Groom by Arrangement

Author:Rhonda Gibson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Two days later, Eliza slipped into her wedding dress. Thanks to Eve, her hair was curled and hanging around her shoulders. Rarely did Eliza wear it down, but today was special and she wanted to feel pretty. And she did.

“Jackson is sending a buckboard around to collect you in five minutes. You look beautiful.” Eve smiled in the mirror at her.

“I thought I was going to walk to the church,” Eliza protested. “I really don’t need a buckboard to take me. It’s not that far.”

“Sure you do. Mr. Miller will be driving and will help you climb aboard. Besides, Jackson has a special treat planned, so we aren’t going to the church.”

Eliza’s head began to spin. It seemed her sister knew more about her wedding than she did. Eliza studied the happy expression on Eve’s face. So far, the time had been moved up two hours. She was no longer getting married at noon; now it was to be 10:00 a.m. Not in the church as she’d planned but someplace mysterious. “Is there anything else I should know?” Eliza asked, watching her sister’s face.

Eve shrugged. “Not that I can say,” she answered, fiddling with one of her own curls.

Eliza slipped her feet into the cream-colored slippers that Mrs. Miller had sent over. Her gaze moved to the bridal bouquet that Eve had put together. The flowers were a rich purple. Eve had wrapped green ribbon around the stems pulling it together, and the cream-colored centers matched her shoes and veil.

“Hurry—I just heard Mr. Miller pull up out front.” Eve grabbed her by the arm and tugged.

Eliza pulled away. “I’m coming. No need to drag me out the front door. This isn’t a shotgun wedding, you know.” She walked to the table and picked up the bouquet. Her heart raced in her chest.

She followed Eve out of the house and took several deep breaths. The smell of flowers and sawdust filled her senses. The sun shone brightly and the birds chirped happily in the trees. It was a beautiful day to get married.

True to Eve’s word, Mr. Miller helped her into the buckboard. “You look lovely, Mrs. Kelly.”

Eliza swallowed. “Thank you.”

He helped Eve into the back and then climbed up beside Eliza on the bench. “Nervous?”

She attempted a smile. “A little.”

As he guided the horse out of town, Mr. Miller commented, “I don’t think you have a thing to be worried about. Jackson Hart is a fine man. Granted, I haven’t known him long, but I respect him just the same.”

“Thank you, Mr. Miller.”

He nodded and focused on directing the horse along a narrow path. A smile began to take form as Eliza realized they were heading to the clearing where she and Jackson had shared lunch and he’d surprised her with the rainbows of light.

Eve complained as they hit a rock. Eliza couldn’t make out her words but she was sure they weren’t ladylike. Their mother would have slapped her arm. For a brief moment Eliza allowed herself to think about their parents.

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