Wilderness Challenge - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

         Candi was happy she had bought some dresses before she returned to the cabin.  The look in Logan’s eyes when saw her for the first time in a dress, was well worth the purchase price.

         Logan led her away from the hospital where they had the blood work done.  “It amazes me that you can be so squeamish about a needle when you get yourself torn up by the animals you eat.”

         “I don’t willingly try to get myself torn up by animals.  I don’t go out hunting and say to myself, ‘Self?  How badly can you get mauled today so you can get a visit from the good doctor at the ranger station?’”

         “I know that.  If I didn’t have this sixth sense where you are concerned, we would have shipped your body home long ago.  I’ve never met anyone more stubborn in all my life.”

         “I’m not stubborn.”

         “And pig-headed and mulish.  I almost feared you’d turn me down because of the project you’re involved in.”

         “I don’t think Mr. Mills or Bart would have been too happy with me if I had.  Besides it’s what I want too.”

         “When do you want to get married?”

         “How about one month from today.  And I’m not pig-headed or mulish!”  Logan opened the door of the restaurant for her as she walked in ahead of him a saucy grin covered her face as they found a table in the corner.

         “Maybe that was before you came out here.  You sure have changed since, is my guess.  From the conversation I had with your father, I’ll bet he thought you’d be a push-over to go back home.  I can definitely see where you get your stubborn nature.”

         “Remember, he’s not my real father.”

         “Even so.  You still lived with him long enough to inherit some of his nature.”

         “We’re supposed to be discussing our wedding.”

         “I thought we were.”  He gave her one of his lopsided grins as he looked at the menu on the table.  “That would be October twenty-eighth.”

         “There’s plenty of time to tell everyone the good news, and make arrangements for Bart to bring my parents and Mr. and Mrs. Mills out here.”

         “What about a bridesmaid?”

         “I’d like Marsha to be my matron of honor.  She’s virtually the only friend I have.”

         “Sandra and Stan are your friends too.”

         “I know, but Marsha is special.  God used me to lead her to the Lord.”

         “And brought me across your path to bring me back home.”

         Candi saw the tender look on his face, mirrored in his eyes as he reached across the table and took her hand in his.  Her heart swelled at what transpired to bring her to that place and time.

         They stopped at a bridal shop, and Logan waited impatiently while she looked through the various designs.  “Why don’t you find yourself something else to do, while I take care of the dress?”

         “I suppose I’ll have to get a tux.”

         “No.  I want you to wear your dress uniform.  You look so smart in it.”

         “Your wish is my command.”  He left the dress shop to wander down the city walks, and peered into the different shops.  He came across a shop he couldn’t resist.  He looked for and found the perfect wedding present for his bride to be.

         An hour later he walked back into the dress shop to find she had just finished up the purchase of her gown.  She had it sealed in a black garment bag, so he couldn’t see the creation she had selected.  He took the garment bag from the clerk before she could take it.  “All set?”

         “Yes.”  She put her arm in the crook of his as they left the dress shop.

         They wandered around the small town, as they took care of the necessities, and enjoyed each other’s company.  She knew it would be a long time before they stepped foot in a city again, and because of it she took her time to look over the various things it had to offer.  The small town was so much different from Minneapolis.  It even seemed friendlier.

         They arrived back at her cabin at dusk.  Candi invited him in for coffee before he headed back to the ranger station.  “Why do you want to marry me so quickly?”

         “Because my adorable amazing woman, I want to keep you honorable.  That dress brings out the sparkle in your eyes.”  He took her in his arms and kissed her before he accepted a cup of coffee from her hand.

         “I don’t think the dress has anything to do with the sparkle in my eyes.”

         He looked down into her eyes.  “Mm.  You’re probably right.”

         “We’d better get in touch with Mr. Mills in the morning.  I’m sure Bart already told him the good news, but we’ll need to give him the date, and invite my parent’s and Marsha as well.”

         She sat across from him and thought that in a month’s time, she would be sitting across from him every day, and he wouldn’t be leaving except to go to work at the station.  “We will live here in the cabin, won’t we?”

         “I was hoping I could persuade you to move to the cabin at the station.  It has hot and cold running water.”

         Candi looked around her at what she had made for herself.  “I prefer it here, but if you keep your cabin for your duty days, I’ll join you for that hot shower at the end of the day.”

         “Mm.  Sounds very tempting.  The cabin is mine for as long as I’m stationed here.  So regardless, you’ll have access to it anytime you wish."

         She was suddenly afraid she would have to leave this place she loved so much.  “You won’t transfer from here, will you?”

         “Let me set your fears aside, my fair lady.  Like Stan, I asked for permanent assignment here.  I knew you wouldn’t want to leave here.”

         The sun came out in her face at the thought that she wouldn’t have to leave there anytime in the near or distant future.  She rushed around and flung her arms around his neck and gave him an answering kiss to his proposal.  “I hope we’ll always be this happy.”

         “I don't see why not.  We have each other, and the prettiest piece of paradise this side of heaven to live in.  What more could anyone want?”

         “How about children?”

         “How many do you want?  We’ll have to ask permission from Mr. Mills to build onto the cabin.”

         “As many as God gives us.  I don’t want to limit the blessings He has in store for us.”

         “Good idea.  I can’t keep my hands off you.  I’d better go, before we have to fly my dad out here earlier than planned.”  He cupped her chin in his hand and looked deep into her eyes before he brought his lips down to hers in a very passionate kiss.  Reluctantly he let her go and left the cabin for the waiting helicopter.

         Candi watched him leave, and waved until he was out of sight, before she retraced her steps to the cabin.

********

         A month later Candi waited for the arrival of their guests inside the cabin, a ball of nerves.  Logan’s parent’s had arrived the week before, and Marsha and her husband had flown in three days before.  She only waited on her parents, Bart and the Mills’.

         “You’re making me nervous with all your pacing.  Calm down, they’ll be here soon.  You look radiant.  Logan won’t have eyes for anyone else, not that he does anyway.”  Marsha eyed again the wedding gown on a hanger on her wardrobe door.

         Stan and Sandra had offered the hospitality of their home to Marsha and her husband while they got ready for that day.  Marsha had been grateful.  She didn’t mind that Candi liked to rough it, but she liked all the amenities in a house, particularly hot and cold running water.  She had watched as Candi swam in the immensely cold water, forgoing the pleasure herself.

         “I wish they were here.”  Candi stopped pacing and tried to sit at the table again.

         “Logan and his parent’s will come as soon as they hear the plane, along with Stan and Sandra.”

         “I know.”  A noise caught her attention.  “Did you hear that?  Did it sound like a plane to you?”  She jumped from her chair, flew out the door to the porch, and scanned the horizon.

         “There it is!”  Marsha pointed at the black dot in the sky, and watched it become larger.

         Candi raced down to the landing and watched it land and taxi to a stop.  Her parents were the first to disembark, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Mills, and finally Bart himself, when the door finally opened.

         Her father looked around for signs of Logan.  “Where’s the groom?”

         “On his way.”  Candi heard the unmistakable helicopter blades whip the air as it came in sight.  “I’d better get ready.”  She hurried into the cabin, her mother and Mrs. Mills followed close behind.

         “My you’ve done a nice job with the place,” Mrs. Mills said.

         “Thank you.  I couldn’t think about living anywhere else.”

         “But surely when your husband transfers,” her mother said.

         “Mother, please, let’s not get into an argument on my wedding day.”

         “Of course, I’m sorry.”

         “Besides, he’s not going to transfer.  He’s put in for permanent assignment here.”

         Candi took the dress from the hanger, and with the help of the three other women, soon had it in place, with the tiara, she had worn for Marsha’s wedding holding her veil in place, which her mother had brought along.  It had been her mother’s and she had told her she would give it to Candi on her wedding day.

         Mrs. Mills, a professional hairdresser, fixed her hair in the same style it had been for Marsha’s wedding.

         Marsha gave her a blue satin garter to wear around the top of her leg.  Momentarily exposing the scar she received from the lynx when Rascal had been badly hurt.

         “How did that happen?” her mother said.

         “Please, not now, mother.  This is the happiest day of my life.  I want it to stay that way.”

         “Something old, the veil; something new, the dress; and something blue, the garter.  We only need something borrowed,” Marsha said.

         “I have just the thing.”  Mrs. Mills took out a beautiful pearl and diamond necklace and put it around her neck.  “Perfect.  This was mine on my wedding day.  When I saw you at Marsha’s wedding I thought it would look lovely on you.”

         “They’re gorgeous,” Candi said.

         “You’re ready.  Logan is so lucky.  You’re beautiful,” Marsha said.

         “Yes, you are, very lovely,” her mother said.

         Marsha took her CD player out to the landing, and told them to wait until she had gone back into the cabin to start the wedding march.

         Candi’s father went into the cabin with Marsha, ready to give her to Logan for the rest of her life.  He took one look at the girl he had raised to womanhood, and his eyes became misty.  He gave her a kiss on the cheek, and offered her his arm.

         Candi saw the moisture in his eyes, and knew he loved her, and was proud of her.  She was suddenly choked up herself at what was about to happen.

         Logan took his place, Stan at his side, as his best man, both dressed in the dress uniform of the ranger.  Bart Hampstadt; Paul Mitchell, Marsha’s husband; and Mr. and Mrs. Mills stood just behind them, along with her mother.  Mrs. Carmichael and Sandra Morrison stood on the other side, at the boat landing.

         The door of the cabin opened slowly to reveal Marsha, dressed in a pale burgundy dress with full sleeves.  A form fitting satin bodice joined a flowing skirt at the hips.  A rose patterned lace of the same shade overlaid the dress.  Tiny pearl buttons closed the cuffs, and in her hands she held a bouquet of red and white wild roses she had put together that morning.

         Logan’s mother bent to start the CD player, and strains of the wedding march sounded all around the river.

         They watched as Marsha came slowly forward, followed soon by Candi on her father’s arm.  Logan’s heart nearly stopped at her loveliness.  She wore a creation of taffeta and lace.  He couldn’t keep his eyes from her as she slowly made her way to his side.

         Candi watched his face as she made her way to him.  She knew she was beautiful as she saw the look on his face.  At his side, her father handed her over to him, and they turned to face his father the most reverend David Carmichael.

         He used several texts including Ruth’s statement to Naomi, and several verses of 1 Corinthians chapter thirteen.  His main text had been Ephesians chapter five.  Then the time came for the question.

         “Do you Candace Maureen Martin take this man Logan Sean Carmichael, as your lawfully wedded husband?  Do you promise to love him, honor him, respect him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, forsaking all others, and keeping yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live, until death do you part?”

         Candi looked into Logan’s deep brown eyes.  “I do.”

         “And do you Logan Sean Carmichael take this woman, Candace Maureen Martin, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love her, cherish her, protect her, and respect her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, forsaking all others, and keeping yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live, until death you do part?"

         He likewise looked into her shining green eyes.  “I do.”

         “By the authority of God, and the state of Idaho, I now pronounce you man and wife.  You may kiss your bride.”

         Logan lifted the veil from her face, and slowly lowered his lips to hers, and gave her a kiss that told her, as well as all those who watched that he loved her.

         Sandra disappeared with Stan to the helicopter and soon returned with a full dinner which she put on the table in the cabin.  Soon everything was in readiness.  “It’s on.  Come and get it!”

         Candi walked with Logan down at the river, arm in arm, not quite used to the idea that he was now her husband.

         “I have something for you.”  He reached into his pocket and handed her a palm sized box.

         “I don’t have anything for you.”

         “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you.”

         Inside the box was a small replica of a large black bear, similar to the one she had killed when she first arrived at the cabin.  Tears stung her eyes, as she looked at it, then at him.  “It’s beautiful.”

         “I heard Sandra call out that dinner’s on.  I suggest we go and try to do justice to that meal she prepared.”

         “I guess we should.”  She put her head on his shoulder as they walked hands entwined back to the cabin.

         Dinner was very good though Candi couldn’t remember later what she had eaten other than the cake.  That had been a surprise.  Mr. and Mrs. Mills had supplied the cake, a small three tiered cake with red and white roses encircling each layer.  How it survived the trip from Minneapolis was amazing in itself.

         Later Candi and Logan stood at the boat landing and watched their guests go back to their own lives.

         “Happy?”

         “More than I ever thought possible.”

         Rascal had been all over the place at one time that day, at the moment he sat on the landing, and waited to find out what would happen next.

         They walked up to the cabin, arm in arm, and turned to close the door, when Rascal looked up at them expectantly.

         “Not tonight, boy.  Stay on the porch,” Candi said.  He seemed to accept that as he turned and lay on the porch.

         Candi picked up an envelope addressed to the both of them: Mr. and Mrs. Logan Carmichael.  “Mr. and Mrs. Mills told me not to open this until after they had left.”

         She opened it, and her jaw dropped open in amazement.  “It’s a deed to the cabin and the land all around it!  It's ours!  Free and clear!”  She had tears in her eyes.  She would never have to leave there.  She could raise her children there, and Logan would be the ranger along with Stan, for as long as he lived.  What more could she want?

         Logan turned her in his arms and took the deed, looked at it, then put it back on the table.  He looked into her eyes and reached down, picked her up and carried her over to the bed.  He covered her face with kisses, and they were soon ensconced in each other’s embrace.

         Morning came sooner than they expected.  Logan looked at his sleeping bride, and kissed her awake.  “Thank you.”

         “What did I do?”  Candi looked deep into his eyes, and saw the look of love.

         “You gave me the best wedding present a man could ask for.”

         “What?”

         “Yourself.  What would you like to do this morning?”

         “Mm.”

         “You’re beautiful in the morning.”

         “How about a swim in the river?”

         “Could.”  Logan pushed back the covers, and planted his feet on the floor.  “It’s going to be mighty cold.”

         Candi sat up beside him on the edge of the bed.  “What’s new about that?”

         “I’ve got a better idea.”  He brought her back down to the mattress, and brushed her whole face with kisses.

         “I need a swim.”  Candi’s arms were around his neck, as she gave herself fully to his kisses.

         “We could go up to the station and take a nice hot shower together.”

         “Maybe later.  I enjoy my swim every morning.”

         “All right.”

         Candi looked at him, her eyes laughing.  “Are you afraid of some cold water?”

         “Me?  Afraid of some cold water?  I’ll show you what I’m afraid of.”  He bounced off the bed, and soon strolled out the door, clad only in a pair of skimpy shorts, a towel slung around his neck.

         She donned her swimsuit, and was behind him in moments.

         He had rushed into the river, and back out again, meeting her on shore.  The look of determination in her eyes, made him lift her in his arms, and carry her into the river.  He took a sharp intake of breath, and dumped her into the frigid water.

         Her gasp at the coldness had her leaping to her feet, but soon they played in the water, as they leveled sprays of water at each other.  Very soon they were both cleaving the river side by side, as they vigorously worked out in the river.

         Candi never had known how sensual a swim in the river could be.  She would never look at a swim the same way again.

         An hour later they left the river, teeth chattering, as they raced for the cabin, and warm clothes.

         For the next week they learned all about each other, what they liked, and how they could make each other happy.  Logan looked forward to their morning swim together, and each night they enjoyed each other again.

         A week later Logan looked into her shining green eyes.  “From now on, I’ll do the hunting.”

         “We’ll hunt together.”

         “From now on, I’ll chop the firewood.”

         “We'll chop the firewood.”

         “From now on, I’ll be your protection.”

         “We’ll protect each other.”

         “From now on, I will be your covering.”

         “Yes, Logan.”  Candi kissed him tenderly, and reveled in his easy response.

         He looked into her eyes.  “I love you.  You’re the most stubborn, willful, beautiful, headstrong woman, I’ve ever known.”

         “I am what God made me to be.”

         “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

         “Is it natural for two people to be so much in love with each other?”

         “It is when God is in the marriage.”

         “I’m hungry.”

         “Then it’s time to eat.  Besides, I need to get over to the ranger tower.”  Logan stepped away from her leaving a kiss on her luscious mouth, and stoked the stove so she could make breakfast.

         The radio crackled to life, as if on cue.  “RS Tango Five to LC Alpha Two, come in, over.”

         Logan walked over to the radio, and picked up the hand set.  “This is LC Alpha Two, come in RS Tango Five.”

         “Are you planning to come to work today?”

         “Honeymoon over already?”  Logan watched Candi put some fat in a pan and crack some eggs he had brought up for them earlier.  “Roger, Stan.  We’re just getting ready to eat.  I’ll be over directly.”

         “Very good.  I’ll see you soon.  RS Tango Five signing off.”

         Candi watched as Logan rode away on his horse an hour later.  It had been a blissful week long honeymoon.