Page 11 of Leather and Lace
“The woman has two husbands.’
Mary’s mouth dropped open. “Two?”
“Yes, and they are the law men in town. Respected members of the community, all three of them, and yet they live as they please.”
“How is that possible?” Mary felt a bloom of hope in her chest. If a woman was allowed to marry two men, then surely her right to take one wife was understandable.
“On account of Gold Sky not being your normal town, not even on the frontier.” Alexi placed a hand on the pew in front of them and turned to face Mary fully. “This place is near magic in its ability to accept and encourage people to love and be themselves. I have never met a kinder group of individuals. All of us came here running, like I told you and it is here that we all found a reason to stop running.”
Mary’s eyes watered and she ducked her head, surprised at the sudden appearance of tears. “That sounds like a lovely thing to find,” she husked out, wiping at the corner of her eyes.
“It can be yours as well, Minnie. You don’t have to keep running.” Alex reached out and placed a hand on hers.
“Even if I were able to marry a woman, what would that do for me? I am still without prospects for such a life and my mother is not of the same mind as Gold Sky. She would never allow it.”
Alex patted her hand reassuringly. “That is where I come in. You already know me.”
Mary’s eyes widened in surprise. “But that means--”
“That you would marryme.”
Chapter 5
“Marry...you?”
“Yes, me.” Alex pressed a hand to her chest and smiled at her. “You already know me, so there will be no need to find a new prospect.”
“But we, ah, we don’t know one another,” Mary whispered. She swallowed hard and continued on, “How are we to marry when we have only just met?”
“It would not be a true match. Not a marriage of love, but of one of necessity.” Mary’s heart sank at the clarification. Even if she had protested Alex’s mention of a marriage to her it did not mean that the idea was wholly unappealing.
She gave Alex a tight smile. “Yes, of course. One of convenience but...what exactly is that convenience?”
“Getting you room to breathe, to be able to be yourself. I expect that you have been under your mother’s heel for far too long now, hmm?” Alex looked at her with eyes that saw far too much and gave Mary an understanding smile.
“Yes, that’s right. It hasn’t been easy since papa passed away,” she confessed and not for the first time since they had met took comfort in Alex's touch. She turned her hand so that they were able to interlace their fingers.
“But why would you marry me? If you do so then I get away from my mother, but what does that give you? Why would you tie yourself to someone you do not know for such a-a permanent arrangement such as marriage?”
“Marriage need only be as permanent as we see fit,” Alex told her. “Remember what I said about the town. If we marry and separate, then they will allow it as surely as they will our nuptials.”
“But why would you marry me, even if it can be undone?” Mary gave herself a pat on the back that her voice did not waver. It was not for her to feel rejection or a sense of disappointment that Alex, a woman offering to be her ally, a woman that she felt an attraction to and admitted she felt the same for Mary, would only be with her for a time. She shouldn’t be fearful to lose Alex so quickly when they had only met that day, but already Mary felt a kinship to the woman she was reluctant to turn her back on.
“Someone once gave me a chance. A helping hand if you will.” She squeezed Mary’s hand and drew back. Mary had to dig her nails into her palm to stop herself from chasing the other woman’s touch. “And I vowed to myself that I would give the same help I received if and when I was able to return the favor.”
“And marrying me falls into that category?”
“Indeed it does,” Alex told her. “Marrying me won’t be so bad. I’ve got a good-sized house outside of town, you won’t want for anything while you plan your future, you are welcome to stay and never go as well. It would be safe.” She paused, and then added in a quieter voice, “You will not be a burden to me. Nor will the baby. I want you both to be safe and happy, Minnie.”
Mary bit her lip. “Well and truly?”
“Yes, of course. If you were of a mind to stay in Gold Sky, then you would have a place with me for as long as you liked.”
“I like the sound of that, but what do we do about my mother? She would never allow the marriage to take place. She doesn’t-she doesn’t understand any of this. She chooses to live in the world of her own creation and that does not allow for me marrying a woman. No matter how much I wish to.”
Alex held up a finger and gave her an excited smile. “I have that all worked out! Just a minute and I’ll show you.” She rushed up from her seat and hurried towards the front of the church where she rummaged at a table. It was only when she held a newspaper in her hand and lifted it above her head with a whoop of triumph that she turned back towards Mary.
“I found it!”
