Scarlett Rose's Arc

Chapter 44 of 57

Maya read the vows with her folio open on her forearm. Scarlett kept her hand in Clayton's and watched the sealed envelope shift each time Maya turned a page. She had wanted a quiet moment to hand him the deed herself. She could feel the day starting to close over that plan. After the pronouncement there would be the walk back down the aisle, the line of guests, the photographs at the flowered rail, the toasts. She had one window, and it sat inside Maya's folio, and it was almost here. They said their names. Clayton read from the pages he had kept against his chest. Scarlett said hers without looking down. Maya pronounced them husband and wife. Clayton kissed her once, careful of the veil. Maya closed the folio around the envelope and stepped forward before the music started again. She spoke low, under the applause. "Both of you. Behind the curtain. One minute. Scarlett's orders." Clayton looked at Scarlett. "Orders." "Please," Scarlett said. He followed her behind the silver drape at the back of the platform. The purple and blue ribbons hung still on the other side. The guests were standing, clapping, turning to each other. No one could see them here for the length of a song. Maya slid the envelope out of the folio and put it in Scarlett's hand. She stepped back through the curtain and let it fall. Scarlett held the envelope against her bouquet. The paper was heavy. Clayton's name was written on the front in her handwriting. "I had a whole speech," she said. "I lost it somewhere between the aisle and now." "Say it plain." She handed him the envelope. "Twelve acres. Along the fence. From my side to yours. It's yours now. Signed last week." He did not open it. He looked at the front, then at her. "Scarlett." "I wanted your ranch to grow," she said. "I didn't want you to have to buy the ground to do it." Clayton pressed the envelope flat between his palm and his chest, on top of the pocket that held her vows. He was quiet for a count of three. "You gave me the fence line." "I gave you the fence line." He bent his head and kissed her forehead through the veil. "I'll open it tonight. With you." "Tonight," she said. He tucked the envelope inside his jacket, against the vows. The music shifted into the recessional. Maya's hand appeared at the edge of the curtain, waving them out. Clayton took Scarlett's hand. They stepped back into the light. The guests were still on their feet. Rose was in the front row with both hands pressed to her mouth again, smiling. Scarlett walked down the aisle beside her husband with nothing left to hide and nothing left to hand him. The deed was where it belonged. The next thing waiting for her was the receiving line, and after that, the drive home.