This divorce/annulment process was made to be tough and it was only going to get tougher, so people wouldn't do it at the drop of a hat. Ruth appreciated that in theory, but when there was little to no hope, it only made the experience worse.

She got started on the second letter right away. She basically wrote the same letter only added a little more detail, and as Kid had advised, made the situation sound a little more urgent. She still felt like a liar. Kid hadn't cheated on her, she knew. He just didn't want her anymore, but that wasn't an acceptable reason for a divorce and certainly not for an annulment.

"Here," she said to Kid when she'd finished, "though I don't think it's meant for a person to send a second letter in the same day and I still don't like all this lying and deceit."

Kid went to find the delivery boy again and Ruth got her knitting out. A baby blanket was nondescript enough that she could work on it without raising Kid's suspicion. Not that Kid even asked about it when he got back. He just got down to working on a new leather belt he was making for himself. Nitis took a nap, still a little worn from his head injury.

An hour or two later, Kid spotted movement out the window. "They must have accepted this one. Señor Martinez and some other fellow are making their way here."

Nitis had woken up, Ruth saw. "No use having to explain why we got an Indian on top of all the other things we have to explain. No offense, Nitis."

But Nitis didn't look offended and let her cover him up with the quilts and blankets.

"Isn't that lying, deceiving?" Kid asked wryly.

"In a way, I guess, but didn't Rahab hide the spies? Some situations call for it."

Kid got the door just as Señor Martinez had raised his fist to knock on it.

"This is the notary, Señor Nieves," Señor Martinez introduced. "And I act as the court interpreter."

The notary wasted no time but rattled something off in Spanish.

"He says you, Señor Cole, must change your bad behavior right away or you will be excommunicated."

Señor Martinez explained back without them having to ask that they were both not Catholic and the threat therefore not very threatening.

Señor Nieves looked a little disappointed at this revelation, but there was more rapid-fire Spanish.

"You will receive some other punishment then like time in jail."

"It's a grave sin, I know, but punishable with jail time?" Ruth asked worriedly. "Does that happen often? Because I just want an annulment, not to see him locked up."

"Not very often, but it is against the law, adultery. He would not like me to tell you this but the punishments are mostly words. Very little carried out theses day." Then he switched to Spanish and translated the gist of what was said.

Señor Nieves handed Kid papers and Señor Martinez translated. "Your wife has filed a suit against you for annulment. You wish to stay married to your wife?"

Kid looked at Ruth only briefly before answering. "No. Everything she says is true. I think it would be best if this marriage had never happened in the first place. I won't fight it."

"How do you feel, Señora Cole? If he were to apologize and promise to remain faithful from here on out, would you take him back?"

"No," she answered right away. The first lie to cross her lips in this process but not the last she was sure.

More Spanish from the notary.

"When is the last time you had marital relations? Have you ever had marital relations?" Señor Martinez looked embarrassed to be asking. "You see if you never consummated the marriage, things might move faster. It must be asked."

"A few months ago," Kid answered.

Ruth gasped. It was more like a week ago. She knew it was to make them think this wasn't a sudden lover's quarrel that could be fixed, but this conversation was being recorded, taken note of. If her pregnancy came to light before this was over, what would that mean concerning the case? Would she be the one ending up getting jail time for perceived adultery or Kid for lying to the notary in the first place? She was beginning to wish she'd told him about the baby, but it wouldn't do any good now. They had to stick with the lie or the whole thing was going to quickly loose credence.

More Spanish.

"Knowing that there is risk of jail time for your husband and knowing that the case will cost money even if annulment is not granted, do you still wish for the annulment?"

She didn't wish for anything but to go back to the way things were before 3 days ago. "Yes," Ruth answered. "I do."

"You must separate during the case. I-" began Señor Martinez.

Kid and Ruth looked at each other with wide eyes. There was an underlying sense of panic in their expressions. They hadn't been expecting that. How were they going to make sure their stories correlated?

"Separate? You mean we can't see each other at all?" Ruth asked.

"No. That is unless, of course, you decide to stay married after all."

"Well, but separate. Where would we separate to?" Ruth asked.

"The wife must have a chaperone. I-" Señor Martinez began again.

"A chaperone?" Ruth interrupted once again. She knew she was being rude, but no one had told her any of this. She hadn't had a chaperone since before she left home and then it was only her older sister, not some frowning matron watching her every move. She was the one suing, so why did she need a chaperone? She wasn't the untrustworthy one in this situation.

"It is to maintain your honor," Señor Martinez explained, seeing her distress. "Not a punishment. I have seen to it you will stay at my house. My wife is a much respected woman. She is good and good with English as I am. Maybe more so. You will like her, I know."

"I'm sure I will, but is this truly necessary?"

"I am afraid so. You can have some time to get your things together. We'll wait for you outside." Señor Martinez switched back to Spanish, no doubt relating all that had been said since he'd last translated, as he and the notary walked out.

Kid and Ruth stared at each other for a bit unsure of what to say or do. They hadn't expected to say goodbye so soon.

Ruth spoke first. "Well, then I guess this is pretty much it unless you call seeing each other in court spending time together cause I don't. I reckon we'll see each other after it's settled though just to divide everything. I hope your witnesses are good cause I won't know a thing about their stories. But then I guess Señor Martinez will keep me informed about that."

Kid looked as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't and Ruth didn't have the patience to wait until he did.

She looked around. There wasn't much she'd brought inside. Most of it was in the wagon and there weren't many items she would need as a guest in someone's home just a few personal things. She really only needed her Bible and the bag of knitting things.

"Oh," she said, reaching into the bag and pulling out fingerless gloves that she'd knitted in Kid's favorite color, black. "This was going to be your Christmas present, but you might as well have it now."

He'd been complaining lately how he had to take his mittens off to do some of the more intricate work when it was freezing. He tried to get out a thank you, but the words would have seemed too cold when last Christmas an exchange of presents would have ended with an I love you.

His hand brushed with hers as he took the gloves from her. "These'll come in handy," he said and the words sounded more like a squeak than his usual deep voice, at least to his own ears.

Ruth hadn't forgotten about Nitis in the corner, who'd uncovered himself at the departure of the men. "If you're determined to come along, meet up with me when this is all over. I'd appreciate the company and help. You know much about God, Nitis?"

"I know little. Hear little from white men. I like to know more of what in talking leaves," he said. referring to her Bible.

Ruth smiled, a little ashamed she hadn't asked sooner. "You will if I can help it," she said, feeling a little like her old self already.

"Are you sure you want to go off with a complete stranger?" Kid asked, not at all comfortable with her choice.

"No. I ain't sure about anything anymore, but I trust this is all happening for a reason. And I really hope this annulment makes you happy." She left on those words.

"Yeah," Kid mumbled. "I'm just going to be a barrel of laughs without you."

sss

The men were waiting on Ruth by the wagon. She gathered a few more items she'd need and then followed them.

She knew the Martinezes had moved to a larger house, but the Martinez home was grand. Señor Martinez must have discovered a gold mine.

Señora Martinez was a handsome woman, tall and svelte with the barest hint of silver at her temples, and she was dressed very fine. No sign of her humble beginnings on either her person or in her manner. She looked stern and yet friendly at once. She was waiting for them and her presence released the men of their duty. The notary left with a quick adiós.

Señor Martinez told something to his wife first before he too left, probably letting her know when he planned to be home.

"Come, Señora Cole. I will show you your room, so you can put your things down."

Señora Martinez spoke as they walked. "I do not like this divorce, annulment business. And yet I have mucho sympathy for you. He was honor bound to remain faithful. In the Old Testament, they would have put him and the woman he slept with to death and you could have been a respectable widow."

Ruth coughed to hide her surprise at the harsh opinion.

If Señora Martinez noticed the unnatural cough, she didn't remark on it only continued to let her opinion be known. "And yet who did Jesus have to save from being stoned? Just the woman. It will be this way with you too. You will bear the shame of this more than your husband no matter who is the guilty one. It is the way of things."

"I reckon that's true," Ruth agreed. "No matter. I won't be staying here long term."

Señora Martinez pushed open a door. "This will be your room."

It was simple yet elegant. The wood of the bed frame was so dark it was almost black with fancy posts. It was striking against the creamy white walls and the colorful quilt added a splash of color to the room. There was a large crucifix fashioned from silver above the bed.

Ruth preferred looking at an empty cross because it was a beautiful reminder that the Lord Jesus had gotten off the cross and conquered death, but seeing Him on it was a reminder to her that He knew the meaning of pain and love beyond human comprehension.

"This could and does drag out for months." Señora Martinez said, interrupting her thoughts.

Ruth hadn't been listening to all that she had been saying, but she heard that. Months? She didn't have months. She would begin to show in less than two. It wasn't going to be a secret anymore to anybody if it dragged out for months.

"We will get to know each other quite well in that time, I imagine," Señora Martinez said.

"Better than you think," Ruth said dryly.

"I expect you'll want some time to yourself. Dinner is served promptly at 9:00."

Alone, Ruth turned to Jeremiah. Not the most cheerful book in the Bible, but it matched her mood.

"I said thou shalt call me, my Father; and shalt not turn away from Me. Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me."

God did personally understand and know the pain that came from a loved one, a spouse, who you thought would stay with you forever suddenly calling it quits, which was both awe-inspiring and comforting to her. Still, tears began to fall from her eyes because she missed Kid already.