George Raymond took the suitcases from her hands and led the way down the stairs. As he loaded the luggage into the back of the station wagon, Hannah stood on the porch and glanced around her one last time. Bright orange, gold and brown leaves blanketed the sloping lawn, and the skeletal limbs of the two chestnut trees that ruled the front yard rose toward the deep blue sky. She would miss all this, Hannah realized, wondering how long it would be before she returned.
The ride to Bangor took almost two hours. Her father did most of the talking. He seemed to sense how nervous Hannah was and sought to reassure her.
Chaplain Stewart, Riley, and a man and woman Hannah didn't recognize were waiting for them in the vestibule of the base chapel. The chaplain and her father broke into immediate conversation. From the other side of the room, Riley's eyes found hers. His facial expression didn't alter, and he nodded once.
He looked tall and distinguished in his white dress uniform, and although it was little comfort, Hannah realized, that she was marrying a handsome man. In the days since their last meeting, she'd had repeated nightmares about him. In her dream he came at her like a huge monster, eager to devour her. Seeing him now produced a shiver of apprehension.
"If you'll excuse us," Hannah said, her voice barely audible, "I'd like a few minutes alone with Riley."
The conversation came to an abrupt halt as Chaplain Stewart cast an accusing glare in Riley's direction. If the other man's censure disturbed him, he gave no indication. Silently he led the way to the opposite end of the room.
"You've changed your mind?" His tight features told her nothing of his thoughts. Perhaps that was what he was hoping she'd do.
"Have you?"
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "I asked first."
"I'm… willing to go through with the wedding, if you are."
"I'm here, aren't I?"
He didn't look any too pleased about it, and she decided against saying so.
"You wanted to talk to me?" he demanded gruffly.
"Yes. I thought we should reach an understanding regarding…the sleeping arrangements before we…you know… before we…"
"No, I don't know," he returned impatiently. His gaze narrowed sufficiently. "Listen, if you're saying what I think you're saying, then the deal's off. If I'm going through the hassle of marrying you, then I want a wife, not a sister. Do I make myself understood?"
Hannah lowered her gaze, clenching her hands tightly together in front of her. "Do I have to be your… wife right away?" Her voice was soft and low.
He was silent for so long that she wasn't sure he'd heard her. "I don't suppose it would hurt any if we took some time to get to know one another better first."
"That's what I thought." She raised her head and looked up at him, relieved that he was willing to give her the time she needed to adjust to their marriage.
"How long?" he demanded.
She blinked at the sharpness of the question. "Ah… I'm not sure. A few weeks at any rate. Possibly a couple of months."
"A couple of months!"