Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sam leaned against the post outside the saloon, his sharp eyes watching Daniel as he approached. Without a word, he took a swig from his canteen before lowering it and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“You care to be my bondsman?” Daniel called out as he hopped out of the cart.
“So,” Sam drawled, his voice casual but with a note of curiosity, “you really plannin’ to make an honest woman of her, huh?”
Daniel glanced at him, his jaw tight, but there was no avoiding it now. He nodded. “Yeah. It’s time.”
Sam raised an eyebrow, pushing off the post and stepping beside him as they started walking down the street toward the courthouse. “You sound real sure of yourself,” he remarked, though his tone wasn’t mocking. “Didn’t think I’d see the day.”
Daniel gave a grunt. “Ain’t much choice now, is there?”
Sam chuckled under his breath. “Oh, there’s always a choice. Just depends if you’re gonna be a man about it.”
Daniel didn’t respond right away, but the words hit him.
He wasn’t running from the idea of marriage, but that didn’t mean the whole thing didn’t sit heavy in his gut.
Edith needed him, that much was clear. And truth be told, he needed her just as much.
But putting it all down on paper, making it official? It felt… real.
“Look, I ain’t tryin’ to make this harder on you,” Sam said, glancing sideways at him. “But if you’re gonna do it, you best be all in.”
Daniel’s footsteps slowed a bit. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Sam said, his tone turning serious, “that girl’s been through enough.
You marry her, you don’t just protect her from that good-for-nothin’ father of hers.
You make a promise you’re gonna be there—no matter what.
” He paused. “I know you, Daniel. You keep to yourself, always have. But Edith? She’s not some project you can fix and then walk away from. ”
Daniel let out a long breath, stopping just outside the courthouse steps. “You think I don’t know that?”
Sam looked him straight in the eye. “I think you do. I also think you’re scared out of your mind.”
Daniel clenched his fists, the tension in his shoulders tight, but Sam wasn’t wrong. “Yeah. I am.”
Sam grinned faintly, nodding. “Good. Means you care.”
Without another word, they headed up the steps and into the courthouse. The musty air inside hit Daniel immediately, the scent of old wood and paperwork filling the narrow hallways. The clerk sat at his usual spot behind the counter, barely glancing up as they approached.
“Here for a marriage bond,” Daniel said, his voice steady, though his pulse quickened.
The clerk looked over his glasses at the two of them, raising an eyebrow. “You got a bondsman?”
Sam stepped forward, giving the clerk a brief nod. “That’s me.”
The clerk sighed, rifling through a stack of documents until he pulled out a sheet of paper. He slid it across the counter. “Sign here.”
Sam took the pen first, scribbling his name quickly. As he handed the pen to Daniel, he couldn’t resist another jab.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Sam said, shaking his head. “I thought for sure Mary and I’d be celebrating our grandkids before you made a move like this.”
Daniel gave him a dry look. “What, you think I’m slow on the draw?”
Sam chuckled. “Nah, I just figured you’d be so set in your ways that I’d be buryin’ you with that old rifle of yours, no ring in sight.”
Daniel leaned over the paper, his signature slow and deliberate. His hand hovered just a moment before he finished the last stroke of his name. When he straightened, he felt different—like there was no turning back now.
The clerk stamped the paper, handing it over with a disinterested grunt. “You’re all set. Head over to the church to finalize things.”
Outside, the sunlight felt too bright as they stepped back onto the street. Sam gave Daniel a nod, his grin fading to something more genuine. “Well, that’s it. No backin’ out now.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
Sam clapped him on the back, this time with more weight behind it. “Good luck with the preacher. I’ll see you at the wedding, I suppose.” He paused, then added, “You’re doin’ right by her, Daniel.”
Daniel gave a brief nod. “Thanks.”
With that, Sam turned and walked back toward the saloon, leaving Daniel to make his way to the church. As he walked, the folded marriage bond tucked into his coat pocket, he couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to change.
Daniel made his way down the dusty street toward the small church that sat at the edge of town, its whitewashed walls and simple bell tower standing out against the deepening blue sky.
The sound of his boots on the cobblestone echoed in the quiet, and despite everything weighing on his mind, a strange sense of calm washed over him as the church came into view.
He hadn’t stepped foot in the building for a long while, always being out in the wilderness trapping. As Daniel reached the front steps of the church, the door creaked open, and Pastor Lucas appeared, wiping his hands on a rag. His face lit up when he saw Daniel approaching.
“Well, now,” the pastor greeted with a broad smile, his voice warm and welcoming. “What brings you by on this fine day?”
Daniel shifted slightly, the marriage bond tucked safely in his pocket as he took a deep breath. “Afternoon, Pastor,” he said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of what he was about to ask. “I’ve got something I need your help with.”
Pastor Harding chuckled, stepping aside and motioning for Daniel to come in. “I figured as much. Come on in, son. Whatever it is, I’m sure we’ll sort it out.”
Daniel stepped into the church, the familiar smell of polished wood and candles wrapping around him. The small sanctuary was just as he remembered, with sunlight streaming in through the stained-glass windows, casting soft colors across the pews.
“Have a seat,” Pastor Lucas said, gesturing to one of the benches at the front. He joined Daniel, sitting beside him with a kind, knowing look. “So, what’s on your mind?”
Daniel hesitated for a moment, his hand brushing the edge of the bond in his pocket. Finally, he pulled it out, handing it over to the pastor. “I’ve come to make arrangements… for a wedding.”
Pastor Lucas raised an eyebrow as he took the paper, unfolding it carefully. “Well, well. I can’t say I’m surprised.” He glanced up with a twinkle in his eye. “It’s about time, don’t you think?”
Daniel chuckled softly, though there was still a touch of nerves in his voice. “I reckon so.”
The pastor scanned the bond, nodding approvingly before setting it down on his lap. “Edith Carter, huh?” he said, his tone warm. “She seems to be a fine young woman from what I’ve seen, Daniel. I’m glad to hear it.”
“She is,” Daniel agreed quietly. “She deserves better than she’s had.”
“I know. She’s had a rough road, but it sounds like she’s finally found someone who’ll walk beside her.”
Daniel met his eyes, feeling the full weight of that responsibility settle into him. “I just want to do right by her.”
“And you will,” the pastor assured him. “Marriage is about more than just making promises. It’s about standing by each other, through whatever comes. And I know you’ve got that in you, Daniel.”
The two men sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the quiet of the church offering a sense of peace that Daniel hadn’t realized he needed.
Pastor Lucas broke the silence with a thoughtful hum. “Now, when do you want to do this? I imagine you don’t want to wait too long.”
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck, thinking it over. “Soon. Real soon. I don’t want to give her father any more reason to interfere.”
The pastor’s expression turned serious, understanding immediately. “Ah, William Carter. I see. Well, we’ll make sure everything’s in order. I can do the ceremony as soon as you’re ready.”
Daniel nodded, relief easing the tension in his chest. “Thank you, Pastor. I appreciate it.”
Pastor Lucas smiled warmly, standing and patting Daniel on the shoulder. “It’s my pleasure, son. Edith is a good woman, and I’ve known you long enough to see you’ve got a good heart. The two of you will make it work.”
Daniel stood as well, feeling lighter somehow. “I hope so.”
“You will,” the pastor said confidently. “Now, you go on and get ready. Bring her by when you’re both ready, and we’ll have everything in place. It’s not about the ceremony, after all. It’s about the commitment you’re making.”
Daniel gave a nod of thanks, then turned toward the door, feeling like the path ahead was clearer. As he reached the threshold, the pastor called out one more time, his voice filled with warmth and encouragement.
“And Daniel,” Pastor Harding said, smiling, “you’ve always been a man of few words, but don’t forget to tell her how you feel. That’s just as important as the vows.”
Daniel nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he stepped out into the sunlight. There was still a lot ahead of him, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he knew where he was going.
***
Mary’s fingers moved carefully over the fabric of Edith’s dress, smoothing out the creases with practiced ease.
The dress, a deep blue cotton, was modest but elegant in its simplicity, with a high neckline and a fitted waist that complimented Edith’s slender frame.
It wasn’t new, nor was it a gown made for weddings, but it was her finest piece of clothing, and today, it would do.
“There,” Mary said with a soft smile, stepping back to look at Edith. “That’s just right. You look beautiful.”
Edith glanced down at the dress, then up at Mary, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “It’s just… plain,” she murmured. “Not like a real wedding dress.”
Mary chuckled softly and shook her head. “There’s nothin’ wrong with plain, Edith. You don’t need all the frills and lace to be a bride. What matters is that you’re marrying the man you love. The rest—well, that’s just extra.”