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that frilly. She heard one boot thump to the floor and then the other. Then she heard the sound of his shirt being tugged out of his pants.
    “Reb?”
    She spun around, eyes wide. “What?” “Come here,” he said as he patted the bed. She walked over, standing in front of him, feeling the familiar tug on her heart as he gave her a lopsided grin. “Sit down.”
    She sat down on the bed, her back straight as a board, her hands clasped together in her lap.
    “You seem a little nervous,” Jake said.
    She swallowed. “Aren’t brides supposed to be nervous on their wedding night?”
    He placed his large, warm hand over her trembling ones.
    “Not this bride and not this wedding night. I told you why I asked you to marry me, and I told you what I expected—no more than you’re willing to give.”
    “Don’t you want to consummate the marriage?”
    “No, I don’t. I want to make love to you. But not until you’re ready. Not until it’s what you want.”
    Her hands unclasped and he slipped his fingers through hers. “It’s been a hell of a week and a long day,” he said. “Tomorrow is going to be even longer. I think it’d be best if we both got a good night’s sleep.”
    Her eyes shot up to his, expressing gratitude. He ignored the pain her obvious relief brought him.
    Her cheeks took on a pink hue. “I need to get my nightgown.”
    She lifted herself off the bed and walked to her dresser. As she fumbled around in the drawers, she wondered why she couldn’t remember in which drawer she kept her nightgowns. She finally located a plain white one and spun around triumphantly.
    Jake was laying on the bed, eyes closed, the covers drawn over him. She tiptoed to the bed and stared down at him. He had fallen asleep.
    After lowering the flame in the lamp, she undressed and slipped the gown over her head. Lifting the covers, she began to ease herself into the bed. Jake’s arm came up and she froze.
    “I thought you were asleep,” she scolded. “I know,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice.
    “Did you watch me undress?” “No.”
    She looked at his hand lifted in the air, outlined by the dim light of the moon. “What are you doing?” “I thought I might hold you.”
    “Oh.” The thought brought with it a measure of excitement. It would almost be as though they were husband and wife, but she wondered how close he intended to hold her. “Are you completely unclothed?”
    “No. Only took off my shirt and my pants.”
    “And your boots.”
    “And my boots.”
    She wondered if he’d ever dreamed about his wedding night the way she’d dreamed about hers. The reality of the night was far removed from the dream.
    She lay down, drawing the cover over her as his arm slowly came around her shoulders.
    “You could put your head on my shoulder, if you like,” he said.
    Tentatively, she rested her head in the crook of his shoulder, her cheek pressed against his bare chest. She could feel the warmth of his skin, hear the pounding of his heart. She placed her hand on his stomach and felt him stiffen. She smiled. He was as nervous as she was about their sleeping together. She relaxed against him, fingering the unfamiliar ring on her hand. “Where did you get the ring?”
    He ran his fingers lightly over the sleeve of her gown. “It was my mother’s. Not her wedding ring. She was never married. It was just a ring she had. I always liked it. It’s the only thing of hers that I have. I wanted you to have it.Hope you don’t mind … I mean it not being a real wedding ring and all.”
    “I don’t mind. It’s beautiful. So delicate. It means a lot to me that you’d give it to me.”
    “Means a lot to me that you’d wear it.”
    They lay in silence for a few moments before Jake spoke again.
    “You looked beautiful this evening, Reb.”
    “I wanted to do something special for you.”
    “You did. You married me.” His hand stopped moving. “That dress fit you like a glove. You sure don’t look