stealing her—Bishop Cary skipped ahead to the vows.

Again, Christopher's voice held firm and confident as he took hold of her hand and said, “I Christopher take thee, Katerina, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in

sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to

God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

A ghost of a smile creased her lips. He truly wants this, she thought. Not just to save me, though that plays a large role in the timing. No, there something about me that makes this lovely, kind man happy. She blinked.

Behind them, the clouds parted, and a ray of sunshine fell through the

colored glass of the window, sprinkling them both with joyous rainbows.

Katerina swallowed a lump in her throat. “I Katerina take thee, Christopher,

to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for

worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give

thee my troth.”

He released her hand reluctantly to accept from Right Reverend Cary a

simple gold band James had gone out earlier to purchase for them. He eased it

onto Katerina's finger and repeated, “With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I

thee worship and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Next came a prayer, and both Christopher and the bishop had to hold onto Katerina's arms to help her into a kneeling position. Her back and buttocks burned, and her belly ached, but she persevered. Lord, if this be your will, I will accept the pain. Only, help me be worthy of your gift—and of his sacrifice.

After the prayer, Katerina struggled painfully to her feet.

Bishop Cary said, “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put

asunder. Forasmuch as Christopher and Katerina have consented together in holy

wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto

have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by

giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be

man and wife together, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Christopher led his bride down the aisle, supporting her with his arm around

hers.

Her feet felt numb as she stumbled and fought for her footing. We're wed. It's

done. Thank God!

Across town, they arrived at Christopher's home; a messy and cramped

bachelor's quarters never intended to be shared with a woman. The whole living

space consisted of only two rooms: a parlor and a bedroom. The parlor contained

sparse furnishings, as little would fit into the narrow space.

“Sorry about this, love,” Christopher told her as he escorted her over the threshold into the sitting room, “I'll look into finding us a home soon.” He swept

a pile of jumbled papers from the sofa to the floor and urged her to sit, joining

her and taking her hand in his.

“I'm just glad to be here with you,” she replied, lacing their fingers together.

“Can I get you anything?” Courtesy had prompted the question, but he had

little to offer in the apartment other than liquor, wine and half a loaf of bread almost certainly too stale to eat. He took most of his meals elsewhere.

“No, thank you,” she replied. “Can we proceed?”

“With what?” he asked.

“I'm not really safe yet, am I, Christopher?”

He turned sharply to regard her, eyebrows drawing together, and shook his head. “You're not ready.”

“It hardly matters,” Katerina insisted.

“You're too badly injured,” he said, not finished arguing.

“And if he finds me? Can he not take me away, have the marriage annulled?”

she pointed out. “I'm young, Christopher. It would be easy for him to convince…

someone that you manipulated me and remove me to his care until everything could be straightened out.”

“He could,” Christopher agreed reluctantly. Does she have to be right? I don't want to hurt her more.

“And then I would die,” she stated in a hard, flat voice.

Christopher broke eye contact, tracing the pattern of vines across the