Happy Is The Bride Read Free Page B

Pendleton had insisted Beth wed here. Since then, the town had moved the other direction. Time had passed the chapel by, and now it stood a half mile from any other buildings.
    In spite of the short notice, Beth's mother had forged ahead with plans for an elaborate wedding and reception. Mrs. Pendleton hired a local man to shine the windows and clean the chapel, which saw little use nowadays. On the lectern hung a white silk cloth on which Beth had embroidered linked wedding rings flanked by turtledoves in silver and gold thread. A half dozen candles in a brass holder flanked each side of the altar.
    "Bethany, you're doing that all wrong. The vases need to be fuller." Beth's mother pushed her out of the way. "If I want a thing done right, I have to do it myself."
    Beth sighed and watched her mother stuff more greenery and flowers into the already full urn at one side of the altar lectern. Beth had liked it best the way she'd arranged it, graceful instead of overblown, but she supposed her mother knew best.
    "If you'd given me more time, I could have brought in a consultant from Austin to decorate the church and our home and arrange the flowers. As it is, I have to do everything myself. You're so inconsiderate."
    The unjust accusation hurt Beth. "Beulah and I are helping, Mother. And we cut all the greenery and
    flowers for you." Yesterday Beulah and Beth had cut flowers from the Pendleton garden and those of friends, plus ventured into the woods for ferns and other greenery. They'd woven garlands from part of the greenery on lengths of wire. "Besides, we could hare hired someone local to do this."
    Her mother rewarded her with a glare. "And leave aft this to chance? I think not. No, it's a considerable burden to me on such a busy day, but I'll make certain the chapel looks properly decked out for a Pendleton wedding."
    Beth picked up a white silk ribbon and tied it on the end of a pew.
    "Not like that, dear. Must I do everything? We want them fuller." Mrs. Pendleton tugged the bow, then left it looking exactly as Beth had tied it. 'There, doesn't that look better?"
    Beth bit her tongue to stop the angry retort that sprang into her mind. She wanted this day to end. Once she'd thought this big wedding with her perfect dress was important. Now she just wanted the cere mony and reception behind her. She longed to be at Mason's home—no, Mason's and her home—where they could relax and enjoy each other's company away from constant criticism or unfair gossip.
    Beulah tapped her foot. "Mrs. Pendleton, if you're gonna redo everything me and Beth does, then we might as well leave you here and go home. I gots them cakes to frost and all."
    Beth's mother struck what Beth thought of as her martyred pose. "Does no one appreciate that I'm try ing to uphold our position in society? The people in this town look to the Pendletons to set the standard of good taste. It's my duty to present the most gracious and elegant decorations possible with such short no tice."
    Beulah rolled her eyes and picked up a length of ribbon.
    Beth didn't argue, but she suspected the people in town didn't give a fig about the decorations. They already thought she and her parents were snobs. Those who attended the wedding would come in hopes of seeing Beth jilted again and her parents embarrassed. This time, the naysayers would be disappointed. Mason would show up, and the wedding would pro ceed without a hitch.
    "Good thing it's sunny. If it rains, do you think the river might reach the chapel grounds?" Beth walked to the window and peeked out. She'd seen a heavy rain turn the Medina River into a boiling brown tor rent with few crossing places. Today, the river looked peaceful, reflecting the deep blue of the sky.
    "Don't you worry, missy. The river ain't never come up this high. I reckon the folks what built this was just cautious." Beulah tied another ribbon. "Just like rich folks to donate land for a church where no one can't do nothing else with it."
    Mrs.