Mattie's Unspoken Vow
Mattie stared at the door after the man left. She was very confused. The last thing she remembered was pulling the bucket out of the well in the middle of a snowstorm with lightning and thunder all around her. Was it all a fantastic dream? Was she awake even now?
She closed her eyes and tried to recall anything of the night that would help her. For a second, she thought she remembered drinking something from a spoon. Yes, she had been held in the crook of a man’s arm. The memory comforted her, and she smiled.
She opened her eyes in time to see Mr. Granger slip out the door. That left her alone with the Wynns, and she finally turned to face them, aware that they had been staring at her ever since the stranger left.
“How dare you lie there and pretend that nothing happened here last night!” Reverend Wynn’s face was red with rage as he turned his fury on her. Having been outmaneuvered by the younger man, he now vented his frustration on Mattie. “You can’t fool me, you Jezebel! The vows that were spoken here today are until death, and I will see to it with everything in my power that you abide by the vow you have made.”
Mattie stared at the crazed man. “What are you talking about?” Her voice sounded raspy.
Triumphantly, the reverend explained, “Mrs. Wynn and Mr. Granger were witnesses to the wedding ceremony I performed to right the wrongs you and that debaucher committed. You are legally bound to him now and can no longer go on living in your sinful ways.”
Mattie was astounded by his words. She hadn’t heard anything of a wedding ceremony. “What do you mean about me making a vow? I haven’t made any vow!”
“Mrs. Wynn spoke for you by proxy, and the man made his vow of his own free will. It was necessary that we take care of matters immediately due to the circumstances we found you in.”
Mattie contemplated his words. Why would the man agree to marriage? She couldn’t believe that, and she didn’t believe for a minute that she was married to him. She stared at the couple as if they had gone mad. “Nothing happened here last night, and there was no marriage performed this morning.”
“How do you know if you can’t even remember?” Mrs. Wynn spoke for the first time.
Mattie turned to her. “I would know.” With the quilts wrapped around, her she struggled to her feet. She swayed a moment while she got her balance. She felt weak, and her head throbbed, but she didn’t want to stay any longer in the same room with the condemning couple. “I will get dressed and leave with Mr. Granger as soon as possible,” she informed them. She hoped the farmer hadn’t already left, but even so if he had, she would hitch the buggy and get out of here under her own power. She prayed she had the strength to do it.
