Yellow Rose Bride

Amarillo, Texas 1898--33 years later The most memorable event in Vonnie Taylor's life took place in rural Amarillo in the late summer of '98 when Adam Baldwin predictably announced his engagement to Beth Baylor. "I do declare that Adam Baldwin is the best-looking man in Potter County." Hildy Mae Addison's eyes were riveted to the gorgeous sight. "Just looking at him makes my heart flutter like a butterfly's wings!" "Hildy Mae!" Mora Dawson slapped a hand across her mouth. "You should be ashamed of yourself." "For what?" The young woman giggled. "I know a good-looking man when I see one." "Very good looks," Carolyn Henderson concluded. Vonnie edged away, eyeing the tray of cherry tarts, attempting a show of enthusiasm she didn't feel. "My, doesn't the pastry look wonderful?" Mora sighed. "I wonder if Beth knows how lucky she is." Carolyn nodded. "She knows. And even if she didn't, she'd say she did." Giggles broke out. Beth was known to go to any lengths to keep peace. At times she could be insanely agreeable. Yet, everyone knew the Baldwin/Baylor marriage was arranged by the senior Baldwin. Remember that, Vonnie. Arranged... but Adam had consented. "Ladies," Vonnie cautioned. "Beth is a lovely person." The murmurs readily concurred that Beth was the nicest person anyone could hope to meet. And the luckiest. When the eldest Baldwin son's engagement to Beth Baylor was announced, the town's eligible female population had groaned with envy. Vonnie casually bit into flaky crust, feigning indifference to the conversation though her insides churned like a waterwheel. And now, the nicest person in Potter County would marry the best-looking man in Texas. How utterly ideal. The girls nodded when Janie Bennett and her fiancÉ, Edward Lassitor, strolled by. "Evening, Jane, Edward." "Evening, Hildy." Jane flashed friendly smiles at the women. "Mora, Carolyn, Vonnie." Simultaneous pleasantries prevailed. "Janie's so nice," Carolyn said as the couple walked on. "I can scarcely wait to see her gown. Vonnie, you can't keep us in suspense any longer! What's it like?" "Ah, but you'll have to wait until the wedding." Vonnie tried for a teasing tone, doing her best not to allow her true feelings to show. Beth might be the nicest girl in the county, but few wouldn't agree that Vonnie Taylor was the prettiest. Coal-black hair, amethyst-colored eyes, dimples men found irresistible. Half Cherokee, half white. Yet no one ever spoke of Vonnie's mixed heritage. Not even P.K. Baldwin. "You're not serious! You're honestly going to make us wait until the wedding?" Mora and Carolyn chorused. Hildy's generous lips formed a pout. "You're cruel!" Her words held no malice. Vonnie knew she wasn't just pretty fluff. Brides came from as far away as the West Coast to purchase one of her exquisite gowns. At the tender age of twelve, she had shown an astonishing ability with needle and thread. By fifteen, anyone who saw her work marveled that she was so gifted. She could craft a simple piece of lace into a work of art. "I'll bet the gown's frighteningly expensive," Mora guessed. Carolyn sniffed. "Edward can afford it." "Edward won't be paying for it. Tool Bennett is paying for everything," Mora confided in a hushed whisper. "Who said?" "I overheard Mrs. Bennett telling Martha Gibbings at the church social last week. The wedding is costing a fortune, but Tool won't hear of anything less than the very best for his only daughter." "Oh dear," Hildy's voice dipped to a reverent whisper. "Will you look at those eyes? Have you ever seen such a deep blue! There's not a man here who could hold a candle to him." To Vonnie's consternation Adam Baldwin was once again the focus of attention. "He's so handsome he makes my teeth ache," Hildy confessed. "And he's engaged." She brigCopeland, Lori is the author of 'Yellow Rose Bride', published 2006 under ISBN 9780373785728 and ISBN 0373785720.