Free Happy Is The Bride by Caroline Clemmons

I can hardly wait for Ben and the kids to see me. And won't his mother be stuck for something to criticize this time?"
    'You look lovely, Rachel. I think you're right, we look wonderful. I hope we can stay dry until we get in side. Any guests who make it through the storm to the chapel will be waiting for something bad to happen, and I mean to disappoint them."
    "You can count on Mason. He'll be there."
    "Yes, I can. Today and always." Beth took one last look around the room. The package near an armoire caught her attention. "Rachel?"
    "Yes?" Rachel looked at her.
    She nodded at the bundle. "The bolt of silk is tied with brown paper ready for you to take home. I want you to have it."
    "You can't mean it." Rachel's hand went to her throat, and she beamed.
    "Yes, I do. I could never enjoy it. Every time I saw it I'd think of that silly bet."
    Rachel frowned. "But you'll see me in it."
    "It's not the same. I want you to have it. There's some brown foulard and trims to go with it as well. If you want me to, I'll help you make it up."
    "After all the things I've said to you these past few years? I don't know how to thank you."
    "No thanks are necessary. It'll look nice with your coloring." Beth took another look around the bed room.
    Rachel followed Beth's gaze. "Will you miss this house? It's such a beautiful place."
    "Maybe a little. I look forward to being with Mason on the ranch, but I've lived here since I was eight." She ran her hand along the side of the dark cherry highboy.
    Rachel met her gaze. "Yes, that's when we moved into your old house."
    Beth gasped. "I-I never realized you minded, Rachel. Mother and Daddy wanted your parents to have it, much better to have family instead of strangers living there, but we never meant you to feel bad."
    "I know, and we were glad to move into it. I loved the nice yard and having my own big room." She looked at the floor. "I guess it was just me. I felt I lived in your shadow."
    Rachel raised her face. "People have always talked about how pretty you are, how smart, and you had this wonderful house. You went away to school and came back looking like a princess. I felt dowdy and plain by comparison."
    Beth hugged her. "Oh, Rachel. I never knew that. How terrible that I wanted to stay home but went away to school while you wanted to go away but stayed here."
    "But if I'd gone, I might not have married Ben, and that would be bad because I do love him. Guess I was needlessly jealous of you all these years." Rachel pointed to the trunks. "Soon you'll be unpacking those at your new home. You'll be a married woman."
    Beth smiled. "When I come up here to change dur ing the reception, I'll be Mrs. Mason Whittaker."
    "It won't be long now." Rachel folded her day dress and picked up her shoes. "Do you have a long wrap I can use?"
     
     
    Eight
     
    The two went downstairs where Mr. Pendleton and Beulah waited. Beth's father looked impressive in his dress clothes. Beulah wore lavender cotton sateen trimmed with Irish point embroidered lace.
    Beulah clasped her hands to her chest. "Don't you look good enough to eat? I knew you'd be the prettiest bride I ever did see." She gasped. "Begging your pardon, Miss Rachel, but you know I'm as partial to Miss Beth as if she was my own."
    Mr. Pendleton kissed Beth on the cheek. "Lovely. Bethany, that boy doesn't deserve you."
    That was the closest her father had ever come to a compliment. "Daddy, you'd best change your mind about Mason. He's here to stay, and he'll be the father of your grandchildren."
    "Hmph." Mr. Pendleton stuck out his lower lip. Beth couldn't say whether his displeasure stemmed from knowing Mason would father his grandchildren or from the fact that her father suddenly realized he might soon be a grandfather.
    Emboldened by her near wedding, Beth faced her father and asked something that had bothered her for years. "Why don't you like the Whittakers? They're nice people and have always acted friendly toward you and mother."
    "With all their