"May your marriage be blessed with peace and prosperity. " The hands cheered. Miss Maybelle dabbed at her eyes. Tommy whooped and threw his arms around both of them at once, creating an awkward three-way embrace that made everyone laugh. And just like that, it was done. Nora Gray was now Nora Ward, and there was no going back.
The celebration, such as it was, consisted of a simple lunch Miss Maybelle had prepared. Cold chicken, fresh bread, and a cake that was slightly lopsided, but tasted like heaven. They ate on the porch, the autumn air crisp and clean, and for a little while it almost felt like a real wedding, like they were a real family gathering to celebrate a real union. But as the afternoon wore on and the guests departed, reality settled back in. This wasn't a real marriage, it was a legal maneuver.
And now they had to figure out how to live with that. That evening, after Tommy was asleep and the house was quiet, Nora sat alone in what was now legally her home, wearing a ring that had belonged to two women before her, married to a man she barely knew. She heard at Elias's footsteps on the porch. He was preparing to retreat to the barn, as always. But before he could leave, Nora opened the door.
Elias, wait. He turned, his expression wary. Something wrong? No, I just I wanted to say that I'll try my best to make this work. To be a good wife, even if it's not a traditional marriage.
You've given me and Tommy so much. I want you to know I won't take that for granted. Elias studied her for a long moment, then quietly, "I don't think you're broken, Nora, and I'd learn to love right if you let me. " The words hung in the air, vulnerable and unexpected. Before Nora could respond, before she could process what he'd just admitted, a voice called out from the road. "Well, well, isn't this touching? " Vincent Gray rode into the yard, and he wasn't alone.
Behind him were two men, one wearing a badge, the other in a suit that screamed lawyer. "Hope I'm not interrupting the happy couple," Vincent said with false cheer, "but I told you I'd be back. This is Marshall Cooper and Mr. Thornton, my attorney. We've come to serve papers regarding custody of Thomas Gray, or should I say Thomas Ward now.
Heard about your hasty little wedding. Very convenient timing. " The marshal dismounted, looking uncomfortable. "Ma'am, sir, I'm sorry about this, but Mr. Gray has filed a petition with the territorial court. I need to serve you these papers and inform you of a custody hearing scheduled for 2 weeks from now. " He held out an official-looking document.
Elias took it, his expression carved from stone. "This legal? " he asked the marshal. "Yes, sir. Mr. Gray is the boy's blood uncle and has standing to petition for custody.
The judge will hear both sides and make a determination. " Vincent's smile was triumphant. "You see, Nora, your little marriage doesn't change anything. I'm still family. I still have rights. And when I tell the judge about your circumstances, how you stumbled onto this ranch destitute and desperate, how you've been living here unmarried for weeks, how you suddenly married the rancher right before I filed papers, well, it's going to look exactly like what it is, a desperate ploy by a woman of questionable character. " "You son of a" Elias started forward, but Nora grabbed his arm.
"Don't. That's what he wants. " "Smart girl," Vincent said. "For once. See you in court, sister-in-law. Oh, and Elias, I hope your ranch hand wages were worth becoming part of this mess, because when I win, and I will win, you're going to wish you'd stayed out of it. " He wheeled his horse and rode off, the lawyer following.
The marshal lingered, looking apologetic. "For what it's worth," he said quietly, "I hope you folks work this out. Boy looked happy here from what I could see, but the law's the law. You'll need to appear at the courthouse in 2 weeks. Bring whatever documentation you can.