The day of the wedding dawned gray and cool, autumn asserting itself after weeks of lingering summer heat. Nora woke early, her stomach in knots, and dressed in her only good dress, a simple gray cotton that had seen better days, but was at least clean and mended. She looked at herself in the small mirror above the washstand and barely recognized the woman staring back. When she'd married James, she'd been 19 and full of dreams, wearing a white dress her mother had sewn, her hair arranged with real orange blossoms. She'd believed in fairy tales then and happily ever after, in love conquering all.
Now she was 27 and worn down by life, wearing faded gray, about to marry a man who'd made it clear he expected nothing from her beyond her presence. No fairy tale. No happily ever after. Just survival dressed up in legal paperwork. "Mama. " Tommy appeared in the doorway, already dressed in the new clothes Elias had bought him, proper trousers and a button-up shirt.
"You look pretty. " "Thank you, baby. " Nora forced a smile. "You look very handsome. " "Are you scared? " The question caught her off guard. "What makes you think I'm scared? " "You're making that face, the one you made when we were walking and you didn't know where we were going, but you pretended you did. " Nora's smile became real despite herself. Her son, so observant, so wise beyond his years. She knelt down and pulled him into a hug.
"Maybe a little scared. " She admitted. "But it's going to be okay. " "Mr. Ward is a good man, and this means we get to stay here, safe. " "Together. " "That's what matters. " "And he'll be my pa for real? " "Yes. " "For real. " "Good. " Tommy hugged her tighter. "Cuz I like him. " "He's quiet, but he listens when I talk. " "And he doesn't get angry like Uncle Vincent does. " The mention of Vincent sent a chill through Nora. They were doing this because of him, because of the threat he represented.
In a way, Vincent had forced this marriage as surely as if he'd held a gun to their heads. But Nora pushed the thought away. This was her choice, hers and Elias's. Vincent didn't get to taint it. The ceremony was held in the kitchen, of all places, with Miss Maybelle from the neighboring farm and the three ranch hands as witnesses.
Pastor Reynolds, a kind-faced man in his 60s, had agreed to perform the service despite the unusual circumstances. Elias stood by the window, dressed in what was clearly his only suit, dark wool, slightly worn at the elbows, but clean and pressed. He'd shaved and combed his hair back, and the effort he'd made, small as it was, touched something in Nora's chest. He looked up when she entered, and for just a moment something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe, or appreciation.
Then it was gone, locked away behind his usual guardedness. "Ready? " He asked simply. "Ready. " They stood side by side in front of Pastor Reynolds, and the old preacher began the familiar words. "Dearly beloved. " "Gathered here. " "Holy matrimony. " The phrases washed over Nora like water, surreal and distant. This was happening.
She was really doing this. "Do you, Elias Ward, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? " "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse. " "For richer, for poorer. " "In sickness and in health. " "Until death do you part? " "I do. " Elias's voice was steady, certain. "And do you, Nora Gray. " "Take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? " "To have and to hold from this day forward. " "For better, for worse. " "For richer. " "For poorer, in sickness and in health. " "Until death do you part? " Nora opened her mouth. This was the moment. The point of no return.
She could still say no, could still grab Tommy and run, could take her chances with Vincent in the courts and hope for the best. But Tommy stood beside her, his small hand gripping her skirt, his eyes bright with hope and trust. And Elias stood waiting. This hard, lonely man who'd offered her everything and asked for nothing. "I do. " Nora said.
Pastor Reynolds smiled. "Then by the power vested in me by the territory of Oklahoma. " "I pronounce you husband and wife. " "Elias. " "You may kiss your bride. " The room went silent. Nora's eyes met Elias's, and she saw her own panic reflected there. They hadn't discussed this part, hadn't prepared for it. But Miss Maybelle was watching with misty eyes, and the pastor was waiting, and they needed this to look real.
Elias leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. Nora didn't move. His lips brushed hers, barely a touch, over almost before it began, chaste and brief, and nothing like a real wedding kiss. But Nora's heart hammered anyway, and when Elias pulled back, something in his expression had shifted, just slightly, just enough. "Congratulations. " Pastor Reynolds said warmly, breaking the moment.