Chapter 17: The Wedding Night
Milly sighed as Lucas allowed the horses to set their pace in slowly
moving down the road. He shifted in the seat as he wrapped his arm
around her and pulled her closer. “Now, come here, my love.” Milly
lifted her head and put her arms around him. Lucas kissed her with a
passion she hadn’t felt yet. He forgot about the reins and allowed the
horses to continue walking down the road as they kissed. He leaned into
her until her back was against the side of the carriage. Their kiss
deepened. Lucas moaned as her lips set fire to his. He allowed his
hands to, for the first time, travel down her back. He rubbed the small
of her back as he pressed his chest against hers. Milly sighed deeply.
The horses suddenly jerked. Regrettably, Lucas lifted himself from his
wife and turned to see the horses had run off the side of the road. Milly
gasped in deep breaths of air. “Oh my!” She declared. “Oh my!” as a
giggle escaped her lips.
Lucas smiled as she leaned against him and kissed his cheek. “That was
wonderful,” she whispered in his ear.
Lucas chuckled. “That’s just a hint of what I have in store for you
tonight.”
Milly stifled a yawn as she laid against his shoulder. “Suppose I was
to tell you I want to go to sleep when I get home?”
“Huh?” Lucas turned and raised an eyebrow at her in the darkness. “You
should have told me that BEFORE the kiss, my dear. That was not an ‘I’m
sleepy’ kind of kiss!”
They grew quiet as the rode closer to home. “Everything was so lovely.
Don’t you think?” Lucas mumbled his response. “Do you like my dress?”
Milly asked.
“I loved your dress! I wanted to run up to you and kiss you!” Lucas
declared. He turned to her. “You almost looked too beautiful for
public.”
The moon was shining bright that night. Milly could see the gash on his
head. “I wish you had gotten that taken care of before the wedding,
Lucas. It could get infected!”
“I didn’t want to wear a bandage at my wedding!” Lucas declared.
“So you show up with an open gash, instead,” Milly lifted up and kissed
it. Lucas smiled. “Tell me, Lucas.”
“Tell you what, Milly?”
“What really happened.” Lucas stayed silent. “Lucas?” She turned his
face to look at her. “I…I know both you and Mark weren’t being
completely honest with me. At the time I…well, I allowed it because I
didn’t want to ruin the day for anyone. I know you didn’t want to tell
me, but now the wedding’s over and we’re alone.”
“I want this night to be special for you too. We were married before
God and one in Soul. I now want us to become one in body,” Lucas
answered quietly.
“I know that, honey. And I want that too. But…” Milly kissed his gash
again. “Please…tell me what happened?”
Lucas sighed. “Alright, honey. I was bringing the wagon into town. I
was half-way here when I remembered, of all things, I left the rings on
the kitchen table, so I turned the wagon around and rushed the horses as
fast as I could. I turned the buckboard too quickly and my actions
broke a wheel and Mark forgot to put the tools in the wagon. So, I had
to walk. That’s when an outlaw on horseback found me. He hit me over
the head and when I came to, I was in my barn with…”
“Our barn,” Milly corrected him with a smile.
Lucas laughed. “Our barn…with my mouth gagged and my hands tied. He
thought the wedding was at the ranch and was planning on hurting me
worse than killing me. He was going to take you…” Lucas looked at her
and raised his eyebrows.
“Oh Lucas!” Milly gasped.
“When I didn’t show up, Mark and Abraham came looking for me. Abraham
said they trailed me and found where I had been hit. He found the
blood. That’s when…”
“…Mark came back to town to get Micah and your brothers.” Milly smiled.
“Well, I should be furious with my son for lying to me, but I’m sort of
glad he did. I wouldn’t have had the reaction from you about my dress
if I had run to the ranch.”
“No! I would have bent you over my knee and given you a spanking for
disobeying me, young lady!” Lucas declared. “Not exactly the romantic
story for our wedding night.”
“No, but I’m glad they rescued you.” Milly laid her head against his
shoulder. “Don’t’ you worry, my husband, I’ll take good care of you
tonight.”
Lucas grinned as he pulled into the yard. Everything was quiet. He
helped Milly down from the surrey. He stared into her eyes then
suddenly pulled her body against him and kissed her as he once again
moved his hands down her back. Milly breathed as he moved his lips down
her cheek and onto her neck. He nuzzled his lips on her neck as Milly
sighed contentedly.
“Oh, I love you,” Lucas breathed.
He stepped slightly away from her and put his hands behind her neck. “I
love you.” He kissed her hard on the mouth, then laid his forehead
against hers. “I have to put up the team and feed the horses.”
Milly nodded. “I’ll just go on inside and wait for you.”
“Oh no you don’t!” Lucas pointed a finger at her. “You just sit on the
porch, but don’t go any further!” Milly did as she was told. She
waited for her husband. Finally, she saw him close the door and slowly
walk toward her. Milly stood and stepped off the porch. “Now you can
have my undivided…” Lucas kissed her neck. “…attention.” He kissed the
other side of her neck.
Then Lucas picked up his bride and stepped onto the porch. As he opened
the door with his hand, he kissed her again. Milly squealed as he
carried her over the threshold. Then he set her down. Milly turned and
closed the door while Lucas lit the lantern. Milly threw her hands to
her face when the light revealed her home to her.
First, she walked into the kitchen. There was a shelf just outside the
kitchen to organize all her cooking things and food. Lucas walked up
behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her against him.
“I figure you’ll need fancier dishes and cooking supplies then us
bachelors have been using.”
“Oh, I plan on going to the store Monday morning with a list of supplies
I’ll need!” Milly declared as Lucas kissed her neck again. She walked
into the kitchen and smiled at the new stove that sat there. She ran
her hand across the emblem on the front. “It’s a Majestic!” she
declared. “Oh Lucas! You can’t afford…”
Lucas hushed her by putting a finger to her lips. “Don’t ever say those
words, Milly! I’ve been saving up for such an occasion.”
Milly smiled as she walked into the living room. She ran her hand along
the curtains her mother had made. Then she walked to the chair that sat
beside his leather chair. A table with shelves sat between them. Her
Bible was already on the table. She smiled as she picked it up and ran
her hand across it. Then she lowered herself in the chair and closed
her eyes.
Lucas bent down beside her. He smiled. “How do you like it?” he asked.
Milly nodded. “You can do your sewing here.” Lucas laid his hand on
top of hers. “And in the evenings, you can sit here and read a book or
we could talk.”
“I thought we could do some talking on the front porch?” Milly asked.
“When the weather permits, Mark and I would love for you to join us on
the porch.”
“Are you so sure Mark would want me to?”
Lucas nodded as he said, “Yes, he told me so last night.”
Milly noticed there were also some new wooden knick knack shelves on the
wall. The table held a vase of flowers and a beautiful lace table
cloth.
Milly stood up. She looked around the room and smiled. “It looks so
homey in here, Lucas.” Then she turned around. She kissed him softly.
She touched his forehead. “I need to take care of you, my love.”
“No. I’m fine,” Lucas said with a smile as he bent toward her.
Milly put a hand to his lips. “I don’t want that to get infected!”
Milly declared. She walked over to the table and pulled out a chair.
She snapped her fingers as she pointed. “Sit!”
“Yes ma’am,” Lucas sighed. Milly walked into the kitchen and opened the
shelf where Lucas kept his medicine box. She dug through it until she
found the things she need. Then she grabbed a rag and filled a bowl up
with water. Lucas watched her as she sat down in a chair across from
him and began her nursing. She dipped the rag in cool water then put
the cloth up to his head and began wiping it.
Lucas flinched. “Ouch!” he cried.
“Well, if you had taken care of it when you got hurt, you wouldn’t have
this problem.” Milly flinched herself at the look on her husband’s
face. “I’m trying to be as gentle as I can, Lucas.” She wiped at it
some more. “The blood’s dried. I have to get it off.”
After she cleaned his gash, she pressed her lips to it. Then she put
some medicine on it. “I need to cover it, Lucas, so we can keep the
dirt out.”
“No!” Lucas gently grabbed her hand. “I’m not going to make love to you
for the first time with a bandage around my head!”
“Oh Lucas!” Milly rolled her eyes as she again blushed.
“And we’ve got to do something about that blushing.” Lucas teased as
Milly picked up the medicine bottle and started to stand, but Lucas took
the things from her hand and sat them down on the table. He pulled her
onto his lap and pulled her body against his as he kissed her on the
lips.
When they finally parted, Milly felt breathless. “Are you ready to
retire to our bedroom?” Lucas asked.
Milly stood up and took a hesitant step forward. Lucas blew out the
lantern on the front room table, then turned, and again picked his wife
up in his arms. In the darkened room, Lucas made his way across the
room and opened the door to their bedroom. Once inside, he kicked it
shut with his foot. He held her in his arms as he pressed his lips to
hers. His kiss was deep. She tightened her arms around his neck and
returned his kiss. The kiss grew deeper and deeper. He slowly released
her, allowing her to stand.
“This is our room?” Milly whispered passionately.
Lucas walked to the lantern and lit it, but kept the wick turned low.
The light bathed the room in a soft glow as it filled the room. He
walked across the room . “Yes. This is our room.”
Milly threw her hands to her mouth and gasped. “Lucas!” She turned
around and around as she took in their new bedroom designed by her
husband. “Lucas, it’s…it’s…” Her eyes again filled with tears. “It’s
so…beautiful!”
“Yes, as befitting my wife,” Lucas smiled down at her.
Milly walked to the bed and ran her head over the wooden headboard. “M
& L Mc” was carved on it. The headboard had designs of flowers carved
in it. “Oh, it’s so elegant!” Milly gasped. She ran a hand over the
spread that lay on the bed. It was made from various materials. “The
quilt…”
“Lou and some other women made it for you in the afternoons. They also
made the curtains for the room.” Lucas pointed toward the window.
Milly’s eyes widened. Her hands flew to her mouth as she walked around
the bed and hurried to the far wall. “Lucas!” She turned and stared at
him. “Lucas, glass doors? This must have cost you a…”
Lucas walked up to her as she spoke. He pressed a finger to her lips.
“Nothing is too much for you, Mil.” He opened the doors and allowed
her to step out onto her own private porch. “You can’t see them now,
but there are roses planted all around here. Your son planted them
there as a wedding gift to you.” Lucas stood behind her and wrapped his
arms around her. “When you wake up in the morning, you can see the sun
rising over that mountain. You can sit here and watch our children
play. We can lay in bed and watch the stars twinkle in the sky.” Lucas
kissed her neck as he stood behind her.
Milly closed her eyes and lifted her head back as she enjoyed his lips
on her skin. He lifted a hand to her hair and began taking the pins
from it. Then he led her back inside and closed the doors. Milly
walked across the room and opened a door. Inside was a large closet.
There were already dresses hanging in there – some Lou had brought out
earlier in the week. Then she turned and saw the dressing table with a
mirror. She walked over and picked up the new comb and brush sitting
there. She sat down at the chair and looked at Lucas through the mirror
as he stood behind her. Then she took the rest of the pins from her
hair and let it fall over her shoulders.
Milly stood from the table then moved across the room. She smiled as
she ran her hand over the desk. A lantern sat on top of it. In the
drawers were paper and ink. “It’s for you to sit at and grade papers.”
Milly smiled as she stood. “So, do you approve of your home, Mrs.
McCain?”
“I’d approve even if it were a dirt-floor hut. I married a man, not the
house,” Milly answered.
“Now, can you give me your undivided attention?”
“Oh…” Milly wrapped her arms around his neck. “Have I been neglecting
you?” She teased him with a quick kiss when Lucas nodded. “I wish you
would make up your mind. Just a few minutes ago you were complaining
about the attention I was giving you. And now… Well, you should have
let me see my home before tonight if you feel that way!” Milly declared
with a sweet smile on her face.
She knew the moment had arrived. Lucas had been patient, allowing her
to take in all her treasures. But now…now was the moment for her to
give her final wedding gift to her husband.
Lucas saw her face change. She was suddenly nervous. He smiled down at
her as he wrapped his arms around her. They shared a soft, gentle kiss
that lasted several moments. Then their lips parted and they stared
knowingly into each other’s eyes. She lifted her hands and pressed her
palms against his as they kissed again. The kiss intensified. Then
their fingers intertwined. Lucas felt her tremble. “You nervous?” he
whispered in her ear. Milly nodded.
Milly stared into his eyes. He saw her desire. Lucas kissed her hard.
He moved his hand to dim the light. “No,” she whispered against his
lips. “Please…leave it on.”
Lucas turned her around so her back was to him. He again pressed his
lips to her neck and kissed her softly. She sighed as she leaned her
neck back. He moved his hands to her dress and began unfastening the
clasps.
“I take it that this pin is a message from your mother?” Lucas quietly
whispered in Milly’s ear.
“My mother?”
“Milly, even without the pin as a reminder, this is as new to me as it
is to you, because it’s OUR first time.”
He took the pin out of the top and continued unfastening her dress. He
kissed the skin on her back as he continued making his way down. Then
he opened the dress and touched her bare back. She turned around and
pressed her hands to his cheeks. She kissed him softly as Lucas
caressed his hands up and down her bare back. She moaned as their
kisses intensified and her breathing became heavier.
Milly moved her hands down to his shirt. Lucas moaned again as her
hands slowly and tenderly unbuttoned his shirt. Her dress still hung
loosely over her own shoulders. She lifted the shirt from his pants and
finished her task. Then she moved her lips from his.
Milly slowly slid her husband’s shirt off. She studied his bare chest
in the light. Then she softly laid her hands on his belly as she
watched his muscles flex at the sensation her hands caused. Another
moan escaped her husband’s lips. She slowly moved her hands up his
chest, enjoying the feel of his skin on her hands. Lucas shivered at
the feeling her bare hands caused. Her lips kissed his neck and trailed
down onto his shoulder.
Then Lucas lifted his hands toward her. She lifted her head and he
looked her in the eye as he laid his hands on her shoulder and lifted on
the dress. Milly nodded ever so slightly, giving him permission. Lucas
slipped the dress off of her arms and allowed it to fall to the floor.
As Milly slipped out of her underthings, he stepped back to look at
the beauty that was revealed to him. His eyes slowly lifted back up to
her face. He smiled as he lifted a hand to her bare skin.
Lucas suddenly pressed his lips to hers and kissed her hard, passion
raced through him as Milly pressed her body against him. He drew his
hands around her, caressing her back once again. Slowly, he moved his
hands down her back until Milly shivered at his touch.
Lucas moved her toward the bed as their kisses deepened. Milly moaned,
softly this time as he gently lowered her to the bed. Then, he sat on
the side of the bed as Milly slipped under the covers and stared up at
him and watched as he finished undressing himself. Milly blushed and
slightly averted her eyes as the light revealed her husband to her.
Yet, she smiled at the handsome, strong, rugged body he possessed.
Lucas bent over her and touched her softly as he slowly crawled under
the covers. He laid himself next to her as they pressed their bodies
against each other. They kissed as passion raced through them. Gently,
they caressed each other as they enjoyed the feel of their bodies
against each other. The sensation of another’s hands on their bare
skin. After a long time passed, Lucas continued caressing her as he
lifted his head and smiled into her eyes. “Oh, I love you, Milly
McCain!”
“And I love you, Lucas,” Milly whispered breathlessly as her desire for
him deepened. Their caresses continued well into the wee hours of the
morning. Lucas sensed when Milly was ready to give herself to him,
totally and completely. They made love with a fiery passion that came
deep inside as they became one in mind, heart, and body.
In time, they laid in bed, their arms around each other. After one more
look into each other’s eyes, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
The Wedding
—
The Morning After
