Thomas and Abigail didn't fully understand, but they clapped because everyone else was happy. And when the excitement died down and the children were tucked into bed, Mara stood in the doorway watching Silas build up the fire for the night. Silas. He looked up. Thank you for choosing us.
Silas crossed to her, took both her hands. Thank you for letting me. They married 3 days later in Rock Springs. Judge Thompson, a gruff man with kind eyes, performed the ceremony in his parlor with all seven children as witnesses. Mara wore her best dress, a simple gray cotton she'd mended carefully.
Silas wore his cleanest shirt and combed his hair back. There were no flowers, no music, no guests, just two people making promises they intended to keep. Do you, Silus Hawthorne, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? I do. And do you, Mara Ellington, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?
Mara looked at Silas, at this man who'd found her at her lowest, who'd lifted her up without asking for anything in return, who'd chosen her broken, complicated, beautiful family. I do. Then by the power vested in me by the territory of Wyoming, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride. Silas leaned down and kissed her softly.
The children cheered. Judge Thompson smiled and shook Silas's hand, and Mara Hawthorne, no longer Ellington, felt something she thought she'd lost forever. Joy. They celebrated with penny candy for the children and a real hotel dinner. roast chicken, potatoes, apple pie. The kids ate until they were stuffed, faces sticky with pie filling, laughing so hard Thomas snorted milk through his nose.
That night, in a real bed with clean sheets, Silas held Mara close and whispered against her hair. "You're stuck with me now, Mrs. Hawthorne." Mara smiled in the darkness. "Good. I was worried you'd change your mind.
Never. Promise. Promise." But even as she drifted off to sleep, safe in her husband's arms, a small voice in the back of Mara's mind whispered what Mrs. Henley had said. Thomas Avery's asking questions.
She pushed the thought away. Tomorrow's worries could wait. Tonight, she was married. Her children were safe. And for the first time in a long time, she dared to believe the worst was behind them.
She was wrong. They returned to the cabin the next morning to find someone waiting. A man on horseback, expensive suit, cold eyes. He had the look of someone used to getting what he wanted. Money and power written into every line of his face.
Beside him stood the county sheriff looking deeply uncomfortable. Mara's blood turned to ice. She knew that face. She'd seen it at Daniel's funeral, watching her with calculation. Thomas Avery.
Silas stopped the wagon 30 ft away and climbed down slowly, positioning himself between the children and the visitors. His hand rested casually near his belt where Mara knew he kept his revolver. Can I help you, gentlemen? Silas's voice was calm, polite, dangerous. Thomas dismounted, smoothed his suit.
"You must be Silas Hawthorne. I'm Thomas Avery. This is Sheriff Cutler. We're here to see Mrs. Ellington." "That would be Mrs.