12. Scar
CHAPTER 12
SCAR
I wake up to the sound of my phone ringing. I groan because I have Evelyn in my arms, and I don't want to move. The sunrise was starting to fill the sky when we finally closed our eyes last night, and with no plans today I planned to not let her out of bed.
I reach for my phone and see it’s Ruby.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Don't tell me you are still in bed!” she scolds with no hello.
“Didn't get to bed until after six a.m.,” I say with a smile.
“Well, you better get your butt down to the Merc your item is here,” Ruby says. I can hear the excitement in her voice.
Instantly, I'm wide awake.
“We will be there shortly,” I say and hang up.
“Be where? What time is it?” Evelyn asks, sleep filling her voice.
I set my phone down and lean over and kiss her.
“We need to get to the Merc. It's almost noon,” I tell her and slide out of bed to get the coffee going. We are both going to need it this morning.
It takes a lot of convincing and a lot of coffee to get her out of bed and ready to walk out the door. But she can tell I’m excited and that something is up. Even if I won't tell her what’s going on, I don't hide it either.
By the time we get into town and to the Merc, I can tell her curiosity is getting the best of her.
“I don't know if I can handle any more surprises right now. Please tell me,” she begs as I park the truck.
“I promise you will love this one,” I say as I get out of the truck and go open her door for her.
“But…” she starts.
Stopping her, I lean in and give her a quick kiss. “Get inside so I can show you,” I say before she can finish that sentence.
I take her hand and lead her inside the Merc and head straight to Ruby who is behind the counter.
“There you are! Wait right here,” Ruby says. Then she disappears in the back and emerges a moment later with a small bag in her hand.
“Now Ruby, you won't want to miss this,” I say, knowing she will want to be front row center to whatever happens.
I glance around the Merc and a few of Ruby's friends are here, Lolli and Peggy who are enjoying a coffee, and one of Orville friends from the cafe is talking to him on the other side of the store. Here goes nothing.
Pulling the black velvet box from the bag, I set it on the counter so I can take Evelyn's hand with the other.
“Everything I said last night, I meant. I love you and I think I fell in love the moment you stepped off that bus. There was no doubt in my mind I was going to marry you. The only question was when. I wanted to do this the right way, so I asked Ruby to help me.” I hold up the black box and Evelyn gasps.
It must be obvious to Evelyn what is going on, but that isn't going to stop me from doing this right. So, dropping to one knee, I open the box and look up at Evelyn. Tears are streaming down her face, but the love I see in her eyes spurs me on.
“Will you be my wife and stay here with me in Mustang Mountain?” I ask. The rest of my words I had planned are stuck in my throat.
“Yes!” she cries.
Everyone in the Merc erupts into applause.
Evelyn drops to her knees as I slide the ring on her finger. Then she launches herself into my arms before I get a chance to say anything else. As I hold her, I’m content knowing I get to do this for the rest of my life. It was exactly what I was praying so hard for last night.
“This is the first proposal in the store in over five years! I am so excited for you two,” Ruby says with tears in her eyes.
What Evelyn says next shocks the hell out of me.
“Let's head to the courthouse and get married right now,” she says.
“I'm down, if you’re sure?” I ask.
“Never been surer of anything in my life,” she laughs joyfully.
“Everyone out! Orville, we have a wedding to put together!” Ruby says.
Then she closes the Merc and drags her husband to the courthouse with us.
When we enter the courthouse, Ruby rips Evelyn away from me and Orville takes me to the room where the ceremony will be performed. I've never been more thankful that we had the forethought to fill out the paperwork ahead of time. That way we could make sure that we wouldn't have any issues meeting the contract deadline. Because now that means everything is ready to go and all we have to do is say “I do.”
While I know it can't be more than twenty minutes that Evelyn is in the back room with Ruby, it feels like a lifetime. Orville laughs at my pacing the front of the room.
“When Ruby and I got married, I didn't see her the whole day of the wedding. She wanted to say I do at sunset, and I was pulling my hair out by the time she walked down the aisle. I was ready to march her back up the aisle and say screw the reception. It was all worth it though,” Orvile says with a chuckle.
I have no doubt that it will all be worth it. But after last night, I just don't like not having Evelyn at my side. I have to keep reminding myself she chose me, and she chose Mustang Mountain.
When Evelyn finally walks through the doors, my jaw nearly hits the ground. Her hair is done up and there are small white flowers braided into it. She has on an ankle length white wool jacket buttoned up, so it looks like a dress, and she has a small bouquet of flowers in her hand. She looks just like a bride, even though none of this was planned.
Her face is wreathed in a smile that lights up her face. When her twinkling eyes meet mine, tears burn my eyes. Dammit! I don't care who sees them because my woman is walking down the aisle to marry me today. She will be mine, and I can’t think of a better way to end the year.
The entire ceremony is blurry because I can't take my eyes away from her as we stare at each other and repeat the words Orville tells us to. Thank God, Ruby thought to record the whole thing on her phone for us. Because that moment when I get to kiss my wife is the most magical moment in my life, and I want to share it with everyone.
“Let's go tell the guys,” I whisper against her lips when we finally need to pull apart for air.
She nods, and with that beautiful smile gracing her face, we thank Ruby and Orville. Then, joyfully, we walk down the road to the train station to tell the guys the news.
It’s quiet when we walk in, but everyone turns to greet us, shouting hello. Ford and Luna are also there and give us big smiles.
“I have an announcement,” I say over all the chatter, and everyone stops to look at me.
“I'd like to introduce my new wife, Evelyn, as of a few minutes ago,” I say.
Evelyn holds up her left hand, showing off the ring, and everyone cheers and starts talking at once.
The women rush over and hug Evelyn and to get all the details. While the men walk up and shake my hand and congratulate me. Everyone is laughing and smiling when Atlas walks in and everyone quiets down.
“Sorry to dampen the mood, but we have a problem,” Atlas says, holding up a Christmas card in his hand.
Thunder walks over and takes it from him, reading it out loud.
“Thanks for taking care of Savage Bones for us and enjoy your last Christmas in Mustang Mountain,” Thunder reads.
A chill races down my spine.
The room is quiet, and Evelyn presses herself to my side.
“Who is it from?” I ask.
“The developer that just bought the Hot Springs,” Atlas answers, and my heart sinks.
I turn to Evelyn. Her eyes are wide and questioning and it’s obvious her mind is spinning and she’s alarmed.
“You didn't sign up for this…” I start.
She places a finger over my lips.“I signed up for a life with you . We will fight this together .”
Everyone around us agrees. All the couples nod and Atlas takes a deep breath.
“Now, I think it's even more important that anyone who has plans to get married does so in the next few weeks. Sheriff Lawson will do what he has to do to uphold the law. God forbid we have to enact spousal immunity, but if necessary, we will,” Atlas says.
The message is clear: we fight hard. We aren't starting off soft like we did with Savage Bones.