Seven Day Mail-Order Bride

14 Don't Let Go

They had no fire.

They couldn't risk it.

The dark pressed in close, thick and quiet, the only warmth coming from the horses and the shared body heat where they sat.

Clara pulled her knees in tight, arms wrapped around them, holding onto what little warmth she could,

and trying not to think.

About Noah.

About how natural it had felt.

How easily they had moved together.

Like he knew what she would do before she did it.

Like they had done it before.

Elijah worked beside her in silence, checking the tack, his shoulder brushing hers now and then.

Steady.

Solid.

Her Elijah.

Noah stayed a little ways off, tending to the horses.

Not gone.

Just... not here.

"What happened out there?" Elijah asked.

Clara looked up.

There it was.

No anger.

No accusation.

And somehow,

that made it worse.

She swallowed.

"...we found them," she started.

"Clara."

Just her name.

And a glance toward where Noah stood.

Clara exhaled slowly.

Right.

Not the bandits.

Them.

If Elijah was her husband,

then he deserved the truth.

Even if it hurt.

"There's something there," she said quietly.

Her eyes flicked toward Noah.

Then back.

Elijah didn't move.

"With him."

Silence settled.

Heavy.

"I didn't go looking for it," she added quickly. "It just..."

She shook her head.

"It fits."

Elijah's jaw tightened.

"...you kiss him?" he asked.

"No."

Immediate.

"I stopped him."

A flicker passed through his expression.

Small.

But real.

His arm came around her, pulling her in, holding her close like he needed the confirmation to be physical.

"I made a promise," she said softly.

He looked down at her.

"But I can't pretend it's not there," she continued. "And I won't lie to you about it."

That landed.

Deep.

Elijah leaned down and brushed a soft kiss against her lips.

"Thanks for being honest."

Clara leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder, listening to his heartbeat.

Grounding.

"He's my brother," Elijah said quietly. "I knew that first day he was in love with you."

Clara stilled.

"I just thought..." He exhaled. "...I could be enough."

That one hurt.

Clara turned into him, wrapping her arms around his side.

"You were," she said softly. "You are my Eli."

He huffed a faint breath.

"Your gigolo husband?"

Clara let out a small laugh.

"I might need to workshop that nickname."

His mouth curved,

but not fully.

Not yet.

Noah stepped closer.

Into the edge of their space.

"I'm not playin' at this," he said.

Elijah's eyes lifted.

Sharp now.

"I know her."

Not louder.

But firmer.

"And I don't mean just today."

Clara's breath caught.

Noah lowered himself in front of her, bringing himself to her level.

"You hum when you're nervous," he said quietly.

Clara blinked.

"...I do not hum."

"You do."

"You absolutely, "

"You did it in the trees."

She stopped.

Because she might have.

His gaze held hers.

"You think too fast," he continued. "Move too slow when you don't understand something. And you like control more than comfort."

That hit.

Hard.

"And you taught me," he said softly, "how to be part of your world."

Clara's chest tightened.

Because that,

that felt real.

Elijah's voice dropped.

"You sayin' you know her better than I do?"

Noah didn't look away.

"Yes."

Silence snapped tight.

"I'm not takin' her from you," Noah added.

"Feels like you are," Elijah said.

"I'm not," Noah replied. "I'm standin' with her."

Elijah's gaze hardened.

"And if she stands with you?"

Noah didn't hesitate.

"Then I stand with both of you."

That landed.

Heavy.

Real.

Elijah ran a hand through his hair, turning slightly away.

Thinking.

Fighting it.

Every part of him pushing back,

against this

against sharing

against losing her

against losing him

"...damn it," he muttered.

Then he turned back.

Looked at Clara.

"I ain't lettin' you go."

Not a question.

Clara's voice came soft.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Then he looked at Noah.

Long.

Hard.

"...and I ain't walkin' away from you either."

That cost him.

You could hear it.

Noah nodded once.

"Good."

Elijah exhaled slowly.

"...this ain't settled."

Clara almost smiled.

"Good."

"Because I don't think it can be yet."

Elijah sat back down.

Still tense.

Still not okay.

But still here.

"...we deal with the bandits first," he said.

Clara nodded.

"Yes."

Noah nodded too.

"Yeah."

A quiet settled again.

Different this time.

Not empty.

Not fragile.

Held together by something that didn't have a name yet.

Elijah looked between them.

Shook his head once.

"...hell of a mess."

Clara huffed a breath.

"Mr. Walker, did you just curse?"

Noah's mouth curved faintly.

"Little bit."

Elijah didn't smile.

But he didn't leave.

Clara leaned back slightly, staring out into the dark.

Listening.

Thinking.

Feeling the shift between them.

It wasn't fixed.

It wasn't resolved.

But it wasn't breaking anymore either.

Her voice came quieter now.

"We changed something today."

Both men looked at her.

She didn't look back.

"They weren't ready," she said. "We hit them too early."

Noah's jaw tightened slightly.

Elijah's gaze sharpened.

"And that means," Clara continued, "they're going to change too."

Silence.

Then,

Elijah leaned forward slightly.

"How?"

Clara finally looked at him.

Honest.

Certain.

"They won't wait now."

Her voice dropped.

"They'll move sooner."

Noah's expression went still.

Elijah's hand tightened slowly against his knee.

Clara swallowed.

"Which means whatever was supposed to happen in seven days..."

She held their gaze.

"...is coming faster."