Newton (Prairie Grooms Book 9) (5 page)

She had a good point. “Yes,” he mused and rubbed his chin with one hand. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll speak with Arya and try to make her understand.”

“Understand?”

“Yes,” he said with a chuckle. “She needs to understand that she married an idiot. But considering the last couple of months, I’m not sure another man would do any better.”

“Men and women are both often afraid of things they don’t understand, Newton. We fear them because we have no control over them. It becomes a trust issue.”

“So the question is, am I willing to trust Arya’s people?”

“And Arya,” Susara added.

Newton nodded. “Well, I guess it’s time to find out.”

A
rya watched
the sun setting on the western horizon. She liked to stand in the middle of the road that ran between the church and the rest of the town. She could look out over the prairie from there and see the sunsets and sunrises. In the weeks she’d been in Clear Creek, it had become one of her favorite things to do. Oftentimes Nu-tan – correction,
Newton
– watched with her, but at the moment he was speaking with Preacher Jo and his wife Annie at the church.

She liked Annie King. She was kind, gentle and possessed an inner strength Arya couldn’t help but admire. In fact, she liked all the women she’d met so far in the tiny town and wondered what a large city would be like. Newton and Eloise (not Elo-eez) had told her stories of England, the country they originally came from, and its grand city of London. What an adventure it would be to sail across the big water and see for herself all its wonders! But such a trip sounded impossible.

With what little light remained, Arya made her way to the church to see if Newton was finished with his business. When she reached the house (
parsonage
– she remembered the word), she knocked on the door and waited as he’d taught her.

Annie answered. “There you are,” she said pleasantly. “I was wondering when you’d show up. Come inside – it must be getting cold out.”

Arya entered and spied Newton sitting next to Preacher Jo on the … what was it? … the
settee
. Though that was just one word for it – it was also called a
sofa
, or a
loveseat
, or a
couch
. These people had so many names for one thing that it could get very confusing. “Hello,” she said.

“Mrs. Whitman,” Preacher Jo greeted. “Won’t you sit down? Would you like some coffee or tea?”

Arya liked both and couldn’t decide which one she wanted at the moment. “What you have made already is …” She stopped, trying to decide which word to use.
Fine, good, wonderful, lovely
–any one of these would be all right. “… good,” she finally chose.

“I’ll get another cup and saucer,” Annie announced and left the room.

Arya sat in the nearest empty chair and folded her hands in her lap. “You are done talking?”

“In a moment, darling,” Newton said. He turned back to Preacher Jo. “So you understand my dilemma?”

Preacher Jo made a face and nodded. “I understand that it’s a dilemma. I wish I could advise you better on what to do about it, but this is a bit beyond my training. One thing you
will
need to do is become legally married, in case anyone ever questions either of you. And much of the rest depends on where you plan to travel.”

Arya understood most of what Preacher Jo had said, but not all. She looked at Newton. “Travel?”

“I’ll explain in a moment, sweet. Preacher Jo feels it would be in our best interest to get married.”

Her eyebrows rose at that. “We
are
married.”

“Yes, according to your people and their customs,” Newton explained. “But not according to mine.”

“This is bad?” she asked glancing between the two men.

“In our culture, yes,” Preacher Jo said. “People outside of Clear Creek may not like it or understand. Among our people, when you marry, you have a certificate – a piece of paper that proves you are.”

“Our word is not good enough?” she asked. Really, why did they have to have proof on a paper? What was the matter with these people?

“It’s a simple ceremony, Arya,” Newton explained, “and you get to wear a pretty dress if you want.”

Well, she did like wearing pretty dresses. Especially because they made Newton kiss her a lot once they were alone, and take them off …

Annie re-entered the parlor, a tea cup and saucer in her hands and handed it to her. Arya took it and nodded her thanks.

“What have you decided?” Annie asked.

“Arya and I will have to marry in the church so it’s legal. I’m surprised no one here has said anything until now.”

“The only one saying anything is you,” Preacher Jo pointed out.

“Yes, well, better me than Mrs. Dunnigan.”

“Quite so,” Preacher Jo agreed. “I guess the next thing the two of you need to do is set a date.”

Newton looked at Arya and smiled. “When my people have a wedding, the bride wears a beautiful white gown. Would you like that, darling?”

Arya smiled and nodded rapidly. “Yes.”

“I’m sure the ladies of the sewing circle can make one soon enough,” Annie said. “When would you have in mind?”

“When the dress is done, we’ll wed.”

Annie cast her husband a worried glance. “No sooner than that?”

“They’re already husband-and-wife in the eyes of Arya’s people, joined together by the religious leader of their tribe,” Preacher Jo said. “Isn’t that right, Newton?”

“Yeeees,” he said hesitantly. “I suppose you could call the man that performed our wedding … that.”

“Religious leader or no, they are not married in the eyes at the church,” Annie pointed out. “Maybe they ought to hurry.”

“Mrs. King,” Newton said. “I vowed to protect this woman with my life during that ceremony. In fact I vowed far more things than we do, and had to prove I could carry them out before we were wed.” He held up a hand before she could comment. “Don’t bother asking me about what, as I don’t wish to discuss it. Suffice to say, to her people we are bound together, irrevocably joined. One until we die.”

Annie stared at him, her mouth half-open in shock. “You had to prove them? I’d love to hear these vows. They sound very interesting.”

“Trust me when I say, Mrs. King, that Arya’s people are beyond interesting.”

“Be that as it may, people will talk,” she said.

“No one has thus far,” Preacher Jo countered.

Newton nodded. “Not even Mrs. Dunnigan. Besides, I’m sure everyone in town will be quite happy to come to our wedding. I think that knowing we will marry in the church will relieve any concerns they might have.”

“I know it relieves mine,” said Preacher Jo. “I think the term ‘married in the sight of God’ fits your situation already – I just want to make sure you have the legal covering as well.”

Annie reluctantly nodded. “Well, the ladies’ sewing circle meets tomorrow, and Arya can join us. We’ll discuss her wedding dress then.”

“Thank you, Mrs. King – I do appreciate it,” Newton said. “I’m sure Arya does too.”

Arya sipped at her tea, set the cup and saucer in her lap, then nodded. She’d caught most of what they were saying, and understood that she and Newton would get to have another wedding, one that included a pretty dress that had to be made. “I think it sounds …” She raised her eyebrows and thought. “Lovely.”

Annie giggled. “Are you having a hard time picking words to use?”

“You have so many,” she said. “And so many say the same thing, or almost the same. Sometimes it is hard to choose the one I want.”

“Well, let me ask the two of you this,” Preacher Jo interjected. “And you only have to pick one word to answer, yes or no.”

Arya exchanged a quick look with Newton. “What is this question?” she asked.

“Would the two of you like to stay for supper?” Preacher Jo asked with a smile.

Newton and Arya answered at the same time. “Yes!”

T
hey left
Preacher Jo’s house after coffee and dessert and strolled hand-in-hand back to the hotel. They didn’t go far before Newton put his arm around Arya to keep her warm. The days were growing cold, the nights colder. It was already late October and Newton wondered where the time had gone. He and Nettie had arrived in Clear Creek toward the end of July, and already they were both married. Nettie even had a paper to prove it.

But as far as Newton’s heart, mind and soul went, he was just as married. He just wanted to have legal proof before he and his wife went exploring. Well, that and they needed money to travel on. Ryder had offered him some work, but that wouldn’t be enough. With a wife to take care of, he’d have to find more work and fast. And unfortunately, that likely meant leaving Clear Creek.

“Newton,” Arya said, drawing him from his musings. “Look at the moon.”

He stopped and gazed at the full moon overhead. “No wonder it’s so light out.” He noticed the blue hue the huge white orb cast upon the prairie. “What a beautiful night.” He turned to his wife and wrapped her in his arms. “Arya, darling, did you understand what Preacher Jo and I were talking about earlier?”

“You want us to marry in front of your people,” she said. “Yes?”

“Yes. I know we’re married in the eyes of your people, but we must get married before my people so no one can say otherwise.”

She cocked her head. “Otherwise?”

“So no one can say that we’re not. Around here it’s frowned upon for a man and woman to be living together and not be married.”

“Ahhh,” she said in understanding. “Then we marry and join the others. Both our people will be happy, yes?”

“Yes … about that.” He took a deep breath. “Arya, sweet, I think perhaps your people have moved to their winter camp by now. Don’t you agree?”

“I do not know. If they have, we follow.”

“We could, yes. But there are so many things in my world I still want to show you. Perhaps we could rejoin your people when the sun …” Hmmm – how could he make her understand? “When the sun … rules the sky again.”

“You mean summer.”

He started and looked at her in shock. “Oh. You know the name of the seasons now?”

“Susara is a very good teacher.”

“I agree, she is. Then you understand?”

“I understand that you want to stay here,” she said more testily. “Why can we not join with my people and spend the winter with them?”

“Because we don’t know if we can find them. I know
you’re
confident, but I’m not. Have you ever had to find them before?”

She balked at that and tried to pull away, but he held her fast. She looked into his eyes, the moonlight reflecting off her own. “No,” she said, disappointment in her voice.

“It’s too dangerous, darling, especially when the snows come. If we’re not careful, we could both perish.”

“What is this … perish?”

“Die.”

Her eyes widened and she gasped. “No!” she said and shook her head.

“Do you understand now why I won’t risk it?”

Her eyes darted around as she took in his words. He could tell from the look on her face that she was becoming upset. “Why did we not rejoin them earlier?”

Dash it all, she would ask that.
No hope for it, then – the truth won out. “Because I’m a very selfish man.”

“Selfish? What is this word?”

“It means, dear one, that I didn’t make the effort I could have to get us back to your people before they left.”

Her expression turned grave. “You not take us there on purpose?”

He nodded. “And perhaps I’m a complete cad for doing so. But I thought your people might take us and not let us ever come back here. I might never see my sister or family again. And … and my father and I are just getting to know one another. I couldn’t risk losing that.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock.
Uh-oh.
“You put words in my people’s mouth! You do not know what they will do! How you think to do this?” She struggled to free herself from his embrace.

He let her go this time. What he did was wrong and he knew it. Yet, the benefits were tremendous. In a few short weeks she’d learned more English than he would’ve thought possible. They could communicate now, and to him that was worth the risk of her anger. After all, she’d never been angry with him before. But who knew how long it would take for her to forgive him?

“Newton!” She looked him up and down as if he were the most vile creature on earth. “You keep me here on purpose! You keep me from my people! I thought we were going back. I thought we would go back when I learn your language.”

“Darling, we can’t go back now. We’ll go in spring when it’s safer.”

“You say, but you do not do!”

That got his ire up. “I never
said
we were going back to your people when we came here. You assumed that on your own.” He just managed to stop himself from wagging a finger at her.

She sucked in a breath. “Me!” she said and jabbed a thumb at her chest. “I let you make decision for us. I thought you made it.”

His eyebrows shot up. “I did make it. You’re just objecting to the decision I made.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You should have said something to me. Instead you keep quiet. No words come from you to me about this!”

He sighed. “No, that much I admit, and you have every right to be upset.”

She walked a tight circle and threw her hands in the air. “I … I …” She spun on him, her hands balled into fists at her sides, and stomped her foot. “Ohhhh! You make me … want to throw rocks!”

“As long as they’re not at me, go right ahead if it’ll make you feel better.” To his horrified amusement, she began to scan the road for something to throw. He’d best put a stop to this before she carried out her threat. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “Arya, I said I was sorry. What I did was all shades of wrong and I don’t blame you for being angry. But can’t you see what staying here has done for us?”

She calmed somewhat as her eyes met his. “What is this you say?”

“Just that. You and I can talk to each other now.”

Her eyes pooled with … something, he wasn’t sure what. “Newton, we talk to each other before,” she said, putting a hand over his heart. “We have always been able to talk.”

He sighed. She was right, of course. The bigger problem came when he’d brought her to Clear Creek. No one else was privy to their way of communicating to each other – a touch here, a look there. “You’re right. But at least you can communicate better with me, and others are able to talk with you too. That’s worth the time it took, isn’t it?”

Now it was her turn to sigh. She looked at the church and Preacher Jo’s house next to it. “Yes. I would not know your people if we left to be with mine.” She turned back to him. “We stay … if that is what you wish.”

He cupped her face with one hand. “That is what I wish. Because it will keep you safe.”

She gazed eastward at the moonlit prairie, her eyes full of longing. “Then we stay.”