Despite thinking she would never sleep with all that had happened that day, she dropped off into an easy slumber, her thumb rubbing the small diamond on her left hand.
“Miss Cochran. Come on, it’s time to get up.” Ian stood alongside her bed. “Pa’s here and he told me you said ‘yes’ last night. You’re gonna be my ma.”
She opened her eyes and rose up on her elbows. “Yes, I am and I can’t be more excited about it.”
“Me, either. But Pa says you have to get up because he has a surprise for you.”
Another one? “Go tell your pa I’ll be right there.” She threw the covers off and quickly pulled on a dress, not bothering with her corset or putting up her hair. She would have a proper wash and put on fresh clothing after this “surprise” Mitch had for her.
She made her way to the kitchen. Mitch was at the parlor window holding the curtain aside, glancing out. He turned to her. “Oh, I was hoping you’d be dressed.”
Priscilla smoothed her hair back and began to twist it into a knot at her nape when the front door opened. Mama, Papa, and her four brothers all trooped into the house.
Papa walked up to Mitch. “Are you Mitchell L. Beaumont?”
“Yes, sir, I am.” Mitch held his hand out that Papa ignored.
Taking in Priscilla’s appearance, he turned to Mitch. “I don’t know whether to punch you in the nose or shake your hand. First I want to know where you spent the night.”
“Pa went home last night. Me and Miss Cochran slept in her bedroom. I was on a cot,” Ian piped up from the doorway, his eyes large at the crowd in the room.
“Papa, what’s this all about?” Priscilla hurried up to him and grasped his arm.
“This.” He shoved a Western Union paper into her hands. She opened it and read:
Honorable Senator Jesse Cochran (stop) Request permission to marry your daughter (stop) Please consider coming to Dogtown for Christmas (stop) Priscilla misses you and I don’t want Mrs. Cochran to miss the wedding (stop) Mitchell L. Beaumont
“You sent Papa this?”
“I did.”
She glanced back at the paper in her hand. “Miss the wedding? You were pretty sure I would say yes.”
Mitch took both of her hands in his. “That’s right. I had some extra ammunition in case you said no.”
“Extra ammunition?”
“Yes. I had Ray call an emergency meeting of the Town Council. They voted unanimously to allow you to stay on as Dogtown’s teacher even after we’re married.”
Priscilla threw her arms around Mitch and was immediately yanked back by two strong hands. “Don’t you think it would be fitting to be properly dressed, daughter?” Papa glowered at her.
Mama took Priscilla by the hand. “Come. Let’s leave the men to fight this out, and you and I will make you presentable.”
“Wait.” Priscilla pulled away and squatted down in front of Andrew. “Hi there, buddy, I sure missed you. Give me a hug.”
Her brother threw his little arms around her neck. “I missed you, too.” He pulled his lip up. “Look, my tooth fell out.”
“Didn’t fall out, little brother, you knocked it out when you fell out of the tree you weren’t supposed to be climbing.” Her twin Henry ruffled Andrew’s hair then turned to Priscilla. “How ya doin’, sis?”
The sight of all her family members, who she never expected to see right here, crowding her little house had her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m doing fine. Missed you.”
They hugged, and Mama finally dragged her away to the sound of Mitch and Papa’s voices raising. “Mama?”
“Don’t worry, sweetie. If your young man is worthy of you, he’ll be able to handle your papa.”
Confusion reigned as the Cochrans became acquainted with Mitch and Ian. Priscilla and her mama stayed busy cooking the huge Christmas dinner and getting it on the table. They caught up with all the family gossip while the men in her family took turns baiting Mitch. Everyone, however, swooped down on Ian, their acceptance of him an immediate thing.
“I’m so happy to have a grandchild,” her mama said, giving Ian a hug.