1,500 Acres Chapter 17

Delicate buds were perched like luminescent pearls on outstretched branches. They littered the ground like a kid gone crazy with confetti, leaving the most beautiful backdrop. Spring had arrived on the farm, and the signs were everywhere. Hatchlings squawked from the nests high in the trees, Lucy nursed a bow-legged foal, the pigpen was empty and had been moved, and—best of all—it was my wedding day.

I could pretend it was my first if I closed my eyes and focused on the here and now. Rose and Alice were working on my hair and makeup, Vera and Jess were trying their darndest to wrangle the children and keep them from staining their fancy clothes, and Edward was waiting for me at a makeshift altar in our apple orchard.

That was the one thing that mattered, the only thing. Through the Cullen's return and my almost-father-in-law’s somewhat pained expression at the rehearsal dinner, and through the thunderstorm two days ago that threatened my outdoor wedding with being pushed into one of the barns. None of it mattered in the long run. Dusty as it might be, I would have married Edward in the shed if I'd had to. Luckily the sun had held out and dried up the majority of the mud.

When I was finally deemed ready I couldn't be held back any longer. I nearly ran for the door, ignoring the women that encouraged me to slow down. I was wearing boots, after all. I wasn't going to trip on heels and bite the dust. I rounded the turn out the back door and stopped. I had to get out to the orchard, and I had to wait for the ladies to catch up and go with me. We took my truck. It wasn't attractive, but it was practical. We stopped far enough away that it wouldn't be in my direct line of sight during the ceremony.

There were hay bales lined up in rows and covered in borrowed quilts from Vera's stock. There was a clear path between them meant to be my aisle, and it was blanketed in apple blossoms. The air smelled sweet with them, and everything focused down to the man waiting for me. He was wearing tan pants and a white shirt, his ruddy hair poking up in places despite the products he'd used to try to tame it. His expression was full of light and exuberance as I moved forward.

Alice and Rose went down first and stood on either side of Edward. I stopped at the beginning of the makeshift aisle and waited for the guys. I'd decided to have Mike and Emmett walk me down to Edward, and Seth and Jasper would trade off for a semi-traditional giving away of the bride. I didn't have a father to officially give my hand to Edward, but I wanted to include everyone in my life in some way or another. All of them would stand with us during the vows, assuming Esme could rein in the children, and I knew that Rose and Emmett even planned on reciting the vows to each other in a sort of renewal of their commitment.

All in all, it was exactly what I'd envisioned.

“You look gorgeous,” Edward murmured to me when I reached him. Mike and Emmett moved on and Seth and Jasper took their spots, each holding one of my hands.

“Thank you.” I know I blushed.

“Who gives the care of this woman over to this man?” We were very careful in not wanting it to sound like ownership of me was being handed from one man to another. Instead, it was the looking after of my well-being that they transferred.

We’d asked Preacher Weber to come out and perform the ceremony. We didn't attend church every Sunday, but he’d readily agreed. Some of the congregation were in attendance, but I didn't know any of them especially well.

“We do,” Seth and Jasper replied together.

They let go of my hands and I took both of Edward’s in mine as we faced each other.

Preacher Weber began, “We are gathered here today to witness the union between Edward Anthony Cullen and Isabella Marie Higginbotham.”

One of the littles started up a wail, and all of us chuckled. We were leaving out the whole speak now or forever hold your peace. One, because I didn't care who objected, and two, I didn't want to give Carlisle the chance to embarrass me or Esme. One of the adults soothed the child and we continued.

“Love is the most important thing. We know how we feel, each to the other, in a way that keeps us emotionally fulfilled. Love sustains us when times are tough. It keeps our spirits buoyed and our souls content. Love is the place we can come home to, and as such, marriage is a celebration and testament to that love. Edward and Bella have already joined their hearts together and chosen to commit to walking together on life’s journey, and we are fortunate enough to bear witness. Now, Edward and Bella would like to say a few words.”

Preacher Weber nodded at me, and I swallowed thickly as I turned to look at Edward. There was nothing but joy in his eyes, and it helped ease my nerves. “There is nothing I can say that you don’t already know, but I’m going to say it anyway. You gave me confidence when I had none. You showed me compassion where before there had been none in my life. You believe in me, you push me, and you are never afraid to praise me. I feel like I can be myself and you will never judge me, only love me. I needed a partner in my life, not a leader and not a follower, but an equal. I found that in you, and I thrive under it. I love you, and I will always love you.”

I realized that I was swaying in his direction as I spoke, and I stiffened my spine in the hopes that my knees wouldn’t buckle when he began.

Edward brushed his hand over my temple, catching a stray piece of hair. “I’m not known for having the right words, or being overly romantic. I can only tell you what’s in my heart. When I met you, I certainly wasn't looking to have my life turned upside down. I had plans, and I was going to stick to those plans. But you did something to me. You showed me a woman of strength and character, someone with a dedication to her land that I had never known. You never faltered in that dedication, even when I left to live out my plans. You flourished in front of my eyes, yes, but then when I came back I found somebody even stronger and more determined than before. You are the kindest, most thoughtful woman I know. Well, maybe next to my mom.” That earned him laughs, and Esme was smiling with tears rolling down her face when I looked at her. “I never knew that I could love someone with my whole being. More than that, I didn't know that someone could become my reason for breathing. I promise to spend the rest of our lives showing you how grateful I am to have met you.”

He kissed me then, even though he was jumping the gun. I let him, welcomed it even, and kissed him back.

The preacher cleared his throat and smiled benevolently at us. “If you would be so kind as to repeat after me.”

Edward gripped my hands in his so tightly I couldn't feel my fingers.

“I, Edward, take you Bella, as my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward. For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as we both shall live.”

Edward repeated him, and I had to smile through my tears.

“Now, Bella, it’s your turn. I, Bella, take you, Edward, as my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward. For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as we both shall live.”

I repeated him gladly, and there was a bit of applause.

“Rings?”

I handed my bouquet of apple blossoms to Alice, and Rose and Emmett handed over the rings. I’d taken mine off that morning since I was only going to wear the one band, and we’d purchased Edward’s just a few days ago.

“With this ring, I thee wed.”

We each said the phrase to the other, and Edward went right back to gripping my hands as soon as the rings were slipped on.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Weber said.

“I love you.”

“I love you.” I leaned in for his kiss, elated that we’d done it.

We were married.

The small gathering cheered, and Edward lifted me up off my feet and swung me around. I laughed, giddy that it was done, and kissed him again as he set me down.

Everyone gathered around us to offer their congratulations, and I held my breath as Carlisle stepped up to me.

“I realized as Edward was saying his vows that I’ve been wrong. I know you all tried to tell me, and I’m still not completely convinced he’ll be happy here.” He paused, and I waited for him to make his point. Edward squeezed my hand as Carlisle looked back and forth between us. “I can see how much he loves you, and it’s at least as much as you love him. I can live with that.”

I beamed at him. I wanted to throw my arms around his expensive looking suit, but I refrained. I hugged Esme instead as she smiled at first her husband, and then us.

I hadn't had to lift a finger so far on any of the preparations. The church ladies and our friends had made the food, the drinks, set up the picnic tables near the barn, and decorated. Edward and I were seated at the table that held the cake. It was decorated to my specifications with apple blossoms over off-white icing. It wasn't very big since we didn't have a huge number of guests, but it was simply beautiful.

We were served all kinds of potluck style foods as we listened to the radio someone had set up nearby. It was easy, comfortable, and laid back like we were. When the song ‘When You Say Nothing at All’ came on, Edward tugged on my hand and brought me over to an open patch of grass.

“I’m glad I didn't see your dress before today. I love it.”

I looked down like I wasn't sure what I was wearing. I hadn't wanted super fancy, but it was white and frilly. It had a deep V neckline and only fell to my knees, but there was a sash of a sage green that matched the new leaves on the trees. I felt feminine, which was something that didn't happen very often. Even in my cowgirl boots.

“I love it, too. I feel good in it.”

He leaned closer, his mouth near my ear. “Shall I take it off later, or make love to you with it still on?”

I shuddered and clutched his shoulders a little tighter. “I’ll leave that decision up to you.”

His hands dipped low on my back, like he was trying really hard not to cup my behind in front of our guests. It occurred to me that he’d picked that song for our first dance as man and wife for a reason. He didn't always need to say what he was thinking because he often showed me.

We didn't dance for longer than that song, but Edward wouldn't let go of me. He held me around the waist as we walked around and said hello to everyone. He reluctantly let me leave his side long enough to dance with Emmett and Jasper, in the way that they led me around to one song each because I’m a terrible dancer. Seth wouldn't even consider it. Vera was due by the end of the month, but she was dancing with anybody that would take her up on the offer.

As Edward came back to encircle me in his arms again, I got teary eyed. It wasn't just that it was my wedding. It was that it was a gathering of people of all ages that loved us. Babies were passed around, and children ran between our feet. Carlisle sat at one of the picnic tables and watched, but he didn't look as sour as he usually did. They'd come to celebrate our life and love with us. They were our family, and they would remain by our sides for years to come. It was the culmination of everything I'd ever wanted in my life. When we were old and gray—and I realized I would always be older and grayer than Edward—I would look back on this day as one of the best days of my life.

I'd experienced hard times, heartaches, and loss on my fifteen hundred acres, but I'd also experienced love and laughter. I'd built my life on this land, and it was the best life I could have asked for.