Official

Cordia laughed at Will’s teasing statement about no one being close enough to hear his scrams, but it did raise a question for her. “What are the chances we’re going to run into marauders?” she asked.
“Tonight?” he clarified. “Not very likely. We should be able to hear them coming, same as anyone following us from town. I will admit I worry about them coming back, though, when I’m at the house, probably because the memories I have of the morning Nolan was killed are so vivid. But you don’t need to worry, Cordia. I will protect you.”
“I know you will,” she said, believing it wholeheartedly. Off in the distance, she could see a cluster of lights from what appeared to be a small town. “Is that Nevada?” she asked.
“Yes,” he replied. “There’s a road up here that turns left and it goes back toward the house. If we go the other direction, we will arrive in Nevada in about a half-hour or so.”
Cordia was a bit confused. “Why would we go to Nevada instead of your house?” she asked, wondering if, perhaps, he was concerned that they were being followed.
Will pulled his horse to a stop and turned to look directly at her. She also stopped and turned to face him, a puzzled expression still on her face. “Cordia,” he began, reaching for her hand, which she gave to him. “It’s been two years. After spending the last few months thinking I would never have the opportunity to be with you again, I’m done waiting. I’m done taking chances. I want to marry you. I want to take you to my house, to our home, as my wife.”
She had not expected this at all, and her expression changed from confusion, to shock, to overwhelming happiness. “You want to marry me?” she asked, watching him nod his head. “Right now?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “I want to ride with you into Nevada, find the pastor who used to stop by once in a while and check on us after our folks died, and marry you tonight. Right now. What do you say, Cordia Pike? Will you agree to be my wife? Again?”
Cordia couldn’t contain the smile that broke across her face as she nodded her head. “Yes, of course, I will!” She leaned over and kissed him quickly before giving her reins a snap. “Let’s go!”
They galloped in near silence until they were at the outskirts of town. By the time they began to reach the houses on the perimeter, their horses were beginning to grow tired, and they decided to slow them. Will was hopeful that the pastor still lived with his family in the small house behind the rectory. Even though it was nearly one o’clock in the morning, and there was the possibility that they could awaken the whole town, he was hopeful that the pastor would consent to conducting the marriage immediately.
As they approached the pastor’s home, they noticed a light burning in the front window. Finding that a bit odd, Will cautioned Cordia to stay back a ways and let him check it out. He dismounted and quietly walked over to the house, knocking softly on the door. After just a few moments, the door opened and a middle-aged man peered back at him, a Bible in one hand, the other on his holster. “Can I help you?” he asked cautiously.
“I’m so sorry to disturb you, Pastor Bryant,” Will said recognizing the man from his last visit just a few years ago, though it seemed like an eternity now. “I’m not sure if you remember me but. . . “
“Will Tucker!” the man exclaimed. “Of course I recognize you! How are you, son?” he asked, removing his hand from the pistol and offering it to Will.
Will shook his hand, relieved that the reverend remembered him. “I can’t complain,” he replied. “How are you doing, Pastor?” he asked politely.
“Strangest thing,” the pastor responded, a bit lost in his own thoughts. “I could not sleep tonight. I went to bed with my wife a few hours ago, but I just couldn’t fall asleep. Finally, I got up and began to read the Good Book. I felt my heart leading me to a certain book, chapter, and verse, one I had not paid too much attention to these days, with all the trouble going on around us. But I knew the Lord wanted me to study on His word and on these very verses. Perhaps, He will unveil His plan to me soon so that I may know His purpose.”
Will had never been too religious, but he listened respectfully to the pastor’s story. “I see,” he replied, nodding his head. “Well, I’m glad we found you already awake so that we didn’t rouse you from sleep, but I was hoping you wouldn’t mind doing me a quick favor.”
By that time, Cordia had realized the pastor was not going to harm them and had dismounted and tied both horses to a hitching post. She was on her way over toward the house as Will was speaking, and Pastor Bryant was aware of her presence.
“This is my fiancée, Cordia, and we would like for you to marry us, tonight, right now, if you would be so kind as to do so. I’m happy to compensate you for your services,” Will explained as Cordia slipped her arm through his.
The pastor began to giggle with glee. “The Lord always provides!” he exclaimed. Cordia and Will looked at each other, smiling but confused. “You see, children,” he began, “The verses I was called upon to study tonight are from Proverbs 31:10-12. This is where the Lord speaks of the value in marrying a good wife. And now, here you are, showing up on my doorstep in the middle of the night, a good wife on your arm. Isn’t the Lord amazing? Does He not lead us with His own divine presence?”
Cordia had goose bumps on her arms. She had always been strong in her Christian faith, and she took this as a clear sign that she and Will were doing the right thing. “Amen,” she agreed.
“Come in, come in,” Pastor Bryant said, stepping back out of the doorway. They were aware that the pastor’s family was sleeping nearby so they attempted to be as quiet as possible. The ceremony was simple and short. Pastor Bryant even had a marriage certificate, which he filled out and signed for them. Though there were no other witnesses, with his signature the document was binding by law and would be recognized by the church. Cordia was disappointed that she did not have a ring for Will, but he assured her that his father’s ring was buried safely at home and that he could wear that one, once he could retrieve it. Pastor Bryant insisted that he would not charge to marry two people so obviously joined by the Lord but he did allow Will to make a donation to his church.
As the pastor closed the door to his little home, Cordia and Will approached the horses, hand in hand. A wave of relief washed over them both as they knew now, no matter what Carey may try to argue, they were married, and no one could change that. Cordia was so overjoyed, she couldn’t help but giggle like a schoolgirl. Will spun her around in a circle, dancing with no music, the light of the moon gleaming off of Cordia’s perfect smile. He pulled her in closely and kissed her, almost unable to believe that this day was here at last.
Will helped Cordia mount her horse and untied both of them from the post. She could not take her eyes off of him, and once he was atop his own steed, she leaned over and kissed him again. “I can’t believe you are finally my husband,” she whispered, still smiling.
“I can’t believe you’re finally my wife,” he agreed, kissing her once more before they rode off to the home they would share together, married at last.