CHAPTER10
The next afternoon as the women came down the stairs, their grooms were all standing in the parlor waiting for them. A tremor of unease scurried down Mary’s spine. Yes, she was certain of her decision, but the note she received terrified her.
Was it the law? Were they coming for her? But why wouldn’t they have said they were the law?
Frank was dead. There had been blood everywhere. Blood from her sister and blood from him. All mingled together in a nightmarish scene that still haunted her. Since he was dead, who was sending her these notes, and should she tell her husbands?
No, not unless the letters continued. Whoever it was, he’d gotten here too late, and after today, she would be a married woman.
“Mary,” Aunt Grace said, “it’s your turn. Good luck.”
The woman gave her a quick hug.
“Thanks for talking to me about being married to two men. It meant so much,” she said.
Aunt Grace smiled. “You’re welcome. Now get down there and marry those handsome young men.”
Swallowing the lump of fear, Mary glanced down the stairs and saw her two men smiling up at her, waiting for her, and she timidly returned their smiles. They would protect her. But shouldn’t she have told them before today that she was a fugitive from the law?
Maybe, but it was too late now.
Stepping down the stairs, she hurried toward her future. When she reached the floor, they each took one of her arms and led her in front of the doctor who would marry them in a mass ceremony as soon as all the couples were gathered.
Six couples with two women returning to Charleston.
Licking her lips, Jesse patted her arm. Andrew squeezed her hand. Soon all the women were downstairs and they stood in front of the doctor as each triad said their vows.
“Gentlemen, you may kiss your bride,” the doctor said.
First, Andrew kissed her, his mouth gentle and firm. A trickle of awareness spiraled through her. Then Jesse kissed her, his mouth demanding and insistent, and she marveled at how each man kissed. How each man tasted. They were both very good.
And now they were married until death parted them.
The doctor glanced at the group. “How wonderful. Now we know the town of Treasure Falls will continue. May you be blessed with many children and long lives together.”
Afterward, they had dinner where there were toasts to happiness and well-being. The day seemed to go by in a fast blur and soon her men were taking her by the arm. “Time to go, Mary.”
The sun had long since set and the stars were twinkling in the night sky.
“Are you all packed?” Jesse asked.
“Yes,” she said breathless, knowing what came next.
“Let’s go,” Andrew said. “Time to get home.”
All the men were gathering up their things and their women.
Daisy came over to Mary. “Be happy,” she said, hugging her.
“You too,” Mary said suddenly missing her. They had been together for over three months, making the long ride from South Carolina to Montana. Daisy had become the sister she no longer had and now suddenly they were parting.
“We’ll have lunch together soon,” Daisy said.
“I would like that,” Mary told her. “If you need me…”
“Same,” Daisy said. “You know where I’ll be.”
They gave each other one last hug and then Daisy was whisked out the door by her husbands. Everything was changing once again.
“Are you ready?” Jesse asked, watching her.
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s go home.”
Andrew grinned and picked up her suitcase.
“Good-bye,” they called.
Mary gave one last hug to Aunt Grace.
“It’s going to be just fine, dear, you’ll see,” the older woman told her. “They’re good men. You got the best of the group.”
Mary knew that, but she still had butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Tonight was their wedding night and her nerves were all over the place.
“Thank you for everything,” she said and they walked out the door and headed down the street to her new life.
There had been so much change in the last year and she was ready for everything to settle down and become normal.
The stroll home was quiet as they walked the few blocks to her new home. As she glanced up at the stars, she couldn’t help but feel like she had made the right decision to come here. These men would protect her if she needed them to.
But tonight, she would focus on her wedding night.