The Town Laughed at Her Empty Market Stall. One Lonely Cowboy Bought Everything
Chapter 14
They married in spring.
There was no grand ceremony.
Only the chapel.
The minister.
Thomas’s closest neighbors.
Anna’s brother.
And the people whose farms had been saved.
Anna wore a simple cream-colored dress.
Thomas wore his best dark coat.
When she reached him, he smiled.
“You came.”
She laughed.
“I live here.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you surprised?”
“Because sometimes I still think I’ll wake up and find the market empty.”
She touched his hand.
“It isn’t empty anymore.”
The minister smiled.
“Do you take this woman?”
Thomas looked at Anna.
“I do.”
“And you?”
Anna answered:
“I do.”
Outside, bells rang.
Children ran across the grass.
Someone brought bread.
Someone else brought wine.
Thomas and Anna stood beneath the old oak tree.
“Do you remember the first day?” she asked.
“Every detail.”
“I hated everyone laughing.”
“I know.”
“You bought everything.”
“I did.”
“Even though there was nothing.”
He smiled.
“Especially because there was nothing.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
Thomas answered:
“Because I knew one day that empty table would be full.”
