Texas OilMan's Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) by Susan Leigh Carlton Page A

her bouquet over her shoulder.  When she turned back to see who had caught it, a smiling Rebecca held it aloft.  “You’re next, Becky,” Laura said. 
     
    “I’m ready.  Do you have anyone in mind?” Rebecca asked.
     
    “As a matter of fact, I do,” Laura said.
     
    Laura’s bedroom, Ingram Ranch…
     
    “That was a beautiful wedding, and you were radiant.  You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen,” Rebecca said.  “Our brother is one lucky man.”
     
    Cassie said, “I agree completely.  Because of you, he’s almost tolerable now.”
     
    The girls loved their brother, and laughed heartily at Cassie’s joke.
     
    Just before midnight, Laura and Jonathon ducked out of the reception and went to their bedroom.  After a night of tender lovemaking, punctuated by many declarations of love and eternal devotion, each to the other, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
     
    Bleary eyed from lack of sleep, their appearance drew laughter from her parents.  “We have a long train ride and then the entire Atlantic Ocean to rest,” Laura said.  “Thank goodness for makeup.”
     
    “Easy for you to say,” retorted Jonathon.
     
    Hank said, “You have the resilience of youth.  You’ll bounce back in a hurry.
     
    “Jonathon, can you give me a few minutes before we have to leave for the train?”
     
    In Hank’s office, he said,  “Jonathon, she’s the most precious thing in my life.  I’d spend everything I have or will have to keep her safe.  Take care of her for me, will you.”  His voice choked and his eyes became misty.  “Look at me, I’m blubbering like a baby.”
     
    “Sir, my one goal in life is to make her happy.  I will not let her, or you down.”
     
    Hank clasped Jonathon’s hand in both of his and said, “I don’t think you will.  If you need anything, let us know.  The undersea cable can get messages to us quickly.  We’ve used it at work for several years now.”
     
    “Someday, we’ll be able to make overseas telephone calls.  Until then, telegraph will do.  We’ll be all right, sir, and we’ll keep you posted.”
     
    “Thank you, son.  I know I can count on you.  Now, let’s get you on the train.”
     
    Her mother’s bedroom…
     
    “I’m going to miss you, baby.  I know Jonathon will take care of you, but you have to take care of him too.  One last piece of advice from your mother.
     
    “You know I want grandbabies, but don’t be in too much of a hurry.  Enjoy each other before you get in the family way.  You’re young and you have plenty of time.”
     
    “Jonathon and I have talked about it.  We would like to wait a year or two, but if it happens, that’s all right too.  It will be the most loved child since… Well, since me.  Thank you Mama, and thank you for my wedding.  It was wonderful.”
     
    “It was my pleasure, Darling.  Now, we’d better go.  Your husband and Papa are waiting.”  Impulsively, Laura hugged her mother hard, and said, I love you Mama.”
     
    “I love you too, Darling”
     
    And they left, Laura, to meet her future, and Elizabeth to see her daughter board a train for distant places, here-to-fore only dreamed about.
     

Epilogue
    Three months after the wedding…
     
    The ringing phone interrupted Jonathon and Laura as they worked to iron out some bars in their blowout preventer.
     
    “Hello, this is Jonathon…
     
    “It hit, Johnny,” his father’s excited voice came over the phone.  “It’s a gusher, but they cranked down on the tool, and stopped it almost completely.  
     
    “You brought in, son.  I’m so proud of you, I’m about to bust.”
     
    “Hold on, Pop.  I want to tell, Laura.
     
    “Thomas 1 blew out, and the preventer stopped it.  We did it honey, we did it.”
     
    “Pop, is the driller there?  Let me talk to him.”
     
    “Findley, what do you think?  How big is it?” Jonathon asked.
     
    “It’s big.  Not as big as Spindletop, but it’s a