Victoria and Audra drove to the Stockton orphanage. Jarrod had given her mother instructions to bring Audra at exactly five o’clock. Heath had wired Audra earlier, informing her of his lateness and accordingly, she didn’t expect her fiancé until Saturday. Victoria lured Audra on a false pretense, using the story of a lost boy who had been brought to the orphanage two days ago. Since all attempts at extracting information out of the frightened lad had come to a naught, they unanimously agreed that Audra was a more suitable candidate to charm the boy out of his muteness.

They entered the building where they were met by Mrs. Perrine. She led them to the classroom where all the skittish kids were sitting. A drone of giggles rose as Audra walked in the room. They knew something she didn't and could not contain their titters. Audra glanced around, puzzled by all those impish faces grinning at her.

" What's going on here? Where is that little boy you were telling me about, Mother? "

" Right here! " Heath said in a boyish voice as he sprung upright at the end of the room.

The fit of giggles broke into laughs at Audra’s expected reaction. ”Heath!” she exulted as she ran up to meet him halfway in the middle of the classroom where they kissed, oblivious of their prying audience.

" Heath, you said the you weren’t due back until tomorrow?"

" I lied. " Heath said, playing dumb.

Audra swapped him on the arm when she saw the smirk flashing on his face.

Seven year-old Susan quietly came up to Audra and tugged at her dress. " Miss Barkley, we have a surprise for you. "

" Another one? "

Susan took Audra’s hand and led her out to the classroom. Heath, Mrs. Perrine and the children followed while Victoria headed towards the kitchen to help with the couple’s celebration dinner..

Before opening the door to the playroom, Susie asked Audra to close her eyes . She warned her not to peek until she said so. Susan nudged open the door. “You can open them now.”

Audra was in utter awe. The room had been cleared of all of the toys and was now filled with bouquets of American Beauty roses studded with baby’s-breath. A small square table mantled with a dark-red satin cloth sat in a corner of the room, visible only through the courtesy of the candle flames’ shimmering light. A love seat was conveniently placed in front of the chimney. In its belly sparkled the invitation to snuggle up in front of its warm touch.

" I hope you like it. All the children pitched in at Mr. Sawyer's request,” the matron informed.

Audra turned to Heath. " You them ask them to do that?. "

" Guilty. I wanted everythin’ to be perfect. "

" For what? "

Heath gently grasped Audra’s hands and pulled her inside while the matron closed the door. " Now children, back downstairs! " she ordered with a few claps of her hands.

In a chorus of ‘aaarrgh’, the children reluctantly obeyed.

Alone with his sweetheart, Heath traced Audra’s jaw with his hands. “I wanted everything to be perfect for this.” He leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips. As their kiss lingered, she came out in gooseflesh, her heart beating in rhythm with her noble prince’s. She slowly raised her hands to his waist and abandoned herself in the moment. He delicately disengaged the embrace, giving her lips two quick kisses before reaching inside his shirt for the velvet box. “And this,” he whispered as he opened the box in front of Audra.

Her breathing came to a sudden halt as her lips formed a silent ‘O’. She raised her right hand to cover her mouth and inhaled deeply to catch her breath.

Heath smiled at Audra’s stunned expression and took the ring out of the box. Gently he lifted her trembling hand and slid the ring on her finger. Moved to tears, she marvelled at the shimmer of the firelight on each tiny diamonds disposed around a navette-cut ruby in the center. Red was her favourite color, hence the reason Heath chose the gem.

“Hey!” Heath tilted her chin to angle her dewy eyes with his. “Don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect this. “ She hugged him. “I love you so much.”

He closed his eyes and hugged her back “I love ya’ two, Sweet Pea.” He pulled back and cupped her head in his hands. He wiped her tears with his thumbs and placed another gentle kiss on her lips. “Let’s have some champagne,” he proposed, playfully tapping her nose with his finger.

Heath stepped over to the table to pop open the bottle of champagne kept chilled in a bucket of chipped ice. Audra sauntered off to the small love seat set in front of the fireplace. She sat and let her mind wander in admiration over the ring, brushing her middle finger against the tiny sparkling diamonds. He poured two glasses and walked up to the love seat. He sat next to Audra and handed her the glass. They both held a toast to the future Mrs. Sawyer. Audra started to titter.

" What's so funny? " Heath asked, puzzled by Audra’s reaction.

" I was just remembering what I told Mother when I first saw you. I said that's the man I'm going to marry. "

" Did you? "

She nodded. " Yes. I was so worried I’d never see you again, " she confided as she gently traced the ridges in the back of his rugged hand with her fingers.

" I was a little worried myself,” Heath confessed, lacing his fingers with hers. “I wanted to go back and ask for your name and permission to court ya’, but after the incident I thought ya’ might be mad and didn’t want to have anythin’ to do with me. "

Audra smiled wistfully. " Funny how things turn out. "

"My mama always told me that if two people are meant to be together, life finds a way to brin’ ‘em together. "

" I would've loved to have known your mother, " she said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

" Me too. She would’ve approved my marrying ya’. "

Audra tilted her head upwards, her gleaming eyes meeting Heath’s gaze. He craned down his neck and kissed her on the lips. Their romantic interlude was interrupted by a knock at the door. Both sighed in amused exasperation.

“Come in!”

Susan’s small head peeked in. “I’m sorry to disturb you but we wanted to know if you needed anything before we bring dinner?”

“Everything’s just perfect, Susan.” Audra extended her arm in a welcoming gesture. “Come here.”

Susan approached the love seat. Audra put her glass down and showed her the ring. Susie’s jaw dropped in utter awe. “It’s magnificent Miss Barkley. I never saw anything so beautiful! When I grow up I sure wish I find a man who will love me as much as Mr. Sawyer does you.”

“There aren’t many of them in the world, but I’m sure you’ll find your.” Audra reassured, her angelic smile lingering at Heath who responded with a come-hither wink.

“Come on ya’,” Heath slid his hands in the crook of Susan’s shoulders and pulled onto his lap. He wrapped his arm around her tiny waist. “Now, we have to have a serious talk me and ya’.”

Susan frowned with worried. “I did something wrong?”

“Yeah, I’m afraid. What did I tell ya’ the last time I was here?”

Susan raked her brains, searching her memories of Heath’s last visit at the orphanage. Her little heart began to race as her mind drew a complete blank. She wilted under Heath’s fierce gaze.

Heath continued. “Not of that Mister Sawyer nonsense. Ya’ call me Heath.”

Susan expelled a silent sigh of relief as a smile graced her flushed expression “Okay.”

“And it’s Audra for me. Not Miss Barkley.” Audra added, reaching for Susie’s hand. She gave it a light squeeze when the girl gleefully acknowledged with a nod of her head.

" Are you going to have children? " Susie asked.

Heath peeked at Audra over Susie’s shoulder to gauge her reaction to the question. "I think so. We’ll brin’ them around so ya’ can teach them good behavior. Be like a big sister.”

" I can do that, " Susan exulted. The blood mantled over her cheeks once more as she clasped Heath into a bear hug. The sight melted Audra’s heart. Her lips started twitching as a grim thought suddenly sprung into mind. What if she were barren and couldn’t bore Heath any children? She worried about not being able to give her husband what he wanted: a large family.

"I’d better get back downstairs or Mrs. Perrine will whip my hide, " Susan said with a hint of embarrassment.

"If she does ya’ tell me and I’ll have a serious talk with her, " Heath bantered, aware of Mrs. Perrine’s kind disposition.

With a dancing step, Susan hopped out of the room and closed the door. Heath scooted over closer to a melancholic Audra. “Something wrong?

" No. I was just thinking. I was watching you with Susie and I see you have a way with children. When she was brought to the orphanage two years ago, she was very withdrawn. She refused to mingle with the other children, always cringing in her corner. With patience and understanding, she gradually overcame her shyness. It took awhile for her to trust me, but she took to you almost instantly.”

" Can ya’ blame her? A good lookin’ guy like me? " he teased.

They both laughed. He cupped Audra’s chin. " Hey, I love you. "

She nodded and burst into tears. Heath’s blissful countenance turned to concern. He ran a soothing hand up and down her back as he tried to read her dewy eyes." Hey honey what's the matter? "

" Nothing," She answered with a voice cracking with emotions. ”I'm just overwhelmed that’s all.”

Heath pulled her closer to him. She leaned the back of her head against his chest and he folded his hands at her waist.

" Heath you want children, don't you? "

" Of course. "

" How many? "

He broke into an amusing laugh. " I’ll take as many as God will give us. I’d like at least two so they’ll always have each other. No child should be alone. " Heath stared vacantly in front of him, his mind wandering back to his own painful childhood memories. He closed his eyes, took a long whiff of Audra’s fragrant hair and kissed on top of her head.

" We will have a large family, " Audra assured.

"I’d like that. But it's not our choice to make. If he should deny us that joy, I’ll just be happy growin’ old with my precious lady "

Overwhelmed with emotions at Heath’s proof of love, Audra shut her eyes in a futile attempt to stem the flow of tears.

Months passed and on this June day, Heath and Audra’s wedding day was at hand. It was unanimously agreed that the ceremony would be held at the Barkley ranch. The living room was reorganised in a churchy fashion with chairs arrayed in rows, a red carpet laid out in the aisle, one edge starting under the archway and ending at the feet of a white wooden arch bedecked with white roses.

Silas was welcoming guests as they arrived, leading them to the parlor for some light refreshments while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Upstairs it was a whirlwind of activity as Heath, Audra, Jarrod, Nick and Victoria were putting the finishing touches on their appearance.

" Mother! " Nick shouted at the top of his lungs. " Mother! "

Victoria dashed out of Audra’s room. " Shhhhh not so loud! "

" Why? Everyone's up! "

" Guests are arriving downstairs. You wouldn’t want to scare them away? "

" Arg! " he growled.

Victoria gave her son a quick once-over and noted the blue shirt " Oh Nicholas, you're not wearing that shirt? " she asked deplorably, standing arms akimbo and shaking her head.

" Of course I’m not! " he bellowed snappishly, flinging his arms in the air. " I can't find the clean one. "

" I told Silas to leave it down in Jarrod’s study. "

" Well, it's not there! " he accentuated irately with two raised eyebrows.

Jarrod casually stepped out of his room while straightening his tie" What's going on? "

" I lost my shirt! "

" In a poker game? " Jarrod chaffed.

" Very funny, Pappy, " Nick retorted with a crooked smile. " Silas! "

" Nicholas, please! Don't shout! Silas is downstairs. Go ask him where he's put your shirt. "

Nick thundered down the hall, but lightened his step as he came down the stairs. He raked the parlor, hoping to spot Silas amidst the throng of mingling guests.

" Hey, Nick! How's the best man? " asked one of his friends.

" Ask me after the wedding, John. Right now I can't find my shirt. "

John laughed. " It’s usually the bridegroom who’s nervous.”

" Ahhhh!” Nick growled. “Have you seen Silas anywhere? "

" Yes, he just went into the kitchen. "

" Thanks. " Nick clumped towards the kitchen, tripping over a bump on the rug which rose his hackles even worse. " Silas! "

" Mr. Nick, is everything OK? "

" Not really. Do you remember where you put my clean shirt ? "

" I left it in Mr. Jarrod’s study next to Mr. Heath’s suit. "

" It's not there, Silas.”

" Perhaps Mr. Heath took it and brought it upstairs. "

" Dammit! " Nick spewed out between gritted teeth and swung round to go back upstairs. As he did, Reverend Stacey entered the kitchen. Nick’s expression turned aghast. " Sorry Reverend. "

The Reverend smiled and gave a sympathetic nod. He understood pre-wedding jitters were contagious, often spreading to the bride and groom’s entourage.

Up in the guest room, Heath was standing in front of the mirror, nervously fumbling with his shirt buttons. When he finally buttoned it up completely, he looked down and realized he had gotten it all wrong. He dropped his hands against his thighs with a loud clap as he rolled his eyes upwards and sighed in exasperation. He unbuttoned the shirt and redid the work Next, he tackled the impossible task of knotting his tie with trembling hands.

Nick walked past his room and stopped. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed against his chest, standing amused by the bridegroom’s fidgetiness. " Having a little trouble there? "

Heath jolted, his heart skipping a beat as he whipped round to face Nick.

" Nervous are we? " Nick teased good-naturedly. As he edged up to Heath he noticed this small black embroidered initials NB on the shirttail. " That's my shirt! " he pointed angrily.

Heath looked down, puzzled. " What? "

" You got on my shirt! " he barked.

“Nicholas, for the last time lower your voice!” Victoria scolded as she entered the room in her exquisite crinoline peach dress. " What's going on? "

" There's my shirt, Mother! "

“It was in Jarrod’s study with my suit,” Heath defended innocently.

“No, no, it was BESIDE your suit.”

“How d’ya’ know it’s yours?” Heath queried.

Nick reached for the shirttail and lifted it up to show Heath the tiny initials monograms.

“Oh!” Heath exclaimed, a trifle embarrassed. “I didn’t know.”

“Obviously!”

“Then where’s mine?”

Victoria closed the door and there was the clean shirt, hanging on a hook. “Silas had it pressed early this morning and offered to bring it right up for you.”

“Well here Nick, “Heath said as he unbuttoned the shirt, “ya’ can take it back.”

“I don’t want it now!” Nick bellowed, waving his hand in disgust. “It’s all full of sweat.”

“I’m not sweatin’.”

“Oh no?” Nick rubbed his hand against Heath’s brow and showed the moisture left in the palm of his hand. “Then what’s this?”

“Ok, maybe ‘round the temples,” Heath acknowledged resignedly.

“Huh-huh,” Nick arched an eyebrow and flashed an incredulous look at Heath “Turn around.”

“What?”

“Just turn around”

Nick grabbed Heath’s shoulders and swung him to position his back facing the mirror. He flattened the palm of his hand between the shoulder blades, pressing firmly as he ran it down to his lower back. The streak of dampness was glaringly noticeable. “Look!”

Heath craned his neck to peek at his back. A timid smile flickered on his lips. “Okay, maybe a little nervous,” he admitted sheepishly.

“A little!” Nick bellowed.

“Okay, a lot!” Heath rectified crabbily.

Nick fashioned a reassuring smile and placed a hand on Heath’s shoulder. “Heath, relax. You’re not facing the firing squad. I admit marriage is another kind of torture, but…”

“Nicholas!” Victoria chided.

“Thanks for the comforting words, brother-in-law.”

Nick smiled wistfully. “Brother-in-law…I like the sound of that.”

“I’m glad ‘cause if I can’t calm my nerves, I’m liable to conk out and there won’t be any weddin’.”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about that. As your best man, I’ll be standing right beside you ready to slap you back to reality if that happens.”

“Nicholas Barkley!” Victoria hissed, thrusting her fists on her hips.

“What?” Nick asked innocently. “We didn’t go to all this trouble to have him back out!”

“We? What do you mean we?” Victoria asked, folding her arms across her chest while staring at Nick expectantly.

“I’m not backing out, that’s for sure, “ Heath chimed in.

“If it’s any consolation Heath, my daughter has the same set of jitters. I had to do her make up twice because she couldn’t stop crying.”

“Mother!” Audra shouted from her room.

“Duty calls. Excuse me gentlemen.“ With an elegant flounce of her skirt, Victoria exited the room.

“Okay, what d’we do ‘bout that?” Heath asked Nick of the trail of sweat at the back of his shirt.

“Keep the shirt. Your jacket will hide it. Put it on. Let’s see how it fits.”

Heath reached for the black jacket spread on the bed and donned it in front of the mirror with Nick assisting him. Both admired the fine stitching.

“I look dashin’, don’t I?” Heath asked rhetorically, flashing a complacent smile.

Nick squinted and turned Heath around to fix his tie.

“Arggg, not too tight, Nick. You’re chokin’ me,” he coughed.

“Sorry.”

“You’re not nervous, are ya’?” Heath teased with a smirk.

“Oh, shut up!”

In her wedding gown, Audra was standing gracefully in front of the mirror, assisting her mother and her maid of honor, best friend Laura Whitfield, in pining her veil to her hair.

“There! It’s done,” Victoria enthused. She smoothed out the wrinkles in the silken cloth with her hands.

Jarrod knocked on the door.

“Come in!”

Jarrod nudged the door open at a crack and peeked in. “Everybody decent?”

“It’s safe.”

He stepped all the way inside. He was taken aback by Audra’s enthralling appearance in her white satin wedding gown with a heart-shaped neckline and seams trimmed with delicate needlepoint lace adorned with tiny pearl beads. She turned to face her brother in awe. “Audra you look enchanting,” he breathed out, extending his hands to clasp his sister’s. He kissed her on the cheek and pulled back to admire her dress up close. “Let me take a good look at you.” He eyed her from head to toe as she released his hands and twirled flauntingly before him.

“You like it?” she asked blushingly.

“Like it? It’s magnificent! You look positively radiant.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Brother.”

“I agree,” Laura echoed, casting a timid smile at the handsome lawyer she found attractive. She was older than Audra and closer to Jarrod’s age. She’d been enamoured of Jarrod the second she laid eyes on him at a birthday bash in his father’s honor a few months ago, but believed her love was unrequited and therefore never pursued her quest until today. Jarrod appeared more receptive in the last days of the wedding preparations. Was she imagining it? She enjoyed the attention he was given her, the small compliments, the winks.

Jarrod blushed at the two women’s compliment. “I’m quite flattered my dear ladies, thank you,” he said, bowing his head in gratitude. He gazed at Audra one last time. “My baby sister is getting married,” he sighed in wonderment.

“Never thought I’d beat you to the altar?”

“That I didn’t. But I’m very happy and I wish you and Heath all the happiness in the world. He’s a wonderful man Audra. You picked the cream of the crop.”

“Thank you Jarrod,” she said, smiling prettily as she walked up to him to straighten his tie. “I have a keen eye for incredibly dashing men.” She pecked Jarrod on the cheek.

“Won’t get an argument from me. Come here.” He pulled her into a tight embrace. He looked up at Victoria who winked and nodded slightly, hinting him that she wanted to be alone with Audra. Jarrod nodded back in acquiescence. He disengaged from the embrace. “Well I’d better check on the guests,” he pretended as he walked up to Laura to offer his arm. “Would you do me the honor of accompanying me, Miss Whitfield?”

Laura’s face turned scarlet. She inhaled deeply and draped her arm around Jarrod’s. “Gladly.”

He escorted her out of the room. Victoria took Audra’s hand and led her to the bed where they both sat.

“Audra, is something wrong?”

“How do you know?”

“Oh, a mother’s intuition.”

Audra looked down at the floor and signed. “Heath and I talked about having children.”

“Yes.”

“He would like to start a family right away and…”

“And you don’t?” Victoria finished with a tinge of concern.

“Oh no!,” she said with an elated smile, reaching for Victoria’s hand. “ Of course I want to. It’s just…you remember my friend Helen?”

“Helen Driscoll?”

“Yes. When she got married her husband desperately wanted a family, but since she hadn’t been able to give a child in the first year of their marriage, he left her, “ she deplored with a tear in her eye and a sob in her voice. “I don’t want it to happen with Heath and me,“ she finished in a cry.

Victoria pulled her distraught daughter to her shoulder. “Honey, it’s not the same,” she reassured, stroking her hair. “Hers was a marriage of convenience. The young man’s parents wanted an heir and they forced their son to leave your friend because she couldn’t bear him a child.” With her fingers underneath Audra’s chin, she gently raised her head and gazed tenderly into her doleful eyes. “Heath loves you Audra.”

“But he’s rich like Paul Driscoll was. He may want an heir to carry on the family business.”

“Don’t think that. No one put a shotgun to his head to ask your hand in marriage. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Believe me Audra, he’ll love you no matter what happens.”

“I love him so much Mother it hurts,” she confided, choking on her words.

“I know”. Victoria wiped her daughter’s tears with her handkerchief and noticed that Audra’s mascara was running. “Oh dear, you look like a racoon.”

Audra burst into a nervous laugh and sniffed back her tears.

Jarrod knocked on the door.

“Come in!”

Jarrod opened the door and craned his neck inside. “Everything alright?”

“Yes, we’re just fine, “ Victoria informed.

“Just to tell you that Nick has finally managed to get the basket case downstairs and that we’re about ready to start the ceremony.”

Both ladies chuckled at the mention of basket case, no doubt referring to Heath.

“Give us another five minutes and we’ll be right out.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you in the hall.”

Jarrod closed back the door. Victoria gazed at her glowing daughter. It tugged at her heartstrings to see her all grown up. “My baby is getting married.” She signed blissfully and both fell into each other’s arms.

Downstairs, the guests were all seated. Heath and Nick were at the altar, facing the Reverend standing on a small pedestal underneath the flowery arch.

“Ya’ have the ring?”

“Yeah, it’s in my pocket. Now would you relax! Breathe deeply.”

Heath took rapid cleansing breaths.

”Now so fast or you’ll pass out,” Nick cautioned.

Heath started fidgeting, his legs were shifting and rubbing against one another.

“What’s wrong now?”

Heath’s face crumpled in embarrassment. “I have to go.”

“Oh no you don’t!” Nick growled. “You’ve gone five times in the last hour. Now you’re staying right here and don’t you faint on me or I swear I’ll smack you so hard you’ll lose all feeling in your face for a week!”

Reverend Stacey frowned at Nick’s threats.

“Sorry Reverend, “ Nick repented.

“It’s okay, Nicholas. I expect to see you at the confession booth next Sunday?” he teased with a smile.

A chortle escaped through Heath’s nose. Nick wilted at the Reverend’s comment. He forced a faint assenting smile at the man of cloth and leaned against a sniggering Heath. “I hope you’re happy now.”

Heath’s heart leapt out of his chest at the sound of the wedding march, feeling his throat constricting and making it extremely difficult to breathe. Nick grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him round to face the congregation. Heath’s beaming bride loomed in under the archway on Jarrod’s arm and his anxiety grew with each step they took up the aisle. She looked like a fairytale princess in her long bridal gown sweeping the floor and a bouquet of cascading white roses and forget-me-nots.

All eyes dwelled on Audra’s enchanting beauty and radiant smile as she walked up to the altar. Jarrod took her hand and placed it in Heath’s. Bride and groom stared lovingly into each other’s eyes before turning to the Reverend.

“Who gives this woman to be lawfully wedded to this man?”

Victoria stood from her chair. “I do, Reverend.”

“We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Heath,” he looked at Heath then turned to Audra, “ Audra, you are entering a whole new life, one that will be filled with joy and sorrows. You may encounter hardships along the way but you’ll find the strength to overcome them in your love for one another. Build it strong, nurture it and preserve it for it will be your greatest ally in times of crisis. Never lose sight of the bond that holds you together.”

The Reverend turned to a glowing Audra. “Do you Audra Barkley take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? To love, honor and cherish him till death do you part?”

Audra turned to face Heath and with a beamingl smile, answered, “I do.”

“And do you, Heath Sawyer, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? To love, honor and cherish her till death do you part?”

Heath mouthed the words but they wouldn’t come out. Nick raised a menacing eyebrow. Heath cleared his throat and uttered the words “I do” with a hoarse voice.

Audra bowed her head shyly to hide her flushing cheeks.

“You have the ring?”

Heath turned to Nick who reached inside his pocket for the black box. He opened it and handed the wedding band to a shaky Heath who nearly dropped it.

“Place the ring on her finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Heath cleared his throat. ”With…with this ring, “ his quavering voice faltered. He slid the ring on Audra’s finger and finished, “ I thee wed.”

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Those who God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may kiss the bride.”

With those words finalizing their union, Heath heaved a silent sigh of relief. He had dreaded committing a mistake or worse, collapsing from the tension. Heath turned to Audra. A jubilant smile spread across his crimson face as he slowly leaned in and kissed her.

Guest raised to the feet and applauded the newlywed couple. Handclasps and kisses were exchanges as champagne corks popped open.

Nick patted Heath’s shoulder. “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Thanks Brother-in-law.”

“Now you may go.”

“Go where?”

Nick rolled his eyes in disbelief. “Never mind. Welcome to the family, Heath.”

Following the wedding celebration dinner, friends and neighbours once again extended their warmest wishes of happiness to the newlyweds as they left the house one by one.

When the last guest walked out, Jarrod glanced at his pocket watch ”Okay you two. Better get changed quick if you don’t want to miss that train.

Man and wife dashed upstairs, hand in hand, to change into their staid attire. They were to catch the afternoon train to Boston for their honeymoon.

“And no hanky panky up there,“ Nick hollered at the bottom of the stairs.

“Promise,” Heath sniggered.

He followed Audra to her room and closed the door. He clenched her into his arms and kissed her hard on the lips. She pulled back. “No Heath. Not now!” she giggled. “You heard what Nick said. We don’t want to miss the train.”

“Just five minutes.” Heath began nibbling her on the neck.

She tried to resist to temptation. His warm breath on her skin made her tingled all over. She pulled him back reluctantly. “Heath, come on! Go change!” she ordered playfully.

“Arg! She’s orderin’ me already!” he groused.

She swapped him on the shoulder and pushed him out the door. He turned back and gave her a quick smack on the lips. “Love ya’.”

Nick surprised Heath as he was closing the door to Audra’s bedroom.

“I knew it” Nick bellowed. He collared Heath and dragged him down to the guest room.

“Careful, you’ll ruin your shirt,” Heath bantered.

“I don’t care! I’ll get a new one.” Nick swung the door open and shoved Heath inside. “Now you stay there until you’ve changed. I’m going to stand guard here. I don’t want to see you until you are ready to go to the train station. You got that?” he threatened with a squinting eye.

“Got it,” Heath gulped.

Nick flung the door close. He adopted a defiant stance, arms crossed against his chest, standing by the door with a menacing look on his face, which soon faded into an amused smile.

They sped up to the train station in record time. Nick lent the porter a hand in hauling the luggage aboard the private railcar while the family bid the newlyweds their last farewells.

Audra hugged Jarrod. “Laura told me you asked her out to dinner tomorrow night? It was about time.”

”I didn’t think she was remotely interested in me,” Jarrod confessed.

“You could have asked me. You two look great together.”

“We’ll see where it takes us.”

“All aboard” the conductor yelled.

Heath assisted Audra up the step. They all waved goodbye as the train chugged away. The he escorted his bride inside the flower-filled car. He slid his arms around Audra’s waist, pressing his body firmly against hers and gazed amorously into her seductive sparkling blue eyes. “Well this is it. We’re all alone.”

“We are.”

He leaned forward and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. Audra’s knees bucked as her body shivered with excitement at the thought of finally be alone with her husband. She cocked her head as his lips made his way down her neck. “Don’t you want to wait till we’re in Boston?” she asked toyly, already knowing the answer.

He momentarily interrupted his nibbling and looked deeply into her eyes. He cracked a mischievous smile and shook his head. He lifted his bride into his arms and carried her to the separate compartment where he laid her gently on the bed. He closed the curtains and crawled beside her to begin the consummation.