“I Thought Nobody Would Come,” She Said. The Cowboy Had Ridden All Night to Find Her
Chapter 14
The wedding took place in autumn.
It was small.
There were villagers.
A few friends.
The magistrate.
The priest.
And several children who had been forbidden to throw flowers but did so anyway.
Clara wore a simple ivory gown.
Samuel wore his best dark coat.
The horse he had ridden that night stood outside the church.
Its name was Midnight.
The animal had traveled nearly thirty miles through rain to bring Samuel to Clara.
Clara walked outside after the ceremony.
She placed a hand against Midnight’s neck.
“You nearly killed him.”
Samuel laughed.
“I told you the horse wasn’t responsible.”
“He was.”
“He was doing his job.”
Clara looked at Samuel.
“What job?”
“Getting me here.”
She smiled.
Then they mounted together.
The village watched them ride toward the farm.
At the top of the hill, Samuel stopped.
Below them stretched the Whitmore land.
Fields.
Forest.
River.
Mill.
Farmhouse.
Everything Clara’s father had fought to preserve.
Samuel looked at her.
“Do you regret sending that letter?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Even though I rode all night?”
“That is exactly why.”
He smiled.
“What if I hadn’t come?”
Clara looked at the road.
“I don’t know.”
Then she looked back at him.
“But I knew you would.”
Samuel laughed softly.
“You wrote that you thought nobody would come.”
“I was afraid.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone I trusted had already disappointed me.”
He took her hand.
“And now?”
“Now I know one person will come.”
Samuel kissed her.
The wind moved through the fields.
The river shone beneath the afternoon sun.
And for the first time in many years, Clara felt completely safe.
