Marrying Minda Read Online Free

me.”
    “Reverend Satterburg himself and all these fine folks heard you promise to be my wife today,” he said.
    “I did no such thing. Not exactly, I mean. Not you . I thought you were Norman Dale.” Then she nodded slowly. “Oh, I see. Even the preacher was in on it. That's why he didn't say our Christian names. Because if he'd said—what is your name anyway? I'd have refused on the spot. And what about—?” She waved her arms about the tables of people watching them from the corners of their eyes. “—all of these folks? They're all tricksters too? This whole town?"
    “Most thought it a fine change of plan. Better than you come all this way and not find a husband.” He wouldn't mention the few that hadn't agreed. Truth was, he had expected them to protest during the ceremony. The schoolmaster, and Norman Dale's nearest neighbor, even the reverend's wife had been against it. But clearly, they'd changed their way of thinking.
    “What a ridiculous notion. Well, Mr. Haynes, this is not at all why I came to Paradise. I had nothing to do with Norman Dale's death, and I don't owe him a thing. Dying wish, my foot. You and your preacher have committed serious sins of omission. I won't stand for this. I ... I...” She looked around, helpless-like, and turned from him.
    “Where you going?”
    “That's his grave over there?” She pointed to the fresh mound.
    He nodded.
    “I'm going to, how shall I put it? Pay my respects.” She stood up with her wedding bouquet and tossed him one last scowl.
    Damn roses. That bouquet had cost his brother a small fortune.
    “Hold up a minute,” he said to his wife, who halted and stared. “You forgot your bridal veil.”
    As he rose, he leaned toward her, almost wishing he could kiss her again. He placed the veil back on her head, fluffed the edges around that lovely face. He couldn't help touching her cheek while he did so. His bride.
    His fingers met her soft warm flesh, and she let them remain for a moment that was almost magical. Then both of them flinched at the same precise second.
    * * * *
    Minda could hardly breathe. The corset had suddenly gotten too rigid, and in the heat, her inexpressibles clung to her skin like wet paint. For an unseemly second, she imagined that warm calloused hand running across her body.
    What on earth was happening? Her life in Gleesburg was over by choice, but this was not what she'd chosen in its stead. Not this man. And what had he, her husband , said about kids? Norman Dale had seen fit to mention only one, and a simple-minded one at that. Silly. At least she'd do what she could to prevent that horrid nickname.
    Her husband? Shutting her eyes, she tried to hold the nightmare back. Mercy, she'd come to Paradise to have her dreams come true for a change.
    Resolute, she nodded firm. Sadly, Norman Dale had passed on before his prime, but neither Haynes brother, living or dead, would get by with tricking her into raising more children. That was a thing of the past. She'd done her share.
    As proud as she was of how well her younger sisters had turned out, now was her time. Of course, she'd agreed to tend Priscilla who, at fourteen, would be married off herself in just a few years’ time. And if she and Norman Dale had been blessed with children of their own, she would have raised them willingly, but out of love, not duty.
    But Norman Dale wasn't here any more.
    Likely she should feel some grief at his passing, but Norman Dale had been dishonest with her and deserved no tears. He and his scoundrel of a brother had made plans for the only life she would ever have without considering her thoughts and wishes. And now she had no money and nowhere else to go.
    As she stomped over to Norman Dale's grave, she grumbled out an angry prayer and heard someone come up behind her. An idiotic disappointment simmered when it wasn't her husband.
    Holding a baby in her arms, the yellow-haired young woman who'd decorated their chairs smiled shyly.
    “I'm Gracey, the