No one. But what if marry me? Mara froze. What? Silas pulled back, cuped her face in his hands.
Marry me today. Tomorrow. Whenever you're ready, we'll make it legal. Make it right in the eyes of the law. Then no one can say a damn thing.
This is Silas. We've only known each other a few weeks. I don't care. His voice was fierce. I don't care if it's been a week or a year.
I know what I want. I want you. I want those kids. I want to wake up every morning knowing you're safe and they're safe and I'm the one standing between you and the world. So marry me.
Tears streamed down Mara's face. You're serious. Dead serious. But what if you change your mind? What if I won't?
How do you know? Because I've already lost one family. Silus's voice was raw. And I'll be damned if I lose another. Mara stared at him.
This impossible man who'd appeared in her life like an answer to a prayer she hadn't known how to say. She thought about Mrs. is Henley's warning about Thomas Avery circling like a vulture, about the seven children sleeping peacefully in a cabin because Silas had given them shelter. And she thought about what Daniel would have wanted. Not for her to die with him, but to live, to fight, to grab happiness with both hands and refused to let go. "Yes," she whispered.
"Yes, yes, I'll marry you." Silas let out a breath that sounded almost like a sobb and kissed her hard and desperate and full of promise. When they pulled apart, Mara was laughing through her tears. How are we going to do this? We don't even have a preacher. Judge Thompson in Rock Springs.
He owes me a favor. We can ride there tomorrow. Take the kids. Make it official. Just like that.
Just like that. Silus brushed his thumb across her cheek. Unless you want something fancier. Mara thought about the wedding she'd had with Daniel. White dress, flowers, church full of people.
It had been beautiful. It had also been a lie, a fairy tale that crumbled under the weight of real life. This was different. This was choosing each other with eyes wide open, scars visible, no illusions about what love required. "No," she said softly.
"This is exactly what I want." They told the children that night. Jonah whooped and tackled Silas again. Eliza cried and hugged Mara so tight she could barely breathe. The twins danced in circles singing pilas. Pilas until they collapsed in giggles.