Because God Gave It to Us

By Liberty Steng

Chapter One- The Grand Opening          

           

            I walked down the stairs as my veil trailed behind me. I, Andi Carter was getting married. I was very nervous. But wasn’t everybody on their wedding day? As I breathed heavily I fixed my eyes on Riley, soon to be my Riley. Justin patted my arm sensing my panic and nervousness.

            “Its gonna be fine. Your’e doing great!” He encouraged me as I smiled at him.

            “Thank you Justin.” As they neared closer I could feel everybody staring at me. I took a quick glance at everybody. They were all staring at me, and me and Riley alone. We were only a couple feet away from Riley now, the anticipation built up.

            “I love you Andi. Dad would be proud.” Justins voice startled me from my thoughts. Tears swelled up as we stopped in front of Riley and the preacher.

            “I love you too Justin and, t-thank you.” I stuttered between tears.

Justin handed me to Riley, and he took my hands into his. Riley squeezed my hands and grinned at me. I grinned back and looked at all my friends in the crowd, as I looked memories followed. There was Cory, Jenny, Justin, Chad, Mitch, Melinda and my mother.

In the back of the row there was Rosa and her husband. There was one person missing though. Aunt Rebecca. I thought of my passed aunt as the preacher stated that Riley say his vows. My attention turned to Riley and was held there. How could I look away?

            “Andi Carter,” Riley began. “You are the other half of my heart, and I wouldn’t want to give to anyone else. I have waited for this moment for most of my life and now that it’s here, I’m speechless. I asked myself, do I deserve you? And God reassures me that he gave me you, and I-I’m so grateful that I met you all those years ago.” I was beaming with pride and happiness.

            “I was astonished at the way you could take care of the ranch, and that is when I first fell in love with you. How could I not fall in love with you and your family? The Carter family is truly a blessed family, and I am glad that I worked for your family. And now I don’t have to worry about whether I will see you every morning or not. I get to share every morning with you. So on this special day, take my heart and hold it close to yours, so you and I might never be apart. God bless you Andi Carter.”

As Riley finished I let out a sigh of happiness. Did I deserve Riley? I came up with the answer that God put me and Riley together for a reason and a purpose. As I started my vows I realized that mine were nothing like Rileys sweet speech.

            “Riley Prescott, the love of my life, you are truly a miracle. Not only did you pick my spirits up after many tragedies and loses, you loved me and never gave up on me.” As I continued I saw Riley tearing up, I almost stopped all the sudden to hug him.

            “After tragedy and triumph, we are standing here right now and I will follow you to the ends of the earth. I hope we grow old together and through laughter and tears, our lives will be perfect. I love you Riley Prescott and I wouldn’t trade this moment for all the earth. I want to spend the rest of my live with you and I am proud to be here. God bless you Riley Prescott.”

As I finished, I could here people blowing their nose and sobbing. I looked in Riley’s eyes and he looked into mine. The pastor announced that the rings were to be presented and little Samuel walked up proudly holding his moms finger. He gave them to Riley and smiled wide. Riley winked at Sammy and he blushed as he sat down. Riley grasped the rings and took Andi’s left hand,

            “Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love and affection towards you.” He slid the ring on as I let out the breath I had been holding. As I picked up Riley’s ring I smiled wide and sure.

            “Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love, faithfulness and gratitude towards you.” I slid the ring on his left hand and we both looked at the pastor.

            “Riley Prescott, you may now kiss the bride.” His voice boomed and it echoed through my mind. Riley took my face in his hands and he kissed me. My heart fell to pieces as he let me go.

            “I love you Andi Prescott.” He said as he hugged me. As he did I realized I was “Andi Prescott” now. I loved the name. It now just rolled off my tongue like a ball off of a cliff. He let me go and we looked towards the crowd we held up our clasped hands and we trailed down the isle. We ran out the doors and found our horses, Shasta and Dakota hitched up to a beautiful wagon. It was all silver and was covered with all sorts of wild flowers. Riley helped me up as I lifted my white gown. I sat down as Riley untied the horses.

           

Chapter Two- The Reception

            “Isn’t it sweet that Cory went through the trouble of getting our horses to hitch up?” Riley asked as he hopped in.

I nodded staring at my best friend, my love, my husband. I smiled as he clicked his tongue and slapped the reigns. I leaned my head on his shoulder as he turned to the North. We were going to my house for the reception. My mother and sisters were hosting the party and they wanted it to be perfect. Riley drove nice and slow giving the guests a chance to get home before we did. I looked into Riley’s focused eyes and smiled. He looked down into my eyes and asked,

            “What? What is it?”

I shook my head and simply said, “Nothing, Mr. Prescott.”

He nudged me and replied, “Alright, Mrs. Prescott.”

I closed my eyes and grinned at the words, ‘Mrs. Prescott’. We trailed along for about and hour and a half until we finally reached the Circle C. Ranch. I looked at it with a new idea for the place. It wasn’t my home anymore. But that was alright with me, as long as I was with Riley, I could bare the thought. We pulled into the barn and unhitched the horses. As we put them away in their stalls, Chad’s voice was heard from the barn door.

            “There you two are! We’ve been wonderin’ where y’all were.” He hurried us along as we practically ran to the house. There were people everywhere. On the porch, the inside of the house, even the corrals! I glanced around in the house for my mother but could not find her. I tried to shout the question above the loud noise, but there were to many people there. All the ‘congratulations!’ And the ‘There you are!’ was too much for me.

There were so many people that I had to hold Riley’s hands so that we wouldn’t separate. Was the whole town there? I didn’t know that Fresno had this many friends! I thought. As we stepped out onto the porch there was my mother adjusting a flower on the cake.

            “Mother!” I cried almost in agony. She flipped around and started walking over to me with her hands stretched out.

            “There you two are!” She cried as she hugged both me and Riley. We hugged her back and laughed together.

            “This is all wonderful!” I announced as I stepped to the cake. I dipped a finger and stuck it in my mouth. Grinning my mother shook her head. Riley unfortunately followed my example and wanted a piece too. He dipped his finger in and popped it in his mouth.

I looked around the porch, there were beautiful decorations everywhere. There were streamers, flowers, lace, there was even fabric draped around! I shook my head, This is too much! As if reading my thoughts,

            “Don’t you like it?” My mother asked me gripping my hand. I smiled and shook my head in disbelief.

            “It is indescribable.” I answered her, she nodded her head in approval. Hours passed of cake, games, conversations and more. I was beginning to get a little tired as the sun started to disappear behind the San Francisco Mountains. As if Riley sensed my tiredness, he grasped my hand and led me to a small quilt down on the green hill.

            “What’re we doing here?” I asked curiously. He kissed my forehead and answered,

            “Cory and Jenny set this up as a surprise. I don’t know what it is either.” His answer was simple but unexpected. Cory and all my friends put a lot of effort into this wedding. More than even I had expected.

As dark arrived I heard a shot than a popping noise from above. I quickly looked up as the remains of a firework. I smiled and laughed. Fireworks! Another soon followed the first, then more followed. My hand slid to Riley’s and I grasped it.

We smiled at each other in a loving way and then he got up one foot, the other soon followed. He held out his hand and I took it. He pulled me up and reached into his pocket for something. He pulled out a small wooden box and opened the lid. Music played as he set the music box on the grass. We danced as the fireworks and music continued.

I laid my head on his chest and I closed my eyes. How’d I get so lucky God? The answer was simple yet the question still remained. As if reading my thoughts Riley spoke in a deep loving voice.

            “God plans everything perfectly don’t you think?” My eyes reached his, yet they looked deeper, as if looking at his heart.

            “Yes. I truly do think that he does.” He hugged me as we sat down on the quilt. We then turned our attention to the sky and watched the fireworks.

Chapter Three- Distant Shores                                                         

-One year later-

            “WAAAAAAA” A Long cry was heard throughout my household. I smiled as I ran to the little room that Jack Avery Prescott was in. I marched in and picked up the crying baby, I held him in my arms as he decided to settle down. His screaming ceased and I walked down the stairs back to the living room where I was writing in my journal.

He sat on my lap and looked around with a great amount of curiosity. I picked up where I left off of my latest journal entry. I wrote with joy, happiness and with a sense of pride. Joyful, because I was here in Fresno, California with my wonderful husband Riley. Happy, because of my wonderful life and a wonderful God. Proud, because I was a mother to little baby, Jack. Jack Prescott, a little boy to become his mamas pride and joy. How could I not be happy in this wonderful life I live? This house I live in? The family I live with? The God I live for?

            “Do you want to go outside Jack?” I asked him, he gurgled an answer and I swung him up in my arms. He giggled and squeezed my finger. I hugged him as I opened the door. It swung and shut behind me with a great vengeance. I was going to the barn. Jack’s favorite place, mine too. I opened the big doors that concealed the place and instantly heard a whinny shoot up in the air.

            “Hear that Jack? That’s Shasta my horse, he’s kinda attached to me.” I went over to his stall and pet his soft, white nose. Jack giggled and reached out his fingers, determined to touch the muzzle of Shasta. I helped him stroke his mane and Shasta snorted. Jack burst into laughter as he reached down for a note on my stall. He grabbed it and reached to put it in his mouth.

I quickly caught it up and his lip started to quiver. I instantly gave him a clean spot on the ground and my saddle to play with. He climbed on and over it, as he did this I opened the note. It read,

                   Andi, I love you so much and hope you have a good

                   day. I miss you and Jack already. I hope you and him

                   have a good and thoughtful time together. I love you

                   both so much and can’t wait till work is over for the

                   week. See you at 5:30 tonight! I can hardly wait until

                   then. I still remain,

                   Your faithful husband,

                              Riley.

                        P.S Live for God and love God today.

            My heart tingled as I folded the note back up. What a sweet love note. I will Riley. I will. I picked adorable Jack up and place him on my hip.

            “Well that was sweet. Wasn’t it? It was from daddy.”

His response was a short giggle and a smile. I smiled back and pet Shasta one more time, before leaving the barn. As I closed the squeaky doors, I sighed a deep sigh. Had it really a couple hours since Riley left for work? It seemed like days, I  missed him. At least I had my Jack, My Jack. I looked into the sun, it was noon. When I stared into the sky, I thought of my ranch, my family and distant shores.

Chapter Four- Riley’s Return

            “Andi honey,” I heard a voice call. I walked out from the kitchen and smiled.

            “There you are! I was getting worried. Its past sunset you know.” I told him as we embraced. He nodded his head and went to the small moving baby on the floor. He swung him up as I heard a bubble of laughter erupt.

            “Im sorry, I couldn’t get away fast enough from our new sheep herd. I still don’t know why you want them.”

I went back to the kitchen and answered, “Cause their fun! ‘sides we could always sell a couple when they get bigger.”

 Riley tickled our baby, “Im just teasin’. You know that.”

I did in fact know that and I nodded my head for a reply.

Riley sniffed the air and hugged my shoulders, “Dinner smells good,” he winked, “it always does.”

I laughed at this, in fact I laughed so hard that tears were streaming down my face. I wiped them away and grabbed two plates for dinner. I placed our mashed potatoes, beef stew and green beans on the plates and set them on our table. Riley came up with Jack set him in his chair, then came and kissed me. He set scrambled eggs in front of Jack and finally sat down.

            “Ready for dinner?” I asked as he sat down. He looked at me as if saying, ‘of course Im  ready!’. He said a blessing then started eating. I soon followed his example. He stared at me and sighed. I looked up and asked,

            “Whats wrong?” He shook his head and grinned.

            “Im lucky to have you and Jack. This family, this life and our God.” I agreed with him. We were lucky, all three of us, Riley, Jack and me. Why did we deserve this life? The answer was simple. Because God gave it to us.