Seven Day Mail-Order Bride

First Sight

"This one?" Clara asked, rolling the blanket tight before handing it up.

Elijah took it without hesitation, tying it off in quick, practiced movements.

Noah worked beside him, securing his own gear with easy precision.

"So I stay here?" Clara asked, chewing her lip.

Elijah didn't even look at her.

"No."

His hands found her waist before she could argue, lifting her clean off the ground and settling her onto the saddle.

"If we're goin' to find trouble," he said, glancing up at her, "we take the one person who knows where it is."

His mouth curved faintly.

"Not keep her here makin' biscuits."

Clara opened her mouth,

Closed it again.

That... was logic.

Dangerously solid logic.

"We'll find them first," Noah added, already scanning the tree line like the rest of the world didn't matter.

Elijah swung up in front of her in one smooth motion.

"You hold on," he said quietly. "I ain't losin' you."

Clara hesitated just long enough to pretend she had a choice,

Then wrapped her arms around his waist.

His hand slid back, adjusting her grip.

Firm.

Careful.

"You're alright," he murmured.

Clara leaned forward, resting her forehead lightly against his back.

"Sure," she muttered. "I'll just trust the man currently in charge of my life."

The trail narrowed fast.

Trees closed in.

Roots twisted up through the dirt like they had something against her personally.

Clara tightened her hold.

"Is it supposed to feel like this?" she called.

"Like what?" Elijah asked.

"Like I've made several poor life decisions in rapid succession."

A breath of laughter left him.

"You're doin' fine."

"I am absolutely not, "

The horse stumbled.

Not badly.

Just enough.

But for someone who had never done this before,

It was everything.

"Elijah, !"

Her grip slipped.

One arm,

Then the other,

And suddenly she was not on a horse anymore.

She hit the ground in a tangle of limbs and indignation, dirt puffing up around her like the earth had opinions.

Then,

"I hate this," Clara groaned into the dirt.

"Elijah!"

He was off the horse before Noah finished the name.

Clara pushed herself up, brushing leaves from her face.

"I'm fine," she said quickly. "Everything still seems to be attached."

Elijah crouched beside her, hands already checking her arms, her shoulders.

"You hit your head?"

"No. Just my pride. Repeatedly."

Noah crouched near the horse, running his hand along the leg.

"...damn."

Clara blinked up.

"What now?"

"Threw a shoe."

She stared.

"A... like footwear?"

"Horse kind."

"Oh. Great. That's better."

Noah stood.

"We can't ride him like this. Not far."

Elijah straightened slowly, gaze shifting down the trail.

Calculating.

Clara saw it immediately.

"No," she said. "Don't even start."

Both men looked at her.

"You are not dividing me like supplies."

She crossed her arms.

"I am a person."

Noah's mouth twitched.

Elijah stepped closer.

Solid.

Certain.

"I gotta fix the shoe," he said. "Or we ain't ridin' anywhere."

Clara exhaled sharply.

"I hate it when you both sound reasonable at the same time."

Neither of them smiled.

Elijah's hand came to her arm.

Warm.

Grounding.

"You go with him," he said quietly.

Not a question.

A decision.

Clara searched his face.

"You trust him?"

A pause.

Then,

"I trust you."

That landed.

Harder than it should have.

"That's not the same thing."

"It is right now."

Then softer,

"I ain't lettin' you outta my sight longer than I have to."

Noah stood beside her.

Waiting.

Not pushing.

For once.

"...we meet at the camp?" Clara asked.

Elijah nodded.

"By sundown."

Clara hesitated.

Then stepped back,

Toward Noah.

"Fine," she said. "But if you take too long, I'm coming back for you."

Elijah's mouth curved faintly.

"Wouldn't expect nothin' less."

He brushed his hand along her arm,

Then paused.

Looked at Noah.

Really looked.

"...don't kiss my wife while I'm gone."

Clara choked.

Noah didn't miss a beat.

"No promises."

Clara turned.

"Wow. That was fast."

Elijah's eyes narrowed slightly.

Clara rolled her eyes, stepped in, and kissed him quickly.

"I promise."

Elijah stilled,

Then pulled her in and kissed her properly.

Deep.

Unapologetic.

Clara melted into it instantly.

Behind her, Noah exhaled.

Unimpressed.

Elijah took his time,

Then pulled back, brushing his forehead to hers.

"You keep that promise."

Clara blinked, breathless.

"Wasn't planning on breaking it."

He stepped away.

Back to the horse.

Like nothing had happened.

Clara turned slowly.

"...that was unnecessary."

Noah shrugged.

"Seemed important to him."

"You're enjoying this."

"A little."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Don't."

Elijah disappeared into the trees.

The sound of metal against hoof faded with him.

Clara stood there a second longer than she meant to.

Then exhaled.

"...well. This feels like a terrible idea."

"Most good ones are," Noah said.

"This is actually serious."

"I know."

That answer came quieter.

Clara nodded once.

"Okay. Then we move."

"Up," Noah said, stepping toward his horse.

Clara blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"We're not walkin' that distance in time. And I'm not carryin' you."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I can walk."

"You can," he said. "Slow."

Clara looked at the trees.

The distance.

Reality.

"...fine."

His hands found her waist, lifting her easily.

This time,

He set her in front.

Not behind.

Clara froze.

"This seems, "

"Efficient."

His voice dropped slightly as he swung up behind her.

Her back pressed to his chest.

Solid.

Warm.

Very aware.

"This is not efficient," she said quickly. "This is very close."

"You want to fall off again?"

"...less talking."

"Thought so."

His hands guided hers.

"Reins. Loose."

Clara nodded.

"The horse knows the trail better than you do," he added. "You fight it, you lose."

"That feels like a metaphor."

"It is."

She huffed a breath.

"Great."

The horse moved.

Clara tensed immediately.

"Relax," Noah murmured.

"I am relaxed."

"You are absolutely not relaxed."

His hands shifted, adjusting her arms, steadying her at the waist.

"Move with it," he said.

Clara tried.

Failed.

Tried again.

"Noah, I am going to die on this horse."

"You're not."

"I am absolutely, "

He shifted.

She followed.

Without thinking.

Clara blinked.

"Oh."

"There it is."

She swallowed.

"That worked."

"Yeah."

Another step.

This time,

she moved with it.

Not perfectly.

But enough.

"...okay," she said softly.

Noah didn't answer.

But his hand stayed at her waist.

And for the first time,

she didn't push it away.

They slowed as the trees thickened.

Noah guided the horse off the trail, weaving through brush until the path disappeared.

"Here."

Clara slid down carefully.

Less dramatic this time.

"Improvement," Noah said.

"Don't get used to it."

They tied the horses deep in cover.

Hidden.

Quiet.

Waiting.

Clara glanced back once.

"Elijah will find this?"

"He will."

She nodded.

Then looked ahead.

"...okay."

The forest changed as they moved on foot.

Quieter.

Closer.

Less forgiving.

Clara stepped,

A branch snapped.

She froze.

Noah's hand caught her arm instantly.

"Slow."

"I am going slow."

"You're thinking fast."

She exhaled.

"That's not something I can turn off."

"I know."

His hand didn't leave her arm.

He guided her instead.

Where to step.

Where not to.

When to pause.

When to breathe.

Clara followed.

Because here,

she had to.

This wasn't her world.

This was his.

He pulled her down beside him behind a low rise.

"Stay low."

This time,

she didn't argue.

She leaned forward.

Carefully.

And saw it.

Smoke.

Thin.

Hidden.

Movement.

Men.

Horses.

Too many.

Her breath caught.

"...oh."

Noah stayed close.

Watching.

Counting.

Clara didn't speak.

Didn't joke.

Didn't pretend.

She just watched.

And understood,

This was real.

She shifted slightly.

Too close again.

His shoulder against hers.

His hand still at her arm.

Steady.

Protective.

Clara turned,

just slightly,

And he was already there.

Closer.

Watching her.

The world narrowed.

For a second.

He leaned in.

Slow.

Careful.

Not teasing now.

Not joking.

Clara's breath hitched,

Her hand came up between them.

Stopping him.

Soft.

But firm.

"Noah..."

Her voice dropped.

"We can't."

He didn't pull away immediately.

Didn't push.

Just stayed there.

Close.

Her hand still between them.

"I made a promise," she said quietly.

Not playful.

Not teasing.

Real.

Noah's gaze held hers.

Then,

slowly,

he leaned back.

A fraction.

"Yeah," he said.

Quiet.

"I know."

Clara swallowed.

Turned back toward the camp.

"Focus."

Behind her,

"Tryin'."

Clara studied the camp again.

Slower this time.

Counting.

Watching patterns.

"Three on watch," she whispered. "Two moving. One near the horses."

Noah nodded slightly.

"More inside the trees."

"Yes."

Her mind clicked.

Faster now.

Cleaner.

"They're not scouting," she said quietly.

Noah's gaze shifted.

"What?"

Clara's stomach dropped.

"They're already setting up."

Her voice went colder.

"Which means we're not early."

Silence.

Then,

"No," Noah said.

Low.

Certain.

"We're just in time."