Melting Silver

by Livia Grant

  She was, after all, a gem—a pink petticoat wearing gem—but gem nonetheless.

  The sharp knock on the door dragged her out of her thoughts. “Everyone decent?” Gabe called out before barging into the extensive space that was to be her and Charlie’s new bedroom. Gabe and Jewel had told them it was so they could have more room as a married couple, but Emelie suspected it was because she and Charlie got a little bit too noisy at night to suit their neighbors in the room next door.

  Gabe pulled a pocket-watch out of his fine Sunday-best suit, announcing, “It’s time to get going, ladies. Everyone else headed over to the church awhile ago and at this rate, Emelie is going to be late for her own wedding.”

  Nettie patted her arm. “We wouldn’t want Charlie thinking you were standing him up at the altar, now, would we?”

  Jewel teased Emelie, standing next to her to meet her gaze in the reflection. “Oh, I wouldn’t blame Silver if she wanted to put the fear of God in him. From the sounds coming through the wall last night, I have a feeling her soon-to-be-husband has been taking his role as disciplinarian a bit too seriously for our Silver.”

  Emelie’s blush looked brighter than normal in contrast with the pale blue gown that brought out the silver-blue hue of her eyes. There was no way she was going to admit to her friends that she adored each and every thing Charlie did to her body at the end of each night of making music together. She had never felt as loved and protected as she did after having her bottom warmed before giving her body to her fiancé as he found new and creative ways to bring them each pleasure.

  Gabe appeared in the reflection next to Jewel to smile at them both. She’d gotten to know the tall man in the weeks she’d been in town, but he still had a way of intimidating her with his intensity. Emelie had been waiting for the right moment to ask him for his help and now she was running out of time.

  She turned to face him. “Gabe, I was wondering if you’d walk me down the aisle. I know my own father would want to be here, but since he can’t… well, I’m not saying you’re old enough to be my parent… I mean…” She got flustered.

  Gabe grinned, genuinely surprised, although he’d gotten an odd expression before he answered her. “Emelie, I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle.”

  The small group of friends made the short walk to the church in the early September sunshine. It was the perfect day for a wedding.

  Callie was waiting for them a few yards outside the church. She was nearly bouncing up and down with excitement. In fact, looking around the small group of her friends, they all seemed as excited as she was. Emelie knew they all loved Charlie and assumed they were happy for him.

  Jewel, Nettie, and Callie gave her one last hug before heading down the aisle to take their seats at the front of the church. As her only bridesmaid, Red fussed over her small bouquet until they heard the wedding music begin to play from the sanctuary.

  The excitement she saw in Ruby’s face as she hugged Emelie one last time warmed her heart.

  “I’m so very happy for you and Charlie. I wish Jeb were able to be here too. He got called away for some emergency. Today is truly going to be the best day of your life.” Red turned then to open the door and begin her trek down the aisle, her small bouquet of wild flowers in her hand.

  That’s when Emelie caught her first glimpse of her fiancé. He stood at the altar with Reverend Black and he was the most handsome man in the universe. Charlie was dressed in a very dapper black three-piece suit. His hair and beard were freshly trimmed. Her heart skipped a beat when he grinned a bright smile sent directly to her.

  Gabe held out his arm, “Are you ready, chica?”

  She nodded, too emotional to answer. They were a few steps down the aisle when it hit her that someone was playing the brand new piano the church had purchased, but it clearly wasn’t Charlie. She didn’t know anyone else in town knew how to play.

  It amazed her that the church was full. In the two weeks she’d lived there, she’d met so many friendly people. Everyone who met him loved Charlie, and they were all there to support them now.

  She felt herself leaning more on Gabe with each step they took as she wrangled in her emotions. As happy as today was, she couldn’t help but think of her parents, hating that they were missing one of the most important events of her life. And oh how she wished her sisters Klara and Nora were there to stand up for her beside Red.

  The music ended as she arrived at the front. Gabe placed her hand inside Charlie’s as Reverend Black asked the congregation to be seated.

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man, Charles Walker, and this woman, Emelie Svensson, in holy matrimony. This is a special day for our couple and we praise God that so many of their friends and family were able to join in the joyous occasion, especially those who came so very far arriving in the knick of time.”

  Emelie was confused about what Reverend Black was trying to say. She glanced up at Charlie who was smiling broadly, tears in his eyes.

  It wasn’t making sense at all. Was the minister trying to make her feel bad that none of her family could be there?

  “And who gives this woman to wed this man?”

  When Gabe stood silently next to her for several long seconds, Emelie turned to him, confused why he wasn’t playing his part. He merely stood there, grinning, tears in his eyes, too. Beyond him, Jewel and Nettie dabbed at their tears with dainty handkerchiefs while Opal and Dottie sat behind them grinning, they were having so much fun.

  Emelie had turned back to Charlie when she heard it. Words came from across the sanctuary where the brand new piano rested.

  “Her sister Klara and I give this woman to be wed to Charles Walker.”

  She saw the joy in Charlie’s eyes. Her sister and brother-in-law were truly here. Emelie turned slowly, afraid she was dreaming and that she might wake up if she moved too quickly.

  Next to the brand new piano stood the sister she wasn’t sure she’d ever see again. Forgetting she was in the middle of her own wedding, Emelie took off running full out towards Klara. They met in the middle, falling into each other’s arms and holding on for dear life.

  “Oh thank goodness we finally found you, Emelie. We’ve been so worried. And to find you the day before you were getting married. God be praised.”

  “The day before… You’ve been in Culpepper Cove since yesterday?”

  Fredrick had caught up with his wife and sister-in-law. “Yes, and after checking into the inn, we began asking around to see if anyone had seen you. We couldn’t believe it when several people in town confirmed you were here. The Bentleys were kind enough to send for Jewel and Gabe to come chat with us. Please don’t be angry for the surprise.” Klara hugged her tighter.

  Charlie had arrived to wrap his arm around Emelie. Her heart wanted to burst she was so ecstatic. Marrying Charlie was like a dream come true. Marrying him when her sister could bear witness for her family, well it was a miracle.

  Fredrick stepped closer to the sisters, urging them to resume the ceremony. “Now, if I might suggest we save the family reunion for the wedding party after the ceremony.”

  Red was next to them then, holding her flowers out to Klara. “You’re her sister. You should stand up with her as her matron of honor.”

  As thrilled as Emelie was to have her sister there with her, she knew it wouldn’t be right to have her sister replace her new friend. Emelie looked down at her own bouquet, stealing three of the largest blooms from the bunch and making two smaller sprays.

  “I’m thrilled Klara and Fredrick are here, but that doesn’t mean we don’t still want you and Gabe to stand up for us too, Red. Having family here is special, but you and the rest of the friends from the Red Petticoat are part of our future.”

  Tears spilled over, streaking down Red’s cheeks before she hugged Emelie.

  “All right, ladies, let’s get this wedding back on track. I don’t think I can wait another minute to make this beauty my wife.” Charlie had reached to hug h
er back against him. She blushed, feeling his semi-hard cock pressing into her hip where their bodies met. The soft kiss he placed on her ear lobe was innocent, yet oh so full of promise.

  The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur as she and Charlie took their vows as their friends and yes, even family, bore witness. She floated along as if she were in a dream she was so happy. When Charlie squeezed her hand as she’d promised to love, honor and obey him, she’d blushed understanding he was thinking of all the devious ways he would employ to ensure her obedience.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Walker, you may kiss your bride.”

  As a preacher’s daughter, Emelie had attended dozens of weddings as a child and young girl. Not once did she remember a groom gazing upon his new bride with the scandalous longing staring back at her in that moment. Expecting a quick peck of a kiss as was proper in God’s house, Emelie stood grounded as her now-husband reached his hands out to cup her face lovingly.

  “I will love you until the day I draw my last breath, Emelie.” His lips descended on hers in a leisurely kiss that quickly turned into an open mouth ravaging in front of God and everyone. When she felt his arms wrap around her, one hand cupping her still-sore bottom, she gasped. The sound of the congregation chuckling and beginning to clap didn’t even stop him.

  It took Fredrick stepping up to clap Charlie on his back and comment, “Better save some of that for your honeymoon, brother,” to convince Charlie to release her. The grin on his face made her heart burst with happiness as she felt the wetness pooling in her drawers.

  The couple turned towards the clapping congregation, all on their feet to congratulate the newlyweds as they slowly made their way back down the long aisle towards the back of the church.

  It wasn’t until they were three-quarters of the way down the aisle that Emelie caught sight of Sheriff Jeb standing in the back vestibule. Her stomach rolled and she had to fight to keep from throwing up as she pulled Charlie to a dead stop.

  Standing next to Jeb was the San Francisco constable. The same man she’d seen asking questions about her before she ran away from the city. The same man who had haunted her nightmares in the weeks since she’d killed Willard Wheeler, the gunslinger. That he had found her was bad enough, but that it had to be on her wedding day—at her wedding—only minutes after dragging Charlie into her nightmare.

  It wasn’t fair.

  “Emelie, what’s wrong, darlin?” Charlie was trying to prod her forward. She could feel the glare of the crowd on them as her friend the sheriff and the lawman made their way down the remaining part of the aisle to meet them.

  Emelie looked nervously at Jeb, hoping her friend would help her. The look on his face was unreadable. Could she lie? Pretend it hadn’t been her who had hit the man with the lamp, resulting in his burning alive before her eyes. No, there would be no hiding the truth. She wasn’t that talented of an actress.

  “Miss Svensson, you’ve been a very difficult young woman to find.” The portly man was acting very civil for a lawman who tracked down criminals for a living.

  “It’s Mrs. Walker now. Jeb, what’s going on here? It’s our wedding day. What’s the meaning of this interruption?” Charlie had stepped up to put himself between Emelie and the lawmen. She loved him all the more as he sensed danger and tried to protect her, yet even Charlie wouldn’t be able to protect her from what she was going to face.

  The constable reached into his pocket, pulling out a small card, handing it to Charlie. “My name is Jeremiah Anderson. I’m the law for the city of San Francisco.”

  Charlie took the card, glancing at it and then countering. “That’s all fine and dandy, but it doesn’t explain what business you have with my wife.” She reached out to grasp his arm, trying to keep Charlie calmed down. She knew it was going to kill him to watch her carried away to jail on their wedding day.

  Jeb looked around at the church full of Culpepper Cove residents all staring at them. “Perhaps we should take this discussion over to my office where we’ll have some privacy.”

  Emelie wanted to kiss him. Oh how she didn’t want to be arrested in front of the entire congregation of well-wishers.

  “No. State your business or move out of the way. We have a celebration to get on with,” Charlie countered.

  Tears streamed down Emelie’s cheeks as she realized there would be no celebration. No wedding night. No honeymoon.

  The constable glanced at Jeb and then looked back at her. He took a step forward as if he wanted to reach out to Emelie, but Charlie met him, pressing on his chest to hold him in check.

  Emelie rushed forward to grab Charlie’s arm. She didn’t want him in trouble with the law on her account. “Charlie, it’s okay. Really. Maybe it would be best if I did go with them back to the sheriff’s office. You go on ahead…”

  She didn’t finish her sentence. Her husband turned, grabbing her arms and hauling her close against him. “Don’t even think what you were about to say. Where you go, I go. Got it?”

  He was so serious, yet he made her feel safe. She wasn’t in this on her own.

  “Got it… sir.”

  He smiled.

  The constable had moved closer again. “If I could, I think it’s best that we clear things up here as quickly as possible. If Mrs. Walker prefers to handle this matter here, that is fine with me.”

  Charlie nodded and for the first time, Emelie saw a small smile playing at Jeb’s lips. Red had gone to stand with him, pestering him to tell her what was going on.

  Recognizing that the entire congregation had turned and was watching… waiting to understand what was happening, the constable spoke loudly.

  “Approximately one month ago, a criminal on the territory’s Most Wanted list was burned to death outside of a stable in San Francisco. Witnesses from the scene identified a young woman matching the description of Mrs. Walker here fleeing the scene immediately after the fire was set.” He paused, looking directly at Emelie. “I took this investigation very seriously, vowing to track down the young woman who had snuffed out the life of one of the most hideous excuses of a human being ever to walk the earth.”

  His words confused Emelie. While he recounted the crimes in a broad sense, she couldn’t help but question his message.

  Charlie was starting to put the story together. He stepped forward to grab the portly lawman by the scruff of his shirt. Jeb moved in to break them up.

  “Charlie, let the man finish his comments before you do anything stupid.” He pushed Charlie back, forcing him to release the lawman’s shirt.

  “As I was saying, this criminal, known as Willard Wheeler, had been on the Most Wanted list for some time. He was wanted not only for robbery and murder, but he was a serial rapist, preying on innocent women throughout the entire western territories. Posses have tracked him. Lawmen have been killed in the line of duty trying to apprehend him, yet he was brought down by the bravery of the slip of a woman who refused to become his next victim.”

  His words were starting to sink in. He wasn’t here to arrest her? He had called her brave.

  The constable reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a velvet pouch, holding it out towards Emelie. She reached for it with trembling hands. The bag was heavy.

  “Emelie Svensson Walker, the city of San Francisco would like to thank you for ridding us of a deplorable human being. There was a reward of five hundred dollars for anyone who brought him to justice, dead or alive. This reward is for you.”

  She was being rewarded and not arrested? She couldn’t wrap her head around the change in luck.

  “But why would you come all this way to find me? Why go to such trouble just to give money away?” she questioned softly.

  His smile slipped, sadness clouding his gaze. “My younger sister was one of his first victims. He did despicable crimes against her, beating and torturing her for weeks before murdering her when he’d tired of her. I vowed I wouldn’t rest until my Susie was avenged. I came here to tha
nk you personally for making sure he paid with his life. It was very fitting that one of his victims was his final downfall.”

  Emelie was shaking from head to toe. A cocktail of emotions raged through her as she realized how dangerous the gunslinger truly had been and how close she’d come to ending up like this kind man’s sister. Relief that she wasn’t being hunted and, in fact, was being rewarded for her actions that night in the stable made her dizzy.

  Charlie had turned towards her, awe in his gaze. “You really fought him off?” When she nodded, he added, “How in the world?”

  She smiled wryly. “I hit him over the head with a lamp.”

  Emelie saw recognition as he remembered another night not so long ago where she’d used a lamp as a weapon while wearing red petticoats.

  He pulled her into his arms to hold her close. It helped to slow her trembles. He chuckled. “I may need to ban lamps from our room. The first time you’re cross with me, I might find myself with a lamp upside the head.”

  “I think you’re safe. I still remember the lesson you taught me the last time I tried that tactic. No more lamps for me.”

  Her husband looked at her with awe in his expression. “You are one amazing woman, Mrs. Walker. I can’t wait to tell our kids about how brave their ma was, taking on dangerous criminals.”

  Emelie’s heart raced. “Kids?” They’d never talked about children. “You want to have kids?”

  Charlie chuckled. “Well sure, and I think it’s inevitable, don’t you? Considering where we live and how often I plan on having you…” he paused, looking around the crowd of friends listening before grinning back at his wife. “…scrub my back.” The gems within hearing distance all broke out in giggles.

  Emelie swatted his arm playfully, relieved to know he was all hers. “I can’t wait.”

  The End

  Livia Grant

  Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons… one a teenager, the other a furry rescue dog named Max. She is blessed to have traveled extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia started writing when she felt like she finally had the life experience to write a riveting story that she hopes her readers won’t be able to put down. Livia’s fans appreciate her deep character driven plots, often rooted in an ensemble cast where the friendships are as important as the romance… well, almost. She writes one hell of an erotic romance.