Pre- wedding jitters

Sophie told Sarah that night about the impending wedding and they giggled and chatted about it late into the night like pigtailed school girls.

"Oh, I just knew you two would end up together! I am so happy for you!" Sarah cooed. "What happened to finally change y' all's mind?"

"I don't know," Sophie said reflectively. "I think it had something to do with me choosing to stay here when I had the option to go back," she said with a shrug.

Sarah squeezed Sophie's hand. "I think Thomas wanted you to choose him. I don't think he wants a marriage of convenience."

"You're exactly right." Sophie agreed. "He said he wants a real wife."

"Are you ready to be a real wife?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know, I think so," she gnawed on her lower lip considering it. "I'm a little nervous," she whispered. "You know, about the wedding night."

"You'll do just fine," she patted Sophie's hand reassuringly.

Thomas arranged with the preacher for the wedding to take place on Saturday. They had four days to plan it and three days to keep it a secret. Sophie already had her wedding dress. She had been prepared for a wedding upon arrival in the new world. A wedding that never happened.

The dress had a basic white silk underlayer that was smooth and fitted. The outer layer was lacy. Sophie made it using the tatting technique. Most women only made doilies or small table runners out of tatting, because it was so time consuming. The one thing Sophie had back home was time. She spent hours creating the breathtaking masterpiece and it was worth it. She looked stunning.

When the wedding was officially announced the town exploded in a flurry of excitement. Thomas was very uncomfortable with the attention. He would prefer to marry her privately without a party or celebration. He didn't want to share her, he wanted their moment to be private. He knew it wasn't possible though.

Frida did not hide her distain and unhappiness.

"Thomas Donaland, you planned this all along!" she hissed at him as she stomped through town, her skirts swishing angrily with each step.

"Good morning Frida!" he waved at her as she glared at him. "Will you not be at the wedding then?"

"Hump!" she practically growled and marched away.

Upsetting Frida wasn't something Thomas was concerned about. The woman thrived on anxiety and rage. He was just the latest thing to fuel the Frida furry. He only wanted to protect Sophie from it.

Later that day, Phil brought the wagon, Maddox, Sophie and Sophie's small allotment of stuff to his small cottage and shop. They unloaded her trunk and slipped it into the small space next to the bed.

"Thanks for moving me again!" Sophie said cheerfully to Phil as he pulled away in the wagon.

"Happy to do it!" he called back to her. "But this is the last time I move you."

Phil was going to the stables to put Maddox away. Maddox was happy to be back in his regular stall and next to is comfortable horse buddies.

Thomas felt unusually self conscious about his home with Sophie standing in it. He looked around at his small space. It was cramped and dusty. There was not one decoration or ounce of hospitality. Thomas watched Sophie as she did the same thing. She scanned the room and took it all in.

"It's not much," he said awkwardly. "But you can do whatever you want with it. This is your home," he said with a shrug.

"Thomas it is perfect," she said. "It is small but I'm just so happy to have a place to belong and I'm even more excited that it is with you."

Thomas wanted to reach for her, he wanted to pull her into his chest and hold her. The greatest part of what she said was it looked like she actually meant the words she said. This woman actually liked him and he simply could not believe it.

"I mean it's bigger than the little place you built me at the Castros. This will be wonderful."

"You're not worried about sharing it with a smelly man are you?"

"Well, you know, we all have to make some sacrifices." She giggled teasingly. "But I think I can handle this smelly guy." She nudged his shoulder and again he wanted to pull her in close. He wanted to nuzzle his nose into her neck and smell her. He had never had these thoughts before but the flood gates had opened. He had tasted of the forbidden fruit so to speak and he wanted more. He wanted to touch her and smell her and taste her even. He needed to get her out of his bedroom.

Sophie returned to the Castro farm for the night before the wedding. She was riddled with nerves and excitement. She got off the boat expecting a wedding so she had already experienced some of the prewedding jitters. What was throwing her off about tonight was she actually wanted to marry this man.