No ring.
Frontier life rarely waited for jewelry.
“Martha Bell.”
She smiled.
“Very formal.”
“Don’t interrupt.”
“Sorry.”
He looked suddenly terrified.
She stopped teasing.
“When the land problem started, I thought I was afraid of losing the cabin.”
“I was.”
“But somewhere in the middle, I realized if I lost the cabin and you stayed, I could build another.”
Martha’s eyes filled.
Elias continued.
“If I kept the cabin and you left…”
He stopped.
Could not finish.
Martha whispered:
“I know.”
He took both her hands.
“Marry me.”
No speech.
No flourish.
Two words.
Martha stared.
Years of old voices returned.
Too large.
Too difficult.
Too much.
She looked at this man.
This ridiculous, scarred, grieving mountain man who widened steps without discussing them.
Who let her argue.
Who kissed her publicly.
Who told stories of his dead wife without making Martha compete.
Who wanted her body without pretending it was different from what it was.
Martha asked:
“Are you sure?”
Elias frowned.
“Terrible answer.”
“I need to hear it.”
He stepped closer.
“I am sure.”
“Even if I become heavier?”
“Yes.”
“Even if my knees get worse?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I cannot give you children?”
That one stopped him.
Not because of children.
Because he recognized the fear beneath it.
Elias touched her cheek.
“I have already had a son.”
“And if we never have another child, my life will not be empty.”
Martha’s tears fell.
He smiled.
“You are enough.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
His face fell slightly.
Martha continued:
“I mean don’t say I’m enough like I’m filling every missing part of you.”
He stared.
She squeezed his hands.
“I want to be your wife.”
“Not your cure.”
Elias slowly smiled.
“That is annoyingly wise.”
“Yes.”
“So?”
“So what?”
“Will you marry me?”
Martha laughed.
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
They married in October.
Small settlement church.
Martha wore deep blue.
Not white.
Because she liked blue.
Elias wore a coat Ben forced him to buy.
Halbrook attended.
So did half the town.
Some people came because they cared.
Others because the idea of Elias Thorne marrying the largest woman anyone in three counties had ever seen was irresistible gossip.
Martha knew.
She entered anyway.
No shawl.
No hiding.
Her dress had a low square neckline.
Her hair fell in long waves over one shoulder.
Elias stared as though the church disappeared.
Ben elbowed him.