“Stand here.” Lily positioned her next to it, facing sideways.

 After Lily opened the other door and held out Willa’s hand, Lucky’s hand grasped hers from the other side. It was the most romantic touch Willa could have ever dreamed of. She could see no part of his body, only feel the loving clasp of his hand from the other side of the door.

 “Will you pray with me, Willa?”

 “Yes.” Tears clogged her throat as she lowered her head.

 “Dear Father, thank You for this beautiful day, fulfilling Willa’s and my desire to join our two souls together with Your holy blessing. Hand in hand, we come before You, giving our hearts to You, and in return, we trust our faith to guide us through the journey You have set forth for us.

 “Make our marriage as flexible as this cord I wrap around our wrists so that our love will continue to grow through the years. Make our marriage as strong as the diamond I placed on her hand. I promise to give Willa a smile for every smile, a kiss for every kiss, to hurt every time she hurts until our bond is as unbreakable as our devotion to You. Amen.”

 Willa almost went around the door to Lucky. Placing her free hand on the door, she felt his love coming through as though she could actually touch him.

 “Amen,” she whispered back.

 “I love you, Willa. I’ve never felt luckier than I do at this moment.”

 Her hand tightened in his. “This isn’t luck; this is a blessing from God. When He created you, He created a man who serves Him, a man who brings joy to my heart and a love that I will always cherish. Today, I give to you all that I am: body, heart, and soul.”

 In the background, they heard the cellist begin to play.

 “You have to go. The ceremony is beginning.”

 “I’ll be waiting.” Lucky released her hand.

 She heard him walking away to the side of the church that would put him at the front of the podium.

 Willa turned back to Lily and Beth who were standing by the door that led into the chapel. Both were wearing their pearl bracelets as she was wearing the same one around her own wrist.

 The saleswoman who had “helped” her and Lucky previously at the jewelry store had glowered at her angrily when she had asked for someone else to wait on her. Willa didn’t feel guilty giving the commission to someone else for the expensive bracelets while the saleswoman had stood, watching enviously.

 “Are you ready?” Beth asked with tears of happiness that were mirrored in Willa’s own eyes.

 “I’m ready.” Willa smoothed down her dress for the final time.

 “Pastor Sparks is already up front,” Lily told her.

 The pastor from Jamestown had agreed to perform the ceremony for them.

 The ushers opened the door.

 “Here we go,” Lily said softly, stepping forward.

 Beth followed behind her sister.

 “He’s there,” Willa whispered, seeing Lucky waiting for her beside the podium.

 “Was there any doubt?” Angus asked.

 Curling her arm through his, she didn’t take her eyes off Lucky. “None at all.” She crossed two of her fingers that were holding the bouquet. “None at all.”

 * * *

 Willa paced back and forth in the small bathroom, knowing Lucky had to be wondering what was taking her so long. She sat down on the edge of the tub, feeling as if she were hyperventilating.

 “He wouldn’t use his knives on our wedding night,” Willa whispered out loud to give herself courage.

 “Did you say something, Willa?” Lucky’s voice from the other side of the door had her jumping to her feet, double-checking that the door was locked.

 “I said I’ll be right out!”

 They had decided to stay at her house tonight then leave for their honeymoon to Jamaica tomorrow afternoon.

 She took another glance at herself in the mirror. The black, baby doll gown came to her knees, and the bodice dipped between her breasts, giving a generous view. The gown was daring for her, but it didn’t scream ‘come and get me’, either. Willa wished she had been more adventuresome when she had picked her lingerie for her honeymoon. The prices on those flimsy bits of material had been hard to talk herself into, though. She thought the one she had on was seductive, and the best part was she had found it for thirty percent off in the expensive store.

 The most expensive one had been a present from Sex Piston, and she had packed it in her suitcase, but she was seriously debating taking it back for a refund. There was no way she could ever envision herself wearing the minuscule bra and panty set.

 Her hand went to the doorknob. She could do this. Lucky had shown her twice what kind of pleasure came from being with him. He wasn’t going to hurt her. She wanted him so badly her mother would be ashamed of her, because a good, Christian girl never let her body’s needs control her.

 She turned the lock, twisting the door handle then gradually opening the door. She didn’t know what she had expected, but seeing Lucky sitting on her bed, playing PS4 wasn’t one of them.

 Travis had left Charlie’s behind, explaining he had several at his ranch for the ranch hands to use and that Charlie would have it here for when he visited.

 “Wanna play?” Lucky threw her a quick glance. “I’m winning.”

 “That’s a real shocker.” Willa tentatively sat down on the bed next to him.

 He was only wearing a pair of shorts, and her eyes traced down the tattoos on his legs. Most of them were religious. The one on his thigh made her want to trace the outline of Mary to give her the courage she had always wanted. The sad look on her face and the tear rolling down her cheek touched Willa. She wondered what had made Lucky pick the ones he had inked on his body.

 She placed her pillow against the headboard, giving herself an unrestricted view of the ones on his back without him knowing she was staring. They were different, not religious. They were symbols of violence and destruction.

 The center was a Navy Seal insignia with a snake wrapped around it from the bottom up, leaving the face of the snake glaring back. Objects surrounded the insignia: two revolvers with a metal chain wrapped around the barrels of the gun, linking them together; brass knuckles; a hand of cards; and a razor knife. The whole tattoo had a layer of shadows, giving it an eerie effect.

 She didn’t want to know why he had chosen those. She shivered as she reached out to trace the hand of cards. Then her eyes went to the horseshoe on his shoulder, seeing the scarred flesh beneath, the ridges giving the horseshoe a more realistic appearance. The four leaf clover hid what looked like another scar. The largest scar was covered by an elephant with its trunk up. Her fingers traced each of the symbols.

 “Why did you get the rainbow?”

 “Because of God’s promise in the Old Testament after the flood.”

 “Oh.”

 Lucky threw down the controller and, picking up the remote, he turned the television off. He turned, scooting down slightly on the bed, and then flipped onto his stomach with his head at her waist.

 “The dolphin?”

 “Protection.”