Joey was so excited about riding on the train that he couldn’t sit still. Sam walked him up and down the aisle and held him to see out the window.

Gus sat back, a smile of satisfaction on his face. “Glad you two came to your senses.” He’d said it numerous times in the last two weeks as they made plans to go to Grassy Plains to be married.

Elin had hugged Sam at the suggestion. “I would never have asked, but I can’t think of anything better than being married with my family there to share the day.”

Sam had grown serious. “I’m a little nervous at meeting them all. I have to say, Nels scared me a bit. What if the rest are like that?”

She laughed. “Nels and the rest will be pleased that I am marrying someone I love.”

She watched Sam and Joey. She couldn’t believe she had a family who not only needed her but loved her. Not that her family didn’t love her, but it wasn’t the same. She had found what her heart had longed for since she was a little girl.

Joey finally tired out and fell asleep in Sam’s arms and Sam sat next to her. “It was good of Harry to write us like that.”

“I think that’s the man I thought he was when I was in Norway. Kind, thoughtful, loyal. A family man.” He’d stopped on his journey to speak to a lawyer and sent documents allowing Elin and Sam to legally adopt Joey. “I hope he returns someday to see what a great boy Joey is. But one thing for sure, Joey will never wonder if he is loved.”

Sam squeezed her hand. “On that we are agreed.”

They reached Grassy Plains and were met by Nels and Freyda.

“Anker and Lena are at home preparing the celebration.”

Elin handed her carpetbag to Nels.

Freyda hugged her. “You will get the wedding you hoped for.”

Elin smiled. “Much better than what I hoped for. I am marrying a man I love and honor and he loves me.”

They rode in wagons to Anker’s house.

Elin led Sam forward to meet Anker and his wife, Lena. Little Charlie was close to Joey’s age and they eyed each other curiously, then Charlie handed Joey a carved cow. “We play.”

So the little boys played while Freyda and Lena took Elin to the bedroom to prepare her for her wedding. They helped her out of her dress and into a white blouse. Next came a dark blue wool skirt and then a matching vest. She stroked the embroidered design on the vest and the hem of the skirt and thought of all the women who had worn this outfit—her grandmother, her mother, several aunts and cousins.

“I was surprised Mor insisted I bring this.” Her throat clogged with missing and with the realization that she was special to her parents and other family members in ways she might have overlooked. Loving Sam had made her see that.

Freyda brushed Elin’s hair free and put on the silver tiara with silver bells hanging from each star point.

Elin brushed tears from her eyes.

“No crying,” Freyda scolded.

“Only happy tears.” Elin smiled.

Lena peeked out of the room and signaled someone and a fiddler began to play. Elin stepped from the room and saw Sam in a white shirt and black jacket that she knew some of her Norwegian friends must have provided for him. My, but he was handsome. She glanced about, recognizing many of the neighbors from her previous visit. And then she saw no one but Sam.

They spoke their vows in English though in her head, Elin said them in Norwegian.

“You are now husband and wife,” intoned the local preacher with the unfortunate name of Reverend Sorrow.

She lifted her face to receive Sam’s kiss.

After that, they were swept up in congratulations and well wishes. They clapped and sang with the others as Anker danced a traditional dance.

Later, they drove away to a little cabin that one of the Norwegian neighbors had lent them, leaving Joey to enjoy the pleasure of his playmate, Charlie.

They stood inside the small room, their arms about each other.

“No more fears about loving?” she asked, even though she knew the answer. They had discussed it many times.

“I will gladly risk being hurt for the joy of loving you.” He kissed her then drew back. “You know you are more important to me than anything in this world?”

“I know. And I also know my parents and family loved me. You made me see that.”

“How did I do that?”

“By teaching me how to love and be loved.”

He kissed her again. “Just think, you had to come all the way from Norway to learn that.”

“No,” she said. “I had to come all the way across the ocean and across America to find you.”

They kissed again, reveling in the joy of their love.