Chapter 14 - The Wedding at First Snow
They married on November 18, 1888.
Almost exactly two years after Hope's birth.
The first snow arrived that morning.
Cora considered it a blessing.
Silas considered it inconvenient.
Martha called him hopeless.
The ceremony took place at the ranch.
No ballroom.
No expensive decorations.
Pine branches.
Lanterns.
Neighbors.
Warm food.
Hope wore a cream dress and refused to release Silas's hand.
When the preacher asked who gave Cora away, Cora answered herself.
“No one. I came willingly.”
Silas smiled.
That was the woman he loved.
Before exchanging vows, Cora placed Thomas's wedding ring inside a small wooden box.
She had feared doing so would feel like closing a door.
Instead, it felt like opening one.
Silas never asked her to remove Thomas from her heart.
That was precisely why there was room for Silas beside him.
They exchanged vows.
Hope interrupted twice.
Nobody minded.
When the preacher pronounced them husband and wife, Silas kissed Cora while their daughter wrapped herself around both their legs.
Martha cried loudly.
Eli pretended he didn't.
Marshal Cole drank too much whiskey.
That evening, after everyone left, Cora stood by the window.
Snow covered the ranch.
Silas approached.
“Regret it?”
“Already.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
She leaned against him.
“Silas?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you for staying.”
His expression softened.
“Best decision I ever made.”
But marriage did not magically erase grief.
Nor fear.
May you like
Their real test would come not from gunmen or storms, but from learning how two wounded people built something lasting without demanding that the other forget the past.
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