Cinderella in Overalls

Epilogue



A hush fell over the small village church when the bride appeared on the arm of her father. Her dress was white satin and had been worn by her mother and her grandmother before her. The women whispered that her mother had brought it on the plane all the way from California.

The groom’s blue eyes never left the face of his bride. They’d been separated these past few months, and he drank in the sight of her like a thirsty man who’d been too long in the desert. The service was in Spanish, but the vows were in English. The kiss was all-American, all-promising and all-consuming.

The guests who threw tiny grains of wheat at the couple in front of the church were dressed in their Sunday best. The men, home from the mines for good, wore their dark suits for the second time in recent months.

The reception was held at Jacinda’s, where a tent had been set up to protect the guests from the sun and shade the bountiful buffet the women had been preparing all week.

Catherine introduced Old Pedro to her father. “He’s the richest man in town,” she explained, “with his shares of the zinc mine.”

Pedro looked down at his scuffed shoes. “Money does not buy happiness,” he told them. “I was happy before the mine was reopened. I am still happy. Fixing drainpipes, making gutters. But for them...” He waved a gnarled hand at the men clustered around the barbecue in their shiny suits. “The money from the shares belonging to their fathers and grandfathers has changed their lives. They have come back to work in the village where they belong. To help with the plowing, or building or keeping their wives happy.” His smile revealed a gap between his front teeth.

Catherine realized she’d never noticed it because she’d never seen him smile before. He wasn’t the only one smiling. On the other side of the tent Jacinda took Josh aside to extend her congratulations. Josh didn’t think anyone could be happier than he was, but Jacinda was basking in the glow of another successful wedding. And she wasn’t too shy to take all the credit for it.

“Señor Bentley,” she said, twisting her gold necklace around her fingers. “I remember the first day I saw you with the mangoes in your hand. It was then I knew you were destined for our Catalina. Since that time I have worked long and hard for this day.” She sighed dramatically and wiped her forehead with her handkerchief.

Josh was glad he remembered enough Spanish to thank her profusely for her efforts. When the brass band began to play, she waltzed away to join the dancers. Beyond the twirling figures of the guests, Josh saw Catherine framed by her parents on either side of her. When he reached her, her mother drew a glass jar from a bag and presented it to Catherine.

“It’s just dirt from the farm,” she explained. “I saved it for you. I thought you might want it—” her voice caught “—for sentimental reasons.”

Catherine held the jar up and gazed at the dirt inside reverently. “Look,” she said to Josh, “I can use it to start my garden at our new house.” Her eyes misted over as she looked from her father to her mother.

“We knew you thought it was wrong to sell,” her mother said.

Catherine shook her head, unable to speak.

“But we did what we thought was best,” her father finished.

Catherine hugged her mother tightly. “I know that. And what’s even better than the dirt are the memories you gave me of a happy childhood. Nobody can ever take them away from me.” She looked over her mother’s shoulder at her new husband. “Ask Josh. He’s heard about the barn kittens and the sweaters you knit me until he can’t take any more.”

“Not true,” he assured her. “I can take a lot more. Just try me. How about a dance, Mrs. Bentley?”

She looked around. “Who, me?”

He took her into his arms. The brass band had retired and the guitarist played a Spanish love song. They moved across the patio in time to the music, and he gazed into her eyes as if they were alone under the tent, with the breeze blowing the scent of fresh hay from the fields.

“Have I told you how glad I am I came to this country?” he said with his lips against her ear.

“You found the treasure you’ve been looking for all your life,” she murmured.

“You’re so right,” he said, his hand against the white satin, pressing her close.

She blushed. “I meant the mine.” She held up her hand to look at the ring he had made from the rock she had discovered in the mine.

“That, too. The zinc, my father, myself and you. And not necessarily in that order.”

She smiled against his cheek. “I showed my parents the picture of our new house. They think on five acres I can grow enough hay for a couple of cows and a horse or two.”

He moved his head to look in her eyes. “Save room for the pair of llamas I’m giving you.”

Her eyes filled with tears again. “Oh, Josh, really?”

“Really. They’re waiting for you at the breeder’s.” He guided her expertly toward the shade of the grape arbor. “By the way, who’s going to take care of all these animals?”

She thought a moment.’ “The children?’’

He raised his eyebrows. “How many?”

“Oh, four or five. As many as possible.”

He kissed her and tasted the sweetness of the icing on the wedding cake. “We’d better get started,” he said. “As soon as possible.”