Lawfully Betrothed

by Ginny Sterling

  Time passed ever so slowly for her. The cookies were made, the pies were cooling, and the cider cake had been attacked by Titania. She promptly declared it was her favorite cake ever, inspiring Faye to whip up another. She’d send the first cake home with the young girl as a thank you for all her help today and deliver the other to the social tomorrow.

  They had their stew together near the hearth and braided each other’s hair again. This time into twin braids curled around the crown of their heads. Holding up a small mirror, she watched Titania’s face as a bevy of emotions crossed her expression.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I guess I never realized just how much I look like my daddy. I thought I always looked like my mother.”

  “I’m guessing that you’ve your mother’s lovely red hair and your daddy’s pretty eyes. A perfect combination of both of them.”

  “Your eyes are blue. I like them. We look really different, don’t we?”

  “A bit. Everyone is unique and special in their own way. Even if you had siblings, none would look just like you. They might be similar, but you are special and always will be.”

  “I will never have a brother or sister.”

  “Don’t say that,” Faye chided, suddenly uncomfortable where the conversation was going. “You don’t know what the future holds, no one does. Shall we put some flowers in your hair, oh great Queen Titania of the fairies?”

  “Have you heard the story?”

  “Part of it, come. Let’s play pretend,” she invited and grabbed a small dried sprig of herbs and baby’s breath that she had tied together with ribbon hanging from a nail. Plucking off several of the dried flowers, she tucked them in the braid that circled her forehead, making it look like a crown. Titania gazed in the mirror and watched.

  “Can I fix yours?”

  “Of course, I think there is enough for both of us.”

  Titania made her sit on the small rocking chair by the fireplace so she could reach her forehead easily. Faye found that her crown of flowers nearly mimicked Titania’s. At her large yawn, she glanced up. She saw that it was now dark outside and began to worry where Gabriel had ridden off to.

  “Your daddy said he would be late,” Faye announced suddenly, hating the small fib. She assumed he was alright, just late. She hated to tell the girl that she was concerned about where he was but would make do and get her tucked into bed until he returned.

  “How about we pretend that you are camping out here for the night? You can sleep in the bedroom and I will wait up for him. When he gets here, I promise I will wake you up and let you know he’s back.”

  Nodding sleepily, Faye brought her into her room. It was strange tucking someone into bed in her own bed. Was this what it was like to be a mother? To have a family? As she lay down dressed in her bed, she pulled a coverlet up over the young girl, smoothing her cheek.

  “Relax and go to sleep,” she coached softly. Tiptoeing back to her rocker near the hearth, she wrapped a shawl around her and banked the fireplace for the night. Checking the latch on the front door, she set the bar into place securing it for the night in case Gabriel did not return for some reason. Taking a seat in her rocking chair, she found herself nodding off as well, exhausted from the day.

  Hours passed, and a loud rapping noise came from the front door. Leaping to her feet, she quickly undid the latch and opened it to find Gabriel standing there looking beyond exhausted. He stepped inside without a word, pulling her into his arms. His cool lips trembled against hers as she realized that he was chilled. She broke the kiss and lay her warm hands on both of his cheeks in an effort to warm him up.

  “Gabriel! Are you all right?”

  “Yes, just a bit nippy outside,” he admitted, shivering. “Been out at the Harris place on the ridge for a while watching. I think I finally saw where the rustlers are holed up at.” Faye pulled him inside and pushed him towards the fireplace, stoking it with a poker.

  “I should go, but I thought I would come by and pick up Titania.”

  “She’s fine. She’s fast asleep in my room.”

  “Thank you for caring for her. I never intended to be gone this long but I knew she was safe with you.” He handed her the empty lunch pail she’d packed for him. “Thank you again.”

  “Of course!” she said nervously, realizing just how alone they were in the small house. With Titania in the other room fast asleep, Gabriel’s presence was overwhelming and incredibly intimate in the dim firelight.

  “I’m so glad I came back,” he admitted, kneeling down and sticking his hands closer to the fireplace.

  “Me too. It’s been wonderful getting to know you.”

  “Faye,” he said gently, getting to his feet again and looking at her. “I won’t press because I’m exhausted, but the last few days the thought of seeing you has made me feel alive again. Today, seeing you here with my daughter? Standing there at the door waiting for me when I returned? I know now the life we could have together. I am more certain that we’ll marry just as we promised each other years ago.”

  “Gabriel, we shouldn’t talk of this now. It’s late.”

  “Do you not want to become my wife?”

  “I can’t answer that yet. Yes? No? I don’t know, but we are still getting to know each other.”

  “I know in my heart that this is right between us. I spent a lot of time thinking today as I waited up on that ridge. The only thing that kept burning in my mind was that I needed to be the right man for you, for both of you. I don’t know if I am or not, but I am completely sure that you are the right woman for me. That I was meant to come back to you.”

  “That is faith,” she said gently. “You have to be sure and comfortable, look blindly and know that it’s going to be alright.”

  “I lost that feeling long ago, when I was afraid. But I look at you, at what we are? This feeling I get when I look in your eyes. I felt it then and I feel it now. This, we, are meant to be- from the very beginning. Maybe you were right that things shape us, mold us into who we are supposed to be. I know that if I had been lucky enough to stay that day long ago, to get to know the ‘six, almost seven’ year old Faye? That I might not realize what a treasure you are to me now.”

  Nodding thickly, she understood what he was trying to say. She’d changed and grown so much over the years as well. There was no way she’d have been content to blindly go into a marriage with someone that she didn’t feel deep respect for. The way this man loved his child and how he struggled along the way impressed her to no end. He fought for everything he loved in his life and was now fighting for her, trying to sway her reluctance in getting married quickly.

  “Sit with me tomorrow at the service,” she invited with a quiet, shy smile. It was a big hurdle for her because she wasn’t supposed to ride with men or fraternize with them. She was declaring her interest as boldly as she was currently able to. It terrified her, yet in her heart she knew it was right.

  “You couldn’t keep me away.”

  “I have no doubt of that,” she said laughing softly. “Are you warming up?”

  “My heart is warm,” he admitted softly with a smile, “I’m fine. Let me get Titania and we’ll go.”

  “Why don’t you just let her sleep here and rest? I can walk with her in the morning to church and she can carry her cookies she baked.”

  “Thank you then, Faye. I will head out and meet you both at the church.” Faye blushed and felt a pang of guilt at sending him out into the night yet again. It was cold, and he was obviously fatigued, but staying was simply not an option.

  “Please be safe.”

  “I will,” he promised, walking towards the door. “Bolt it after me and kiss me goodnight.” Faye happily complied. She was growing so comfortable in the way he looked at her, the way he kissed her. It was like they’d been made to be together.

  8

  Faye and Titania walked into town together the next morning. The young girl carefully carried the trays of cookies, her face alit with a
pride that was unmistakable. Faye loved that she had given her that confidence, this happiness that she had found since arriving into town. There was nothing like dealing with the loss of a parent and she couldn’t imagine losing a beloved one at that. When her own parents had passed, Faye had to deal with the guilt that came flooding into her soul. She had felt relief, not the crushing sadness that had been in Titania’s eyes.

  Now, it was evident that the young girl was finding her footing, her place, in town. She was attending school and developing relationships slowly with others over the last few days. Attending church would give her an inner strength, a confidence in knowing there is more love to be had. Frankly, it would help her to be able to grow closer to her father, so he could be the parent she needed.

  The two of them set their donations along the large tables that had been arranged near the church. The picnics brought out everyone in the town. This was how they came together as a community, as a people. They were given the chance to meet, talk, worship and commune with each other in an open, friendly environment. Faye smiled widely to several people near her, introducing her newest student to the community. Looking over their shoulder, she met Gabriel’s strong gray eyes full of fierce pride.

  She cleared her throat and shook her head ever so slightly hoping he would get the idea she was trying to send to him. The pastor and mayor were not far away from where she stood. They had been the ones to approve her position and they could electively have her removed if she was seen as a poor example for the children. Waving, smiling, and carrying on with a man to whom she wasn’t married or engaged to was beyond the pale. While she might consider in her heart that Gabriel was the one for her, in the town it had yet to be announced or posted.

  His face dropped, and she knew he understood but didn’t like it. He stood back, his arms crossed on his chest as he watched from the sidelines. No one said a word or disturbed him. It was obvious they thought the ranger was there to protect them all from the rustlers. Faye knew he was there for her and Titania.

  A bell mounted on a wooden pole nearby was rung, indicating service was to begin. Faye ushered the young girl inside and coached her on how to behave. It almost made her laugh as she saw Titania’s neatly folded hands in her lap, mimicking her own exactly. Their braided hair complete with the baby’s breath was still in place, only Faye’s was hidden underneath a lace cap she’d donned under her sun bonnet. It would not do to have an extensive amount of questioning on why the two females both had flowers in their hair. That would only lead to the explanation that she’d spent the night at her home, which would then lead to questions about Gabriel.

  “Miss Miller, a pleasure to meet you once again. Last time, we were children. Were we not?” she heard Gabriel’s voice announce loudly and formally. He was making sure that it looked to be the first time they’d met; however, he was also telling others that they’d met once before. Faye felt her face pale as she stared up at him, her face the epitome of politeness.

  “Of course, Mr. Reardon. At least twenty years or so, I believe.”

  “May my daughter and I join you for the service?”

  “Everyone is welcome in God’s house, is that not correct?”

  Gabriel took his seat beside Titania, putting her directly between them. Faye glanced over out of the corner of her eyes to see that he was watching her as well. The upturned side of his mouth betrayed the solemn expression on his face, revealing that slight dimple she remembered from when they were children. Silently, he lay his hand over his heart and gave a slight pat. Faye stared at him for just a moment and then blushed fiercely, unable to resist smiling. That was where he had the heart shaped rock hidden on him today.

  As the sermon starts, Faye is enraptured by the pastor’s words. He is talking about integrity and love. His story is from the passage of Mark and the oil anointed on the Lord, speaking of these beautiful things done out of love.

  “You do what you can,” the pastor invoked emphatically, “because you are called upon to show your love. That pure, impulsive love. When you feel it, it takes you by surprise- maybe your child does the chores for you, so you don’t have to? Or perhaps, your spouse brings you home a few chickens, not because you don’t have enough to do! But perhaps because you’ve needed a new pillow for some time now and that was the only way he could get the feathers that were needed. He thought of you, he gave to you.”

  “Maybe it was just a leaf or a rock,” Gabriel whispered aloud staring straight ahead, his hand over his heart.

  “I don’t understand,” Titania whispered confused, tugging on the arm of his jacket. “What rock?”

  “It’s nothing, my sweet, lovely girl,” he breathed, kissing the top of her red head. Faye struggled to keep her eyes glued to the pulpit as Gabriel’s words burned in her head. She swallowed hard, her emotions railing wildly under her calm exterior. She wanted to touch him, kiss him again and spend hours talking with him.

  As if he read her mind, he lay his palm on Titania’s gloved hands. His hand was so close to her own! Faye gingerly and slowly walked her hand down her own leg closer to their hands. Her fingers crawling ever so slightly, until her extended pinky touched his hand just barely. Glancing at him just under her eyelashes, she saw him smile widely and felt his hand take hold of hers, laying it on Titania’s and covering the two hands with his own. Faye glanced down at Titania, only to see the girl’s warm eyes smiling up at her. This was right, this was love. The three sat there the rest of the time, holding hands secretly.

  Once the service was ending and everyone got to their feet to sing the final hymn, she noticed that Titania resisted letting go of her hand. Instead, she grasped it tightly and smiled ever so sweetly at her. How could she resist the imploring look the young girl gave her? Faye held her hand, knowing that would be accepted, but holding Gabriel’s hand in public would not be.

  Filing out of the church, Faye walked sedately behind the others. She did not want to draw attention to herself or the fact that Titania had not released her hand yet. Gabriel was very close by and that could be played off as the church being crowded. As she stepped out into the blinding sunlight, she squinted and pulled her bonnet as far forward as possible to keep the glare from the Texas sun off her face. Faye turned towards the sound of a rider entering town. That was odd. Almost everyone was gathered at the picnic and certainly didn’t ride at breakneck speed through the streets. Gabriel darted forward with recognition on his face.

  “Sam! What is it?”

  The other man jumped down off his horse and talked to Gabriel in a very hushed voice. Faye noticed that the man had a small badge on his vest, pitted and scratched, but the implication was clear. He was a lawman and Gabriel knew him.

  “We’ll go now,” she heard Gabriel’s voice say firmly. “This is our chance and I thank you for bringing me the information, Sam.”

  “Of course. We are brothers at arms and that is what we do. We take care of our family.” She could see that Gabriel was touched by Sam’s words and it near broke her heart. Knowing what she knew now, she realized that he truly believed no one would aide him and that he had no family but Titania. Did he think himself unworthy of love or belonging with others? She could see why after being abandoned and outcast all his life. Faye believed that is what made him all the more special, how driven he was to find love and hang onto it.

  Gabriel turned and spoke directly with the mayor and several other men. The rustlers had managed to take several head of steer from a nearby settlement and were certain to return to their hideout in the area. Sam had brought word of their sightings and wanted to end this once and for all, but with rumor of there being so many rustlers? Sam said that he wanted to help Gabriel capture, not send him to do an impossible task.

  “He’s more than capable of taking in several men by himself, but if ambushed? Or any get away? That paints a target on my brother,” Sam spoke up suddenly, “as well as on your town. We’ll get them.”

  “We’ll find them all together and retu
rn the missing steers.” Gabriel reiterated fiercely. “I’m glad you’ve come, Sam. I’ll need a best man for my wedding.”

  Appalled, Faye heard his words spoken aloud and saw Gabriel turn and walk directly to where she and Titania stood together. This cannot be happening, she thought wretchedly. Her heart surged in happiness as her mind screamed in denial that she could lose her teaching position. Male teachers could be married, female teachers could not be.

  “Miss Miller,” Gabriel began politely and smiled. “Faye, will you take care of Titania until I return? When I return safely, I want to become a family. I want you for my wife. I’ll not wait another twenty years for my betrothed or let things tear us apart again.”

  His tender gaze told her that he cared for her. She looked down to see Titania beaming in happiness at the idea of them being married. Glancing over Gabriel’s shoulder, she saw several frowns of reproach on the townspeople’s faces. She was supposed to be a pillar, a role model, and here she was carrying on with a man who wanted to marry her.

  In public.

  “We’ll talk when you return safely,” she said politely.

  “Yes, we will. Faye, I’ll have my fairy bride to wife,” he told her, his dark head nodding and his steely gray eyes locked on hers. She didn’t want him to feel pushed away or unwanted! The timing and delivery of his message was so public, so open. It scared her for good reason.

  “Gabriel,” she breathed fearfully as she stared up at him. She wanted to tell him why she was frightened and how she felt about him. She cared for him more than she wanted to admit. She felt whole around him.

  “Please be careful,” Faye told him instead, with a tight nod of encouragement. She held up Titania’s hand firmly in her own. “I will take care of her until you return.”