“Then it's settled. We'll marry together.”
Bursting with joy, Georgia started going on about all the plans they needed to make. Before she could go on, Ginny stopped her.
“I want to go and help Colby with Nate. Can we chat later?”
“Chat?” Georgia asked, perplexed.
“Talk, discuss, converse...”
“Oh, yes. Of course.”
Finally able to disengage herself, Ginny left and went straight to the barn. When she entered, she didn't know what to expect, but certainly not what she saw. There was Colby, standing under a ladder, with Nate halfway up coming down. Nate had tears in his eyes, but wasn't blubbering. When Colby saw her, he motioned for her to remain quiet.
Ginny sat on a nearby bale of hay and watched the two.
“Do you see what I mean, Nate?” Colby sounded calm, reasonable.
Shaking his head up and down, Nate remained silent.
“Please don't ever do anything like that again to me or to Ginny. If I'd lost either one of you, it would have killed me.”
Colby's voice was so full of emotion, that it almost made Ginny cry. She could feel his pain, and it was like a stab at her. Why had she said they should wait?
“Ginny, what should Nate do today as far as his lessons are concerned?” Colby had turned toward her, his brother tucked under his arm.
Snapping to attention, Ginny responded, “Read the next three chapters of your reader. Prepare a detailed report of what those chapters contain.” Ginny kept her voice solemn, to match the seriousness of their discussion.
“Well, you heard her. Get going.” Colby said, smacking his brother on the bottom to get him moving.
Before he could leave, Nate looked at Ginny and said, “I'm real sorry to make you worry, Ginny. I'm real glad that you're gonna stay.”
Ginny smiled and said, “Me too, kiddo. Get going now so I can talk to your brother, okay?”
Nate smiled and left. Colby sat next to her on the bale of hay and leaned back against the barn wall. He took a deep breath and released it again. Then he gave her a sideways glance.
“Did you think I was gonna hit him?” he asked, mockery in his voice.
“No, I didn't. I came out to help you drive the point home,” Ginny replied, fake derision in her voice.
Laughing, he asked, “Do you want to know what I said to him?”
Ginny turned and looked at him. “Yes, please.” She hardly used any sarcasm at all.
Patting her on the leg as he got up, he said, “Too bad. It's between us men.” With that, he began to leave the barn.
Ginny jumped up and pulled on his arm. “Come on, Colby. Tell me.” She was proud that she barely whined when asking.
“What will you give me if I tell you?” This was a side of Colby that Ginny had never seen. Playful, funny, joyous.
Squirming a bit, she asked, “What do you want?”
Putting his hand on his chin, acting as though in deep thought, he replied, “I don't know.” Turning his gaze to meet hers directly, he said, “A kiss, perhaps.”
“That's it? Done.” With that, she stretched up on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek.
“You'll have to do far better than that, my soon-to-be wife.” Colby grabbed Ginny, threw her over his shoulder and entered the same empty stall he had her in the day before.
He closed the door and laid her gently on the hay. Climbing on top of her, he put his face inches from hers. She could stare into his beautiful blue eyes as he bent closer to kiss her.
Before his lips touched hers, he said, “I believe that you are supposed to kiss me. Not the other way around.”
Ginny pushed him over and climbed on top of him. She moved her face to inches from his and pulled her long hair over so it fell on only one side of her face. Lowering herself closer, she whispered, “Is this better, Colby?”
His eyes widened and he panted out, “Yes. So far, so good.”
With mockery in her eyes, she placed her lips on his. Using her hands, she turned his face and deepened the kiss. When she began to use her tongue, Colby flung her back over onto her back. He was hungry and if he didn't stop this, his good intentions on waiting until they were truly married would mean nothing. But, he decided, one more kiss wouldn't hurt.
It was now his turn to grab her face and shove his tongue in her mouth. Ginny was giving as good as she was getting, so Colby didn't fear taking advantage. When his hands moved on their own and found her breasts, he knew he had to stop. Ginny wasn't making it any easier on him by running her hands up and down his back.
Before all good sense could leave him, he pulled away, laying himself beside her in the clean hay. He adjusted his pants for better comfort, but the only thing that would help would be bedding Ginny. She rolled to look at him, hand under her head, hay in her hair. She was so beautiful, Colby worried that he would grab her again.
“I guess we need to show a little more restraint, huh?” she asked, smiling.
Returning her smile, he replied, “You just plumb make me forget myself, Ginny.”
Putting on a more serious face, Ginny asked, “What are we going to tell the minister today? You've already called me your wife. What excuse will we give him for wanting to get married again?”
Colby leaned over and mirrored her position. “I was thinking about that. I thought we could tell him that since you didn't have a proper church wedding the first time, you decided that we should do it one more time. Just in case.”
“Just in case, what?” Ginny asked, perplexed by his strange logic.
“Just in case you're carrying my child.” The only thing missing was Colby saying, “Duh!”
“Oh. So our fake wedding wouldn't cover babies?”
“Ok, just tell the reverend you liked him so much that you wanted him to perform the ceremony.”
“Lying in church. Good idea, Colby. Do you want me to go to hell?” She sounded appalled.
Laughing, he asked, “As opposed to telling him that we were already married?”
Ginny's eyes widened. “That was all you, Colby. I didn't say a word. My only sin was going along with your lying, and I didn't have a choice. You were very convincing in your arguments.”
They continued to spar, back and forth for a few more minutes, until Ginny's stomach growled, and Colby's willpower began to fail. Before he could grab her again, he sent her inside to eat breakfast and attend the boys.
As Ginny sat down to her plate of eggs, she realized that her scoundrel of a husband never did tell her what he'd said to Nate. And she had paid his price and everything. She figured she would just get it out of Nate later. Smiling as she ate, Ginny took a deep breath in relief that maybe she was doing everything right. Little did she know, what lay right around the corner.
Chapter 25
The six of them took a cart to town: Colby, Ginny, Vas, Georgia, Nate and Frank. Ginny had wanted to keep the boys at home doing their schoolwork, but Colby pointed out that leaving them alone was a bad idea. Although they had changed and their behavior had improved, there was no reason to tempt fate, especially after Nate's latest escapade.
They went to the reverend's house, knowing he wasn't likely at the church at this time of the week anyway. Mrs. Thomas answered the door, apron on and covered in flour. She seemed truly surprised to see the group massed outside her doorway, but was too polite to say anything. With a cheery smile, she welcomed everyone in and showed them to the parlor. Colby gave the boys a penny each to buy some candy at the Mercantile and told them to stay out of trouble. If they got bored, he'd said, they could go to the feed store and watch Noah do his work.
Once the group was seated, Mrs. Thomas asked if they would like any refreshments. “I have some lovely lemonade, if you'd care for some.”
Ginny smiled. The woman was so demure, it almost seemed illogical, like she was more child than adult. “That would be great. Perhaps I could help you...”
“Oh, no. Please stay here. I'll have the reverend come in.�
��
Not more than a minute after she left, Reverend Thomas walked in. He seemed genuinely pleased to see them there, until he spotted Vas. Although he remained civil, it was pretty obvious he was curious why he had joined their party.
Reverend Thomas was brought up in a small town in Texas. His father, a minister as well, had brought him up on stories about the Texas fight for independence. His family had owned land, and his grandparents were slave owners. Thomas remembered his father explaining the order of humanity. The white male population were ordained by God to lead the world with other races existing to serve. It was a heady responsibility, he would think as his father preached.
His mother, a tiny, timid woman, would spend her days in service to the men of his family. It had never bothered him to see his father punish his mother. Most women had to learn their place, which was far below that of their men.
“Good day to you, Brother and Sister Miller. Miss Georgia, I must say that you look lovely this morning. What is it that brings you here today?” It wasn't lost on Ginny that he hadn't even bothered to address Vas. She let it go, for the time being.
Colby, who had been relaxed, had stiffened noticeably as well. “Thank you for seeing us, Reverend. We're here to arrange a wedding ceremony.”
Thomas looked surprised. “A wedding? But, dear Brother Colby, you're already married, correct?”
“Legally, yes, Reverend. But, my wife has decided that she has always wanted a church wedding, so we're here to arrange one.” Colby kept his voice even. He knew that when he mentioned that Georgia and Vas were to marry as well, it could cause problems. The last thing Colby wanted was more problems.
At this news, the reverend seemed pleased. He assumed that Vas and Georgia were there to be witnesses. “That is splendid news. As you can see, I don't do many weddings, so any day you wish for the ceremony to be, I'm most likely available.”
Before they could explain the double wedding, Mrs. Thomas returned with a tray of lemonade. She gave a glass to Colby, Ginny, Georgia and Reverend Thomas. No glass was given to Vas. She left before anything could be said.
No one said a word, so Ginny decided she'd had enough. “Reverend, is your wife returning with another glass?”
The minister stiffened and replied, “Of course not.”
“But you have another guest in your parlor, sir.” Ginny's voice was growing more cross.
“Ginny, it's not necessary.” This came from Vas. His face pleaded with her to drop it before it got out of hand.
Too late for that, Ginny thought.
Placing her glass on the side table, Ginny rose from her seat. Colby placed a hand on her arm and gave her a look of warning. Although she didn't want to cause them any trouble, some things couldn't go unsaid.
Sitting slowly, she turned to the minister and said, “I really love Jesus, don't you?” Her voice was jovial, almost childlike in it's admiration.
The reverend, who had been stealing himself for a fight, looked perplexed for a moment. Then he replied, “Yes, I do, obviously, as I've made it my life's work to spread his holy gospel.”
“Jesus taught us charity and kindness. He taught us the value of humanity above greed and selfishness. He taught us that to include was a virtue. Would you agree, Reverend?” Ginny's eyes were wide with wonderment.
“Of course,” he said, still not seeing where Ginny was going with this.
“I read that he used to hang out with society's rejects: The poor, the sick and the women.” Ginny's voice was sweet, no sarcasm or contention.
“Did you? And where did you read that?”
Instead of answering, she kept on her train of thought. “He was honest and charitable. He would never deny someone help based on ignorance. He was truly an archetype of decent behavior.” Ginny was on a role, almost sounding like a minister on a pulpit. Can you give me a hallelujah?
“What's your point, Ginny?” This came from Colby, who had the old exasperation in his voice.
Keeping her eyes squarely on the minister, she said, “What I mean is this. By denying Vas a glass of lemonade, the Reverend is spitting on the lessons that Jesus taught us. If he is truly a minister of God, then Vas could be the devil himself, and he should still be charitable and kind. Turn the other cheek and all that, hey Reverend?” Ginny's voice had turned from sweet and innocent, to sarcastic and pissed.
“He is a half breed. His mother is a heathen and his father was a Mexican,” sputtered Thomas, clearly unused to having anyone, never mind a woman, question his faith.
Standing up once again, Ginny looked down at the man. “So what! He is still a man, born the same way you were. He is a good person, who happens to be in love and willing to make a life long commitment to Georgia. How is that any different than what Colby and I want to do? Or what you did with your wife?”
Oops! Ginny thought when she saw his face turn white as he turned to stare at Vas and Georgia. She'd forgotten that they hadn't mentioned yet that there was a part two to their reason for being there.
The Reverend stood up and looked down at Colby. “I suggest you control your wife, Brother Miller. She is out of her place here.”
Before Colby could speak, Ginny said, “I don't need Colby to speak for me. I, too, am a person. I can defend myself.”
The strike came out of nowhere and sent Ginny to the floor. It wasn't the first time she'd been hit, and it never got any easier. She saw stars. But before Colby could do anything, she got up and cold cocked the reverend in the face. It was a pleasure to see the minister down on his knees.
Colby came up behind her and grabbed her. As the reverend stared up at her, clearly confused, she spat, “Don't you ever touch me again. Unlike your timid wife, I fight back.” With that, she pulled away from Colby and left the house. Damned if she was ever going to set foot in that church again.
Georgia and Vas, who finally came to their senses after the shock of seeing Ginny hit the minister in the face, quietly took their leave as well. Only Colby remained behind.
Reaching down, he gave the Reverend his hand to help him up. As the man stood, Colby said, quietly, but menacingly, “If you ever lay a hand on my wife again, I will kill you. No real man lays a hand on a woman. It ain't right. Good day, Reverend.” Then he turned and walked out of the room. As he left the house, he saw Mrs. Thomas hiding behind the stairs. The smile on her face was telling enough.
*******
As they collected up the boys, nobody said a word. When Frank and Nate saw Ginny's budding shiner, they wouldn't stop asking questions about it. They were almost halfway home when Ginny finally spoke up.
“I'm sorry. But he wouldn't have married you two anyway.”
It was Colby who responded. “He may have, Ginny, if Vas pretended to convert.”
Ginny was incredulous. “So, he would have to lie? What the hell's the point? And if you think for one second that his dislike of Vas has to do with religion, think again.”
Vas answered this time. “Well, it could have saved us a trip into Laramie or Cheyenne to get hitched.”
Everyone was surprised when Georgia spoke up. “No, Ginny's right. I want our ceremony to be about love. Short of my already being pregnant, he wouldn't have married us.”
Colby turned toward Vas. “She ain't pregnant, is she?”
Ginny placed her hand on Colby's arm. “You don't think much of chaperoning skills, do you?”
He softened at this and kept quiet. They all remained quiet for a few more minutes as they contemplated their new dilemma. Colby and Ginny were fine, although their wedding was questionably legal. But Colby wouldn't allow Vas to take Georgia until they'd done it right. After all, she was his only sister.
“Is there a Justice of the Peace or judge that could perform the ceremony?” Ginny wondered if that was even an option in this time period.
“No. If someone needs to go to trial, the sheriff transports them to Cheyenne.”
“Are there any other ministers?” Ginny was grasping at straws, but wh
at else could she do. She felt responsible for Vas and Georgia putting off their wedding, all because she couldn't play nice with the bigot.
“We'll just have to make a trip into Cheyenne. We'll only be gone a couple of days. Tim can handle the ranch until we get back.” Colby was being suspiciously reasonable. Ginny wondered if he was as desperate to have her, as she was him.
“We can spend the wedding night in a nice hotel,” Vas said, staring at his bride. Georgia blushed a nice crimson color and turned her head to giggle.
“What about the boys?” Ginny asked. She thought she could threaten them to make sure they were good, but with those two, who knew.
A Lesson in Patience Page 17
