Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

BOONE

Now that she’s said yes to being my wife, I need this to happen immediately. As this is Hollow’s Hollow, marriage licenses are able to obtained same day, even Sundays. I proposed yesterday, but I already can’t wait any longer. Hopefully she doesn’t want a lavish wedding.

“Have you given any thought to the wedding?” I ask over dinner.

“No. I know I don’t want anything crazy. I understand your family may need to throw a big party or reception, but as long as it’s separate from our wedding, I’m fine with that.” God, I love her.

“Let’s get married tonight.”

“Tonight? Like go to Vegas?”

“No. We can get married here in Hollow’s Hollow.”

“How can we do that?”

“Have you heard about Hollow’s Hollow love stories?”

“The mail order brides?”

“Yes. Them, because of that, Hollow’s Hollow issues marriages licenses anytime day or night.”

“That’s pretty cool.”

“So tonight?”

“Yes, Boone Blackstone, I’ll marry you tonight.”

I walk hand in hand down the street with her to the municipal building. Lloyd, the town mayor, wishes us luck as he issues the license to us.

Despite it being almost nine at night, we head to the church, with Golden and Piers in tow as our witnesses.

Alton, the pastor, grins at us as we stand in front of him. His wife, Lavinia, plays the piano as July walks towards me.

“Sorry it’s so late,” I tell him.

“No problem, really. You’d be surprised just how many ceremonies I perform in my pajamas,” he says jovially. Lavinia stops playing as soon as July reaches me.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her.

“Thank you.”

“Are we ready to begin?” Alton asks and I nod. “Excellent. We are gathered here tonight to join Boone and July in holy matrimony. Since it’s late, you said you didn’t want anything fancy, you just want to be married, so here we go. Boone, repeat after me. July, I promise to cherish you always, to honor, and keep you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you all the days of my life.”

“July, I promise to cherish you always, to honor, and keep you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you all the days of my life.”

“Now, July?”

“Boone, I promise to cherish you always, to honor, and keep you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you all the days of my life.” We exchange rings and the weight of the platinum band around my finger is perfect. It ties us together forever.

“Wonderful. Now by the power vested in me by God and the great state of West Virginia, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Just like that, we’re married and she’s mine forever. After signing the license, Alton promises to file it with the state, and we ditch Golden and Piers. The house isn’t quite ready to move into yet, so we head straight for July’s little room above the saloon. It’s just across the street, and we are naked, in bed within five minutes.

“I love you, wife,” I groan as I slide into her slowly.

“I love you too, husband,” she whispers, taking all of me.

There is no greater feeling than making love to your wife. None and I get to do it for the rest of my life.