-=Continued from ?Reading Tara?s Letter?=-

Des had just finished reading Tara?s letter and speaking of portals to Jean de La Fontaine when she surprised him by adding, "Umm.. well, I kind of, might have, sort of, took some liberties, Babe." The blush continued to turn a brighter color as she rushed on and blurted out. "I made reservations for us at this fancy place I had heard some of the ladies gossiping about."

She was full of surprises, and that was just another of the millions of things that he loved about his Des. He couldn't stop grinning. "We have a fancy place waiting for us and we're sitting in a horse stall? It is crazy! C'mon! Let's go! How do we get there?" His excitement was uncontainable.

A radiant smile broke free as she leapt to her feet and extended a hand toward him. She was full of excited anticipation too. From what she had heard of 'Duet' it was a haven for lovers and she was looking forward to enjoying every amenity they had to offer with her very own heart and soul at her side. "It is just a short ride outside of town! I can't believe I actually had the nerve to do it. I never did anything like this before!! And if anyone ever asks YOU made the reservations!!" She was grinning now.

He stood with her and took her into his arms. "Oui...I made the reservations! I am most certain of that! " He laughed, and not wanting to miss the romance of a horse stall, he brought his mouth to hers and kissed her deep and slowly, savoring her mouth, her taste, her breath.

When the kiss ended he asked, ?And what is this fancy, romantic place that I made reservations with??

?The Duet,? she replied with a sparkle in her eyes.

-= to be continued =-

The last rays of the sun had slowly disappeared in the west when Jean and Des rode their horses up the circular drive of The Duet, and with the sun no longer providing its early spring warmth, the cold quickly descended upon the two lovers. The road was hard and icy, and at this elevation snow still occupied the ground and tree limbs. They pulled up in front of the doors and dismounted. Jean gave the gunny sacks to one attendant who had emerged from the Inn, and the horses were taken by another to be bedded down in the Inn's stables.

"It is beautiful here!" Jean exclaimed as he took Des by the hand and they walked up the steps of the front entrance and onto the wide porch that was covered in unused lounge chairs and swings which undoubtedly got plenty of use during the warmer months. They stepped inside The Duet and the warmth of the great fireplace was appreciated. Jean gave Des a kiss on the cheek and whispered, "I'll be right back." He went to the desk, checked in and came back with a key to their room. "Okay Mrs. La Fontaine, we may go to our honeymoon suite!"

The Bartender was turning her head this way and that trying to get a glimpse of everything there was to be seen of the magnificent views as they rode up the drive. It only got worse as they strode into the foyer. There was so much to see and all of it beautiful down to the last tiny detail.

Everything had been carefully overseen by loving hands or at the very least a harsh taskmaster for certain. Not a spec of dust or dull spot could be seen, only brightly shining surfaces and places that glowed in the radiant light of what looked to Des like thousands of candles.

She blushed as the man that held her heart returned with the key and called her by his last name, it sure sounded good in that accent he had and her heart skipped a beat as it occurred to her that now that they were engaged all she had to do was say the word and that would really be her last name. Des couldn't help but wish it already was. "Did they give you directions to where it is Babe?"

He gave her a mock look of worry, then burst into a smile, "But of course! We just follow that porter." He pointed to a porter who stood silently off to the side with their belongings. They went up two flights of stairs and down a carpeted hall, past numbered doors until they came to the end of the hall. There was the honeymoon suite.

The porter opened the door put their belongings next to the bed, and asked if he could do anything else. The fire was already blazing nicely in the fireplace, so Jean told him no and gave him a coin for his services. When the porter left and the outside door closed and locked, Jean turned to Des and opened his arms. "We are here, and it is like heaven."

Des was very proud of herself as the porter closed the door. She had behaved herself with proper decorum through the entire procedure right up until that latch clicked. The moment it did she threw her hat off and let out a little low primitive growl then with a leap pounced her French Pirate love. "I love you very, very much!" Both arms went around his neck as her eager lips sought his while slender yet strong legs wrapped around his trim waist.

He was so waiting for this moment when he and Des would be alone in their honeymoon suite. His arms embraced her and he held her against himself as they kissed that deep, passionate kiss that is birthed in the hearts of those who are truly in love. The kiss ended with Jean giving a gentle pull on her lower lip. He looked into her navy blue eyes and smiled. "And I love you, very, very, much, Des. My heart...it is about to explode like a cannon I think!"

She could feel his heart pounding against her breasts as they molded to his muscular chest. Hers was pounding just as frantically. A heady mixture of love and lust along with a touch of the forbidden at being in a place like this were all building up inside her. "It is just going to have to explode because I refuse to slow down this time!"

That said she buried her face against the side of his neck and trailed nibbling kisses just beneath the line of his jaw. Both hands skimmed upward to thread though his hair giving a slight tug before settling there to cradle his head at just the right angle.

The feel of her soft lips on his neck was enough to make his legs as weak as some land lubber's after a day at sea. He slowly lowered her down onto the carpet in front of the fireplace and rested his body on top of hers, looking down into those eyes which were deeper than any ocean he had ever sailed.

"I think it just exploded," he said as he looked upon her face in the soft yellow glow of the fire. They had yet to notice the table with food and wine and candles that had been prepared for them in accordance with Des' instructions.

The petite female sighed with bliss as at last she had her beloved right where she wanted him. Husky laughter was the only sound in the room other than the merry crackling of the fire in the grate. Des ran a hand slowly through his hair to brush it back over his broad shoulder in a tender gesture. Navy eyes holding fast to his chestnut brown ones she smiled lovingly to him.

"As long as it didn't break, Love. Now I really think that we need to do something about these clothes of yours. I'm really not happy with them in the least. They are in my way." She grinned as she set about relieving herself of that misery.

Oh how he loved this woman - everything about her. "You must be reading my mind, obviously a bartender trait, no?" he teased. He then sat on the floor and removed his boots as she was working on his shirt and pants. With his boots off, he then went to work on hers, pulling each one off and putting all their clothes in one place.

"Definitely a bartender trait Love." Des laughed again. He made her so very happy. Happier than she had ever dreamed she could be. They were getting married just as soon as she could find someone that would do it. Come hell or high water she was NOT letting this one get away. Des decided right then that lust could wait. They had things to talk about and there was no time like the present. Setting about a little female persuasion she cuddled up against him in front of the toasty warmth of the hearth. "I've been thinking Love... "

Now that they were naked, flesh to flesh, wrapped up in each other's arms and he being thoroughly aroused, she began with those famous three words that would put fear and trepidation into the heart of any man - 'I've been thinking. . .' He wrapped her in his arms and snuggled his face into her neck. "Yes, mon cheri? What have you been thinking?"

Being who and how she was Des didn't keep him in suspense for even a moment. Her Beloved no sooner had voiced the question then she blurted it right out for him. "I want to get married and I want to get married right now! As soon as possible. I do not want to wait. I do not want a big wedding. I just want you!"

That pronouncement had him on his elbows and looking down into her eyes, with his own being as big as sea dollars! "You want to get married...now?" Her words were beginning to sink in. "Right this moment?" His mind was racing in typical male problem-solver mode. "If we were on my ship and out at sea, I could arrange for our marriage immediately!" He thought for a bit, "Perhaps the Inn has someone who can..."

His words trailed off, the impact set in, he looked into her beautiful eyes and exploded again, this time in joy. "Yes! I want that too, my love...my darling! I want to marry you now and not wait a moment longer than we have to. A big wedding...it is but nothing! You are my everything, and I want you, Des. I want only you, forever and always and those two days also!" He laughed and began placing kisses all over her face.

The cowgirl had been a ready to employ drastic measures if need be like batting her eyelashes and perhaps even kisses and if all else failed there was always rum to get him to see things from her point of view but her TDMF male was on the very same page she was and had her smile growing with each and every word he spoke.

It was no wonder she loved him more than life itself. He was already figuring out a way they could get married as soon as possible and she had just now expressed her desire for that very thing to him. "I don't know if they have anyone here or not but now that we have that settled I am hungry and not for food!" Both arms wrapped around his neck as her lips tracked his in an attempt to capture them for a passionate kiss.

WEDDING AT THE DUET - Part 2

Jean took her hand in his as they left their room and went down the two flights of stairs. He inquired of the Duet's Concierge regarding the availability of a minister or justice of the peace that would officiate at a wedding. To his amazement, that request did not surprise the Concierge at all. It seems that the Duet is indeed a lover's retreat and that weddings are routinely held here; so routinely that they had a retired minister on duty who was always on call for those impromptu nuptials.

"If you and the lady would just wait here a minute, I'll go see if he's available," the Concierge replied and left his station and disappeared down a first floor hall.

Jean turned to Des, "Mon Dieu, they do have someone who officiates at weddings. Des....it's going to happen! I'm suddenly nervous!"

Blue eyes became wider as the man left his desk. She was clinging to her pirate's arm now as butterflies took flight in her stomach but outwardly she was smiling calmly. Her bartender smile and years of training in stressful situations would not fail her now as she attempted to sooth her suddenly nervous fianc?.

As his nerves increased hers decreased. "It will be all right Babe. This doesn't hurt a bit. I'm sure the minister will know what they are doing. Obviously they are prepared even if we aren't." Then it hit her. "Umm... Babe? You got anything we can use as a ring?"

His eyes widened. "No! Oh my...I didn't think!" He looked around, his mind racing. "Look! A gift shop! Perhaps they have rings in there! Let's go look." He took her hand and led her into the gift shop.

They had the typical fare of snacks, drinks, Rhydin souvenirs, a display of green sweatshirts and t-shirts with "The Duet" in large white letters going across the front; and then there was a display case with some jewelry. There, in the case, was a small selection of rings for men and women. There were only two styles, but the one with the Celtic Knot scrollwork and a small Claddagh heart caught his eye. "What do you think of this one, my love?" he asked, pointing to the matching set.

She was starting to get worried; her smile was slipping as they looked around at the offerings in the gift shop. She had a death grip on his hand as they walked around trying to find the selection of rings. One of the t-shirts caught her eye and she made a note to come back for it but right now she was getting married and they had to find the rings! Finally a radiant smile lifted the corners of her lips as he pointed the set out to her it was just like the ones she had seen before and liked.

"Definitely the Celtic ones Babe. I like Celtic designs almost as much as I like Native American things so these are the ones that I would have picked too."

He nodded to the cashier that they would take the matched set, paid the inflated price, and rushed out of the gift shop with one hand holding the rings and the other holding Des' hand. They were no sooner back to the Concierge desk when the Reverend and his wife came out and smiled and introduced themselves as the Rev. and Mrs. Haake.

They appeared to be in their late 60's, and they had pleasant round faces with a weathered red glow and crows feet smiles that appeared to be genuine. "We're so happy for you," Rev. Haake said. Just follow us. The missus will be a witness for you and even sing a song if you so desire."

She didn't look like she could carry a tune in a bucket, so Jean gratefully declined the song and squeezed Des' hand as they followed the couple down a hall to the rear of the first floor. There they came into a room that served both as a chapel and general meeting room. It had two huge picture windows in the front that allowed a view of the great white pines that lined the Inn's property and the mountains beyond. Of course, being night the view was limited, yet with the outside lights around the pool and hot tub, and the nearly full moon up in the sky, the sight was still breathtaking.

They went to the front of the room and Rev. Haake stood before them and his wife stood off to the side and slightly behind. "You have rings?" he asked and Jean handed the rings over. The Rev. smiled and asked, "Are you both ready?"

-= to be continued =-

WEDDING AT THE DUET - Part 4

He looked to Jean. "Do you Jean, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning form them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Tera to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Jean looked at Des with such love in his eyes, "I do."

"Do you, Jean, have any further vows or words you?d like to say?"

Oui. I take you, Des, as my friend and love, both when beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us."

Turning to Des, Rev. Haake asked, "Do you, Tera, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take Jean to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Her smile turned softly loving as she nodded once and spoke up clearly. "I definitely do!"

"Do you, Tera, have any further vows or words you?d like to say?"

She hadn?t gotten that far and was surprised when the Rev. had asked Jean that question. Him asking Jean had been all the warning she had that it would soon be her turn, so with her heart in her eyes she tightened her grip on her beloved French Pirate's hand and set about trying to find words that she had not yet been able to find before and silently prayed some would come now.

"Jean... I love you so much that sometimes I just can't think straight. I want to always be there for ya when ya need me and even when ya don't. If you are having a hard time I want to be able to help ya out. If there are good times I want to be able to share them too with ya. I want us to have a family and be able to maybe settle down on the ranch or even get a different place that is just ours someday. I'll protect ya with my own life if I have to."

There were tears starting to come in the corners of her eyes as she tried so very hard to tell him how much she loved him and just wasn't able to find exactly the words she wanted. "You know what I mean right Babe? Forever and always and two days."

Jean listened to her words, his heart so touch and filled with love for her that he felt for sure that was the cause of the tears that were being pushed to the corner of his eyes. He nodded and whispered, "I know what you mean. Forever and always...and two days."

The Rev. continued, ?Let us now have the giving of the rings. Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together; but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.?

He put Tera?s ring in Jean?s hand. ?Repeat after me. Tera, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.?

Jean slid the ring onto her finger and said, "Tera, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.?

He turned to Tera and said, "Repeat after me: Jean , I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."

She took the ring and slid it onto Jean's hand with a happy smile. "Jean, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."

?And now Jean and Tera, seeking the fulfillment of love and marriage, find again that the poet speaks for them:

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks to another day of loving.
To rest at the noon hour and meditate on love's ecstasy;
To return home eventide with gratitude, and then sleep with a prayer
For the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Rev. Haake lifted his hand and spoke: ?I now pronounce you husband and wife.

?You may seal this pronouncement with a kiss.?

-= to be continued =-