Before We Leave

Chapter 4: Wedding Plans

Chapter 4: Wedding PlansMacDonald tried to comfort Anna that night, but she would have none of it. “They are not thinking,” she whispered in German. “Can't you convince him this is madness?”

MacDonald smiled into the darkness and leaned down towards her. “Anna, my love, they wish to wed and to bed. Ye can see it in their eyes. Tis yere culture that says they must wed ere the latter.”

Anna put her lips together and turned over, offering a cold shoulder to MacDonald. He sighed and tried again.

“Anna, let me be yere counselor this eve. They are both set on this. The more we oppose a marriage, the more they twill insist. I dinna wish to lose our laddie. Let them wed and build their home here. They twill be close by. She has already surprised me with her stamina and insistence on staying out of the covenant. Most would assume she would willingly wed a rich, older man rather than risk what she did.” MacDonald admired a lassie that could look at his three hundred pounds of muscle set on six feet nine inches and not blanch or be struck dumb.

Anna's thoughts were dark. It had been a point of contention between them. MacDonald had advocated taking Lorenz to a high-class brothel for his “first bedding.” She had vehemently protested such sinful behavior, and MacDonald had relented. Why hadn't the woman wed the wealthy man of her own faith? Antoinette's twinkling laugh at the dinner table came back to haunt her.

“La, they had me all engaged to this sixty-year-old man. Why he didn't even have all of his own hair left on top and the most repulsive, stained mustache y'all would evah want to see.” Anna wanted to believe it was the bald head and stained mustache that repulsed Antoinette, but somehow suspected it was more than that.

They all planned to leave for Arles within four days. Anna and Antoinette had taken a rushed trip into Schmidt's Corner to purchase enough chambray and linen to make the needed undergarments and dresses. Anna had also managed to cut down an old dress for Antoinette and Lorenz had hired Armeda to wash, iron, and perform other duties for his fiancée. Both young people were discussing plans as to where their first house would be located on the property and who should be hired to complete it.

Two nights before they left, they were all seated at the kitchen table relaxing after the chore of washing up the dishes when Antoinette smiled sweetly and asked, “Is there a suitable hotel in Arles to spend the night after being married?”

Lorenz looked puzzled, Anna's eyes widened, MacDonald sat his coffee cup down and looked at Anna before replying. “That twould depend upon what ye mean by suitable.”

“I would like a certain amount of privacy and decent quarters with clean linens.”

The amused look in MacDonald's brown eyes grew and the left corner of his mouth tugged. “I fear the hotel in Arles is like too many others in the small towns of this land. Ye twill nay find the lavish accommodations available such as in Hays City, Sedalia, Saint Louis, or San Antonio.”

Antoinette set her cup down. “Then I believe that all we should do in Arles is get the license and wait for your Pastor, isn't that what y'all call him, to arrive in November. That's only about two months away. Y'all did say it took about ten days to go to Arles and back, didn't y'all? That means it would be just six weeks. We do need to find someone in Arles to design a house and order the materials. Heaven knows when they would deliver everything or how long the building takes.”

“Why the wait?” demanded Lorenz, his face flushing and the grey eyes beginning to glint. Neither he nor Antoinette noticed the look of satisfaction on Anna's face.

Antoinette remained grave. “I do not wish to spend my wedding night in some non-descript hotel with dirty sheets and a bunch of carpet baggers listening; nor, do I wish to spend it out under the stars. The alternative is to wait and have the wedding here where we will be living until our house is built.”

Lorenz looked at her and realized this soft, petite woman was as determined as his mother and a bile taste rose in his mouth. He'd waited for this a long year's time while Papa healed and now it would be wait again.

“Why don't y'all and Mama just pack the things we'll need? We'll get a room towards the back and Papa and Mama can get the room next to us. Hell, I'll even pay for a d…uh, sorry, Toni, Mama. I'll pay for a room in-between the two or rent the whole floor if it makes everybody feel better. Arles isn't going to be crowded this time of year.”

Anna was speechless. MacDonald's tried unsuccessfully to keep the silent laughter from shaking his shoulders. The laddie twas ready for his first bedding and nay they could say twould stop it. It twould be best, he thought, to let Lorenz have his way. He looked at his wife.

“I believe Lorenz has offered a solution.” Laughter edged his words. “Tis an expensive one, but one we can all live with. Now, ere we go to bed, here tis something to consider. It may be best to be wed by the Justice of Peace in Arles as I am nay certain the Pastor twill marry ye when he arrives.”

“Why ever would he refuse?”

“Ye are Catholic and ye dinna have yere parents' approval.”

“I am nineteen.” Indignation rose in Antoinette's voice. “Wouldn't I just be required to sign a paper saying that I agree to raise them as Lutherans? It seems such a simple matter for two people in love.”

MacDonald smiled inwardly as he noted how quickly Antoinette could switch from a thick drawling, helpless Southern lady's voice to a voice laced with decision. He looked at Anna standing by the door.

“Nein, I mean no. Der Pastor vould have to believe that du are converting by studying to show that du are sincere in vhat du say before he vould agree. There vould be no paper to sign.”

“Well, how do y'all expect me to study if everything is in German? Ah can't think of a better way to discourage someone.”

“We twill buy the King James Bible while we are in Arles. That tis a simple matter. Do ye nay agree, Anna?”

Anna's eyes had brightened and she bit her tongue to keep from saying Deutsch was the better translation and much clearer. “Ja, and I can help her. So can my brother Kasper until he goes back to Austin for the next session of the Texas legislature.”

“He twas elected and needs to go. The Reconstruction Act requirements must be implemented ere Texas can rejoin the Union. I am nay certain all those nay-reconstructed rebels who are part the Texas legislature wish to do so.”

Antoinette was wide-eyed. When did men let women hear their political views? This family was a family and they had accepted her as member. She stood.

“Ah do believe ah'll turn in now.”

Anna remained at the doorway. Her mind was still on the last conversation.

“Du love him so much du vould give up your religion?” This time she bit her tongue to keep from saying false religion.

“We rarely went to mass at a church. Periodically, the priest would arrive at our house and father would always find something else to do. Even before father had the fit of apoplexy and couldn't move or talk anymore, Mother spent most of her time on her knees in front of the Virgin's Shrine praying for more children. Just how they were to have more children when they weren't even speaking to each other was never explained. My parents didn't have a marriage. You all do. I've seen that in the short time I've been here. I don't want to have a marriage and be alone.”

She moved towards the door for the last trip to the outhouse and Anna stepped aside. “Du are very wise.”

“Thank y'all, Mother MacDonald, but ah'm sure ah have much more to learn.”