Nordin, Ruth Ann - South Dakota Series 02 - Bid for a Bride Read Online Free Page A

other men will want to raise a child who doesn’t belong to them. With you, however… considering what you’ve been through… Well, I can’t think of a better man who’d welcome an illegitimate child as his own. And if you married her sooner, rather than later, then no one would assume the child was someone else’s."

    Brian nodded. "That would be the wisest course of action."

    "I’m glad you think so. I thought of all the men who’d understand how delicate the situation is, it’d be you. This might be a good community, but there are some who have their prejudices."

    "Yes, I know." Brian was all too aware of how some people could be, and he didn’t like the thought of Lucy having to bear the brunt of their gossip. They wouldn’t care what the circumstances surrounding a child’s birth was, and if he could prevent a child from feeling unloved, then he’d do his part. "I suppose it’d be wise to call on Lucy this afternoon then."

    The preacher exhaled. "That’d be best. If she agrees to marry you, just come by my house. My wife can be a witness."

    Brian nodded. "Yes, sir."

    Brian heard the preacher’s chair scraping back and felt the vibration on the floor as the preacher stood. He followed suit and stretched out his hand which the preacher shook.

    "God bless you, son," the preacher said.

    "You too, sir."

    Brian waited until he heard the preacher head out on his horse before he left the work shed so he could talk to his mother about going into town.

    ***
    Lucy walked beside Addy who insisted on showing her around town. Lucy joined her out of a sense of obligation. The woman had been most kind to her, and Lucy didn’t want to upset her.

    But what she really wanted was to hide in bed and wait for her life to end.

    Even if Addy, her husband Frank, the preacher, the marshal, and the judge assured her that she did nothing to be ashamed of, she still tightened the bonnet around her face to hide it as much as possible. People stopped and stared anyway, and Addy made it a point to introduce her to every single one. If Lucy was any good with names, she would have remembered who was who, but as it was, all the names and faces became one big blur. The young men seemed especially interested in her, for they lingered about the longest and offered to stop by and see her later in the week. These offers made her inwardly cringe.

    Addy laughed as another young man walked off. "There’s no fighting it, Lucy. You’re beautiful and men like that kind of thing in a woman."

    Yes, Lucy was well aware, for it was her beauty that had attracted Adam’s attention. Feeling vulnerable, she crossed her arms in an effort to protect herself. It was pointless of course.

    She was still out in the open and being inspected by everyone.

    Addy paused in front of a white building. "That’s the post office and doctor’s office." Then she lowered her voice.

    "Should you miss your monthly flow, I’ll take you to him and he can confirm whether or not your time with Adam got you in the family way."

    Lucy paled and dug her fingernails into her arms. She prayed it wouldn’t come to that. She’d know in two weeks either way, and those two weeks seemed frighteningly short and long at the same time.

    "It’ll be alright, Lucy," Addy whispered. "You don’t need to worry that Frank and I will make you leave.
    We’ll help you." She walked forward and glanced back. "Over there is the barber shop and further down is the lumber store."

    Nodding, Lucy pressed forward and dutifully listened as Addy continued her tour through the town.
    When they reached the general store, she breathed a sigh of relief. This was it. After this, they could go back to Addy’s house and Lucy could rest for a bit in bed.

    "Good day, Mrs. Beecham," Addy greeted the elderly woman as they entered the store.

    "Oh, good day, Addy." The woman looked over at Lucy. "I heard a young woman came to town yesterday. Is this her?"

    Patting Lucy’s arm, Addy smiled at