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“Wait,” Adam said. “You all werepurposelymaking the jobs harder?”
Everyone glanced around, trying to look as innocent as possible, but the guilty grins gave them away.
Adam closed his eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh, and Nora laughed along with the rest of them.
“That’s all right,” Adam finally said. “It turns out, it doesn’t matter if I have a job or not.”
He threaded his fingers through Nora’s and reached inside his coat, pulling out a piece of paper that he slid along the table to the sheriff.
“What’s this?” the sheriff asked.
Adam smiled down at Nora again and squeezed her hand. “Our signed marriage license. We were remarried, legally this time, last night.”
The rest of the Council broke out in cheers and congratulations. Even the sheriff smiled. A little.
“And if you’ll indulge me,” Adam said to the Council before turning to Nora, “I have a wedding gift for my wife.”
He looked over at Preacher, who handed him a folded sheet of paper. Adam handed it to her and waited until she opened it up.
Her forehead creased, and she glanced up at him, her heart thudding. “A death certificate? For you?”
He smiled and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms loosely about her waist. “Yes. One certificate so you can claim your deed,” he said, nodding at their license. “And one so you keep it in your own name, not your husband’s,” he said, nodding at the other.
“And so you can live in peace,” Preacher added. “No one will come looking for him again if he’s legally dead.”
“You’re lucky you’re gainfully employed, Brady,” the sheriff said. “If she’s legally a widow, I could technically toss you out of town.”
Mercy rolled her eyes, and Sunshine just shook his head and laughed.
Nora, however, hesitated only a second longer, and then she threw herself into Adam’s arms and started laughing.
“What?” he asked.
She shook her head. “You managed to somehow get officially married and legally absolved from matrimony all in one swoop.”
He laughed. “Not my intention, I promise.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “As long as matrimony involvesyou, I am all in.” He paused, pursing his lips in thought before he spoke again. “I would like to keep avoidinghim, though,” he said, jerking his head at the sheriff.
Sheriff just snorted. “Finally, something I can agree with.”
Epilogue
Adam hammered in another nail and then stood back to admire his handiwork.
“That’s coming along nicely,” Mr. Schumacher said. “You might want to add a few extra nails, just to make sure it’s sturdy.”
“It’ll hold,” Adam said, tugging on the shelf he’d just hung in Nora’s new potting shed.
Ever since the night Spurlock had shown up, and consequently disappeared, Mr. Schumacher had been making a concerted effort to stay sober. From what Adam could tell, losing what was basically all his and his daughter’s worldly goods in that poker game had shocked him. Nearly losing his life in that ditch had scared him. And nearly losing Nora, in part because he’d been in no shape to do more than wait for others to help her, had driven home a change of heart and mind that had been truly miraculous to watch. Adam was just sorry Schumacher, and Nora, had had to go through so much for her father to get to the point where he was ready to rebuild his life.
It had been nearly six months now since the man had had a drink, and he’d been helping out more and more on the farm. It would take time, but he and Nora had also been repairing their relationship. Some days were better than others. But they were making progress.
Now that the property was officially in Nora’s name, they’d been working on expanding her businesses, and her father had actually been a lot of help, teaching Adam what he needed to know so he could take over more of the agricultural side of her business and she could concentrate on expanding her sewing. With more time on her hands, she’d been able to make ready-made clothing as well as doing her commissions. Adam and her father were building her a shop adjacent to their house where she could meet her customers and display her goods.
Mr. Schumacher was still gruff with Adam, but Adam was sure he liked him. Even if it was begrudgingly.
They worked peaceably side by side for a few more minutes before Mr. Schumacher cleared his throat. Adam glanced at him, eyebrows raised in question.
“I…” He cleared his throat again. “I never thanked you,” he said.
