Copper Veins(10)

“Really?” I’d found a stubby branch, and was doodling in the mud while I sat on a rock, my back to the water. “And what word would you choose, General Silverstrand?”

“Hush. I have not filled that role for a long, long time.” He leaned over and nuzzled the soft spot behind my ear. “Lonely. Bereft. Frustrated. Unmarried.”

Unmarried? “Micah, it’s only been one night.”

“Yes, but until our marriage is consummated, we are not as one. The officiant said as much during our ritual.”

I recalled the actual words of the ceremony—at the time, I’d been too elated to dissect their meaning, but Corporal Rawson had said, “And once you know her as your wife, you are forever joined as one.” I hadn’t realized that that was what they meant, but I suppose it made sense. At least it was an easier requirement than babies.

“Are all marriages like that?” I asked.

I felt Micah’s mouth curl into a smile. “I don’t know. I have only been married once.” He nipped at my ear and added, “As for this marriage, I know that I must lie with you to seal our vows.”

“Well,” I murmured, stretching my neck for more kisses, “I guess we’d better get on that.”

“I agree.” Micah leaned forward to kiss me on the mouth, but he halted when he saw the result of my mud doodles. I had stabbed and slashed at the ground until it looked like a rabid buffalo had churned up the soil. “Sara, what is troubling you?”

Normally, I would have denied any troubles in favor of more kissing, but that’s pretty hard to do when the evidence is right in front of you. “Do… do you think it’s weird that Dad just showed up? I mean, we’ve been looking for him forever, and he just walks right up to the front door?”

Micah pursed his lips, taking a deep breath before he replied. “Weird? Perhaps. However, your father’s return is an unprecedented turn of good fortune. And on our wedding day, no less.”

“I love it when you say that.”

“What?”

“‘Our wedding day.’”

Micah took the stick from me and pulled me to my feet. “Soon, I will be telling you about our wedding night.” He tossed the stick into the stream and tugged me back toward the road and the manor. “Come, my love, my wife, and let me bring you home.”



We would have gotten home an awful lot faster if we hadn’t stopped at every comfy patch of grass and inviting tree stump on the way, but it was all for the greater good. I mean, we couldn’t let this unconsummated state go on much longer. Mind you, we could have taken care of that little technicality at any of our stopping places, but Micah was adamant that he wanted everything to be perfect for our first night as husband and wife.

I was his wife.

So I enjoyed his kisses and caresses and counted the seconds until his vision of perfection became a reality. When we finally crossed over the manor’s threshold, I wanted to run up the stairs to our bedroom. Instead, I found my father and brother waiting for me in the atrium, arms crossed and toes tapping.

“Sara,” Dad greeted, “I’m glad you’re back. I want to take a walk with you. I’ll return her shortly,” he added with a nod toward Micah.

“Right now?” I asked, my eyes sliding toward Micah. “We can’t do this, um, tomorrow?”

“Today is better,” Dad insisted. “Max will be coming with us. There are things I need to discuss with the two of you.”

“And not Sadie?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not yet,” Dad replied, shaking his head.

I chewed my lower lip, trying to form the words to explain to my father that what I really needed was about twelve uninterrupted hours with Micah. After that, I was free for whatever parental advice he wanted to bestow.

“Go with your father,” Micah murmured in my ear. Amazed, I turned and stared at him. “It will be good for you to spend time with him. And it will give me the opportunity to prepare for our night together.”

“Prepare?” That simple word conjured up a variety of images, all of them delectable. “Can you have the silverkin make me some ice cream? Sadie can give them all the details. And probably a cookbook.”

“I will request iced creams for you,” Micah promised solemnly. “Is there anything else my wife desires?”

“A few things,” I murmured. Max snorted something rude, but I ignored him as I stood on my toes and kissed Micah goodbye. “I’ll miss you.”

“And I, you,” Micah murmured.

“Oh, come on,” Max grumbled. I glared at my brother, then I kissed Micah goodbye once more, for luck. With that, I followed Max and Dad out of the manor.