Page 35 of The Drifter's Bride
Slapping Lukas on the shoulder, her father waved everyone out of the room.
Lukas watched her with deep brown eyes for a moment before moving to the bed and taking the seat her father vacated. Lifting her hand, he pressed it to her lips. “How’s your arm?”
“It hurts like the dickens.”
“Marmee will make you some willow bark tea. How much do you recall?”
Addison shook her head trying to clear the cobwebs.
“I honestly don’t remember. I recall that woman with the gun. She was going to shoot you and that is it.”
“You threw yourself in front of me.”
“I thought I was pushing you out of the way.”
A sad smile played at the corner of his lips. “If you hadn’t done that, the bullet would have certainly hit me in the chest.”
“I’d do it again if it meant keeping you safe.”
“Addison, in those moments I thought I lost you. And the past few days have been a nightmare. I didn’t know if I would wake up. I didn’t want to wake up. I realized just how much I love you. I know we’ve not known each other very long, but I can’t imagine being without you.”
“Aunt Ingrid said something about that. That she would die without Uncle Weston. I didn’t know what she meant until I saw that woman pull the gun.”
“I don’t ever want you doing that again. Do you hear me?”
“I won’t. Once was enough.”
He leaned forward and cupped her face in his hands, and gently kissed her lips. “Addison Aland, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Yes.”
“I know I don’t have much to offer, but you already have my heart, and I can promise you a lifetime of love and picnics.
“No picnics,” she laughed, then winced. “Only thunderstorms.”
“Thunderstorms?”
“I’d rather be caught in a thunderstorm with you.”
The sound of thunder cracked in the distance.
“Yes ma’am. I might be able to arrange that.”
“I brought the doctor and the preacher,” Caleb called from the hallway. “I thought we might need both.”
“Let’s get married today. Now. There is no need for a fancy wedding out here. When I asked Marmee to find me a mail-order bride, I was planning on getting married that same day.”
Addison laughed as she pressed her forehead to Lukas’s. “I’d like to get cleaned up first.”
“Let me talk to Marmee.”
An hour later, Addy sat up in bed with a new bandage on her arm. She took a bath and washed her hair with help from Mama. It wasn’t a luxurious soak in Aunt Ingrid’s tub, but she was clean and that was all that mattered. Her aunt provided her with a fresh nightgown with a bit of lace at the collar. It wasn’t the wedding gown Addy hoped for, but she was marrying the man she dreamed of.
Lukas held her hand as the family gathered around. Reverend Billings said the words that proclaimed them man and wife, and Addison thought her heart would burst as Lukas leaned down to kiss her.
“This calls for a celebration. I’ll make roast chicken for dinner.” Aunt Ingrid said, wiping her eyes. Addy was sure she even saw Uncle Weston get misty-eyed.
“Thank you,” she mouthed to him. Her uncle nodded and slipped from the room.
