“I think that every bride should have a wedding cake on her special day,” he teased, tapping the box that sat on the table, tied with twine. “Maybe you should open this.”
“There is a cake in there? It’s awfully small.” She made a face and giggled as she hiccupped drunkenly.
“There are only two of us. Hence, the small cake,” Elias said with a grin and sat back in the chair, watching Ellie untie the box. He sipped on the whiskey and admired her. She was tenacious, fierce and loyal. He really adored her spirit. As she opened the box, she clapped her hands giddily.
“Oh, my goodness! There is a cake inside!” Eli laughed and stood to join her. Standing nearby, he removed the tiny cake from the box so she could see it. He would never forget the shining admiration in her eyes as he surprised her. He leaned down and kissed her forehead unthinkingly. He caught himself and noticed that she didn’t flinch but looked away shyly.
“Do you like it?” he asked, unsure if he was asking about the cake or the kiss. Picking up her knife, he grinned and handed it to her. The cake wasn’t anything spectacular like he’d seen at lavish parties, but rather simple with a few elegant touches. It was a lemon sponge cake that had been dusted with powdered sugar. On it sat a single red rose in the very middle. He’d paid twice the amount for the cake in order to have the bakery put their initials on it. The writing was scrawled and messy, but the look on her face told him that Ellie simply didn’t care. This cake was for them alone and she was touched the by the effort. Ellie took the knife and hovered over the cake, hesitating.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, seeing her wait. She was excited, and he was glad she liked sweets as much as he did. He’d guessed right thinking that she’d like something special.
“Nothing,” she admitted softly and looked up at him where he stood. “I just think that since this is our wedding cake, that maybe we should cut it together.”
It was at that very moment that Eli knew he loved her. He placed his hand on top of hers and nodded silently to keep from yelling the words to her. He didn’t want to scare her off. He needed to woo her like she deserved. His hand held hers for a moment longer than needed once it was cut and she smiled at him. Pressing his luck, he leaned down and kissed her forehead again.
Moving back to his seat, he watched as Ellie carefully served up a large slice for him and an even larger slice for herself. “Don’t judge,” she laughed, embarrassed. “I love lemon everything. Lemon soap, lemon cake, lemonade.”
“I love…” Elias caught himself and smiled. “I love lemons, too.”
“Maybe it’s a sign from above?”
“Perhaps,” he agreed smoothly and finished off the bottle of whiskey in both their cups. “That’s the last of it.”
“Cake and whiskey,” she said triumphantly, holding up her fork. “Life is good.”
“Cake, whiskey and a wonderful union,” he corrected and held up his glass in a toast.
“Amen!” Elias watched her take a large bite and close her eyes in happiness. “Oh, Elias, this is simply divine,” she breathed with her mouth full.
You are divine, he thought, staring at her and wishing that she would feel the same way about him. “I’m glad.” He picked up his own fork and took a bite. It really was good, and he was glad that Ellie was enjoying it. They both finished and sat back in their chairs, sipping on the whiskey. The sun had set, and he knew that this jovial side of her would disappear once she realized it was time for bed.
“Ellie, you know that I will stay true to my word tonight. I’ll not touch you until you’re ready,” he began, expecting a fight.
“I know you won’t,” she slurred happily and with confidence. “I’ll shoot you if you do.”
Laughing, he held up his glass again in a silent toast. His little bride was a prickly thing and he loved her. Setting his glass down, he turned down the lamp with finality and walked towards the bed. Climbing onto the bed, he lay there with his eyes shut, listening. Eventually, he heard her pad across the room, give a soft hiccup and then gingerly climb into the bed, sighing aloud. Eli grinned at his drunken, little wife. The whiskey had been a good idea in order to get her to relax.
“Goodnight, sweet Ellie,” he whispered.
“You meant what you said, didn’t you?” he heard her ask in disbelief.
“I did. I promised you and I won’t break that promise. Now, if you want a wedding night, I would never turn you down. But it’s completely up to you.”
“I’d rather get to know each other much better, if that’s okay with you.”
“It certainly is. Are you going to refuse to talk to me later on when there is no whiskey present?”
“No.”
“Good, then let’s make a pact now while we are both in good spirits. Over the next few days, how about we tell each other something no one else knows, so we can grow and get to know each other a bit better?”
“That sounds good. Mmmkay?” she slurred and promptly gave a small snore. Elias grinned in the darkness and closed his eyes. He wanted more than anything to hold his little wife but, for now, he’d be patient.
7
The next morning, Elias realized that his prickly bride was back. Ellie woke up in a foul mood and demanded that he turn his back while she dressed. She hotly folded up her chemise and put it in her saddlebag. He could have sworn he heard her muttering about “stolen goods and stolen money”. They’d checked out of the hotel and prepared to depart.
“I thought the idea to stay here was to find out more about where Mahoney was at, not to get me drunk and ply me with sweets.”
“Was it so bad?” he asked point blank and smiled when she turned away. So much for happiness and breaking through the ice, he thought idly as he saddled up their horses. They rode quite a distance towards where the fort was being built, passing several farms and homesteads as well as a very deep creek. The water was not deep, but the embankment was. It seemed to go on forever. They followed it for several miles and finally found a pass that they could cross at.
“I thought we weren’t going to do this,” he finally asked, breaking the silence.
“I’m not doing anything but riding this horse,” she quipped.
“You know exactly what I mean, Ellie.” Sighing, he watched as she rolled her eyes at him.
“Fine. You start.”
“What do you want to know?” he asked.
“Tell me your innermost fear.”
“Nice choice. Let’s see, I am afraid of drowning. I can’t swim and never really learned how.”
“Do you want to?” Ellie questioned.
“Are you planning on teaching me?”
“Maybe someday when you can keep your hands to yourself.”
“I haven’t touched you yet.”
“You kissed me twice yesterday. Well, technically, if you count the courthouse, three times without permission.”
“Now, don’t you start about that. I kissed you to seal our marriage. The other two times were on the forehead and don’t count.”
“Did your lips make contact with my skin?”
“They didn’t count, Ellie.”
“Then the one kiss was utterly terrible. I thought I was going to have to scrub my face with lye soap! Is that what I have to look forward to?”
Elias stopped the horse and jumped off quickly. He was trying to keep calm, but she was goading him. If she wanted a kiss, a real kiss, by golly he’d give her one.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked as her horse began to prance nervously. Elias grabbed the reins and pulled her out of the saddle bodily, directly into his arms. He wasted no time whatsoever in making sure she was ready. Instead, he simply locked his lips on hers and would beg for forgiveness later. He’d been dying to kiss her and now he would.
Ellie’s lips tasted incredibly sweet, making him hesitate and chuckle against her mouth as he realized she’d snuck one of the last remaining kolaches. He adored his new bride. He deepened the kiss and slid his arms around her,
pulling her tighter against him. When Ellie responded to his kiss by sighing, he felt his knees give and a slight smile cross his lips. She liked it, but he was willing to bet money that she’d never admit it. He pulled back and gently kissed her again… and again. He dropped tiny kisses along her cheekbone and whispered to her, “If you want a real kiss, all you have to do is ask, my lovely wife. I will do that anytime you want.”
To which, she instantly shoved him away. He grinned as she turned and began to put her foot up in the stirrup, intent on getting back in the saddle. Without thinking, he reached out and slapped her on the backside.
“Oh! Don’t you do that again or I’ll shoot…“
Elias interrupted her tirade, laughing. “I know, darling. You’ll shoot me. I think I might just take my chances.”
They came across a homestead and Ellie suggested they stop and ask questions. It was a good idea. They might be searching based off old information. It would do them good to stretch their legs and have a bite to eat as well. He wanted to talk to her again to find out what her innermost fear was, and she’d acted preoccupied each time he’d brought it up.
Dismounting, he waved at her to stay behind him and walked up to the porch. Knocking, he heard the bar being slid into place. The muzzle of a shotgun was pointed directly at him from a knothole that had been popped out of the wood planking of the house.
“Whoa there!” Eli said instantly, raising his hands. “My wife and I are searching for someone. We just want to talk.” He saw Ellie walk up boldly behind him and felt himself lose his temper.
“What are you doing? There is a gun pointed at us! Get back on the horse now!” he ordered angrily. He felt his eyes cross as she blatantly ignored him and stepped forward boldly.
“We are bounty hunters and looking for a man. Lawkeepers. Open the door, if you please. In return we will pay for information,” she said in a stern voice, flashing the tin badge on her chest. Her hard eyes looked at him arrogantly and he realized that she’d done the right thing and he had no idea. He didn’t have a badge, nor had he told them they were bounty hunters.
“Ellie, we’ll talk about this later,” he told her quietly.
“No, we won’t,” she retorted ever so sweetly and smiled when the family opened the door, revealing their scared faces. “Tell us what happened and when,” she told them in a sympathetic tone. Elias watched in amazement as they were invited inside. Ellie listened to them, comforted them and encouraged them to speak. He could tell there was hesitation, they’d been threatened. But the aura of confidence she exuded was calming to the skittish family.
Sure enough, Mahoney had been there. He’d taken what meager money they had and several of their horses. This had happened last night and the husband who had aimed the shotgun on him had been sure that he’d returned. Ellie thanked them for their time and the meal, pushing several bills into the wife’s hand.
“Get your girls something nice so they feel special. Maybe a new chemise or something,” she’d instructed, and Elias had to keep from grinning. He’d chosen well when he picked out the chemise for her. He’d watched Ellie walk from the house and left a few more dollars for them. It felt good to give back and he could see that they’d struggled, just like he did those years ago. He didn’t want them to follow the rough road he had and regret it.
“You are a good woman,” Elias said admirably, looking up at his wife as she waited patiently in the saddle.
“I know,” she said with an arrogant smile.
“So,” he began, pulling himself into the saddle and encouraging his horse forward beside her. “We were talking about fears. What are you scared of Ellie? You walked right up there with that gun and didn’t blink an eye.”
“I prefer not to talk about it.”
“Why not? If I can tell you I am afraid of drowning, you can share with me and I will tell no one else.”
Ellie pulled back on the reins and looked at him harshly. “I really do not want to talk about it. Ask me something else if you want to talk.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, backing down. It must be a very tender subject for her. “What is your favorite flower?”
“My favorite flower?” she laughed. “You went from intense to nothingness, didn’t you?”
“Hopefully, you’ll be comfortable telling me what it is.”
“Fine. I like honeysuckle. I like that you can smell it on the breeze when it’s blooming. And when it’s not blooming, it’s just a pretty vine.”
“Honeysuckle it is,” he said with a nod.
“What is?”
“What we’ll plant around our home when we settle down. Masses and masses of honeysuckle so my wife is happy.” Ellie shook her head and moved her horse forward away from him, but not before he noticed that she had smiled approvingly. Elias was content simply following Ellie’s lead. She was smart as a whip and he admired her. As they came into the clearing where the fort was being built, he saw that there were several tents and very few houses nearby. People milled about working and, just over the ridge, he saw the beginnings of a town.
“Let’s head that way.”
“I think perhaps we should stay here and watch,” she countered. Elias simply got down off the horse and led it back into the trees, so they could stay hidden.
“I thought you wanted to head towards those buildings?”
“You are better at this than I am. I’ll follow your lead.” At the silence, he looked up at Ellie. “Why are you surprised?”
“You argue about everything.”
“Actually, my Ellie, it’s you who has to argue about everything. If you think it’s best we stay here, then here we shall stay and set camp.”
“No fire.”
“Yes, ma’am. No fire.”
Elias set out the bedrolls next to each other without asking. He might not be able to sleep with his wife, but he would sleep next to her. If someone came upon them, he’d do everything he could to protect her. He glanced over at Ellie and saw that she lay on her stomach in the grass, watching intently. He joined her and smiled.
“See anything?”
“People.”
“Ahhh, yes there are people down there.”
“What is on your mind?”
“I thought maybe we could try question two,” Elias replied.
“What’s that?”
“What is something you dream of?”
“Okay, you go first.”
“No, my lovely little bride. I went first last time. It’s your turn,” he countered, nudging her shoulder with his own. “You’ll go first this time.” He lay there patiently in the grass next to her on his stomach and watched for signs of Mahoney. The drawings he’d seen at the courthouse were rough sketches but the description from the family they’d met was pretty thorough. Small frame, short in stature. Beady eyes and dark hair. Looked almost like a teenager, yet the man was in his early forties. He stared ahead, searching for any man that looked to be frail or young.
“Children,” Ellie said quietly, interrupting his thoughts. “I dream of having a family someday with lots and lots of children. No child should ever have to grow up alone. I want my children to have what you and Emily had together. A friendship, a bond.” Elias nearly swallowed his tongue.
“You know how they are made, right? I am willing if you are,” he teased and grew suddenly serious, his face turning red.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you want children someday?”
“Ellie, darling, I do. I really, really, do. I have a confession though,” he said, his face burning with embarrassment at her quizzical stare. “I talk a lot and act like I know what I’m doing, but I’ve never been with a woman. I want children badly, but I don’t want you disappointed in me either. I didn’t mind waiting to consummate our marriage because I’m afraid I will mess it up for you.”
“Well, I’ve never either,” she said shyly. “So we’ll just learn together eventually. I’ve never been kissed until you did it in the courtroom. I was so surprised that I
actually didn’t even realize you’d kissed me until it was almost over. Now the second time…” She stopped suddenly, biting her lower lip. “The second time I enjoyed. I am just not sure what to do or not do.”
“I think we should practice kissing often,” Elias breathed, leaning towards her. “Do you mind if I kiss you again? I didn’t ask last time.”
“I like you kissing me, like you can’t help yourse-oh!” Elias leaned over and stopped her midsentence. He was gentle, tender and wanted to savor the moment. His sweet Ellie lay in the grass beside him. His world was right here next to him and nothing else mattered.
Until he heard a click and felt the barrel of a gun at his back. Eli jerked slowly and broke the kiss, staring at Ellie’s beloved face. Her blue eyes widened in shock as she rolled to her side to see what was wrong. “Mahoney!” she whispered.
“I see you were looking for me,” his nasally voice bit out. “Two bounty hunters in love, kissing in the grass like younglings. So, your man can’t please you yet? Maybe I will just take care of that and show him how it’s –”
Elias roared to his feet in one smooth movement, shoving the rifle away from where Ellie lay. No other man would touch her, and he’d never allow someone to point a gun at his wife! “You’ll not lay a hand on her!” he yelled, his blood surging with anger. He grabbed the man blindly and beat at him in a rage until he lay prone on the ground. The sound of Ellie weeping broke through the fog in his mind as he stared down at his fists. He’d not killed the man, but he’d knocked him out cold. “Sweetheart, don’t cry. He will never touch you. If you’ll get some rope, I will tie him up.”
“Are you all right?” Elias stopped suddenly, staring at Ellie’s stricken face. There had been a hitch in her voice that made the world turn sideways. He watched as her eyes dropped, the devastation in them crushing.
“Darling?” he breathed, afraid she’d been shot and realized that it wasn’t her. It was him. He’d been shot in the shoulder. Glancing down, he felt the burning, fierce pain building in intensity. “I’m fine, Ellie. Let’s tie him up quickly.”
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