His lips brushed hers ever so softly. Quickly he drew back, but not before she felt the kiss all the way to her toes. She could almost persuade herself it had only been her imagination. Yet her lips still tingled from his tender touch.
Pastor Manly gave a tight smile. “What God has joined together let no man put asunder.”
Heat pooled in the pit of Louise’s stomach. Oh, why had he said that? She tried to swallow away the burning. It was only heartburn, she told herself, not guilt. Wouldn’t God expect her to do what she must in order to protect those in her care? She cradled her arms around her stomach.
Missy hugged her and kissed her cheek. Aunt Bea patted her arm. Mrs. Hawkins squeezed her hands. “Welcome to the family. I know you’ll make my Nate a happy man.”
Her gaze sought and found Nate. Help, she cried silently. She hadn’t expected to feel so guilty over this.
He met her eyes over Aunt Bea’s head as her aunt shook his hand. Did she imagine he looked as flummoxed as she felt?
She allowed herself to be led into the kitchen where the good china had been set out to welcome the guests. She and Nate were given the place of honor at the head of the table. His mother set a layered cake before them. “Congratulations! You may cut the cake.” She handed Louise the knife. “Nate, you put your hand over hers. It means you will support her and take care of her, and for Louise, it means she will take care of you and your children.”
Children? Louise almost choked. But she must do as instructed, as must Nate. He cupped his hand over hers and they cut a generous slice of cake.
Mrs. Hawkins clapped her hands together in glee. “The bigger the piece, the larger the family, and it looks like you are going to be blessed with lots of children.”
Aunt Bea shook her head. “I always thought it meant a long marriage.”
Why didn’t she know this? It wasn’t as if this was her first wedding. But she and Gordie had gone away to get married in a nearby town and come back as Mr. and Mrs. Porter with little fanfare. The church ladies had offered to hold a tea after the service to honor them, but she knew Gordie wouldn’t likely have agreed to come, so she’d declined.
Nate still held her hand and squeezed as if to encourage her to remain calm.
Aunt Bea and Mrs. Hawkins served tea and sandwiches. Where had they come from? Nate’s mother must have brought them. Aunt Bea cut pieces of cake for everyone and chatted on and on about the kind of marriage Nate and Louise would have. Even Missy added her comments.
Louise couldn’t choke down a single bite and pushed her plate aside to cup her hands around the teacup, seeking the warmth it offered. She would have gulped down the liquid but feared her hand would shake and she’d slosh the tea everywhere.
Pastor Manly seemed to be in no hurry to leave. He asked Aunt Bea about a book he was reading and they entered into a long discussion that was only noise in Louise’s head. The room shifted and swayed. She needed to breathe before she fainted, and concentrated on filling her lungs then releasing the air slowly.
Nate rubbed her back and the faintness passed.
“Feel better now?” Nate whispered, his mouth close enough to her ear that no one else heard.
She slowly brought her gaze round to his. “I didn’t think anyone noticed,” she whispered.
His smile flooded his blue eyes with warmth. “I did. Are you okay?”
“Good as can be expected.” Her words were full of resignation.
He chuckled. “We’ll survive. We’re good at that.”
She nodded. “We do what we must do.”
His gaze held hers. She couldn’t find the strength to turn away.
Still looking into his eyes, she leaned closer to whisper in his ear, “That’s a vow I can make honestly.”
The smile fled from his eyes.
She almost wished she hadn’t reminded him of the dishonesty they’d engaged in...vowing before God to something they didn’t mean to do. But they both understood the step they had taken together.
He patted her hand as if he wanted her to forget that part of the day.
“I must be on my way.” Pastor Manly wished Louise and Nate all the best before Aunt Bea escorted him to the door.
As soon as she returned, Nate spoke loud enough for the others to hear. “I have things to attend to.”
“You’ll be back. You’ll want to stay with your new wife.” Aunt Bea turned pink as a summer rose. “Louise, show him your room.” Poor Aunt Bea could hardly choke the words out.
“What about Missy?” Louise found herself as choked as Aunt Bea. She had to think of a way to refuse.
It was the most uncomfortable moment in her life.
* * *
Nate had things to attend to, but he couldn’t seem to budge from his chair as Aunt Bea’s words blared through his head. She expected them to stay in the same room. Of course she would. They were now man and wife. In the sight of God.
Poor Louise had looked about to faint more than once throughout the long afternoon. Who cared about cake and what it meant? Why couldn’t they all just get on with their business?
But stay the night in the same room? That was taking this pretend marriage too far. “We’ll wait until the baby is born,” he announced.
Aunt Bea made a protesting noise.
He noticed Louise’s shoulders rise, as if she was trying to hide from her aunt and his ma who were about to unleash protests.
Nate’s knee had started to bob up and down and he pressed his free hand to it, his other still clutching Louise’s on the tabletop next to the uneaten piece of cake. Neither of them had touched it after the startling predictions of a long wedded life and a large family. He would release her hand, but he felt the tension in every finger and suspected she might bolt from the table. Perhaps from the house. He couldn’t allow that, not when he’d caught glimpses of Vic wandering past the yard. No doubt wondering what was going on that required Pastor Manly’s presence.
Or did he hold tight to Louise for fear his own legs would bolt for the door, knocking over chairs and perhaps breaking to pieces the flowered teacups made of such fine china that they were almost transparent? The little handles were surely designed to make a man feel as clumsy as an ox.
His ma spoke up, ending the echoing silence. “Are you coming home, Nate? You’re welcome to bring Louise.”
Louise’s hand spasmed beneath his. He had to force himself to remain calm and refrain from squeezing her fingers any tighter.
“Ma, we leave on the stagecoach tomorrow morning. I have to get things organized. If Aunt Bea will allow it, I’ll sleep on the sofa here so we can get going early.” It wasn’t that early and Louise didn’t need any help getting herself ready, but it would enable him to be close by, should Vic grow more troublesome.
“Of course,” Aunt Bea said.
“Then I must get at the preparations. Ma, would you like me to escort you home?”
“I’m ready.”
Aunt Bea gathered up the dishes Ma had brought and held them while Ma pulled on her woolen shawl and winter gloves.
Vic ducked out of sight around the end of the block as Nate stepped from the house. He would confront the man later.
Behind him, the key turned in the lock. Good. Louise hadn’t forgotten to take precautions.
At home he packed his few belongings. In truth, he had little preparation to do. In the morning, he’d take Missy and Louise with him to the depot. He’d ride his horse