“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.
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 what 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.
“They'll be fine for a couple of days, Ginny.” Colby took her hand and looked at her. “We won't be getting much alone time from now on. Let's enjoy it.” His smile melted Ginny's heart.
Despite his previous cantankerous attitude, Ginny now saw something very sweet about Colby. He was a gentleman, but he was also a playful boy. She could see how he wanted to please her, but also take care of her. Ginny turned away suddenly and looked at the landscape.
No, no, no, no, no
, she kept repeating in her head.
I can't fall in love with him. It will hurt that much more when I'm gone.
Her palms grew sweaty and her heart beat too quickly. This was going to be bad.
Using his free hand, Colby turned Ginny's face toward him. When he saw the tears, he grew worried. He kept it to himself until they reached the ranch. Asking Vas to take care of the cart, Colby took Ginny out into the field, southeast of the house. As they were walking, he felt himself feeling real fear. What if she didn't want him anymore? What if she'd changed her mind? What if she'd gotten her memory back and was in love with someone else? As much as Colby didn't want to know, he wouldn't put it off.
They found an old boulder sticking up through the ground and took a seat. Then Colby took Ginny's hands and asked what was wrong.
Ginny wasn't about to be honest with him. He would have her locked up in an insane asylum if he knew the truth about her. So, she told him the first thing that came to mind. With her ability to lie compromised, her words were very close to the truth.
“I might be falling in love with you, Colby.”
Colby let out the breath he'd been holding. Smiling like a cat who'd caught a big, fat mouse, he said, “And that's something to cry about?”
“No.” Ginny hedged while she thought of something to say. Anything, really. Stupid or otherwise. It finally hit her. “What if I get my memory back and it's bad? What if I'm not a good person?”
Colby laughed, but quickly coughed to cover it up. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but to hear her say she might love him, that was about the best thing he'd ever heard in his life. It was better than when he found out he'd been accepted to Columbia.
Taking her face in his hands, Colby leaned down and kissed Ginny gently on the lips. “We'll get through anything together. We're a team, right? You, me, my family. If you love me, there ain't nothing we can't get through.”
Ginny recognized the corniness of the words, but couldn't help but be touched. He was so perfect. But, in the beginning of any relationship, don't people feel like everything is perfect? Keeping that in mind, Ginny smiled and said three little words that shocked her husband. “Let's not wait.”
His eyes grew big as the meaning of her statement finally registered. Sputtering, he asked, “Are you... Are you sure?”
Taking her hand and rubbing his stubbled cheek, she replied, “Of course I'm sure.” She let a big sigh and revealed, “You have no idea how much I want you right now, Colby Miller.”
Colby felt his heart pound in his chest and his breathing become labored. “Oh, I have some idea, Ginny Miller. Can't be any worse than what I've been feeling since shortly after meeting you.”
Ginny turned her head and looked befuddled. “But, you hated me.”
Laughing, he said, “Naw. I was just pretending. Sometimes men like to behave like asses to impress their women.”