Jennifer's Journey Read online

  When Jennifer’s eyes got wide, Raina laughed. “Don’t worry. I have three sisters. I can spare one!”

  Jennifer couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’ll go try Ciran’s tacos then.” She headed out of the spa and down the elevator. When she walked out toward the taco truck, she found herself excited. She hadn’t had a good taco in a very long time. She hoped these would live up to her expectations.

  She bought exactly what Raina had told her to and sat in the picnic pavilion with her lunch. As she bit into the taco, she closed her eyes. She would make the drive to Quinn Valley every day to have a lunch like that. As soon as the thought it, she was sad. She wouldn’t be living at River’s End for much longer. It was going to be strange.

  When she went back up to the spa, Renae was waiting for her. “You ready for your zone? I like to do the detox first, and then I will zone you.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Jennifer replied. She’d never had either done, so she really didn’t know what she was doing. She’d just heard other people had amazing results from it.

  For the next thirty minutes, she sat soaking her feet in some sort of solution that bubbled and turned ugly colors. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Renae came over at the end and told her that the green was cleaning out her gall bladder, and then she went on to explain other colors.

  “Please tell me other people have that many ugly colors come from their feet!” Jennifer said.

  “Oh, everyone does. Don’t worry about it. Now we’re going to zone. Have you ever had a foot zone?”

  Jennifer shook her head. “Someone just told me I should.”

  “Well, I think everyone should. A foot zone is a form of reflexology, but it’s a bit more intuitive than most forms. Everything is done in a certain order every time, and I think we get better results because of that.”

  “I’ve been told it’s really painful.”

  Renae smiled. “Not usually. If you’re in good health, a foot zone will just help you release emotions. If you’re not in good health, it tends to be painful.”

  Jennifer took a deep breath. “All right. I think I’m ready.”

  By the time the zone was done, Jennifer felt extremely relaxed. “I think I like having my feet zoned.”

  “Good. I’ll expect you here more often then!” Renae looked down at a sheet she’d picked up from the counter. “Do you want to try some crystal healing? Riley has an open spot now.”

  Jennifer shrugged. “I’m not sure I’m ready for anything like that.”

  “Well, if you decide you ever want to, my sister is the person to go see.”

  “Does she use a crystal ball? There was this woman in the waiting room who told me to come see her if I ever wanted a reading from a crystal ball. She was kind of…”

  “Kooky? That’s just Ambrosia. She’s harmless.”

  “Okay…” Jennifer got to her feet. “I’m going to hit the hot springs now. Any suggestions?”

  “Yeah…enjoy yourself. I hope your wedding is wonderful tomorrow and your life is all you want it to be!”

  “Thank you. That’s so sweet!” Jennifer rushed off to change in the room where she’d been told people dressed for the hot springs.

  When she walked outside and stepped into one of the shallow pools, she was surprised at the sheer number of people in the water. It was a warm day, especially for Idaho, but not warm enough she would have thought that many people would be looking to soak in a spring.

  Once she was in the pool she understood. It may not have the healing properties everyone claimed it did, but it felt like a hot tub, and that was good enough for her.

  It was a little after five when she headed back to River’s End Ranch, and she already missed Quinn Valley. It was a wonderful place, and she wished she’d gone sooner. Somehow, it felt like home.

  Jennifer had just gotten back to the ranch when her mother called. “We’re here on River’s End Ranch. We thought we’d do dinner together, before we head over to the hotel.”

  “Sounds good. Do you want to eat somewhere in town? Or do you want to eat here on the ranch? There’s only one restaurant open on the ranch, and I think it’s karaoke night.”

  “Karaoke night sounds fun. Maybe you can introduce us to some of your friends.”

  Jennifer wanted to groan out loud. Karaoke night wasn’t exactly her thing, and she’d never been, but she’d take her parents if they wanted to go. “Okay, come and park at my cabin. Drive til you see a fork in the road, and take the left fork…” She gave them simple directions until she saw their car in her driveway.

  Running out to meet them, she hugged her mother, not having realized just how much she had missed the two of them. They had coddled her until she was too old to be coddled, and then they had insisted she become a decent person. She owed them everything. “It’s good to see you, Mom!”

  “Before we go eat, I have got to see your wedding dress. I can’t believe I wasn’t involved in shopping for it,” her mother said with a frown.

  “Sorry. I almost didn’t even call you and tell you about the wedding, but my friend Lacy told me I needed to.”

  “And you did need to,” her father said. “I can’t believe you thought about not telling us!”

  “Well, I wasn’t sure how you’d feel. Come in and I’ll show you my dress, and then we’ll go to dinner. I haven’t eaten since noon, and I’m starving.” Jennifer led them into the house and showed them both her wedding gown and veil.

  “They’re beautiful, Jennifer. I can’t wait to see you wearing them.”

  Jennifer smiled. “I’m getting excited through my nervousness.”

  “You should be.”

  The night went well, with both of her parents taking a turn at the mike. She tried not to be embarrassed, and ate her share of the pizza they ordered. When they were finished, she led them back to her cabin. “Happy now?” Jennifer asked.

  “Very. I can see you’ve made some real friends here,” her mother said. “I’m proud of you.”

  Jennifer smiled. “I wish I’d figured out how to act human sooner, but I’m proud too. I’ve been happy here.”

  Her father scooped her into his arms and hugged her close. “We will see you in the morning.”

  “Make it around noon,” Jennifer said. “I’m going to the spa here in the morning, and they’re going to fix my hair, and I’m getting a pedicure.”

  “Then we’ll see you at noon. I’ll bring something for lunch,” her mother said.

  “Perfect. I’ll see you then.” Jennifer stood in the driveway watching them leave. She would be married in twenty-four hours, and she still couldn’t get Maynard Butts out of her head.

  Jennifer walked into her little cabin, and closed the door. She walked to her bedroom and looked at the bed. It would be the last time she slept in it. She felt like she should stay awake and savor every moment, but she wanted sleep as well. Sleep won out, and she curled into a ball on her bed, and passed out.

  Her appointments went quickly the next morning, her hair tucked up atop her head. Her toes were a pale pink that she thought would look good with her wedding dress, because she knew she’d be kicking off her shoes to dance.

  Dancing was the one thing she felt as if she was truly good at. She’d taken all the requisite dance classes over the years. Ballet, tap, ballroom, etc. She had complained about the time—she’d complained about everything—but now she was thrilled that she had the skill on the dance floor she did. Hopefully her husband danced, but if not, she’d dance alone.

  She got back to her cabin just as her parents pulled up. “I hope your room was comfortable last night,” Jennifer said.

  “It was fine. Now, let’s get you ready for your wedding,” her mother said. She rubbed her hands together, and pulled her into her cabin.

  “I need to have some lunch first, Mom.”

  “Don’t worry. I brought some. There was this adorable little taco truck outside the hotel, and I got tacos for all of us.”

  “Did
you get sopapillas?” Jennifer asked, her eyes wide.

  “What are sopapillas?”

  “Little pieces of Mexican bread heaven.” Jennifer was disappointed that she wouldn’t have her favorite, but she chose not to complain. Complaining never did anything. She should know.

  “I asked the taco truck man for a dessert. Maybe that’s what he gave us.” Her mother pulled the tacos out, giving them each two, and then she opened a foil-wrapped package. It was sopapillas.

  “Oh, Mom! Those are sopapillas! Thank you!” Jennifer dug into her meal, surprised she was able to eat with how nervous she was, but she decided not to question it. “The wedding will be in our Old West Town. There’s a chapel there, modeled after chapels of the Old West, and we’re having the wedding there. I’m glad he agreed to that.”

  “How do you know that he agreed if you’ve never met him?”

  “Dr. Lachele talked to him.”

  As if on cue, there was a knock on her door. Her father got up to get it. “Yes?”

  “I’m Dr. Lachele, and I’m here to see the beautiful bride.”

  “The beautiful bride is currently stuffing her face. Come back in ten minutes,” Jennifer said with a grin.

  Her mother gasped, but when Dr. Lachele cackled with laughter, she seemed to understand. “So you’re the matchmaker Jennifer has told us about. I’m Jennifer’s mother.”

  “It’s nice to meet you. Are you ready for the wedding?” Dr. Lachele asked.

  “I have my dress in the car. I’m far more worried about getting Jennifer ready.”

  Jennifer shrugged, her mouth full of taco. After she swallowed, she asked, “Is my groom here yet?”

  “He is. He’s planning to be at the church at one-forty-five. Pastor Kevin is more nervous than you’d think he’d be. He keeps mumbling that he is a new father, and he can’t imagine letting his baby marry a stranger.” Dr. Lachele shrugged. “He’s always been an odd one, hasn’t he?”

  Jennifer found no need to answer as she finished her taco and put butter and honey on her sopapilla. When she’d finally finished eating, she got to her feet. “All right. Let’s get me dressed, and then I’m hoping someone will do my makeup for me.”

  “I will!” Dr. Lachele said, a grin on her face.

  “Umm…I think I want my mom to do it one last time. Do you remember how you used to always apply my makeup so carefully for a dance recital?”

  Her mother nodded, a tear in her eye. “I can’t believe my baby is finally getting married, even if it is to a stranger.”

  Dr. Lachele looked at Mrs. Olson and said softly, “Just so you know, my track record is perfect. There is not one single couple who hasn’t done well after I matched them.”

  Jennifer nodded. “I checked her out. She’s legit.”

  “Okay.”

  Her dad frowned at the three women. “If you three are going to be playing with makeup and dresses, I’ll go for a walk down by the lake. I’ll be back in an hour to get ready for the wedding myself.”

  Once he was gone, her mother jumped into action. “Dress and then makeup. You’re going to be the most beautiful bride in all of Idaho.”

  When her mother was finished, Jennifer stood in front of a mirror and looked at herself. Her makeup was flawless. Her veil was pinned perfectly. She looked like a real bride.

  For a minute, she wasn’t sure she could go through with the wedding, and she stood taking deep breaths. Just because she wasn’t marrying Maynard, didn’t mean she wouldn’t be happy. She knew she was going to be happy. She’d decided. Besides, Dr. Lachele would have found her perfect match. How could that be Maynard?

  The four of them walked over to the chapel together, and Jennifer could see other people entering. It looked like a great deal of the ranch staff had turned out for the wedding. When she saw Maynard Butts go into the chapel wearing a suit, she wanted to weep. He was going to watch her marry another man. She would live through it, of course, but it would be harder. So much harder.

  When they got to the chapel, her mother found a place to sit, and Dr. Lachele sat beside her. Jennifer stood at the back of the chapel, with her hand tucked into her father’s arm. “Are you ready for this, Jenny?”

  He hadn’t called her by her childhood nickname in years, and for some reason, it relaxed her to hear it. “I think I am.”

  She took a deep breath and waited as Lacy walked down the aisle in front of her on the arm of a man she’d never seen before. Presumably it was her groom’s best man. And then the music changed, and she and her father started walking.

  As soon as they began, Jennifer wanted to look and see who was waiting at the front of the chapel for her, but she was afraid. She knew it wouldn’t be the man she wanted to be there, so why was she even worried about who it was? Whoever, she would be a good wife to him, because that was the promise she was about to make. She was only five feet from her groom when she looked up and her eyes locked with his for the first time.

  And then she understood everything. That was the commitment he had that kept him from being able to start a relationship. She’d been jealous of herself. He’d been jealous of himself. She’d seen it in his eyes.

  In a few minutes, she was going to be Mrs. Maynard Butts. She wasn’t sure if she should laugh, because she was thrilled with that man chosen for her, or cry, because of how horrible her name was about to be. Jennifer Butts. She’d be the butt of every joke.

  Her face broke out in a grin as she took the hand he held out for her. Dr. Lachele had done good.

  5

  Pastor Kevin looked back and forth between the groom and the bride, a smile on his face. “I have a feeling this is not the first time you’ve met.”

  Maynard shook his head. “It’s not. We met this week.” And I’ve watched her work on more than one occasion.

  “Are we ready to proceed?” Kevin asked, looking between the two of them. When he’d received nods, he started the ceremony. “I’m going to have to start by saying that when I was asked to marry two people who had never met before, I had misgivings. Now that I have a beautiful baby of my own, I cannot imagine allowing her to marry someone she had never met before, no matter how good the success rate of the matchmaker was…”

  From there, he went through the traditional marriage vows. “Do you, Jennifer, promise to love, honor, and cherish Maynard for as long as you both may live?”

  Jennifer nodded along with her words. “I do.”

  “And do you, Maynard, promise to love, honor, and cherish Jennifer for as long as you both may live?”

  Maynard grinned at her. “I do.”

  A moment later, Kevin said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  Maynard pulled her to him, and their lips met for the first time. He had dreamed of the moment when he would kiss Jennifer for the first time, and had almost called off the arranged marriage multiple times since Wednesday. He was so thankful he hadn’t. He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his head, kissing her softly. Her lips were moist and willing under his, and his heart skipped a beat. He’d married Jennifer.

  Jennifer was out of breath by the time he broke the kiss. She stared up at him, her eyes wide. How could one little kiss cause her to feel more than she had with any other man in her life? Not that she’d ever really been one to go on a second date with a man. She was done with them by then…but his kiss. Surely his lips needed to be registered as a lethal weapon!

  When Kevin said, “I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Butts!” Jennifer was able to keep from flinching.

  As they walked down the aisle together, she thought about what it was going to be like to be Mrs. Butts for the rest of her life, and she found she wasn’t a fan. Not at all actually.

  “We have thirty minutes before the reception,” she whispered to him. “We can walk and talk.”

  “Are you up for walking in that get up?” he asked softly. She seemed to be wearing way too much dress to walk anywhere.

  “I walked here
from my cabin.” She pulled her dress up to her knees, showing off her red boots. What else would she wear for her wedding? Cowboy boots were comfortable and necessary in that part of the world.

  “Nice boots,” he said, his eyes twinkling. He offered her his arm, and they walked away from the church. “I was surprised and overjoyed to see you walking toward me. I have a hard time believing you had to resort to going to a matchmaker, but I’m thrilled you did.”

  “Me too. I almost called Dr. Lachele a couple of times this week, because I wanted to explore a possible relationship with you before I married a stranger. I guess it all worked out in the end though, didn’t it?”

  “It certainly seems so.” He grinned down at her. “I still can’t believe it was you walking down that aisle toward me. Your skittishness all week really makes sense now too. You were trying not to cheat on me. With me!”

  Jennifer laughed softly. “Exactly. I didn’t want to upset you by cheating on you with you. I thought about telling you I was going to marry a stranger on Saturday, but something held me back.”

  He stopped walking at a gazebo in the middle of the grounds. “Let’s sit for a moment. We can talk here.”

  That’s when she noticed that a photographer had been trailing along behind them. She wanted to tell the man to go away, but she wanted these memories to be on film forever. After a short inner war, she decided to let the man stay. “Why would a television star have to resort to using a matchmaker?” Jennifer hoped he wouldn’t ask her the same thing, but she needed to know.

  He shrugged. “I was worried no one would agree to marry a man named Maynard Butts. And then I was worried that when I became popular, women would want to marry me for my paycheck. I figured this was the best bet.”

  “Why did you never change your name?” She hoped she could convince him to change their names together, but you could never tell why a man would be attached to a name.

  “I was named after my father, who died when I was a small boy. He was killed in Desert Storm when I was four. Whenever anyone has made fun of my name, I just remembered that I was proud of it, because of who my father was.” Maynard shrugged, hoping he could make her understand, but even if he couldn’t, he was keeping his name. It was too important to him to do otherwise.