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.They’re carrying Union gold.” Delight let the sentence drop as she said a small prayer for Jim’s safety.It was near noon when Delight sensed a change in the boat’s rhythm.Opening the curtains, she was surprised to find that they were pulling into a small town on the Missouri side.“We’re stopping, Rose,” Delight remarked as the roustabouts threw out the lines.Remembering Jim’s instructions not to leave the cabin, she stayed inside and watched as one of the soldiers hurried off in the direction of town.“Do you want me to go see if I can find out what’s going on?”“No.He told us to wait here.If it’s anything important, I’m sure he’ll let us know….” She sounded convincing, but in her heart she was worried.Why had the man gone into town? This obviously wasn’t one of the regular fueling stops, so why the interruption of their schedule?Almost a half an hour later, Ollie came to the cabin.“You’re both to come with me,” he informed them mysteriously.“Both of us?” Rose was genuinely surprised.“Is something wrong, Ollie?” Delight asked and when he didn’t answer, she began to worry.Hurrying them along, he escorted them down the gangplank and up the small levee toward the town.“Where are we?”“Sainte Genevieve.”“But why did we dock here? It’s not one of your regular stops, is it?”“No.It’s not,” was all the answer he would give.“Where’s Jim?” Delight asked, trying not to sound worried, but in the back of her mind she couldn’t help but wonder why they’d been taken off the boat.“I haven’t seen him for a while,” Ollie said calmly, refusing to give her a clue as to what was going on.Delight began to panic.Jim had been gone when she’d awakened that morning, and when he’d brought their breakfast to them he’d been almost distant in his manner.Had the thought of Martin’s hands on her so repulsed him that he couldn’t bear to have her near him anymore? Was he planning on leaving her here? Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them rapidly away.Refusing to make a scene, she lifted her chin in proud defiance of what ever life would present her with next and walked on in silence.Rose, sensing Delight’s upset, squeezed her hand in a supportive gesture, but didn’t speak.The tension grew as Ollie led them down the main street of the town.“It’s not too much farther,” he encouraged them as they rounded a corner.“Here we are.”The tears Delight had tried so valiantly to hold back fell freely from her eyes as she saw Jim standing on the steps of the church.Breaking into a run, she went to him and was immediately enfolded in his warm embrace.“Delight? Why are you crying?” Jim held her away from him and lifted her face to him with gentle hands.“I thought—”“You thought what?” he encouraged, pulling her close.“I thought you were going to leave me here…that you didn’t want me with you….”“Oh, God, darling…I want you with me more than anything in the entire world.” He kissed her deeply and then whispered affectionately for her ears only, “I just couldn’t stand the idea of not sharing my bed with you again tonight….”Delight threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again.“You’re sure you want to do this?”“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.Let’s go.The minister is waiting for us.”With Rose and Ollie following them, they entered the church and approached the altar where the preacher stood waiting for them.“Are you ready now, Captain?”“Yes.We’re ready.” Jim smiled down at Delight who was glowing with her love for him.The minister began, his wondrous words blessing them and joining them together as one in the eyes of God and man.“Do you, James Thomas Westlake, take Delight de Vries to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love, honor, and cherish from this day forward, until death do you part?”“I do.” Jim’s bold declaration sent a thrill of pleasure through her.“And do you, Delight de Vries, take James Thomas Westlake to be your lawfully wedded husband? And do you promise to love, honor, and cherish him from this day forward until death do you part?”“I do,” she promised breathlessly.“The ring?”Jim slipped a narrow gold band on her finger, his hands trembling with emotion.“Then, in sight of God and man, I now pronounce you man and wife.” He paused, smiling at their obvious happiness.“You may kiss your bride, Captain.”Jim turned to her as if in slow motion and, with the most tender of touches, pulled her to him.Then, with infinite care, his lips sought hers in a devastatingly sweet kiss.His caress spoke not so much of passion as of promise; not so much of desire as of dedication.When they moved apart, they stared at each other in awe for a moment before Ollie and Rose overwhelmed them with hugs and good wishes.They thanked the minister profusely and then hurried back to the boat.They’d lost a valuable hour of daylight traveling time, and Jim didn’t want to delay any longer.When Mark caught sight of them returning, they made ready to pull out.As soon as everyone was on board, the Enterprise backed out to midstream and once again headed south.Jim escorted Delight to his cabin before regretfully excusing himself to return to work.“I’m sorry I don’t have time right now to…” Jim started to apologize, but Delight put a finger to his lips to silence him.“Don’t worry.I’ll be right here whenever you can get away.” Delight smiled at him tenderly, wanting more than anything to spend the rest of the day with him, but understanding the importance of his work.Jim had originally intended to leave her then, but when she unlocked the stateroom and gave him an inviting look, he couldn’t resist the thought of a private moment in her arms.Following Delight inside, he shut the door behind them.His gaze seared her with the intensity of his emotions, and he almost groaned as he took her in his arms.“God, how I wish I could get away now, wife.” He was burning with desire for her.“I know.” Delight moved within the circle of his arms and rested her head on his chest.The powerful thundering of his heart warmed her, and she tilted her head up to him.“But we have the rest of our lives….”So encouraged, Jim could no longer deny his need, and his lips plundered hers, drawing her unbridled response.With an obvious effort, he ended the kiss and stepped slightly away.“Tonight,” he promised, bringing himself rigidly under control.Though he wanted to lay her upon the bed and lose himself in her sweet flesh, Jim knew there was no time.“Tonight,” Delight whispered in return, and he turned from her and quickly left the room.Ollie and Rose stood out on deck together.“Wasn’t that a beautiful surprise?” Rose remarked softly.“Delight didn’t expect it, you know.”“I know,” Ollie grinned.“That’s why I didn’t tell her.” “Is there somewhere else I can sleep tonight?” Rose asked, not wanting to interfere with the privacy of their wedding night.“I don’t think they’ll want me in the next room.”“Of course,” he offered.“We aren’t carrying any passengers this trip; so it will be easy to arrange for you to have one of the staterooms.”“Thank you
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