“We should go back.” He made no move to release her though. “Your parents will wonder where you are.”
“In a moment.” She wasn’t ready for this peace to end, this perfect bubble of contentment that surrounded them here.
Tomorrow would bring the ride to town, the ceremony, the reality of becoming his wife. Tonight, she simply wanted to exist in this space between promise and fulfillment.
A coyote’s distant howl drifted across the valley, answered by another from the opposite ridge. The sound should have been haunting, perhaps even frightening, but here in Enoch’s arms,it felt like a benediction—the wild country’s blessing on their union.
CHAPTER 29
Dawn painted the eastern peaks in shades of rose and gold, but Mandie had been awake long before the sun crested the mountains. Her heart hammered with a mixture of anticipation and nervous energy that made sleep impossible.
Today she would become Mrs. Enoch Balfour.
Or…Lady Balfour? That didn’t feel right.Enoch’s wifewould be more than enough.
Someone had already built up the fire in the stove when she stepped into the kitchen. Probably Enoch. The water in the kettle was almost hot as well.
She would prepare an easy meal this morning. The cornbread batter came together quickly, followed by thick slices of ham that sizzled in the cast iron skillet. The rhythm of cooking helped settle her nerves, grounding her in simple, necessary tasks while her mind spun with everything the day would bring.
The eggs cracked clean against the bowl’s rim, their golden yolks sliding into the mixture as she whisked them.
Outside, the low murmur of men’s voices rose—the brothers discussing their plans for the day, no doubt.
Footsteps in the dining room drew her attention, and her mother appeared in the doorway, already dressed despite the early hour. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, suggesting she’d slept as poorly as Mandie.
“Good morning, dear.” Mama’s voice carried a tremor of emotion. “I thought I might help with breakfast.”
“The ham just needs turning in a few minutes.” Mandie poured the eggs into another skillet, watching them foam and set at the edges. “Did you sleep at all?”
Her mother moved to stand beside her, hands fluttering uncertainly before settling on the counter. “Some. I kept thinking about your first wedding.” She paused, her voice growing thick. “The church full of flowers and all our friends, your father walking you down the aisle in that beautiful gown we had commissioned…”
Her tone dropped and sadness crept in. “And now here you are in a frontier kitchen, preparing to marry a man we barely know, in such a…rough ceremony.” Mama’s voice caught.
Mandie set down her wooden spoon and turned to face her mother fully. “My marriage with Nicholas was…acceptable.” She couldn’t summon a better word to describe the mixture of companionship and loneliness. She’d thought she’d managed to grow love for him, yet compared to the way she felt about Enoch…
“But Mama, what I feel for Enoch is so much more than I ever imagined possible. That beautiful church wedding you remember? I was terrified the entire time. Terrified of disappointing Nicholas, of not being the wife he expected, of living my whole life trying to fit into a mold that never quite suited me.”
Her mother’s eyes widened, and Mandie reached for her hands.
“Today I’m nervous, yes, but not afraid. Not the way I was before. Enoch sees me—truly sees me—and loves what he finds. That’s worth more than all the flowers and fancy gowns in Savannah.”
Tears gathered in her mother’s eyes as she nodded. “It is. I just…I want everything to be perfect for you.”
“It will be perfect because it’s right.” Mandie squeezed her mother’s hands. “A simple ceremony with the people we love most—that sounds far more beautiful to me than any elaborate affair.”
The sound of boots and voices in the great room interrupted them. The brothers had come inside, their conversation low but urgent.
Mama gasped. “The ham.” She released Mandie’s hands to rescue the skillet before the meat burned.
Mandie turned the eggs one final time before sliding them onto a platter, then carried it to the dining room where the men had gathered around the table—Enoch, his brothers, and even her father.
“Morning.” Enoch rose to take the platter from her hands, his fingers brushing hers in the exchange. The brief contact sent warmth up her hands, and she caught the tender look in his eyes before he turned to set the dish on the table. “You look beautiful this morning.”
The simple compliment, spoken quietly enough that only she could hear, made her cheeks warm. She would dress for their wedding later, but for now, she’d braided her hair in a simple plait that hung over her shoulder, and wore her everyday blue calico dress. Nothing fancy. Yet the way Enoch looked at her made her insides heat.
Her mother appeared with the ham and cornbread, setting both on the table before taking her seat.
Once they were all settled, Enoch bowed his head to ask the Lord’s blessing over the food and the day. His hand found Mandie’s under the table as he began the prayer, and the warmth of his palm against hers, his fingers woven through hers, helped settle her insides.
