Shotgun Groom Read Online Free Page A

bars of the crib.
    “You look good this morning,” April said as she set her
    things on the dresser. “I think the fact that you were able to
    sleep al night helped.”
    Nora lifted her arms, so April picked her up and changed
    her diaper. By the time she had her dressed for the day, the
    front door opened and Sep cal ed out that he was done with
    the morning chores.
    “It’s time to get breakfast going.” She took Nora in her arms
    and carried her down the stairs. When she reached the
    kitchen, she set her girl in the highchair and turned to the
    shelf to grab the flour. “Do you want pancakes this
    morning?” she cal ed out to Sep who brought in a bucket of
    water from the wel out back.
    “That sounds good.” He placed the bucket on the work
    table. “The temperature’s dropping out there. I think we’re in
    for a snowstorm. Hopeful y, the doctor’s assistant wil make
    it here.”
    “Even if he doesn’t, Nora’s on the mend.”
    “I’d stil like for him to come out here.”
    Surprised by the determined tone in his voice, she eyed
    him. “What’s going on with you?”
    He shrugged and turned to the cook stove. “I already put
    cow chips in there.”
    She placed the sack of flour and large bowl on the table.
    Putting her hands on her hips, she walked over to Sep as
    he placed a pot on the range. “I’m your sister. I know when
    you’re up to something, so you might as wel spil it.”
    “I’m concerned about Nora, that’s al .” Avoiding eye contact
    with her, he retrieved the bucket of water and poured some
    of it into the pot. “Want me to start coffee?”
    “Sep,” she said, a warning tone in her voice.
    A knock at the front door echoed through the house, and
    she caught the relieved look on his face before he scurried
    out of the kitchen to answer the front door. With a sigh, she
    grabbed the apron from the hook by the kitchen door.
    She’d get breakfast for everyone, and that included Joel.
    She couldn’t send him off into the snow without a ful bel y.
    As she finished securing the strings on her apron, Joel
    entered the kitchen with a smal bag. She frowned. Where
    was Sep? For someone so concerned about Nora, he was
    nowhere in sight. Her brother was definitely up to
    something.
    Joel smiled as he walked over to Nora who was banging
    her hands on the tray in front of her. “Good morning.”
    “Morning,” April replied, her gaze shifting to the hal way.
    From where she stood, she couldn’t see Sep.
    “I’d ask how Nora’s doing, but the color’s back in her face
    and she’s happy.” He touched her forehead. “The fever’s
    gone.”
    Forcing her attention off the hal way, April looked at Joel
    and nodded. “Yes. After you helped her settle down
    yesterday, she had a real good nap, and when she woke
    up, she was much better.”
    “Good. I’m glad I made the trip for nothing.”
    “Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Sep said.
    April’s eyes went back to the hal way and she gasped. Her
    brother came to the kitchen entrance with a rifle in his
    hands.
    “Sep, what are you doing?” she asked.
    Instead of answering her, Sep stepped further into the
    kitchen and motioned for Joel to sit down.
    “Now look here, you can’t go threatening people with a
    gun,” Joel said in a soothing voice. “Put it down, and we’l
    talk-”
    “Sit down!” Sep lifted the rifle and pointed it at Joel, his
    finger on the trigger.
    April rushed over to Sep and tried to take the gun from him,
    but he dodged her. “You can’t kil him,” she said, her heart
    pounding anxiously in her chest. What was her brother
    thinking?
    Sep rol ed his eyes. “I’m not going to kil him. We need
    him.”
    “Nora’s fine. You don’t need me,” Joel argued.
    “Oh yes, we do. You’re marrying my sister,” Sep told him.
    “What?” April shrieked.
    “You can’t be serious,” Joel added, blanching.
    “I’m as serious as can be,” Sep said, not taking his eyes off
    of Joel. “Sit down or I shoot. I might