Loving River

The Loneliest Man

"Well," Micah announced with a face splitting grin. "It's done!" He slapped Zane on the back. "The preacher has agreed to bind your lonely hind to the lovely woman."
"Vixen." Zane murmured as he watched River conversing with Reverend Pond.
"What was that?" Micah turned back to his friend.
Zane pulled his eyes away from that torturous woman. "What? Oh. Nothing, I didn't say anything. I was just agreeing with you."
A sly grin pulled in Micah's lips, "Agreeing with me on which part? That you're lonely or that she is a beautiful woman?"
"Both." River smiled up at the men. "He wouldn't dare think otherwise about me." Her left brow raised slightly as she grinned. "Afterall, he's going to belong to me in less then five minutes."
"Now wait just a minute." Zane frowned. "I think you've got this marriage thing all wrong."
"Have I?" River stepped closer to Zane, her hands reached out to gently caress his neck. "Why don't you explain it to me." She suggested as she placed a moist kiss to the base of his throat.
Struggling to keep his composure, Zane swallowed hard. "Marriage isn't about owning anybody." He tried to clear his suddenly dry throat. "It isn't slavery."
" Ah. But that's where you misunderstand me. I didn't say I would own you. Just that you would belong to me." River loved the feel of his hair between her fingers. It had been awhile since his last haircut, but she didn't mind.

"What's the difference?" Zane challenged. He quickly captured both of her hands in one of his. Crazy woman was rattling his brain with all her touching and caressing. Deciding it was time to tip the scales a bit, Zane ran his fingers from her soft delicate chin, up her cheek,  his thumb brushing gently over her eyelid before finally tangling itself in her silky hair. "What's the difference, River? What's the difference between owning someone and belonging to someone?"

"Stick around and find out for yourself." River whispered. Her brown eyes were locked with his mesmerizing blue eyes. She couldn't look away. In his eyes, she saw her past, her present and could it be? Was it possible that she would have a future with this man?
Reverend Pond broke the invisible connection when he cleared his rather congested throat. "If both of you are ready we shall proceed." He glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Assuming you still wish to marry."
Silence seemed to fill River's every thought and emotion as she waited. Waited for Zane to make a choice. Both Zane and River know her words held a deeper meaning then what they implied. Would he accept her unspoken offer? Would he bind himself to her fully and experience all that life brought them? Or would he rid her world of his father and ride away?

Finally Zane nodded, his eyes never leaving River's as he answered both the reverend and her. "Let's do it then. I'm in for the long haul, come what may."
A smile of pure bliss spread across River's face and Zane couldn't help but mirror it as he felt River's pleasure radiating to him.
"Well, let's begin then." Reverend Pond said. "Please join hands."
---
"Mr. Krillian, you may now kiss your-." Reverend Pond cleared his throat noisly. "You can kiss your lovely bride now."
River cast a quick smile toward the reverend before focusing her gaze in her husband. Her husband. That had such a different ring to it, it didn't feel real. But it was. And now the man was gazing down at her, a soft smile curving his lips upward.
"Mrs. Krillian," Zane murmured. "You look beautiful in your mole."
A throaty chuckle escaped River as she raised a hand to touch her newly applied mole. "Why thank you, Mr. Krillian. I donned it just for this special occasion." She teased.
The reverend cleared his throat, "In my day, folks skipped the mole talk and jumped straight to the kissing."
"If you don't mind, " Zane grasped River's hand and addressed the reverend. "The first time I kiss my wife, I'd rather there wasn't an audience."

Micah laughed loudly, "He's just afraid someone will call him out for doing it wrong!"
Zane, however, paid no mind to Micah's teasing. Instead, he led River down the aisle and out of the church into the blindingly bright sunshine.
"Zane, where are we going now?" River asked as she tried to keep up with the man's long strides. He stopped near a hitched up wagon.
"Home." He said as he lifted her up and then climbed up.
"Home?" River repeated in surprise, her step nearly faltering.
"Home." Zane confirmed.
A small flicker of joy warmed the inside of River the same way the smile warmed her lips. Home. She liked the sound of that. Especially if it was Zane saying it. Saints alive! She was falling in love with the man. She risked a quick glance at her husband. He sat tall and proud on the wagon seat. His strong lean hands handled the reins with ease as he guided the horses away from town. River watched his long tanned fingers grip the reins and she though of how they would feel touching her face. Smoothing her hair. A small shudder traveled through her, she knew the sensation of his hands on her body would be wonderful. Too wonderful to bear.

"Here we are." Zane released a small breath as he hopped nimbly from the wagon. River hadn't spoken since they'd left town, but he could feel her eyes on him. What was she thinking? Was she regretting this marriage? Wishing she'd wed a different man. Zane was relived when they'd finally arrived at the small dugout. Another mile in that wagon and he would've lost his mind. Zane settled River on her feet and quickly stepped away. "What do you think?" He asked gesturing toward the dugout.
River eyed the mound of dirt in surprise. She'd heard of dugouts of course but she'd never actually seen one. "Our home will be under the ground? Like rabbits?"
"Well, we'll live a bit more civilized lifestyle the rabbits, but yes." Zane said nodding toward the small home he and Micah had slaved over. "It's got a window there, see? We can put some oil cloth over it if you you like. It can act as a screen against bugs.

"Bugs? Zane, it's under the ground. We'll be covered with bugs."
Zane smiled at his bride and took no offense at her doubts. "Come and see." He urged. Taking her hand in his larger one, Zane pulled her closer to their home. He pushed open the wooden door he'd built and allowed her to enter.
As River's eyes adjusted to the dimness of the dugout, she began to make out different shapes resembling furniture. The first thing she saw was a beautifully carved table. Two matching chairs surrounding it. The table bore no cloth but it really didn't need one. It was exquisite in it's own right. A wreath of flowers had been carefully carved into the center of the table, and a border of tiny leaves shaped the edges of the table. River allowed her gaze to take in the compact kitchen and the attached bedroom. The whole dugout was one room with the bedroom on one side and the kitchen on the other but it was perfectly charming in a simple way. Dispute being rather primitive, something in the dugout Zane had made called to River. It reminded her of simple, happy times. Times spent with her father and mother in their small wooden cabin when she was just a small girl.

Zane watched quietly although impatiently as River observed the small details of his home. He should've taken the time to clean it up, it had been a long while since he'd been home last.
Dust and spiderwebs covered every surface and corner. Just when he though he could take no more of River's silence, a small but dazzling smile spread across her face. She turned toward Zane with sparkling eyes that made his heart give a small jump.

"Zane, I'm sorry I teased your home. It is beautiful here. Very cozy."

"You like it?" Zane released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"It's perfect. It'll be a wonderful home for us." She assured him with a pat on his arm.

"I'm glad." Zane finally allowed a smile to crease his lips. "I'll go put the horses away. Make yourself at home."

"Zane."

He paused near the door at her voice.

"You promised you'd kiss me when we were without audience."

"Did I?" Zane fought against his teasing inclination but to no avail.

"You said it before Reverend Pond. " River reminded.

Zane took two large steps toward River. "Well," he whispered, his voice low and husky in the dimly lit room. "I wouldn't want to be a liar before God." Zane brushed several strands of her hair behind her ear. "Welcome to my home, Mrs. River Krillin."  Bending to accommodate her shorter frame, he placed a tender kiss on first her left cheek then her right. "I'm glad you're here." Turning, Zane swiftly left the dugout.

River was stunned for two seconds before her mind caught up with her. "That man!" She muttered. He is such a tease!

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