, smiling down at her.

Sam and Cee waited just outside the view of those in the sanctuary as the others processed down the aisle. He watched her pace back and forth. “You sure you want to do this?” he asked her.

“I’ve never been so sure about anything my whole life,” she replied, turning on her heel and taking steps in the opposite direction.

“So, this beats the wedding in Vegas with Jimmy?”

“By leaps and bounds.” She laughed. “I’ve got high hopes that this marriage is gonna last more than a few hours, too.”

“I know you probably don’t care, but I think you’re doing the right thing. It’s so obvious that you and Eli belong together. Thank you for letting me be a part of it, especially after what I did last night.”

“You were just being the pain in the ass big brother you’ve always been.” She stopped and looked at him. “Actually, that’s one of your characteristics I’ve most admired... and appreciated. Thanks for doing this, Sam.”

They heard the cue of the organ. Sam turned to her once more, holding up his elbow. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes, just do me one last favor.” She looped one hand in the crook of his arm and adjusted the violets in her other hand.

“Name it, Sis.”

“Hold me back and keep me from running down the aisle and making a fool of myself.”

The minister nodded at Sonja, and she stood up. Everyone else in the church followed, turning and waiting for the bride and her escort. When Sam and Cee appeared at the entrance of the sanctuary, there were sounds of oohs and awws from those in the pews.

“You got a heckuva grip on my arm, Cee,” Sam whispered to her as they walked down the aisle.

“You’ll live,” she whispered back.

“See, Eli made it. I told you he was here.”

“I can see him just fine, Sam.” In fact, once the bride had caught sight of her groom, neither had broken eye contact. Both had smiles as broad as their faces could hold.

“Don’t forget to breathe, Eli,” H chuckled at the front of the church.

When they finally reached the rest of the wedding party, Sam gave his sister a quick kiss on the cheek. “She’s all yours,” he said quietly to Eli, and Cee shifted her bouquet from her right to her left hand. Eli took her hand in his and pulled her closer as Sam sat down next to Kusa.

As the minister started the ceremony, Cee and Eli never took their eyes off each other. Cee could hear what the preacher was saying, but she was only halfway paying attention. She listened to him more intently when she heard him ask Eli the question that begins with, “Do you, Elias James...”

“I do,” Eli replied.

“And do you, Cecelia Renee...”

She made sure she answered with a simple “I do,” and then Adam appeared between them so they could exchange rings. Eli repeated the words of the ring ceremony, gently pushing the wedding ring on her finger. “With this ring,” Cee repeated, sliding Eli’s ring on his finger, then lacing her fingers in with his.

“Friends,” the minister continued. “After witnessing an exchange before the rehearsal last night, I believe I will skip the part asking for those to speak who might have reason that these two not be joined in marriage, because someone’s life may be at stake.”

“Thanks, preach,” Sam called out as everyone laugh.

“Instead,” the minister went on. “I will take suggestions after the ceremony and we’ll present those suggestions to committee... later... much later.” Again, everyone laughed. “Eli and Cee, you now have been joined in the holy state of matrimony. I now pronounce you husband and wife. For goodness sake, man, kiss your bride.”

Eli put his arms around his bride... his wife... and drew her close. Cee slid her hand around the neck of her groom... her husband... and lifted her face to him. They kissed, just as they’d kissed so many times before... but this was different, it felt different, because they’d so publicly announced their commitment to each other.

“So, are we going straight from the ceremony right to the honeymoon?” the preacher wondered, jokingly looking at his watch as the kiss continued.

“Yeah, they were doing that all day yesterday, too,” Sam quipped from the audience.

Cee pulled her mouth away from Eli long enough to say, “Shut up, Sam,” before taking her second kiss as Mrs. Langley.

Everyone chuckled again, and Cee and Eli finished kissing... for now, and faced the pews.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you, for the first time ever: Eli and Cee Langley!” the minister announced to cheers.

“Wow, I’d never have guessed the back room of a saloon could look so lovely!” Maddie exclaimed as the group walked into the reception hall.



Not as big or as exquisite as the ballroom at the Greyfield Inn, nonetheless, the room did have a more elegant look than the picnic for the rehearsal dinner the night before. The group dispersed among the tables. When H and G entered together, there were cheers. When Cee and Eli came in, there was a standing ovation of applause. Eli bowed and Cee curtseyed to prove the lessons from Cumberland Island weren’t forgotten.

Everyone seated, the waiters began serving the food. When the plates were all distributed, H stood up and raised his glass. Everyone quieted as he began to speak.

“As you all know, one of the duties of being best man is to present a toast to the bride and groom.” He tipped his head at Cee and Eli. “It’s traditional to talk about the new husband and wife and perhaps tell a poignant or funny story about them. I have no such story, because Cee and Eli haven’t been among us all that long. I could go out on a limb and say that because we all know Sam so well, we should be familiar with his sister... But, Cee, we’ve determined not to hold that against you.” He smiled while everyone chuckled. “I don’t know how Cee and Eli met, I’m not even sure how they made their way to Miami, but I know I speak for everyone here when I say I’m glad they’re now part of this group of coworkers, of friends, of family. Would everyone raise their glasses, please?” He paused as the others reached for their glasses. “Cee and Eli, here’s to your future... together. May you always be surrounded by more friends than enemies, which, in our line if duty, is harder to accomplish than it may sound. May Life smile on you and give you the opportunity to grow old together. And may you always look at each other and feel as much love as you do today. To Cee and Eli,” he finished, raising his glass.

Glasses clinked around the room, and H sat down. Gia stood up next, raising her glass. “Wow,” she began. “Let’s hope H is as eloquent in speaking when he begs for my forgiveness for this last training mission.” Everyone laughed. “Seriously though,” she turned to the wedded couple. “Cee, Eli... you guys rock!” She raised her glass. “May you rock forever!” There were whoops and cheers as the glasses clinked together again.

There was dancing after the meal. As usual, the group did some things traditionally, and some not. Eli and Cee had their first dance. Then Eli danced with Sonja and Cee danced with Sam.

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” Sam said to Cee after their dance had started.

“What?” Cee asked, scrunching her eyebrows at him.

“You know, what you asked me on the Island. Does the insensitive clod take over Eli when the ring goes on his finger or when he goes to sleep tonight? I’m telling you: Once Eli goes to sleep, he gets replaced with the insensitive clod.”

“Oh,” Cee replied, smiling. “That’s easy enough to remedy. I’ll just have to think up enough things to do tonight to keep Eli awake. Let’s see, first we can—”

“Never mind,” Sam mumbled. “I don’t wanna know.”

-----

A little while later, while the others were dancing, Eli and Cee walked over to the table where Jie was sitting with Jackie and Bill. Eli knelt down beside Jie’s chair.

“Miss Jie, I’ve been told that you’re responsible for tonight,” he said to the girl.

“I am?” Her eyes grew wide. “Why?”

Eli glanced up at Cee with a smile, then looked at Jie again. “Well, Cee tells me you gave all the ladies magic fairy dust at your tea on the Island.”

Jie looked up at Cee, a smile growing on her face. “I did.”

Cee crouched next to Eli. “Yes, you did. And didn’t you tell me that fairy dust was guaranteed to make all my dreams come true?” The little girl nodded. “And they did today. All my dreams.”

“All our dreams,” Eli added, taking Cee’s hand. “We wanted to thank you. We were hoping you’d share a dance with us. Would you?” He looked over at Bill, who nodded in reply.

“Yes!” She clapped her hands. “I told you it would work!” she said excitedly as Eli stood up and picked Jie up in his arms. He helped Cee up and the three went to the dance floor, Eli holding Jie in one arm with this other arm around Cee. The three of them laughing and swaying to the music.

“Now, that looks like fun,” Sam said. He picked up Ashley and held his other hand out to Kusa. “I’d like to take my two best girls out on the floor to boogie, too.”

Kusa laughed and took Sam’s hand, and soon another “three-ple” was sharing a dance with Eli, Cee, and Jie.

The hour was getting later, and some of the kids were yawning. Phi was gathering Ashley’s things and Adam was telling Cee and Eli goodnight.

“I have a little presentation,” Maddie announced, standing up at her table. “I want to do this before the kids go to bed. Cee, Eli, could you come over here, please?”

Eli grabbed Cee’s hand and they walked over to Maddie.

“We all got together and decided to give you two a wedding present. Now, this wedding present has an expiration date.” She held up an envelope. “Because this wedding present is a honeymoon. While we go on to the next training date, you two are headed up to Wyoming for a few days alone, together, in a remote luxury cabin, the whereabouts of which I’ve made sure certain members of our group no nothing about.”

Cee and Eli looked at each other. “But, Maddie,” Cee began to protest. “There’s a schedule—”

“To hell with the schedule, at least for you two. We can limp along without you for a little while, but just a little while.” She handed Eli the envelope. “Your plane leaves tomorrow afternoon.”

“But,” Cee tried again.

“That’s an order, Cee,” Maddie smiled.

“There’s a lot of that cake left. It looks too good to leave here,” Jen mused. She and the other three GalPals were milling around the dessert table.

The children had been herded to bed by Phi, Jackie, Kusa, and Sonja. Cee and Eli were making the rounds, saying their goodnights.

“Maybe we can get a box and save some for later.”

“They’ll just throw it out.”

“What a waste!”

“Okay, stay here and make sure Cee and Eli don’t get away before we say goodnight,” Deb told Trini and Di. “Jen and I will see if we can get a box or two.”

The two girls passed through the door joining the reception hall with the main restaurant. They grabbed a busboy cleaning up tables, and he directed them toward the saloon once he heard their request.

“Barkeep!” Jen called out once they were in the saloon. She did her best to “cowpoke” walk up to the bar and slapped the counter. “This is so much fun! I just love playing cowboys!” she exclaimed to Deb, who just laughed in response.

“May I help you ladies?” the bartender asked.

“Yes, sir. We’re with the reception in the other room, and we’d like some takeaway boxes for cake,” Deb explained.

“It’s soooo good. I want some for breakfast!” Jen added.

“Sure, ladies. I’ll be right back.” The bartender disappeared into the back.

“Hey, they must be the ‘floozies’ from the whorehouse,” came a voice from behind the two girls.

They whirled around and could see nothing in the dark corner of the room from where the voice had come.

“Ignore them,” Deb whispered to Jen as the two turned back toward the bar. “They sound drunk.”

“But I don’t want to be ignored.” The voice was suddenly closer. Jen whirled around again, but her dress got caught in the barstool, and she tumbled into the drunken stranger’s arms.

“Hey!” Deb reached out to push him away, but she suddenly felt her arms pinned behind her back by a second man.

“I warned you guys!” the bar keep shouted as he came from the back. “I’m calling the sheriff.”

“Sure thing, Gramps. We’re just gonna have a little fun while we wait for him.” The first man dragged Jen away from the bar while the second man laughed while Deb tried to struggle free of his grip.

Jen was fighting to get stable on her feet so she could get free. Just as she’d managed to get a toe hold on the floor, she heard a smack above her and the man let her go. She stood up to see Ric holding his fists in a fighting position. Gary grabbed the guy holding Deb and flung him off her and up against the bar.

“Hey!” came more voices from the dark corner, and four more emerged from the darkness.

“Get back into the dining room,” Ric said to Jen, placing himself between her and the advancing bad guys.

“Hell, no! I’m part of this fight, too!” she responded.

“Seriously, girls,” Gary added. “Get out of here.”

“No, if you’re gonna fight, so are we.” Deb held her hands up in a defensive posture and the four prepared to hold their ground.

“No, seriously, girls,” Virgil said behind them. “Get back. No need in getting your clothes dirty with these guys.”

Jen and Deb looked back to see Q, Nate, and Sam with Virgil. They looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and stepped back toward the door.

The two guys who had accousted Jen and Deb were now up again to join the four other guys from the corner. Punches were being thrown left and right, and at the moment, the two sides seemed pretty evenly matched. The fact that guys were appearing and disappearing from and into the darkened corner wasn’t helping the Organization’s guys.

“What’s up, girls?” Michael said as he popped through from the other side. “Oh look, a barroom brawl in a saloon on a Saturday night. How cliché.”

“I think we need to help,” Deb said, and she tried to get back into the fight.

“I think not,” Michael said as he grabbed her shoulder to hold her back. “Let the guys take care of it.”

“Oh, Michael, who’s being cliché now?” Jen complained.

“What do we have here?” H asked. He and G came through the door to see what was going on.

“A gun could remedy the situation,” G suggested.

“A gun could make things much, much worse,” H countered. “This is just fisticuffs right now. I’ll have the bartender make sure the sheriff has been notified.”

“I’ll go outside and see if I can determine where these guys came from,” G told him as she turned to go back into the reception hall.

“You’ll go outside armed,” H told her. “Understand, Agent Sanders?”

“Gotcha, H.” She disappeared.

“What is going on?” This time it was Eli and Cee who came through the adjoining door. “What the hell?” Eli asked.

“This is right up your alley,” Michael said to Cee. “When does the Cavalry ride in to save the day?”

It did, indeed, look like a scene from an old Western with punches being thrown, guys ducking and weaving.

“Don’t you dare!” Cee warned as Eli made a step toward the fruckus.

“Another man could make a difference,” he suggested. “Put all of this to rest.”

“As your best man,” H admitted. “I’m going to agree with your wife. Stay out of this.”

H made his way behind the bar and into the back where the bartender had run when the fight broke out.

Cee, Eli, and Michael stood back from the fray with Deb and Jen, who were shouting encouragements from the side.

“Get ‘em, Ric. Hit him harder!”

“C’mon, Gary! Put some muscle behind it!”

“Oh, good grief!” Maddie exclaimed as she came through the door. “Is this where everyone went?”

“What the—” started Di and Trini as they followed her across.

The guys seemed to be getting the upper hand, now that their eyes had adjusted to the dimmer light. Their strategy seemed to be divide and conquer. But just as Sam was advancing on one of the “bad guys” to take him out, another one of them was behind him, ready to smash a chair across his back.

Both Michael and Eli saw the danger and sprang into action. Eli grabbed the man with the chair, knocking it out of his hands, then picking him up by his shirt and tossing him aside. Sam took a quick glance around, threw a “Thanks, pal” in Eli’s direction, then went back to his previous opponent. Michael grabbed one of the guys attempting to retreat back into the corner and disappeared with him.

“Enough!” came a shout from the door, but none of the brawlers paid attention. The sound of a gunshot made all the men freeze, though, and everyone looked toward the doorway. The sheriff stood in the portal, Colt 45 held high. He had a shotgun in his other hand. “One of these holds blanks, the other real bullets. I don’t think you gentlemen want me to demonstrate which has which.”

One of the other guys made an attempt to turn and run toward the group gathered at the reception hall door, but Virgil grabbed him and pointed him toward the sheriff. H returned to the barroom, gun drawn.

“Now, I need all of the participants of the fight to assemble quietly so we can all go down to the jailhouse. We’ll talk about what happens next once we get there.”

“Eli?” Cee called from the back of the room.

“We’ll get this straightened out. I’ll be right back,” he replied as he joined Sam, Virgil, Q, Ric, Nate, Gary, and Sam along with the six “outside” guys in following the sheriff. H followed behind the procession to make sure no one got away.

“Where’s Michael?” Maddie asked as the front door closed. “I didn’t see him go with them.”

“Right here, Mom,” he called out, appearing from the darkened corner with some papers. “Uh, we may have some trouble on our hands,” he said, coming toward them. “I think the guys who broke up the party may be some bad news.”

Cee, Sonja, Kusa, and Maddie stood in the lobby of the jailhouse. They’d left the girls in the reception hall. The sheriff stood on the other side of his desk.

“I’m sorry, ladies. It doesn’t matter who was wrong and who was right, the city ordinance says whoever gets involved in a fight in the local bar spends the night in jail. No exceptions. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

“But, it’s my wedding night, and my husband is in there,” Cee protested.

“Look,” Sonja stepped up. “If you can’t help us, who can?”

“The judge.”

“And how do we get in touch with him?” Sonja asked.

“The judge has a routine. He has a nightcap every night at nine o’clock and is in bed by ten. I know better than to disturb him. He’ll be in at precisely eight in the morning to take care of this mess.”

“No, wait. You’re saying there’s absolutely nothing we can do to get our guys out of jail?” Maddie said.

“I’m not disturbing the judge for a Saturday night brawl.”

“Then let us disturb him,” she suggested. “Give me his phone number, and I’ll call him.”

The sheriff chuckled. “No can do, ma’am. I’d might as well call him myself. And, as I said, I’m not about to do that.”

“So,” Cee continued. “There’s nothing we can do. Can I at least go in and see my husband?”

The sheriff rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He sighed. “I know this is disappointing to you ladies, but I suggest you all go back to the hotel and show up here tomorrow morning exactly at eight am to pick up your guys. I’m sure the judge will let them go first thing.”

Cee heaved a heavy sigh and turned to go.

“I swear!” Maddie began. “I’m gonna—”

“No, Maddie,” Cee said, looking over her shoulder. “Let’s get back over to the hall and let the girls know what’s going on.”

“H, c’mere and check out this van,” G called from the parking lot. She had her gun and PDA out, checking the license plate against the info on the screen.

“Well, well, well,” H said, comparing the PDA notes to the back of the van.

“But, where are the guns?” Michael asked.

“Probably inside,” G replied. “Thank ged they didn’t take them inside.”

“We’ll need a warrant to break into the van,” H called out from the side, then he walked back to the other two. “It's locked and I can't see what's in the back.”

“Sorry, Eli,” Sam said. “I sincerely didn’t mean for the evening to turn out like this.”

“Neither did I,” Eli replied, dropping down on the bench.

The six men from the Organization found themselves in a holding cell on one side while the guys who had started the fight were in a holding cell on the other side.

“But thanks for saving my neck,” Sam continued.

“I’d say no problem, but I have a feeling I’ve got one furious wife giving the sheriff hell right now.” He chuckled. “Looks like the honeymoon has been delayed for one more night.”

“Tough break, Eli,” Virgil added. “It was a lovely wedding though. The food at the reception was good, too.” He laughed and popped Gary in the arm. “And wasn’t that one kick ass fight we had!”

Ric looked across to the guys on the other side. “Maybe you guys’ll think twice about grabbing some other guy’s girl.”

“You’re telling me those floozies belong to you?” one of the other guys called back. “Too bad I didn’t have five more minutes to—”

“Shut up!” Gary called back. “If I could get my hands on you—”

“Enough, guys.” Sam walked over to pull the guys away from the bars. “This ship has sailed. Ignore the idiots.” He sighed. “Might as well assign floor space for sleeping. It’s gonna be a long night.”

“So, the guys are stuck in jail until the morning,” Cee was explaining back in the reception hall.

“Oh, Cee, I’m so sorry!” Di exclaimed.

“This is your wedding night.”

“You’re gonna be all alone.”

“We could have a slumber party.”

“Yeah, all stay together tonight.”

“No, girls.” Cee forced a smile. “I’m tired. I think I’ll go up to my room by myself.”

“Cee—” Sonja began.

“No, Mom, I’m fine.” She gave her mother a kiss. “Thank you for everything. It was all lovely.”

Michael came in from the saloon area. “Hey, everyone is still here.” He looked around. “I take it the guys are still in jail.”

“Until the morning,” Maddie explained.

“Tough break, Cee.”

“Michael, would you walk Cee back to the hotel, please?”

“I go by myself,” Cee insisted.

“No, it’s okay,” Michael countered. “I’ll walk you.”

“Good night, girls.” Cee said, hugging everyone. “Don’t look so sad, Mom. Truth is, until they wouldn’t let Eli out of jail, I was having a really good time. My own western, complete with a bar fight. What cowboy-lovin’ girl wouldn’t enjoy that?” She chuckled. “Guess I’m cursed to have my groom spend our wedding night in jail, right?” She gave Sonja another kiss. “I’m not having this marriage annulled, so don’t even try.”

“I won’t,” Sonja smiled back. “Good night, Cee.”

“Hey, we’ll meet in the hotel restaurant at seven in the morning for breakfast, then we’ll go spring out guys out of jail. How’s that?” Cee asked as she turned to leave with Michael.

“Sheriff,” H said, walking into the front door of the jail. “We need to contact the judge.” G followed him in, and they stood in front of the desk.

“Horatio, I appreciate that it’s the one fellow’s wedding night, but I just explained to the women who were here that I can’t—”

“Yes, you can,” H interrupted. “Those men involved in that fight are wanted for questioning by the FBI for shooting two agents in South Dakota three days ago. I need a warrant to open their van to see if their weapons are in there. You will call the judge and have him come down here post haste. I’ve got agents from Phoenix on there way out to process the scene and take custody of the prisoners.”

The sheriff opened the door between the jail and the lobby. “Okay,” he said, standing in front of the cell. “I need the groom. The judge says the groom can go,” he announced as he opened the door. “The rest of you have to stay.”

Eli stood up. “I believe you’re talking about me.”

“You’re the only one here who got married tonight,” Sam replied.

“Yeah, get out of here, Eli,” Virgil added and was chorused by the other guys.

The sheriff closed and locked the door behind Eli, and led him back outside. H came through the door as soon as the sheriff disappeared.

“Hey, H!” Sam said, standing up and walking over to the door. “Can you get us out of here?”

“I possibly might be able to do just that,” H replied. “But, first I need to process these gentlemen on the other side of the room. It seems you fellows picked a fight with gun runners from Mexico. We’re all very lucky they kept their merchandise in their van.” He paused at the shocked looks on his friends’ faces. “It’ll be about an hour before we’re done.” He turned toward the other cell, hesitated, then turned back to Sam.

“You know, the next time an Axe gets married, I’m gonna be prepared. I’ll have a regiment of FBI agents prepared and waiting for whatever might happen. Because it seems that the Axes’ insist on extra drama with their nuptials.”

“Argh!” Cee groaned and twisted around again. There was one fastener on the back of the dress she couldn’t reach, and there was no use undoing the others if she couldn’t undo the one. “Maybe I should have had Michael unfasten my dress before he left,” she said out loud, then started laughing as she imagined the look that would have appeared on the man’s face if she had.

She plopped on the bed, even though she knew she shouldn’t while wearing her wedding dress. How was she going to sleep tonight? Heaving a heavy sigh, she realized she’d have to call Kusa or Maddie. She didn’t want to disturb her mother; Sonja had looked very tired, almost too tired, by the end of the night.

“Well, Axe,” she whispered. “You’re two for two on the wedding nights.” And so she sat for a few minutes, contemplating what had happened.

There came a knock on the door, and she looked that way. “I told you guys to leave me alone,” she called out, forgetting that she needed help with her dress. “Go away!”

“I’ll go, Darlin’,” came the voice from the other side. “But I was hoping I’d at least get a goodnight kiss before I do.”

“Eli?!” She jumped up and practically flew to the door, flinging it open. It was, indeed, her new husband standing at the threshold. “Wow! Why... How...” Her eyes narrowed and she leaned forward. “Did you break out of jail, Eli?”

He started to shake his head, then reconsidered. “What’s the answer you really want to hear?” he asked.

She laughed and pulled him inside. “Thank ged!” she said. “And I thought I was gonna have to sleep in this damn dress all night!”

“Oh, no, Darlin’,” Eli replied, grabbing her and pulling her in for a kiss. “I’ll make sure of that.”

As the night’s drama was coming to a close….sort of….Kusa stepped out for some fresh air and found Sonja…smoking a cigarette…..The sight was quite a surprise to Kusa….Did Sam know????



“You know those things will kill ya…..” she teased, trying to disguise her bemusement.



“Ehhh….I only do this once in a blue moon…usually don’t even buy my own pack…I go though one or two cigs on a ‘special evening’….then I’m done…I usually throw the rest out…They’ll only go stale anyway….”



Kusa stood silent, smiling gently…ok…not the best news…but not the worst….



“Besides…I’m afraid they won’t have the chance anyway….”



Kusa looked over at her….confused all over again…Sonja just looked on into the coming night….



“I have cancer…” she confessed.



Now Kusa had gone well beyond her usual limit already…and the additional antics of her husband and the others had already worn out her last nerve….She was frazzled to the end…standing was difficult enough for her to start with right now….After this proclamation, she nearly fell clear off the balcony into the hay wagon below….



“When did you….”



“A few weeks ago….”



“Do……Does……”



“No one else knows….When Eli called me about the wedding….Well, I was determined Nothing….and I mean NOTHING was going to spoil this day for my daughter. I’ve already tried having a few chemo treatments…but things have progressed pretty far…too far from what the Doctors tell me…So I’ve stopped…”



“Sonja…you can’t give up…You’ve got too much ahead of you….your children…Your GRANDChildren!!!!”



“Have a wonderful family network surrounding them…My children are married to wonderful spouses and are bound, God willing, for happy lives…I’ve had a fabulous time getting to know my grandsons over the past year….and I have you to thank for that….”



Kusa was nearly in tears….but these were not tears of joy has they had been earlier in the evening…Was Sam about to become an orphan too??? And what about Cee…she had finally gotten back with her mother…only to lose her again….for good?



“How long….”



“Could be months…could be weeks………………..days….” her voice slowly trailed off… ”No one seems to know….I know you’re thinking I’m just laying down and letting this happen…and I’m not going to deny it…maybe I am…But I’ve done so much fighting in my life….With my husband…with Sam….Cecelia……..Now…it seems all that fighting has finally turned to victory….for Everyone involved….You, Sam and the others…you have your whole lives ahead of you….You can go out there and ‘fight the good fight’….But it’s time I lay my guns down, Brandi….I’m done fighting…I’m ready to rest…”



“I’m guessing there’s nothing I can do to convince you otherwise?????” She quietly pleaded, trying not to show even a reflection of the agony this was causing…. How….Why?????



“I’m afraid not my dear….but think of it this way….It’s not a death sentence….I’m being set free…I’m not suicidal or any of that bunk….I fully intend on LIVING the time I have left….whatever it may be….but I have no intention on spoiling that time in order to make it longer…I’ve seen the ‘Star Trap’ movies….where one of the main characters helps their parent into the next life, only to find out the next day that there’s a cure for what they were suffering from….I’d never put my children through that…But if that cure does come….after I’m gone….I hope they know full well that I lived the way I wanted to live, and went the way I wanted to go….No regrets….only bad timing….” There was just a hint of a smile at the end of her paradoxical tale….She was really ready to go…But would the others be ready to see her leave them…



“Is there anything I can….”



“You can continue to be the same wonderful wife and friend you’ve been to my children this whole time…and more from what I’ve grown to understand…and just as you are now…when I’m gone…And never be afraid to give my son a little kick in the pants when he needs it….and TRUST ME…he’ll need it…”



Kusa could help a small laugh at that statement…”Yep….some things I don’t think will ever change…”



“And….keep an eye on my daughter too…I know she’s in Eli’s care now….and he’s a good man….But when a girl loses a mother…she could really use a sister…Some one she can turn to…when times get rough….”



Kusa had to turn away. She would always stay true to Cee…but she knew all too well the feeling of losing family….”You know she won’t have any trouble in that department…This place is crawling with her ‘sisters’ even as we speak….”



“Indeed, you’ve got one close knit group here….but there’s something to be said for true family…As I understand…she’s not the only ‘sister-in-law’ you have around here….Jen…”



“Yes…the man she was engaged to…He was truly a brother to me…even if there weren’t any blood ties…”



“There…You’ve raised my grandson…You’ve married my son….now…Stay close by my daughter…she’s going to need all the family she can get….”



“I know…” Kusa whispered…barely audibly…



Sonja softly stamped out her half smoked cigarette, and stepped close, wrapping her arm around Kusa’s far shoulder and laying her head upon the nearer…”I know you know, dear girl….And I’m sorry…but I’m afraid they are all going to need your strength again…just one more time……”





‘One more time…’ the phrase echoed in Kusa’s mind….Times time and half a time………

After a very long day and exhausting night, she came into their room and crashed down face first onto the bed. She was still in her matron of honor dress, hair still pinned up, with heels still on, but sure she could fall sound of sleep if she didn't move. H came in behind her and nodded at her, "Yes it was a long one, an odd one for sure, but definitely a very, very happy one." He walked over to the dresser and dropped his hat down. "Man those Axe's are something else…" He laughed to himself as he removed his western tie.

G turned her head, "So glad Eli is out and with Cee. You definitely saved the day today." She smiled up at him, then closed her eyes again.

He walked over and sat down next to her, "So does that smile mean you're not mad at me anymore?"

"I'm too tired to think right now." She sat up, leaned over and rapped her arms around him.

"G, I promise next time….. I won't pester you about Wolves. You two have a relationship I will never understand. I shouldn't of… I should have listened to you….. But I still don't know why you wouldn't let me tell him before you left? Or while you were up there? He probably would've pulled you outta there…"

"Um, I will deny this if you ever repeat it….but …it actually in the end was a good thing. Strange as it may seem …but we all sort of …bonded with Maddie. And yes you're right he might have pulled me out of there but he would've definitely sent you home and well…." She let go and plopped back down on the bed, and closed her eyes again. "By the way you really do look like an adorable oil tycoon."

He sighed, leaned down and kissed the top of her forehead. "Uh G about that comment you made earlier -"

"Oh I'm too tired H!" G mumbled into the blanket.

"No babe not that comment, I meant you're toast. So do I beg for forgiveness?"

She chuckled, "No we're good." She reached up and held his hand. He brushed her hair from her eyes when there was a knock. H got up and opened the door to find Jen smiling back at him.

"Hey H. Since the guys are um… in the clink… -"

"Just a technicality dear. They'll all be released first thing in the am." H said professionally, with a serious face.

Jen nodded, "Ok. But since they're not here we decided to have a girls night in Deb's room. I just wanted to know if I could steal Gia away. Or are you two still fighting?" She asked wrinkling her face up with worry.

He just smiled, "Nah we're good but um…" He opened the door wider and turned "G do you…" He stopped at the sight of her. She was sound asleep, snoring lightly.

Jen chuckled. "I guess that's my answer."

"Ya G was so nervous last night about the wedding she didn't sleep at all. I will never understand that woman." He said rubbing his forehead in confusion. "She goes into an armed outnumbered situation or even an ambush for work a lot, and she doesn't flinch or bat an eye, but get her in front of a social crowd and she's a nervous wreck she's gonna fall." He shook his head smiling.

"But that's our G." Jen smiled and patted his arm. "Glad you two are ok. Will you guys be there tomorrow morning?"

"Yes. Michael too. We will be down there first thing. I promise this will all be behind them before you know it." Jen smiled and wandered off to meet the others.

"Mornin' jailbird," Jen said, giving Ric a kiss as his arms went around her at the Goldfield sheriff's office. She looked over at Deb, who had just slipped her arms around Gary's neck and was nicely helping him greet the new day.

"You know Deb and I could have taken those guys," Jen asserted. "Then you wouldn't have had to spend the night in lockup."

"No, because then you and Deb would have spent the night in lockup," Ric sighed, trying to straighten out his back muscles, sore from a night on the jail floor. "I know you can defend yourselves, but seriously, you and Deb couldn't have taken those guys. Six of them? You two in ankle length skirts and bustles?" He laughed.

"We could have done some damage," Deb said in defense. "Bustles or not."

Gary laughed this time. "You just keep telling yourself that, angel."

"Is there any way we can leave these two in here for the day?" Deb shot back to the sheriff.

"Yeah, we'll pay you," Jen said.

The sheriff glanced up, scowled, and waved them on.

The day after the wedding was spent mostly in relaxation recuperating from desert survival training; a gorgeous, but rushed wedding; bar fights, and jailtime. The only words Michael had for the group all day was to be packed and ready at eight a.m. Monday morning to depart for Sedona, Arizona.

The sun had already been up three hours the following morning when the group piled into the SUVs once again, heading out on I-17 north to Sedona. Sedona lies between the cities of Phoenix and Flagstaff, about a two-hour drive from Phoenix. Directly north of Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon stretches for 12 miles through the Coconino National Forest, a river gorge cut by Oak Creek itself. As the forests of Oak Creek meet the outskirts of Sedona, the landscape changes, becoming Red Rock country. Towering sandstone cliffs of this northern area of the Sonoran Desert create a stunning natural beauty that truly glows like fire at sunset.


Cathedral Rock

After a few brief sightseeing stops along the way, the group pulled into the L'Auberge de Sedona Resort where they would be staying for the next two nights. The hotel borders Oak Creek, set on eleven acres with gardens, decks, private lawns, and views of the Red Rock formations. They gathered outside while Michael spoke to the group.


L'Auberge de Sedona


Hotel room


Relaxful spot by Oak Creek

"After you check into your rooms, meet back here. We'll be walking to Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village to do some shopping and eat lunch. Men, I realize shopping may not be your thing, but if today's not your favorite, I think you'll like what's coming up tomorrow.

The girls cheered for shopping, marveling that Michael had even dreamed up such an outing. Fi must have had something to do with it. Meeting a half hour later, they left the hotel, walking only a mile to Tlaquepaque, a recreated Mexican village, which sits beneath shady sycamore trees on the banks of Oak Creek.





Its flowered, intimate courtyards were lined with galleries, jewelry, clothing, and specialty shops, along with a choice of restaurants. Even though prices were steep in the village, all of the girls came away with something…a pair of Native American crafted earrings, a Southwestern art print, or candles scented with desert flowers.





They ate at El Rincon Restaurante Mexicano, a charming restaurant offering Arizona-style traditional Mexican cuisine with Native American Navajo influences. Cool, delicious Margaritas, beer, and iced tea soon had the tired shoppers in relaxed mode.

Walking back to the hotel, they piled into the cars again and drove to one of the most famous landmarks in Sedona, The Chapel of the Holy Cross. The chapel, completed in 1956, was designed by Marguerite B. Staude, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. The chapel appears to rise out of the surrounding red rocks, sitting amidst an inspiring panorama of buttes, valleys, and sky.


The Chapel of the Holy Cross

The group was directed to the parking lot and then climbed a steep hill to the chapel itself, where they had a spectacular view of the surrounding red rock mountains. There was a line of visitors waiting to attend the five p.m. prayer service held every Monday. Kusa whispered to Sam that she wanted to go inside for a few minutes. Several of the girls accompanied her and they sat on benches in the quiet sanctuary, which hosted a floor to ceiling window, divided into four areas by the huge cross. The window and cross dominated the interior of the chapel and provided a breathtaking backdrop for the altar. Kusa, keeping her secret about Sonja, bowed to offer prayers on her behalf.





Returning to the hotel later, Michael asked the group to meet for dinner at seven in the L'Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek. The hotel's restaurant had an open-air terrace with tables directly above the creek. The group was seated there later, enjoying the soft night air, the sound of the creek below them, and the twinkling lights in the trees that came on as the sun began to set. The restaurant serves French-inspired American cuisine, offering such fare as Butter and Honey Roasted Forestière Mushroom and Elk Rack or Colorado Rack of Lamb with Porcini Crust.





After dinner, Michael suggested an early night for all. "Tomorrow you will be expending quite a bit of physical energy." The girls exchanged looks, hoping he wasn't planning to pull another survival training on them. "Get a good night's sleep and meet in the lobby at seven in the morning. Wear hiking clothes and athletic shoes, also bring shorts or cutoffs if you have them. Something you can wear in water besides swimwear."

With that, he left with Fi, who looked back with a wave as they headed back into the hotel. The girls sighed, unsure of what tomorrow might bring. The water part sounded promising, though.

"Sounds like it's just a day hike and maybe swimming?" Di asked.

"Maybe hiking, then swimming in Oak Creek," suggested Trini.

"Yeah, that doesn't sound so bad," said Gia.

"At least we know there'll be water sometime during the day," said Jen.

They high-fived and Deb finished up, "Sounds like we have nothing to worry about…"

After a quick, early morning breakfast at the hotel, the group met in the lobby at seven. Maddie, Virgil, Bill, Jackie, and Sonja had opted out on this adventure and went to see some sights with the children, which included playing at a nearby park.

Michael, satisfied his group was properly attired for the day's activity said, "We'll be driving first of all to this location—" he handed out business cards to the drivers, "to acquire our gear. We're already late...let's get going."

"Gear" was the topic of conversation for the next fifteen minutes, the girls debating back and forth what the activity would be. Once they pulled into Canyon Outfitters parking lot, everyone had formed a pretty good idea of what was coming next.

At the store entrance, Michael was greeted by the owner, who had arranged to open early for the group. "We'll be doing some rock climbing today," Michael informed them. "I know all of you have had basic instruction in the past and several of you are experienced climbers. Today we'll be climbing Mars Attack, which is a 5.8, 4-pitch climb. For those of you who've never done a multi-pitch climb before, this will be an experience you're not soon to forget. For those of you who are experienced, a 5.8 is moderate, but I'm sure you're gonna love this one."

While Gary, Ric, Q, and 23 were rejoicing in rock climbing heaven, Deb and Jen looked at each other a little nervously. Neither was fond of heights. Jen swallowed hard and asked, "A four-pitch climb, Michael? What if all you've done before is one-pitch climbs?"

"Exactly how high is this climb, Michael?" Deb asked.

"How does it compare to the climbing wall at the gym?" Di questioned uneasily.

"Girls, you're going to be all over this climb like a piece of cake," Michael told them. "No problem."

Kusa nudged Sam. "You better not be leaving our daughter motherless or fatherless," she told him firmly.

"Aw, Brandi…girls, think of it as a giant Mojito in the sky," Sam responded.

"Then I guess I'm in," laughed Gia. H gave her a look, shaking his head with a smile.

"Each of you will need a harness, a helmet, a chalk bag, a belaying device, and a pear-shaped carabiner. Bob here," he said, indicating the store manager, "and one of his staff will be assisting you to make sure you get the proper equipment and fit."

Within an hour they were back in the cars again, feeling either avid anticipation or reluctant apprehension at facing Mars Attack.

Arriving at the popular climbing site known as Mars Attack, the girls looked around for something akin to the rock climbing wall at the gym. "So where's Mars Attack?" Jen asked.

"Do we have to hike to it?" Trini asked.

"You're standing directly beneath it," Michael told them. The girls threw each other a look and then looked up. And up. And up. Deb's eye began twitching nervously. Di felt her stomach leap to her throat. Jen wanted to throw up.


Mars Attack (Blue line denotes 4-pitch climb)


"Awesome!" Gary, Q, and Ric slapped five.

"Dude!" 23 growled happily. Shawn, H, Nate, Barry, and Sam grinned like little boys with new toys.

"Michael," said Fi. "I wasn't expecting quite so big of a…mountain."

"You'll do fine, Fi. You're gonna love this. I promise."

Michael gathered everyone around for game plan and pointers. "Okay, as mentioned, Mars Attack is a 4-pitch climb. That's means you'll need four rope lengths. The first pitch is a sandstone friction slab. In some cases, the holds are a lot smaller than they seem, so you'll need to use caution. Don't panic, just take your time, don't get off route, and look for your bolts."

"Second pitch is an exposed traverse on a limestone band. Guys, this is where it really gets fun. It's wild, but well-bolted." The guys once again high-fived and back-slapped over this juicy news. The girls began getting really nervous stomachs.

"Third pitch," Michael continued, "is a vertical slot canyon, a 130-foot chimney that follows a nice crack with lots of stemming options." The girls either rolled their eyes or shut them, wishing they were in the L'Auberge Spa at this very moment.

"Parts of pitch four are moderate crack climbing, with the rest a slab topout. You'll have a series of bolts past a series of frictions and face moves. The wind can get gale force up there, so watch yourselves."

"Um…tell us again why we're doing this, Michael?" Trini asked.

He gave her the short answer. "Confidence building."

"Continuing," he said, "you'll be climbing in pairs, and yes, I have you grouped male and female with your significant other. That is, unless you're wanting to do some switching up."

Everyone looked around to see if anyone was wrangling for a different partner, only to find 23 wiggling hopeful eyebrows in Fi's direction. Michael noticed and said, "Fi's climbing with me." 23 sighed and threw an arm around Shawn's shoulder.

"More good news, you will be able to descend in two double rope rappels to the bottom. Of course, both on the ascent and descent there are belay stations where you will anchor and either pay out or take in rope for your partner."

The girls had learned how to use the belay device, but had never done so on a climb anywhere near what they would be doing today. Jen hoped Ric would be understanding if she threw up on his head while belaying for him during his rappel.

"Girls, don't forget to chalk up repeatedly during your climb," Michael reminded them. "Also, don't forget to notify your partner that you are off belay once you are in a safe position." The girls nodded.

"As we get ready to ascend," Michael told them, "you need to check each other before your climb. Belayer checks climber's knot and harness, climber checks belayer's harness, carabiner—make absolutely sure it's screwed shut—and check the belaying device. Don't forget to double-up the buckle on your harness. And, most important, if you don't feel safe, tell your partner. I repeat, if you don't feel safe, tell your partner. Understood?"

The girls nodded vigorously. Didn't have to tell them twice on that one.

Michael and Fi went first, followed by Sam and Kusa. The girls were amazed at how agile Kusa was. She made it look easy.

"Must be the belly dancing," Di remarked.

- - - - -

Pitch One shots (sandstone friction slab)...








Belayer at top of Pitch One

- - - - -

Phi and Barry went next, then Q and Di, who was ready to get this whole thing over with, she said. Nate and Trini followed, then Gia and H.

"You go next, Jen," Deb said.

"No, that's okay...you can go," Jen responded.

"No, you," Deb told her.

"Let's flip a coin," said Jen.

- - - - -

"You're doing awesome, Jen!" Deb called up to her from down below.

"Come on, babe, you've got it," Ric called down to her from up above as Jen gripped hard mid-pitch.

- - - - -

"Deb, you look great from down here," 23 shot up to her as she was three-quarters of the way up pitch one. "I'm taking pics, sweet cheeks."

"I'll be smashing that camera later, 23," she returned.

- - - - -

Pitch Two shots (exposed traverse on a limestone band)...

Pitch Three shots (vertical slot canyon/crack climbing)...










Pitch Four shots (crack climbing/slab topout)...




Chillin' at the top





Rappeling Mars Attack (two raps down)...


Rapping off Mars


Second rappel station

When it was all over with, the girls were stoked like they had never been before.

"Unbelievable!" Trini exclaimed.

"Never been so scared in my life, but it was worth every second," Di said excitedly.

"Gia, I couldn't believe you ended up in a hanging belay," Jen told her. "We were terrified for you!"

"I don't know how I missed the ledge," Gia said, "but believe me, I saw my life pass before my eyes!"

"You were able to manage that anchor all by yourself, though," Phi praised her. "That was an awesome move, G!"

"The traverse was absolutely the best," Kusa commented. "What a feeling...hanging onto the side of a mountain!"

"I loved the chimney," said Jen. "Could have done without pitch one, but pitch three was fantastic!"

'Yeah, the slab was the hardest, I thought," Deb said. "Loved the raps coming down, though!"

"I wanna go again," Di said. "When can we go again?"

The gals sat in the shade drinking water after the climb, assuming they were out of earshot of the guys. Michael and Fi, however, sat together on a rock several feet away, listening to it all. Fi smiled at Michael and intertwined her fingers with his. "Happy, Michael?" she asked.

He smiled, but it was the smile in his eyes that said it all. "Yeah," he answered.




(Mars Attack Video...)

http://fritzrips.com/FritzripsClimbingVids/Marsinternet.wmv

After a mid-afternoon lunch of sandwiches from a deli, Michael took the group to their next destination. The afternoon was warm and the group was ready for a cool down. Driving up Oak Creek Canyon, the cars pulled in at Slide Rock State Park, the site of an old apple ranch along the banks of Oak Creek.

The creek in this location had eroded the soft red sandstone into beautiful shapes, resulting in chutes, slides, pools, and waterfalls. Swimmers can slide down this natural water chute for about a third of a mile, returning for ride after ride. Bill, Jackie, and the kids joined them for the water fun.

Slide Rock...







- - - - -

Back at the hotel that night, the gals finally were able to enjoy a spa visit. It was hard to choose between the Blissful Sage Body Wrap, the Moonstone Massage, or the Deep Blue Lavender Embrace, but everyone found a treatment they liked and went for it. The day had been SO worth it…


L'Auberge Spa

- - - - -

Wednesday morning they were up at the crack of dawn again.

"Michael, how about a day to sleep in?" Gia said, yawning.

"Yeah, Mike, we need our beauty sleep," Trini told him.

"Want to go to the Grand Canyon or not?" he asked, pointedly.


They ate breakfast at one of Sedona's most popular eating spots, The Coffee Pot Restaurant, known for its menu of 101 omelets. The restaurant overlooked Coffee Pot Rock, one of Sedona's famous red rock formations.


Coffee Pot Restaurant


Coffee Pot Rock


"Peanut butter and banana omelet," Sam told Adam. "Sound good?"

Adam stuck out his tongue and made a face.

"I want the avocado and sprouts omelet," Trini announced.

"Polish sausage and jelly for me," Shawn spoke up.

"With the ice cream you made for my birthday, I'm not one bit surprised, young man," Maddie told him and then proceeded to order the huevos rancheros for herself, topping it with maple syrup...

Back in the SUVs, they headed up Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff. From there, it would be another eighty miles to the South Rim. The girls amused themselves by taking turns calling Michael on their cells.

"How much longer?"

"She's eating a Snickers and showing me what it looks like all chewed up. Tell her to stop!"

"I have to go to the bathroom."

"She took my iPhone to play with my apps and won't give it back."

"ARE WE THERE YET???"


Michael turned off his cell and buried it in the glove box.

-----



Cee looked out the window from the back seat of the Jeep as it traversed over the rough mountain road. The weather was fantastic; the surroundings were spectacular. The sun was just starting to set. She worried a bit about the remoteness of this cabin, though. She knew they were not all that far from Jackson Hole, but one didn't have to go far from the city to be away from everything. In her mind, she had pictured a shack in the middle of nowhere, and she turned around to see where they had been: she could still see the log house where the owners resided... Perhaps it wasn’t all that remote after all.

Eli sat in the passenger seat in front, and he was talking to the owner (who was driving) about hunting and fishing. Or something like that. Eli was wearing the hat he’d bought for the riding lesson in Goldfield. She smiled. Maybe she’d turned him into a cowboy after all.

A couple of bags of groceries sat on the seat next to her and a cooler behind her: provisions for the next few days. She rummaged through the closest bag. There were apples, cereal, flour among the other items. There was meat, eggs, and milk in the cooler. The wife had taken Cee through a walk-in pantry, and she’d picked items for the provisions... more than enough, way more than enough, for them to eat the next four days.

She picked up a package she didn’t remember filling and hefted it. It wasn’t that big. “Do you know what this is?” she asked the owner, holding the box up so he could get a look at it in his rearview mirror.

“That is something specific we were asked to purchase for you two. I think missus put a card inside.”

Cee opened the box and laughed. It was a huge bag of peanut M&Ms. She opened the card; it read: A day without M&Ms is like a day without sunshine and was signed by all the girls. She showed the opened box to Eli.

“Those are for you, not for me,” he laughed.

After another five minutes drive, the Jeep slowed down, and Cee sat up to sneak a peek out the windshield. Her eyes opened wide. The cabin was in a remote location, but it was far from being a shack.



“It’s not that big,” the owner was saying. “But it’s packed with lots of surprises. I drove up here before I picked you two up from the airport and turned the lights on. The place is mostly solar powered with propane for heating and cooking. We’ve had plenty of sunshine, but there’s a generator in case you get stuck in the dark.”

He pulled up in front and shut off the engine. All three of them got out. The owner went to the back of the Jeep to pull out the cooler, and Eli went to the pick up the groceries.

“I can drop these off inside and come back out for the suitcase,” he told Cee.

“Nonsense, I can get it,” she replied, tugging it out from behind the seat. “It’s not like we’ve got a lot of clothes in here anyway,” she giggled.

They followed the owner onto the porch and waited for him to unlock it while they stood next to a couple of Adirondack chairs. He handed Cee the key. “Your husband has his hands full,” the man chuckled.

Your husband... Cee smiled, she liked the sound of that, and she hadn’t heard it since the reception. Somehow, she and Eli had managed to get out of Goldfield without seeing anyone else, although she had called Sam to let him know they were leaving. Everyone else seemed to be busy doing something, and that was okay with her. She’d see them all again in a few days.

“Wow...” was her response to the front room. Open and airy, the room contained a couch, a chair, and a big screen television.

“Is that solar-powered, too?” Eli quipped.

The owner smiled. “Well, it’s hooked up to the power grid, but it doesn’t seem to get a lot of use.” He led them into the next area, which was a small kitchen holding a refrigerator, stove, oven, cabinets, and a table and chairs. “Just put those things on the counter,” he told Eli while he sat the cooler on the table. “I’ll show you the rest of the place, then we can put the things away that need to stay cold.”



The bedroom was open to the eating area, and there was a fireplace at the foot of the bed. The owner chuckled and pointed at the second flat-screen television. “Yeah, that one’s hooked up, too. It doesn’t get much use, either.” He walked over a door on one side of the room. “Bathroom is in here. I remodeled this last year.”

The room was tiled all around and contained a toilet, a massive sink, and a clawfoot tub big enough for two. The owner went over to a stone wall that had a shower head sticking out of it. “This is what I added last year.” He turned a couple of knobs, and water started flowing out of a special faucet in the stones.



“Wow, our very own waterfall!” Cee exclaimed.

“Yeah.” The owner turned the water off. “Now, that gets used a lot.” He laughed. “But, you shouldn’t run out of water, the well is pretty deep and get supplemented through a filter from the lake.” He paused. “Never had anyone complain about running out of hot water, so I must’ve done that up right, too.”

“Everything looks great,” Eli remarked. “Let me help you get those groceries unloaded so you can get back to your house.”

The man held up a hand. “Now, hold on a second... I want to show you what I put in this year.” He led them to the sliding door behind the eating area. “You’ll have to let me know how you like this. I haven’t had that many customers since I installed it.”



The round bed was suspended from the ceiling of the deck by a series of cables with an opening on one side. The deck was screened but open and had an amazing view of the Grand Tetons and the lake off to the side.

“I’ve never seen the bison come up this far, but I’ve seen elk,” the owner was saying as Cee and Eli looked around. “It isn’t mating season, so the elk aren’t aggressive this time of year, but you’ll probably see some. Maybe even some pronghorn.”

He swept his hand to indicate the land. “This is all private property around here, no neighbors. The missus and I have no reason to come by unless you call us, and the phone in the kitchen is a direct line to our house. Call us if you need us; it’ll take me ten minutes to get here. If you do go hiking, we’d appreciate it if you let us know when you leave and when you come back, but that’s for your own safety.” He laughed. “Haven’t had anyone go hiking yet.”

“Imagine that,” Eli chuckled, a big smile on his face.

Cee laughed and popped him in the arm. “Oh, yeah... like you’re planning on hiking in the next four days.”

“Well, that’s the tour,” the owner concluded, making his way back into the cabin. “Let’s get the cold stuff unpacked so you two can not go hiking and not watch television.”

Cee heard the beep of her cell phone but couldn't rouse herself right away. Who is stupid enough to call? she thought at first, but suddenly remembered that her phone was ringing because she'd set the alarm on it the night before. She tried reaching for it and discovered she couldn't move; Eli had his arms wrapped around her, and she was pulled tightly close to his body. She sighed, closed her eyes again, and relaxed. She'd set the alarm early enough that she had time to wait.

"What the hell?" she heard Eli mumble as he let go of her. "Is that a cell phone?" he asked sleepily as he rolled over on his back. The hanging bed swayed mildly with his movements. "Tell me there isn't someone stupid enough in our group to call us here. I bet it's 23... it's gotta be 23. I'm gonna kill him."

"Calm down, lover," she giggled, finally able to crawl out from under the quilt and over to the side to grab her phone. "It's just the alarm. I set it last night." She sat up and looked at her cell, deactivating the beeper. "Besides, there are limited cell phone towers and tall mountains around here. No bars," she announced, showing him the readout.

Eli sat up, gathering the quilt around him. He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her shoulder. "Why did you set the alarm, Darlin'?" he asked.

Cee looked out where the Grand Tetons were barely discernable in the darkness. The sky held just a hint of light. "Wait for it," she whispered.



They sat together, Eli's arms folded around Cee again, and watched the sunrise grab a foothold on the morning as the mountains were eventually fully bathed in the soft light.



"Wow." Cee blew out a breath after a while, marveling at the day beginning in front of them.

"I'll second that, Darlin'," Eli whispered behind her. "I have to say that this is the second best thing in the world to get up early for."

She giggled. "And, what's the best thing?" she asked, knowing the answer.

"Well, since you asked," he replied with a smile, pulling her down on the bed.

The group traveling from Sedona arrived at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon by noon. Michael checked everyone into their accommodations for the night, the El Tovar Hotel. The girls were looking forward to staying at this exclusive lodge, built in 1905, just twenty feet from the rim of the canyon itself.




El Tovar Hotel

The lodge was constructed of massive beams of Oregon pine, its exterior detailing reminiscent of Swiss Chalet architecture. Recently renovated in 2005, the hotel retained an elegant charm, which through the years had been host to such luminaries as Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, and Western author Zane Grey. It featured a fine dining room, a rustic lobby called the "Rondezvous Room," and two gift shops.


Rondezvous Room


Guest Room

The porches and terraces had seating for relaxful views overlooking the canyon. The porch on the northern end of the hotel had inscribed on its lintel a quote from C.A. Higgins' "The Titan of Chasms." The wrought-iron lettering on the lintel read: "Dreams of mountains, as in their sleep they brood on things eternal."


Porch chair


Terraces with canyon views

As enticing as an afternoon at the hotel was, the canyon was calling with its many lookouts and viewpoints. On their drive in, they had stopped at several already, including the Desert Watchtower, a 70-foot structure designed by Mary Jane Coulter in 1930.


Desert Watchtower


South Rim

Stretching along the south rim past Grand Canyon Village is the Rim Trail, encompassing 9.5 miles of trails and vistas, some of it paved, some not. Michael told the group they were on their own that afternoon to explore at will, but to meet back at the hotel at six o'clock for an early dinner.


Rim Trail

Most of the group stayed together, walking down to view the Lookout Studio, which had been designed by architect Mary Coulter in 1914 as a lookout point for the Fred Harvey Company. They took pictures from the observation post there and visited the gift shop.


Lookout Studio


View from Lookout

They also visited the Hopi House, built in 1905 by Mary Coulter to reflect the beauty of the adobe pueblos of the area. Inside, today, is a museum and a gift shop, which the girls loved. They browsed through Navajo turquoise jewelry, Zuni silver jewelry, Papago baskets, Navajo rugs, and many other items of interest, making a few purchases.


Hopi House

Michael had arranged with the agents and all who were interested to meet at the hotel at 4:30 p.m. for an hour run before dressing for dinner. Being mindful of tourists strolling in the area, the group ran the length of the paved Rim Trail and back again, getting in a total of about five miles. They showered, dressed, and all the couples met for dinner in the hotel's lovely dining room.



After dinner, the group moved outside again to watch the sunset over the canyon. Couples drifted off to sit, watch, and talk.



Light and clouds moved across the area forming shadows on the canyon walls, until finally, the sky deepened in color and sections of the canyon blazed in the setting sun...

Another early morning. At least the sunrise over the Grand Canyon was worth it...



The girls hoped the trip today would be worth it, too. Funny how Michael always chose the most out-of-the-ordinary adventures to send them on.

"Tell us why we're doing this again, Michael?" Jen asked.

"Confidence building!" Nine other voices echoed with Michael's.

"Got it," Jen said, doing a mental eye roll. "Well, I hope my donkey will be a nice one," she continued, to no one in particular.

"They're mules," Di told her. "Cross between a male burro and female horse."

"Don't let her fool you," Sam interjected. "It's a jack and a mare. And they're asses…all asses!"

"That's what I said, " Di exclaimed, "a male donkey and a female horse!"

"I thought you said a burro," Jen said.

"A donkey is a burro, Jen," Di told her. "But you're wrong, Sam, it's not an ass."

"Who's not an ass?" asked Fi, walking up to the fence where they were standing.

"A male horse and a female donkey," Sam told her.

"No, that's not an ass. That's a hinney," said Fi.

"What's a hiney?" asked Jen, totally confused.

"This right here," said Ric, coming up behind her and giving it a loving pat.

"Not a hiney…a hinney!" Fi reiterated.

"A henny? A female chicken?" asked Sam. "Fi, been mixing chemicals for explosives again? Breathing in a little too much of that stuff?"

She rolled her eyes at him and continued, "A hinney is a cross between a stallion horse and a jenny donkey. It's the opposite of a mule, but it really is a mule."

"Huh?" asked Jen.

"But they're all asses, right?" Sam asked.

"Watch your language, Sam!" Maddie said, walking up with Virgil. "Who are you talking about anyway?"

"Jacks and Jennies," Sam shrugged.

"Oh, you mean Johns and Mollies?" Maddie asked. "That's what granny called them on the farm."

"Technically, they're called jennets," said Fi.

"How do you know so much about asses, Fi?" Sam asked.

"'Cause I'm looking at one," she smiled sweetly, waving her little finger at him and taking a bite of her apple.

"You walked headstraight into that one," Ric laughed, slapping Sam on the back.

"So what is it we're riding today?" Jen asked.

That's a new fangled version of "Who's on first" if I ever heard one!!!!!

Great Job Jen!!!!!


KA23

Gathered at the Stone Corral at Bright Angel Trail at 7:15 that morning, the group watched as the wranglers brought in the strings of mules and hitched each one to the metal railing in the corral.





The mules eyed their riders for the day, hoping for either the lightest one, the most inexperienced one, or better yet, one who would chicken out and give them a day off. They watched as a group of young women approached and ooohed and ahhhed over how cute they were. One of the gals tripped over another's feet and went sprawling, bringing the other down with her. The mules quietly chuckled. This might be a fun day after all.

Wrangler Jim called the group over for a little chit-chat.

The mules always loved this part. Wrangler Jim was good at scaring the mule-puckey out of even experienced riders. The mules chuckled again, noticing which riders were already shaking in their Nikes.

"This is NOT a pony ride at the county fair!" Wrangler Jim told the riders. "If you're thinking that, you need to run, not walk, and git yourself outta here right now!"



No takers. Darn, thought the mules. Well, maybe the part about the "mule motivator" would get to all those bleeding heart animal lovers out there.

"This here is your 'mule motivator,'" Wrangler Jim told them, holding up a riding crop, "and you're gonna need it!" The crowd cringed, especially the gals. The mules smiled in anticipation of kissing several riders goodbye at this point.



"Why do you need it, you might ask?" Wrangler Jim went on. "Lemme tell you why. It is completely necessary to keep your mules in line and close together at all times…nose-to-tail. Why you might ask? Lemme tell you why. If one of you dawdling riders falls behind trying to take that one perfect shot of the canyon so that you can put it up on Facebook for all the world to see, your mule might just panic and race to catch up with the others. Why is this bad? Lemme tell you why this is bad. A 2500-foot drop into the canyon would mess up that purty little face of yours!"

The gals all looked at each other. The mules noticed. They're gonna run screaming out of here anytime now, the mules chuckled.

"And what else?" Wrangler Jim continued, slapping the riding crop against his hand. "Why else do you need this little mule motivator?" Here it comes, laughed the mules.

"Lemme tell you why. Your mule is trained to walk on the outside of the trail and when stopping, which we do every thirty to forty-five minutes, they are trained to face out, toward the canyon. Why is this, you ask?" Wrangler Jim searched their faces intently like a preacher in Sunday morning service. "If a mule is spooked by something unexpected, they tend to back up. We wouldn't want them backing up into the canyon, NOW WOULD WE?????"

The gals all shook their heads, eyeballs widening. The mules doubled over in internal laughter and one brayed loudly, not able to hold it in.

Trini bravely raised her hand, which Wrangler Jim ignored. "Excuse me, but I don't think I can hit an animal. In fact, I know I can't."

The mules grinned. Another one bites the dust, they thought. Wrangler Jim placed his hands on his waist and bent over towards Trini a little. It was at this point the girls noticed he had some "chaw" in his mouth.

"Honey, it ain't gonna hurt the mule none. Your mule's hide over his rump is one inch thick. No matter how hard you use your crop, it ain't gonna hurt him!" Wrangler Jim stood back up and nodded his head at her knowingly.

"Another thing ya'll need to know is that if you continually lean to one side while riding, you may jest be riding the rest of the trail on a saddle that has slipped under your mule. Now that may be good for getting some 'up-canyon' shots with those little digital cameras of yours, but it's not gonna feel very good to have the blood rushin' to your head for forty minutes!"

The mules were doing the happy dance inside. Any minute now a whole slew of these folks were gonna walk out to spend the day poolside at the Flagstaff Holiday Inn Express.

Wrangler Jim went over some other specifics and then it was time to saddle up…

"The first to be mounted will be the day riders," Wrangler Jim told them. That was nearly the entire group. Only two families of four members each and an older couple celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary were going on the overnight at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. Michael had apologized to the group, saying that it was his intention to do the overnight trip, but time prevented it. So, they would be doing the seven-hour one-day trip.

The wranglers came over to check Michael's group up and down. Matching two-footers to four-footers seemed to come natural to them. Wrangler Jim was sizing up Jen at the moment.

"Will I be riding a jack, a jenny, a mollie, or a john?" Jen asked him. "And can you make it a sweet mule, please?" Wrangler Jim's eyes widened and he stared at her for a good long minute.

"Robbie!" he said, yelling to another wrangler. "Give this one "Tootsie" and put her in the children's group, will ya?"

Jen reddened and looked back at Ric, who gave her a sympathetic smile. Once she was mounted on Tootsie, who seemed a nice enough mule, she leaned over to ask Robbie a question. Robbie seemed a lot more congenial than Wrangler Jim. "Is there anything I should know about Tootsie?" Jen asked him with a smile.

Wrangler Robbie smiled back at her. "Keep the knot of the reins on her neck and she'll be as sweet as sugar pie," he told her.

After all members in the party were mounted, stirrups adjusted, and taught how to rein their mules, Wrangler Jim informed them the children would be first in line, then women, and finally, the men. He finished by saying, "If ya'll do well on the way down, we may let you ride back up with the people you came with!"

Wrangler Jim headed off, followed by the children, then Jen, then the rest of the gals, and finally, the men. Jen turned to wave at Ric…way back there…and nearly slid off her saddle. Tootsie smiled.

The riders headed down Bright Angel Trail, following Wrangler Jim. The morning was still cool and a little damp, so some of the group wore the yellow rain slickers that had been provided for them. Each rider was allowed one camera or pair of binoculars, and carried a water bota provided for them, which they were allowed to keep when the trip was over.


Beginning of Bright Angel Trail

They followed single file and after the first switchback, could look down into the canyon across its sheer cliffs. The sure-footed mules were amazingly close to the edge of the trail, creating some apprehension in the riders who had entrusted their lives to their animals.




First Switchback

They had ahead of them a two-and-a-half hour trip to Indian Garden, where they would eat lunch and use the restroom facilities. From there, they would travel across the Tonto Plateau to Plateau Point, where they would have panoramic views of the Canyon and the Colorado River 1,300 feet below. In all, the ride to Plateau Point would take them down 3,200 feet in elevation from the top of the canyon.


Canyon near top

As Wrangler Jim had mentioned, they stopped every thirty to forty-five minutes for the mules to rest, but weren't allowed to dismount. Instead, they used this time to take pictures and drink water.


Taking pictures

Jen found herself having fun with the children she was riding with. The two families had two children each, plus Adam had been grouped with them, too, riding in front of Jen. Boomer was riding in back, in front of Sam, and Jie and Ashley had stayed at the hotel with Jackie and Bill.



Behind Jen was Trini, "the bleeding heart," as Wrangler Jim called her, with Di, an experienced rider, following behind. Wrangler Jim had given very specific instructions to Di on what to do if Trini didn't use her riding crop. Sure enough, Trini's mule, Tulip, began lagging behind. She tried using her riding crop, but would always hit the saddlebag instead. Di rode up to slap Tulip on the rump several times so she'd keep up with the rest.

When Wrangler Jim finally noticed, he roared out Tulip's name and the mule immediately lengthened her stride to catch up with Jen's mule. Gia rode behind Di and several times "Whoa!" could be heard coming from her direction. Her mule, Lightning, was anxious to get the ride over with and wanted everyone out of the way. Wrangler Jim had to lecture him, too.

Deb came next and although inside she was feeling some fear because of heights, she had a beautiful mule and was posture-perfect herself. The two of them made a "purty" picture as Wrangler Jim told her admiringly. Phi had a rather stubborn one and had to use the crop quite a bit. Her mule seemed to have a personality conflict with Deb's mule and decided to hang back, sulking. Maddie came next, trying to remember everything she had learned in Hawaii about riding. Kusa was after her, exhibiting excellent "mulemanship," being an experienced rider herself.