Chapter Three

W ith their vows freshly exchanged, Joel Trinity clasped Erna Brown’s hand, signaling it was time to leave.

“Let’s head on out,” he said.

Erna nodded, her eyes bright with excitement. She turned to Faith, who was standing by with a quilt she had stitched together with love. “Faith,” Erna called out softly, her steps quickening toward her twin. They embraced tightly, the bond of sisterhood evident in the silent exchange of smiles and tears.

“Take care of him,” Faith whispered, smoothing a stray curl behind Erna’s ear. “And more importantly, make him take care of you.”

“I will,” Erna promised, pulling back just enough to look into Faith’s eyes, “and you take care of everyone else, like you always do,” Erna added with a gentle laugh.

Faith nodded, her own laughter mingling with Erna’s as they shared a knowing glance. With one last squeeze, Erna turned away, the skirts of her simple wedding dress swishing softly against the grass.

Joel and Erna set off side by side, leaving the warmth of the gathering behind them. The half-mile to Joel’s ranch stretched out, a path they would now walk together. The air was dense with the heat of a Texas summer evening.

“Seems like just yesterday I was baking bread for the bakery in town, and now here I am, walking with my husband,” Erna mused aloud, her voice filled with wonder.

“Life has its turns and twists,” Joel replied, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. “Never thought I’d find someone who’d want to share mine.”

They talked about everything—the sky, so vast and filled with stars, the future, uncertain but promising; and the small joys of everyday life. They spoke of the ranch, the children she loved and hoped to have, and the crafts that filled her quiet moments.

“Ever ridden a horse at full gallop?” Joel asked, a smile playing on his lips.

“Can’t say I have,” Erna replied, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Well, we’ll have to change that,” he declared, a note of excitement in his voice.

“Only if you try your hand at baking,” she teased.

“I can do that,” he said, “but I warn you, I’m not much good in the kitchen.”

“Then it’s good you have me,” she said.

Erna stepped into the modest homestead, her eyes wide with both surprise and delight. It was clear from the outset that Joel’s living space was designed more for function than comfort—a single room serving as kitchen, bedroom, and living area all in one.

She smiled, not at all dismayed by the sight. Already, her mind was abuzz with ideas to make this space their own. “I can hang curtains here,” she mused aloud, touching the window frame gently, “and maybe some flowers on the table.” Her fingers traced the rough wood of the table, envisioning it covered with a clean cloth and a freshly baked pie in the center.

“Needs a woman’s touch, I’m sure,” Joel said, somewhat sheepishly as he watched her take it all in. His hands found their way to his hips, and he looked around as if seeing the place through her eyes for the first time.

“It does,” Erna agreed, her voice filled with a quiet excitement. “But you’re in luck because I’m a woman!”

He laughed and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, a collie bounded into the room, its tail wagging furiously. His intelligent eyes immediately sought out Joel for approval before turning to inspect the newcomer.

“Erna, this is Prince,” Joel introduced with a hint of pride in his voice. “He’s been with me since he was just a pup.”

“Hello, Prince,” Erna greeted the dog, kneeling to offer a hand. Prince sniffed it cautiously then gave a gentle lick, accepting her presence. Erna laughed, the sound light and genuine, as she scratched behind Prince’s ears. “Aren’t you a sweet thing?”

“Thinks he runs the ranch,” Joel commented, but there was no annoyance in his tone. Instead, there was an affectionate note that suggested Prince was more partner than pet.

“Looks like I have two boys to look after now,” she teased, standing up and dusting off her skirt. “But I think I’m up to the challenge.”

“Something tells me you are,” Joel agreed, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile.

Erna’s eyes scanned the room, a soft smile playing on her lips as she imagined all the ways she could brighten up the modest space. Her gaze landed on the bed, its sheets wrinkled and speckled with traces of the day’s work. With a gentle determination, she began rummaging through the wooden trunk at the foot of the bed, searching for something clean to sleep on.

“Found them!” she exclaimed, pulling out a pair of scarcely used sheets that still held the scent of fresh cotton. Shaking them open, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of contentment. It was a small task, changing the bed linens, but it symbolized the start of her new life here with Joel. Erna knew the days ahead would be filled with chores, but the thought of caring for Joel, of making this house a home, brought her an unexpected joy.

Joel watched her with a mixture of admiration and sheepishness. “I reckon I should’ve cleaned up some before bringing you here,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. The disarray of his home seemed more apparent now, in the presence of someone who saw more than four walls and a roof.

Erna glanced up from tucking the corners of the sheet, her laughter light and easy. “Joel, if I wanted a man who kept a tidy house, I’d have married the town barber,” she teased. “But then, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of fixing it up myself.”

“Guess you’re stuck with me and my mess, then,” Joel replied, the hint of a grin breaking through.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Erna answered with sincerity, smoothing out the last wrinkle on the bed.

Joel’s eyes softened as he stepped closer, the lines of worry that furrowed his brow moments earlier smoothing out. He reached for Erna with a hesitant but sure touch, wrapping his arms around her in a careful embrace. Drawing her near, he bent his head and pressed his lips to hers—a kiss that held the promise of new beginnings. It was only their second kiss, but it stirred the air around them with the sweet scent of hope.

“I’m just... so darn happy you said yes,” Joel whispered against her lips.

Erna’s cheeks flushed with warmth as she pulled back slightly, her gaze searching his. “This is all so new to me,” she confessed, her voice steady though her heart raced. “But tell me, Joel, do you want me out there with you on the ranch? Or would you rather I focus on making this house more... habitable?”

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Erna, you’ve already made this place brighter just by stepping into it. I won’t pretend I know the first thing about making a home cozy. I’ll handle the cattle and fences. You do whatever your heart tells you.” His thumb brushed her cheek, a tender gesture that spoke volumes.

“Then I’ll start here,” Erna decided with a nod, her own hands finding their way to rest against his chest. “I want to build something beautiful with you, Joel.”

“Sounds perfect,” Joel agreed, his smile genuine, eyes lit up with the thought of a shared future.

Joel’s laughter echoed in the modest expanse of the homestead, warm and inviting as the Texas sun. “Erna, I reckon you’ll be doing me a favor just by putting your touch on this place. I can handle the ranch work well enough on my own.”

“Then I shall make it my mission to turn this house into a home,” Erna declared with determined enthusiasm, already envisioning the curtains she would sew and the garden she would plant.

The room was filled with the golden hue of late afternoon light as Erna explored her new surroundings. It was a simple space, but it was theirs. She could feel Joel’s eyes on her, a mixture of pride and something deeper in his gaze. He stepped closer, the floorboards creaking under his weight, the proximity sending a flutter through her.

“Never had much need for more than a roof and walls,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “But having you here... it makes me want more.”

“More?” Erna’s question hung between them, laden with unspoken promises.

“More,” Joel affirmed, closing the distance between them. His hands were gentle as they traced her face, cupping her cheeks. The world seemed to hold its breath as their lips met again, the kiss deepening, growing more urgent.

Erna felt a surge of passion, the kind that had been whispered about behind barn doors and beneath quilts at night. Joel’s touch was tentative at first, exploring, but there was an undercurrent of strength in his fingers as they found the buttons of her dress. Her heart raced with each piece of fabric he peeled away, revealing the pale skin beneath.

“Erna,” he breathed, his voice shaking with desire.

“Joel,” she replied, her own hands working at the fastenings of his shirt, eager to discover the man she had married. As they undressed each other, there was a feeling of discovery, of charting unknown territories neither had dared to explore before.

The bed was a simple affair, but it became their sanctuary as they came together with a tenderness that belied their inexperience. Erna’s passion was a revelation to her – she had never imagined the depths of her own longing, the fierce joy of being wanted and held so completely.

Joel moved with a care that spoke volumes of his respect for her, his strong hands guiding and supporting her as they found a rhythm all their own. Their breaths mingled, soft moans escaped in the quiet room, and the heat of summer outside was nothing compared to the fire they found together.

Afterward, Joel and Erna lay entwined. They were silent now, the urgency of their earlier passions giving way to a gentle fatigue.

“Never knew it could be like this,” Joel murmured, his voice tinged with wonder. His arms, strong from years of ranch work, held Erna as if she were something precious.

“Me neither,” Erna confessed, her head resting on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

“Reckon we’ll have to get used to all sorts of new things together,” he said, his thumb tracing small circles on her back.

“Sounds nice,” she replied simply, a smile playing on her lips even as her eyelids grew heavy.

“Nice and more,” Joel added, his own smile hidden in the darkness.

“Good,” she sighed. The warmth of him was a comfort she hadn’t known she’d craved.

As she fell asleep, she dreamed of a life with him. Of children and laughter. Of work and play. A full life with this man was suddenly the most important thing in her world.