Bought by a Shelby

Winter Wedding

Finn paced the tent making Ada nervous. He was wearing a line in the ground where he paced.

"Will you sit down? Goodness, you have one idea that your brothers actually agree with and you look like you're being shipped off to war." Ada chastised him but it had no effect. He was lost in his own anxiety and spiraling. Ada looked at Tommy and gestured to Finn.

"What if she hates me or poisons my coffee?" He didn't ask anyone in particular, the weight of what he wanted was bearing down on him now. "What if she hates Birmingham and runs away." That last truth was the one he couldn't get out of his mind. She was pretty and ethereal, what if someone else thought that too and she left him.

"Well Finn, you treat her right and sleep with her often. And you don't drink coffee." Tommy said dryly but his lopsided grin gave him away. Finn glared at him but at least slowed down.

"Keep her locked in the house with just you to get to know, watch out for herbal teas, these women could kill you with just plants." Arthurs advice caused Finn to stop and gesture at him. Why had he said that?

"What the hell Arthur, how was that helping me?" He asked. That was literally something he feared.

"What is wrong with the two of you?" Ada asked. She was getting a sore throat from all of her yelling and scolding the three men since 3 a.m. Everyone knew her stance. She was dead set against this.

"It's just another step in becoming a man, Finn." Tommy said, lighting a cigarette. He told Finn this morning that he'd be proud of his decision. He hoped that early praise wasn't said too soon.

"I thought that whore you all paid for when I was a teen was my becoming a man?" Finn challenged. He'd remembered that. He hated that experience. While he had frequented places with whores since it didn't really make him feel grown up.

"One step at a time baby brother. One step at a time." Tommy came up and helped straighten out his suit and coat. They'd given him a sprig of berries for color against his dark suit. Tommy pinned it on Finn and grabbed his face with his hands. He looked like a proud father. Finn looked away as did Tommy. The moment is too much for either.

"What other steps are there?" He dared to ask. He knew he'd be shocked. Better to get it all out now as Tommy would say.

"A baby." Arthur piped up. Finn froze and looked at Ada who had absolutely no sympathy on her face for him whatsoever. She'd gotten pregnant before she'd married. Finn had been old enough to remember.

"A baby, fuck, I don't want kids, at least not yet." He said out loud. His pacing began again.

"It's the 1930's Finn, contraceptives work much better than ever before." Tommy grabbed him once more. "No more pacing Finn. you'll be a happily married man by the end of the day."

" You think you're man enough to get married but scared of having a kid? Jesus." Ada laughed. This was ludicrous.

"That sounds good, no kids yet, I'll get them tablets tonight yeah." Finn looked so relieved to have an out. It's not that he disliked him. He just didn't want any, at least not right now.

"Finn, It takes two weeks for them to work." Ada chastised the men again, shaking her head. How can they possibly be in charge when she was clearly smarter.

"Find out when her last bleed was. You should be okay. If it's within a two week mark." Tommy was getting ready to walk out with his family. He started tearing things down. Arthur and Finn got to work while Ada stormed out to the car.

"You wanted some brotherly time Finn, now you got it." Arthur laughed as Finn got swallowed by the tent collapsing around him.

_________________________________________________

The wedding was stunning especially for such a small group. The day was unusually warm and everyone had managed to pull together to create an arch filled with lush greenery, pine cones and deep red berries tied throughout. A several small ginger cakes and warm alcoholic drinks were on tables pulled from various Vardos to celebrate. Warm fires were also spackled around the clearing.

They said their vows to one another, Her eye's never leaving his face. She never shook or cried. Just looked at him starry eyed.

Finn was grateful nothing was said about God, just some random goddess and love.

She looked amazing as he had predicted with a little bit of color to her cheeks. Rouge or some kind was on her lips looking red and full.

Her grandmother, the witch who frightened him a bit, had given her a tiara she'd worn fifty years ago. She looked like a snow queen in golds, crystals and red.

Finn couldn't be happier to exchange the cash with her father, for his lovely bride's hand. He was eager to get her back to his place.

Letitcia Shelby was now his to have and to hold forever. In this life and the next. Blessed be.

***************************************************************************************

He'd noticed it when they were loading in the car. She wasn't bringing anything with her.

"She comes to you as is Finn, you're her provider now." Tommy sat down next to Arthur and looked out the window. Ada sat near Lettie, eager to stay away from Finn. She'd never left the car. Refused to even look at his bride.

"They don't let her keep anything?" Ada asked. "Not a ring or a nightgown?"

Finn took a deep breath in and looked at her. She shook her head. She was coming home with him in a black dress and boots. No blankets, coats or anything to her name.

It pissed him off to be honest. She had to leave everything behind. Literally everything. He's surprised they didn't send her home naked. He smirked at that thought, grateful she wasn't. He'd already spent all night long dreaming of the things he wanted to show her when she got home.

He pulled her into him and she laid her head on his shoulder looking out the window. They looked like newlyweds in love. Neither one knew more than the other's name.

She was terrified but knew better than to speak up. She wondered if he'd be gentle and patient. His brother was observant, always staring at her like her soul was bare and he was picking through her thoughts. She shivered. He'd taken off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

It was the longest, most silent ride he'd even taken unaware of his new bride's trepidation.