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“Sheriff Woodson, sir,” a voice said from the back, and they all turned to see the boy who’d been trying to get them to sign something push his way forward.
“What is it, Tommy?” the sheriff asked.
“Well, sir, they was standing with the other couples and I heard them both say ‘I do,’ clear as day. But they didn’t sign the form, sir.”
Nora and Adam turned to each other with a frown and then turned back to the boy. “What form?” Nora asked.
The boy looked at Preacher, who frowned down at them. “The marriage license. And if you didn’t sign it, then it would seem that while you might be married in the eyes of the church, it’s not quite legal yet.”
Nora’s stomach dropped. Sheneededit to be legal. It’s the only thing shedidneed from this travesty of a marriage.
“So…we aren’t married?” Adam asked, his face creased with confusion.
Preacher’s frown deepened. “I suppose it depends on who you ask. I have the legal and religious authority to marry couples. In my eyes, and in the eyes of God, you are married. I’ll record it in the church registry. Sometimes that will suffice for legal reasons, or at least it did in the past. But more likely…the state of Colorado would not consider you wed until the proper paperwork is filed. Paperwork which you haven’t signed.”
Nora’s head spun. “I’m sorry, Preacher, but what the hell does that all mean?”
“What she said,” Adam piped in. “Are we married or not?”
Preacher let out a deep sigh. “It means you’re in a sort of limbo, I suppose. You either get an annulment through the church and go your separate ways or sign the paperwork and make it legal.”
Nora and Adam turned to each other and spoke at the same time.
“Are you going to sign?”
“Are you going to annul me?”
“No!” they both answered.
Adam turned back to the Council, his hand thrown out to gesture at her. “Can you imagine us stuck together? I mean…you can’t expect to hold me to a wedding I didn’t even know was happening. Surely something can be done. I can’t be—”
“You can’t be what?” Martha said, lurching to her feet, her usually pleasant features screwed up into such a perfect mask of fury that Adam took another step back. “Nora Schumacher is one of the best people I know. You could do a lot worse than the likes of her, but you’ll never find better. Of all the rude, arrogant, ignorant men I’ve seen come through this town, you are the worst. I’ll have you know—”
Doc Fairbanks, the town doctor and final member of the Town Council, wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back when she looked about ready to climb over the table to defend Nora’s honor and clobber Adam. If that didn’t just warm Nora right down to her oversize toes, she didn’t know what did. That Martha was such a sweetheart.
“It’s all right, Martha,” Nora said, straightening to her full height and looking down her nose at the jackass in question. It was one thing to be taken aback by a surprise wedding. But this man…this man acted like being tied to her was worse than death. In front of everyone in town. Not being chosen, by anyone, not once in her life was bad enough. Being so outrightly rejected in front of everyone…
She wouldn’t let them see how badly it hurt. She pasted the most disdainful look she could muster on her face and looked at Mr. Adam Brady with as much contempt as she could.
“I have no desire to be stuck with this cretin, either. Preacher, do what needs doin’ to make this all go away,” she said, waving a dismissive hand at Adam. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said to the Council, “I’ve got chores that need tending.”
Nora turned her back on them all and pushed her way out of the overflowing tavern before the tears that were clogging her throat erupted. She wouldn’t let any of them see how his rejection had hurt. She knew she wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It was why Adam would be so perfect. A stranger in town. Someone who didn’t seem to want to attract attention. Someone who might not be staying long. Someone who might help her get what she needed and then disappear before he became too much of a nuisance.
All the other men in town wanted an actual wife. Permanently. And none of them would have wanted her even if she’d been amenable. She was one of the boys. Not one of the boys’ wives. In a town with a serious female shortage, the fact that she was still single into her mid-twenties spoke for itself.
But Adam had made it so…so personal. In front of everyone. It was bad enough they all knew she’d wanted to get married, but to be rejected in such a fashion…
She took a deep breath and blew it out through her nose while hopping up into her rig. Her father let out a grunt and a fart and immediately started snoring again, and she closed her eyes, praying for peace.
The temptation to unhitch the wagon and ride out of town to find a life for herself elsewhere was strong. But she wouldn’t give any of them the satisfaction. She’d stick it out. Find another solution to keep her property safe until she turned thirty.
Adam Brady be damned.
Chapter Five
Adam stared after Nora as she sashayed a rather sweet backside out the door, her head held high. An unfamiliar twinge of guilt curdled his belly. He’d hurt her. She’d tried hard to hide it, but he could see that quick flash of pain in her eyes. Dammit, he hadn’t meant to do that. But he was the last thing she or any woman needed. She would have found that out quickly enough. Better to find it out before she’d gotten hurt any worse than a momentary sting of embarrassment.
He turned back to Woodson and the Town Council to find matching glares on all their faces.
