Chapter Seven:



The room was dark but for the stream of moonlight coming in through the open doors. He could hear the sounds of the saloon from the street below but he was too focused on the sleeping Aingel to pay the sounds any heed. Tearstained cheeks were plainly visible in the moonlight and Hank knew he had been the cause. Wincing at the thought he kneeled by the bedside and brushed his hand over her cheek. Watching as she stirred he wondered if this what how it was for her all those mornings she'd woken him up. When Aingelina opened her eyes he watched them change from a sleepy haze to worried, shocked, and, though it hurt to admit it, a little scared.

She could smell the whiskey on his breath and she knew the man was drunk. "Hank? What are you...?"

Putting his hand to her mouth he stopped her question. "I forgot to tell you the most important reason for you to marry me." He saw her chin tremble and she closed her eyes trying to turn away but Hank held her tightly, not letting her turn till he'd had his say. "I'm not a good man, Aingel. I'm a bastard and a bigot and I've got temper enough for more than one man, I'll always be the first one to say so. I don't let people get close to me because that way it won't hurt as much when they leave. But somehow you wormed your way into my life and when I thought you were leaving I got scared. So damn scared I couldn't think straight."

Taking a deep breath Hank finished what he had come to say. "You need to know all of that because it's not going to change. And you need to know one more thing. I love you Aingel. I forgot to tell you this afternoon but you need to know it. I love you."

Tears spilled from her eyes. "Hank, you're drunk. You don't mean that."

"Yes I'm drunk and yes I do mean it." Leaning into her Hank kissed her lips, a small, chaste kiss, before pressing his forehead onto hers. "I love you Aingelina Bowry."

She wanted to cry and laugh and scream and shout and sing and dance. She wanted to stay still, silently bask in the love he had just proclaimed, hold him close and be held in his strong arms, safe and secure from the rest of the world. Instead she smiled at him, kissed his lips once more, and pushed him away. "Tell me that when your sober and then ask me to marry you, Hank Lawson." Staring at his face while his body was sprawled across the floor, the shock of her movements was gradually replaced by a grin on his face. Closing her eyes Aingelina borrowed down under the covers and played like she was going to sleep. Getting up from his place on the floor Hank opened the door and as it was shutting behind him a small giggle floated out from under the covers and he grinned. Oh hell yeah, she'd say yes.

To pass the time until morning Hank fell into bed the instant he got back to the saloon, his drunken body sleeping off the effects of the alcohol. By the time he woke in the morning he was most definitely not drunk. His head was pounding, his eyes hurt and his stomach was volatile. Dragging himself from bed he headed out to the bar and poured a glass of whiskey. He didn't know why it did, didn't care either, but somehow it helped. At the pump behind the saloon he pumped a bucket of water and washed his face and chest before donning a shirt and heading to the café. Slipping inside he sat at a table in the darkest corner of the room and watched Aingelina moving around the room.

Not walking, she was sailing around the room, from table to table, refilling the tin mugs, taking and delivering orders. Aingelina was glowing; everyone could see it. Her smile was brighter, her voice softer and her feet lighter. A few had asked her about it but she just smiled and shook her heard, filling their mug and moving away. Floating into the kitchen she floated back out with some plates in her hand and an empty tin mug hooked on her finger. The plates delivered to a table by the fireplace and she picked up the coffeepot as she moved over to Hanks table. Smiling she put the mug on the table and filled it with piping hot coffee. "You look like you could use this."

With an appreciative grimace he picked up the tin and drank from it, the hot liquid coursing down his throat, near scalding, but helping to ease his headache. Laughing when he drained half of his mug Aingelina refilled it. "Must have been quite a night last night." Winking at him she moved away and headed back into the kitchen. When the door shut behind her it was all she could do to keep from bursting into laughter.

"You certainly are in a good mood this morning," Grace commented as she watched her partner enter the kitchen. "Something going on?" Shocked when Aingelina suddenly giggled and grabbed her arm Grace couldn't help but laugh and get caught up in the excitement.

"I can't keep this to myself anymore, I have to tell someone!" she whispered, her arm linked with Graces. "I can't tell you any particulars, but something wonderful happened last night! It was... I felt like..." Aingelina grinned and couldn't continue, making Grace even more curious. "It is so hard to keep a straight face out there! I want to smile and laugh and sing and dance for joy but I can't!"

"Why not? If it's a good thing you should tell people!"

"I can't Grace, not yet; soon, but not yet. Oh Grace!"

Grace watched as Aingelina gave a squeal, like an excited little girl, and tried to get her face under control before heading back out to the dining room. Her face filled with thought she tried to find a reason for Aingelina to be acting like a schoolgirl with her first crush. Snapping her head up Grace stared at the door that was still swinging a little in its place. Was it possible? Could she be in love? But who? There were very few single men in town. There was Jake, but they didn't really get along, she'd hardly ever seen them together, the same went for Preston. Loren was much too old. Timothy... Grace shook her head. No, it couldn't be him; she looked to him like a big brother of sorts, a guide. That only left Hank. Grace laughed. Hank! Who could ever fall for Hank!?!


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Standing in the doorway to his bedroom Aingelina watched as the man she loved slept off the rest of his hangover. He had been drunk last night, and knowing what it took for him to get drunk she knew he had to gave been drinking for a long time. Wincing she knew it was because of her. But that would all change, if he meant what he said that is. Crossing to the bed she leaned down and kissed his cheek. Pulling back just enough to watch as he woke she smiled at him when his blue eyes finally opened, staring up at her, a smile dawning on his face. "Morning."

"Morning, Aingel."

"Feeling better?"

"Little bit. Feel a hell of a lot better if I can get another kiss."

Smiling at his not so subtle request she leaned down and kissed his other cheek. "How's that?"

"Tease." Sitting up he made room for her to sit down next to him. Once she was settled he spoke. "I meant it then and I mean it now. I love you."

Biting her lip she wondered, "What made you say it, besides the case of whiskey you drank?"

"Claire," he said with a chuckle at her comment. "She chewed me up and spit me out for making you cry." The grin dropping from his face Hank took her hands in his. "I didn't mean to... I never meant to get you upset, I just..."

Leaning over Aingelina silenced him with her hand over his mouth. "I know. Neither of us was in our finest hour yesterday. But I do love you, more than I ever thought possible."

"So what do you say? Will you marry me?"

Removing her hands from his she put some distance between them. This was something she needed to say, and she wanted him to take her very seriously. "Only if you promise me three things." Hank raised his eyebrow but nodded for her to continue. "Number one. You have to promise me that you won't whore, ever again. It's me, or nothing." Hank nodded to her, it would be difficult but there was no contest with that promise. "Number Two. I get to keep my partnership with Grace, run our business the way we want to. I know you don't like blacks, but I don't want any problems for us, or for Robert E, from you."

It was here that he hesitated. It was no secret that he harbored no love for the black couple, he knew it and she knew it. But they were her friends and he had to at least respect that. "All right. I won't bother you about your business and I'll leave them alone." He smiled at her. "What's number three?"

"If you ever hit me I'll leave your ass so fast you won't..." Placing a hand over her mouth he wouldn't let her finish that sentence.

"I have never and I will never hit you. I'm not the greatest man in the world but I'm not a monster. I'm not going to say I've never hit girls, I've used my hands to keep my girls in line more than once, I won't hide that fact. But it's been a long time since I have, I don't do it anymore." Reaching out he cupped his hand under her chin and held her there. "I do not hit a woman that I love."

Twisting her face in his hand she planted a kiss in his palm. Suddenly her eyes sparkled. "I still get to wear pants when I want right? And you won't try to keep me out of the saloon? And I want a family! Kids and..."

Laughing Hank put his hand back over her mouth, drawing her into his lap. "That is more than three!" Kissing her forehead he whispered, "And the answers yes to all of them."

"Even the kids?"

"Especially the kids." Hank settled back and looked as serious as she had. "I have a few promises you need to make too." Aingelina nodded. "The town knows me as a rough, rude, mean saloon keeper. That can't change."

"I promise I will do everything I can to make you out to the meanest, rudest man they've ever met."

"I am in charge of the girls, not you. I'll stay out of your business an you'll stay out of mine."

Aingelina frowned. "But I can argue for them right?"

"You can argue all you want, but I make the decisions." Satisfied she nodded her consent. "I don't want a wedding. No church filled with people I can't stand, no reception afterward filled with people I don't like to be around."

Laughing she kissed his cheek. "Deal. But we do need to have witnesses. And I'm getting married in a church."

"And you already have them picked out don't you?" Caught, she tried to look apologetic. "Who is it?" Taking a deep breath she said the names quickly, running them together into one word. Groaning Hank sorted out the people she had named. "I don't like them."

"I know you don't but they're my friends. Could you try to put up with them for a few minutes? For me?"

"Damn Aingel!" he groaned. Staring at her he tried to decide which was more important, putting up with the couple and making Aingelina happy or having it his way and her not being happy. Looking at her, trying to hide the grin that was playing over her face, he realized, "You knew I'd say yes didn't you?"

"I hoped," Aingelina confessed.

"All right but that's it. No other people."

"You really want to tell Claire she can't come?"

He had to admit it, she had a point about Claire. "All right she can come but that's it! Damn, you really know how to get your way when you want it."

Settling back into his arms Aingelina grinned, her excitement returning fourfold. "So, when do you want to do this?"

"Now. Right now. Let's get the whole thing done today. In the next hour." Aingelina laughed and Hank couldn't help but join her. "I'll get Claire, you get Timothy, Grace, and Robert E and we'll get this done right now."

"Okay." With a laugh and a kiss she was off, bounding out the door leaving a stunned Hank to stare after her. Seconds later her head popped back into view. "Aren't you coming?"

Laughing at her he threw off the covers and stood up from the bed. Aingelina's eyes widened in surprise and her face blushed before she ducked out of the doorway. Looking down Hank realized that he had taken off his pants before crawling back into bed this morning. Grinning to himself he shook his head and went out to the pump, razor in hand, and shaved his face before he got dressed, not a suit, but better clothes than he normally wore. Climbing the stairs he entered Claire's room and found her working on a skirt, repairing a hole some man had put in it when he grabbed her. "Get dressed to go to church," was all he said. Closing the door behind him he heard her laugh and begin to scurry about to get ready.

Back to his own room Hank opened the top drawer of his dresser and pulled out a large envelope. Opening it her sorted through the cash and mementos before fining what he was looking for. Pulling the small ring out he brushed it across his sleeve until it shone. It was the ring Nana had worn, the ring her husband had given her on their wedding day. The day the telegram had come it too had come and Hank had stuffed it in the drawer, not wanting to see it again. Staring at it, a simple garnet with small diamonds on either side, he knew it would look perfect on Aingelina's hand. Stuffing it in his pocket he went out to the porch to wait for Claire.

Rushing down the stairs Aingelina opened the door to the clinic and stepped out into the midday sun. It was a beautiful day. As she stepped into the street she looked across it to the saloon and saw Hank watching her. Her smile grew brighter and she rushed off to gather her three friends. Entering the cafe she looked around for Grace and saw her in the kitchen. "Grace? Can you go get Robert E and come with me for a few minutes?"

"Sure, Aingelina. Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. There's just something I need you to see at the church. It won't take long, I promise."

Curious she nodded and set off to find her husband while Aingelina made her way to the store. Sitting at the counter, listening to the chatter of the customers and Loren and Jake Timothy joined in now and then, when he had a comment to make. "Hello Timothy."

"Aingelina! Good afternoon to you. How are you today?"

"I'm doing well thank you. I was hoping to speak with you for a few moments. Could we walk to the church for a little while?"

"Of course." Taking his arm Aingelina led the way out of the store and to the church. When they got there Hank and a chattering Claire were already there, waiting. "Hank?" Timothy asked when he heard the man tell Claire to 'Shut the hell up for two damn seconds!' "It's a rare privilege to hear your voice in church. What brings you here?"

"Actually Timothy, this is what I wanted to talk with you about. You see, Hank and I wish to get married."

Faltering in his stride Timothy tried to accept the news. "Hank!?! Aingelina? You want to get... married?"

"Yeah," Hank answered. "We do. Today."

"I see. Well normally I would ask to meet with you a time or two, to get to know you and go over the responsibilities of marriage..."

"We already did that. We'd like to get married. Now."

Aingelina met Claire's eyes and they both grinned. Only Hank Lawson would talk to a preacher like that. "Oh... well then... I suppose..." Timothy began. "Do you have witnesses?"

"Yes, they'll be here shortly." As though on cue the doors opened and Grace and Robert E entered the church, stopping short when they saw the people gathered with in. Looking from Aingelina to Hank and back a few times a smile dawned on Grace's face. Nodding she smiled at her friend, a knowing smile that told her she understood everything what had been said in the kitchen that morning. "Here they are now."

The group stepped forward to the front of the church, Timothy facing them, Hank and Aingelina before him while Grace, Robert E, and Claire sat in the pews, watching. When Timothy began to speak Aingelina reached out and grabbed the hand of the man she loved, holding it tightly, fighting to keep control of her smile. Knowing that, with his back to the group, no one could see his face Hank grinned at her and squeezed her hand, his thumb caressing her palm, neither of them hearing the words the preacher was speaking.

"Now if there are no objections it's time to repeat your vows." No one spoke up to Timothy kept going. "All right then. Do you, Hank Lawson, take this woman, Aingelina Bowry to be your lawfully wedded wife, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, till death do you part?"

"I do." Looking at her, tilting his head just enough to see her, he smiled. He really did.

"And do you, Aingelina Bowry, take this man, Hank Lawson, to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, till death do you part?"

Tilting her head back to meet his eyes she stared at him for a moment, her eyes conveying the message before she spoke it. "I do."

"Do you have a ring?"

Aingelina shook her head but Hank reached into his pocket, his hand emerging with a small ring clasped between two fingers. Eyes wide, and shiny with restrained tears, she watched as he slid Nana's ring onto her finger. Pointing to each of the stones, diamonds first Hank whispered so only she could hear, "You. Me..." he rested his finger on the garnet. "Us." A tear escaped from her eyes before she could stop it and Hank brushed it away with a gentle finger.

"Then by the power vested in me in accordance with God, and the state of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Hank," Timothy smiled. "Kiss your bride."

Turning to face each other, eyes only for the other, Hank drew Aingelina to him with a gentle tug on her neck, his hand cupping the back of her head, fingers lost in her deep raven locks. Leaning down he kissed her, a respectable kiss, after all there was an audience, but it held a promise of much more to come. No sooner had it begun then it was over and they were parted to accept the congratulations of those with them in the small church. It was Grace who finally spoke the question on more than one mind.

"When are you going to tell people?"

Meeting Hanks eyes Aingelina raise an eyebrow, letting him know whatever he decided was fine. If the man could have had his way the town would never know, but he knew that was impossible. "Tomorrow. You can tell them when you go to church." Having given that direction Hank took his wife and led her out of the church, breathing deeply when they were once more outside and alone. "Lets get the hell out of here."

Hand in hand they walked back into town, avoiding the townsfolk they entered the saloon from the back and the newlyweds were soon shut off from the world in Hanks bedroom. Suddenly Aingelina was nervous, for the first time all day she wasn't sure; scared of what was to come, not knowing what was expected of her. She had lost her mother to death and sister to marriage before she was of a proper age to learn about the things that a husband and wife did when the door was closed. Standing with her back to Hank, nervously twisting her hands in front of her she jumped when Hank wrapped his arms around her.

Feeling her start at his contact Hank wanted to laugh. She was so tense, scared... so innocent. Holding her tightly he leaned his head down and rested his chin on her shoulder. "You don't need to be scared." Tilting his head just enough Hank pressed his lips to the smooth skin on her neck, feeling her pulse racing beneath. He could feel her unspoken questions as though they were a shawl she wore to protect herself from her trembling. "Ask me."

"Some of the girls... they say it hurts."

"The first time. But only once."

"Hank... I... I don't know what to do."

Turning her to face his he too her face in his hands and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her mouth. "Then I'll show you."


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


She felt as though a blanket was wrapped around every inch of her body, surrounding her, warming her with its own heat.

Slowly Aingelina woke, her senses returning to her one by one. The feel of rough hands splayed over her ribs, the strong arms that enveloped her, a smell that was new to her and the feel of hot breath blowing in her hair. She was wrapped up in Hanks arms, under the covers of his... of their bed. Lying still she could feel the soreness of her body in areas she'd never felt before. He had been gentle with her, moving slowly, almost reverently, each motion filled with love that was beyond her wildest dreams. It had been... Aingelina sighed. She couldn't think of a word to describe what she had felt.

Hank smiled. That was a good sigh. Tightening his arms he lifted his head to kiss just behind her ear. "I was wondering how long you were going to sleep." He hadn't minded, though. For the first time he hadn't wanted to get up and out of the room after loving a woman, content to lie still, hold her, and simply watch the peaceful exhaustion in her face as she had slept.

Holding onto his arms Aingelina didn't know what to think. "Is it always like this?"

"No, from here on in it only gets better."

Her eyes snapped open and stared at the wall in disbelief. Better? Better than that? "Oh, good Lord!" she whispered.

Hearing her Hank laughed a deep rumbling sound that vibrated through Aingelina, sending chills up and down her body. Shivering with delight she snuggled closer to Hank, burrowing into him as much as she could. This was a feeling she would love till the day she died, lying in the safety of his arms, knowing that she was safe so long as he was there with her.

Feeling her shiver Hank shifted so that she was on her back and he was able to see her face. Staring down at her he memorized every part of her face, her eyes, her nose, mouth, chin, cheeks... drinking in every inch as a thirsty man would water, committing it all to memory. "What are you thinking?" Her eyes were filled with so much that he couldn't see through it all.

"I was thinking about how lucky I am, about how much I love you, what a handsome man you are, the color of your eyes when you laugh..."

"And...?"

"What you look like with your glasses on," she grinned. "Can I see?"

"No."

"I'll have to see it eventually."

"No."

"You can't hide them forever."

"No."

"Please?"

Groaning Hank dropped his head onto her shoulder. "Are you ever going to take no for an answer?"

"No."

With an exasperated sigh he reached over her to a small table next to the bed. Opening the drawer he with drew a pair of silver frames and placed them on his face. "Happy?"

"You look handsome," she said. "Very handsome."

Snorting with disbelief Hank took them off, replacing them in their drawer, before turning his attention back to Aingelina. Crushing her beneath him, staring down into her large black eyes, Hank pushed a lock of hair away from her face. "What have you done to me?" he asked with a sudden seriousness. Aingelina's brow furrowed with confusion. "Everything is different when I'm with you. Like the world doesn't exist, this town disappears and it's just you and me. Like I can be anything, do anything, and it'll be fine. How did you do that?"

"I didn't do that. You did. You're the one that let me into your heart and past the wall you use to keep the rest of the world out." Tracing his face with her eyes she continued. "You did the same for me. I'd forgotten that a man could love someone without hitting her or beating her. You showed me how wonderful it is to be in love and I have never felt safer than I do right here, right now, with you."

"What an odd pair we are."

"Sometimes Hank two wrongs really can make a right."