Chapter Thirty-Three

"You finish up what you're doing, Ryder, and I'll be waiting on the church porch when you're done," Susie assured her husband as Ryder's boss yelled at him again to get back to work.

"Are you sure? I'm sorry it's taking so long, Sue. Why don't you go eat without me?"

"Nonsense," Susie waved her hand and kissed his cheek. "Go finish up. The wedding is only three days away and I need to talk to George about a few things."

"Okay then," Ryder kissed her soundly, "I love you."

"I love you too," Susie replied, smiling at her husband as he took off running toward the sawmill. The man never seemed to tire.

Susie shook her head and headed back toward the church. The conversation she wanted to have with George Bass was an important one but she was optimistic that she'd get the answer she wanted from him today.

"Hi there, Susie!" he exclaimed when he saw her come in. His black cheeks crinkled when he smiled at her and his deep brown eyes twinkled.

"Hi, George," Susie smiled back, "Are you busy?"

George shook his head and ran his hand over his course white hair, "No, ma'am, I was just going over what I'm going to say at Wendell and Kaitlyn's wedding. I've performed quite a few ceremony's out there at the ranch and I'd just like to say something a bit different this time."

"I wanted to talk to you about that actually," Susie admitted.

George nodded and motioned for her to sit down on the pew beside him, "Is there something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing wrong," she replied slowly, wondering how to best breach the topic.

"You're worrying me, child, what's going on?" George questioned as his brow wrinkled with his frown.

Susie sighed, folded her hands on her lap and met his gaze, "You've met my friends Nick and Aiden haven't you?"

George's gaze flickered the tiniest fraction before he nodded, "Yes'm, I've met them both."

"Well I just thought it would be nice to—since we're having Kaitlyn and Wendell's ceremony this weekend—to give them one as well."

"Susie, they are both men," George replied doubtfully.

Susie smiled, "Yes I know that. I understand the marriage won't be legally binding but they are very much in love and they have both been through terrible things to get where they are now and I believe it would be nice for them."

"No, Susie," the finality in George's voice shocked Susie and made her heart drop into the pit of her stomach.

"Why?" she questioned quietly, though she was nearly certain she already knew the answer and she cursed herself for not anticipating it before.

"It's sinful, Susie, and I will not have a part in such an act. Marriage is between a man and a woman. That is what God intended," George replied sternly.

"Does not the Bible say not to judge, George? I understand that their lifestyle is not something that is encouraged but do any of us live perfect lives? I'm not asking to decide whether or not the men deserve heaven or hell, I'm simply saying that I'd like to give them this small moment, this small memory to hold onto and enjoy."

"No," George repeated. "I will not have a hand in it and I wouldn't have expected a good Christian woman like yourself to want to have a hand in it either."

Susie felt her temper rising and she swallowed hard in an attempt to hold it down, "George, I don't understand the sudden change in your opinion of them. You were at the dinner we held just a few days ago and you spoke to both men as if they were just like anyone else."

"That's because I'm a good Christian man and I won't treat someone badly simply because their choices are not in line with my beliefs; but I also will not perform nor condone a marriage between two men. You should be ashamed that you are even thinking such devilish thoughts. Men were not made to lay with men nor share their lives beside men; they were made to do so with a woman at their side," George appeared sad that he and Susie were disagreeing and Susie was sad as well.

She had expected more from George... While she understood his concerns she also could not see how him helping two men make vows to one another would hurt his soul in any way. Didn't Jesus want them loving, caring and doing what they could to help their fellow man? Making judgments and telling others what they did was wrong was God's work not hers, not George's and not anyone else's.

"Fine," Susie got to her feet, feeling tears burning behind her eyes, "I will simply do it myself."

"You are not ordained to perform marriages," George reminded her with a sigh as he stood as well.

Susie clenched her fists tight at her sides and swallowed around the disappointment lodged in her throat, "Yes, well, according to you it will not be a marriage supported by either the law or the church so I can't see how that matters, can you? Now if you'll excuse me I am going to go eat dinner with my husband; thank goodness I did not fall in love with a woman otherwise you and I clearly would not have been able to become the friends we have become." With that Susie turned on her heel and strode from George's office before leaving the church and standing out in the fresh air, fighting her tears with everything she had.

She half expected George to chase after her and at least apologize for calling her sinful, devilish and basically evil for wanting to give two men the happiness that finding her soul mate and saying those vows had given to her. She knew that those vows had meant everything to her... being able to say them and have those who loved and cared about watch her and Ryder join their lives together had mean everything in the world to her—she suspected it would mean something to Nick and Aiden as well.

They were people, after all, and they were in love, even if their relationship was one that others couldn't understand. Most people didn't understand Susie and Ryder's relationship either but it worked for them just the same as Nick and Aiden worked.

Susie wrapped her arms around herself and headed for the café, to wait on the steps for Ryder. She wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings and that was why she screamed when a set of arms were suddenly wrapping tightly around her and pulling her into a hard chest.

"What's wrong, Sue?" Ryder's voice proved to be the dynamite that blasted apart the dam holding back Susie's emotions. She cried against his chest. She cried for Nick and Aiden. For the unfairness that seemed to plague the two men simply because they loved one another. Both had lost so much in their lives and they finally had found the one who made them happy and they couldn't even share vows the way that anyone else could.

"Susie, please don't cry... tell me what's wrong," Ryder insisted, his voice sounding very near panic.

Susie sniffed and tried hard to compose herself, "I'm okay, Ryder, truly I am. George didn't take my request as well as I'd hoped he would...."

Ryder stiffened, "What did he say?"

"That it was wrong and I was being evil and sinful to even suggest it....."

"Sue, why don't you go on into the café and pick us out a table. I'll join ya in a minute."

Susie pulled away and saw the anger in Ryder's normally smiling eyes, "Ryder....."

Ryder held up his hands and smiled, "I won't hit him inside the church, I promise," he assured her. "If he deserves to be punched then I'll bring him outside first."

Susie's eyes widened and she tried to grab him but Ryder was already moving away from her, "Ryder, please don't...."

"Get us a table, Susie," he urged and then he was jogging away from her and toward the church like a man on a mission. Susie sent up a silent prayer that Ryder would behave and that God would forgive him when he didn't. She dried her face with her hands and then headed on into the diner.

***

Ryder was angry. He didn't get angry very often but the thought of someone making his Susie cry was a surefire way to get him there every time.

Remembering Susie's belief that no guns should be allowed in the church, Ryder undid his gun belt and laid it on the wooden bench beside the doorway. He stepped inside and saw that the chapel was empty. Ryder had no idea where else George would be.... He didn't make a habit of coming inside the church and learning his way around.

"George?" he called out as he jumped up on the pews and walked across the tops of them toward the alter.

"Ryder, that's very disrespectful," George warned as he stepped out of a little door and joined Ryder in the chapel. Ryder grinned sheepishly and jumped down, "I knew you'd be in here soon enough," George added with exasperation.

"You need to tell me really quick why my Susie came in here laughing and smiling and left in tears. Now I thought I'd made it clear to this town that you can do whatever you want and I won't have much of anything to say about it but making my Susie cry will earn you a good butt stomping."

"Ryder, I explained all of this to Susie," George insisted.

Ryder shook his head, picked up a hymnal and began twirling it around his finger, "No, you called Susie sinful, evil and a whole bunch of other things and then let her run out of here crying without even bothering to follow her and make sure she was okay."

George rubbed at his chin and his brown eyes filled with sadness, "I didn't want to make her cry, Ryder.... But I cannot be a part of what she wants me to be a part of."

"Why's that?" Ryder questioned, sliding the hymnal back in the pew.

"Because it is wrong for two men to get married!"

"So, do it for Susie. You don't even have to read out of that there book that likes to tell folks what to do if you don't want to. All you have to do is let the two men say some vows and make a commitment to one another that's all. It's what Susie wants," Ryder crossed his arms over his chest and waited for George's answer. Ryder figured he'd made a good argument. As far as he was concerned Susie didn't ask anybody for much of anything so when she did ask for something you should just do it without question.

"No, Ryder."

"Well why not?" Ryder demanded with confusion.

"Because two men should not be together in that way. It is not right and I won't stand up for them and pretend it is."

Ryder's first instinct was to hit George in the face but he knew that wouldn't be what Susie would want so he forced his arm to relax, "George, I can remember a time, not too long ago, when most folks in this town thought it wasn't right for a colored man to stand up in front of them and preach. If I remember correctly it was Susie that stood up for you and fought to have you accepted."

"Ryder—"

Ryder held up his hand, "Where I come from that means you owe her one."

"This has nothing to do with Susie," George insisted. "This has to do with right and wrong according to the word of God."

"That damn book again?" Ryder demanded. "Every time I turn around someone's telling me that we can't do this or we can't do that because that books tells us so! The way I see it as long as you're a good person and don't go causing trouble or hurting folks for no reason then you're doing alright."

"Ryder, I've said how I feel. This is not an argument that we should be having in the house of God."

"Then let's step outside and have it in the house of don't-you-ever-make-my-wife-cry-again?" Ryder asked as he clenched and unclenched his fists rapidly. He was working hard to remain focused while also controlling his temper but that was hard to do when the whirring in his brain was growing louder and more chaotic every moment.

"That won't be necessary, Ryder," George stated comfortingly, "I love Susie and I'd like you to offer her my apologies. I didn't mean to make her feel as if I was insulting or judging her. I cannot have a part in her plans for this wedding but I would never think badly of Susie."

"Cannot or will not?" Ryder questioned as he tapped his fingers on his thighs. When George remained silent and simply stared down at the floor, Ryder knew he had his answer. He shook his head, turned his back on the old man and strode from the church, tapping his hand against each pew as he did so.

Susie was going to get what she wanted, even if Ryder had to perform the ceremony himself. He grinned. Heck that sounded like fun.

***

Nick was finally done with his work for the day and though his muscles were aching and his side was throbbing. His long legs were carrying him eagerly toward the ranch house where he knew Aiden would be. Aiden had been helping Ellie with plans for the wedding and of course Brody had laughed at him—it didn't bother Nick though. He liked that Aiden enjoyed cooking, cleaning and staying around the house. Nick couldn't wait until they moved in together alone at Thomas and Sally's. He liked knowing that his man would be waiting for him on the porch most days when he came in from a hard day in the fields and corrals. It was a comfort.

"Nick!"

Nick nearly ignored the voice that called out for him, wanting only to go see Aiden, but he glanced through the corner of his eye and saw Susie waving him toward her at the corner of the porch. Letting out a growl and plastering on a friendly smile, Nick went to her, "Good evening, Susie."

"Good evening, Nick," Susie replied happily, "I'm sorry to bother you after you've worked all day but there is something I'd like to talk to you about."

Nick frowned, "Is something wrong?"

"No!!" Susie shook her head quickly, "I wanted to make you an offer."

"Okay," Nick crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his weight onto his right leg to take the pressure of the left side of his body.

"Okay..." Susie folded her hands in front of her, "Wendell and Kaitlyn are getting married in a few days and I wanted to know if you and Aiden would be interested in a ceremony as well."

Nick shook his head, "Susie, last time I checked two men couldn't get married."

"Well not legally," Susie sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "But you could still have a ceremony in front of all of us that care about you and share vows with the one you love."

Nick was touched—more than that he was shocked and humbled. Susie was truly the kindest hearted woman that he had ever known in his life. She truly seemed to want to do this for him and Aiden, "Susie, I don't know what to say...."

"Say yes!" Susie replied brightly.

"And you have someone who will perform this ceremony?" Nick asked doubtfully.

"....Yes," Susie's reply was hesitant.

"You're sure?"

"Yes I'm sure," She replied more assuredly this time.

Nick smiled at the thought of sharing vows with Aiden for all those they cared about and God to see. Nick loved Aiden more than life and he longed to be able to say they were married and bonded for life, "I'll have to ask Aiden first before I can say for sure. I don't know if he'll even want to marry me."

"Of course he will," Susie promised as her big blue eyes lit up. "I'll leave you to do that then. I'm going to find my husband and head home before dark falls. I'll be out tomorrow to work on the wedding and you can let me know what his answer was."

Nick felt nerves begin to dance in his stomach, "Sure," he mumbled.

Susie smiled again and then headed off toward the barns. Nick rubbed his suddenly sweaty palms on his pants legs and let out a shaking breath.

He had no idea why he was so nervous.... He and Aiden had already had the commitment talk and they were both in this for the long haul so why was he worried that Aiden would turn down the offer of a real ceremony?

Knowing that nothing would be gained if he didn't ask, Nick made his way into the house and toward the kitchen where he could hear Eli squealing with laughter.

Nick found Aiden and Eli sitting together at the table. Aiden was making faces and Eli was laughing so loudly that the boy was clutching at his stomach and his face was bright red.

"Let the boy breathe," Nick teased.

Aiden and Eli both whipped their heads toward him and then Aiden jumped from the chair and came to Nick who wrapped him up tight in a hug and kissed his hair, "I missed you today," Aiden stated.

"I missed you too," Nick agreed.

"Supper's ready," Aiden added as he pulled away. "Ellie and Jacob will be in here in a minute, they went down to the river so Jacob could clean up."

"Together?" Nick asked with a half-smile.

Aiden winked, "Some of us call it checking fences and others call it washing up at the river."

Nick couldn't come up with a way to get around to bringing up marriage and so he decided it could wait until later when they were truly alone and instead focused his attention on a squealing Eli who seemed eager to have everyone's attention solely on him.

***

Aiden's heart pounded against his ribs as Nick flopped down beside him in the bed later that night and Aiden curled up against his bare, sweat slicked chest. Aiden's body was humming and his heart was content as Nick wrapped his arms around him and held him close.

"Are you happy with me?" Nick asked quietly.

Aiden was caught off guard by the question as he hooked the blanket with his foot and then reached down to bring it over their bare bodies, "Of course I'm happy," he replied. "I think that much is obvious."

Aiden glanced up at Nick's face and saw him staring up at the wood planked ceiling seemingly lost in thought. His jaw was tight as if he was nervous and his nostrils were flared, "What's wrong?" Aiden asked gently.

"I want to ask you something.... And I feel pretty darn nervous about doing it."

Aiden frowned, "You're scaring me, Nick. What do you want to ask?"

"I... Will you marry me, Aiden?"

Aiden's brow furrowed as he rose up and stared down at Nick with shock, "Marry you?!"

"Yeah," Nick replied without looking at him.

"But.. I don't think we can," Aiden reminded him, wondering if the man had forgotten that two men couldn't marry.

"I know it won't be legally binding but, well, Susie says she knows someone willing to still perform a ceremony where we could share vows with one another and be married in the eyes of those who care about us..... I want to spend my life with you, Aiden, with or without this ceremony; I just think this would be nice."

Nice? Aiden wasn't so sure. What if they further angered those that weren't very happy about the two of them together and caused a repeat of what had happened with Garth and his friends?

"We don't have to, Aiden," Nick mumbled quietly.

Aiden knew he had hurt Nick and that was the last thing that Aiden had meant to do. Quickly he leaned down and tenderly kissed Nick's tight jaw, "I love you, Nick. I'm already yours forever but if this means so much to you then I say yes, let's do it...."

"I don't want to do it just for me," Nick countered, meeting his gaze for the first time. "I want to do it for us."

"I know," Aiden managed a smile, "I didn't mean to act as if I didn't want this because I do. I'd be proud to share vows with you in front of our friends, and family, here at the ranch."

Nick smiled, put his hands on Aiden's cheeks and pulled his mouth down toward his, kissing him so tenderly that Aiden forgot for a moment how to breathe, "Something is still wrong with you," Nick noted as he pulled away.

Aiden swallowed hard and opened his eyes slowly, "I just have a bad feeling, Nick. I have a feeling that something is going to happen soon....."

Nick shook his head and pulled Aiden's head back down toward his chest, forcing him to relax, "Nothing is going to happen," Nick promised. "I'll keep you safe, Aiden."

Aiden nodded and snuggled closer to Nick. He lay there a long time and heard the changes in Nick's breathing that indicated the man had fallen asleep. Still Aiden simply laid there wide awake and lost in thoughts. Nick had said he'd keep Aiden safe but what the man didn't realize was that it wasn't himself that Aiden was worried about—it was Nick.