Mary gratefully accepted a cup of delicious cider from Dwight as he grinned and gave her a wink. She blushed prettily, but sent him a grateful smile. Always the perfect gentleman, she sighed happily.
The outer door was flung open and more guests dashed in accompanied by a blast of cold, snow-laden air, including Iris Larsen and her father, owners of the town’s lovely boarding house, and Monroe and Cora Haggler, two of their long-time boarders. Cora was a member of what Doc privately called Brownville’s Snooty Ladies Club, but she had, of late, been quite nice to Mary, in spite of their rocky start.
Mary turned her back to the brisk breeze and sidled closer to Dwight as he made conversation with Tobias. Unconsciously, her husband slipped an arm around her and drew her warmly against his side while sipping his cider.
The twins raced each other back to the family, giggling and playing as Pearl admonished them to calm down and behave.
Hank helped himself to a cup of cider and eased in alongside Mary as he sipped. She turned her head and grinned at him, thinking what a wonderful time she was having, and how thankful she was that he was there with her.
“Mmm, this is good. Way better than that stuff Pa used to make, huh?” he chuckled, prompting Mary to agree.
Olivia took a sip and wrinkled her nose, teasing, “Oh darn, I’d been hoping it would be spiked.”
Hank let out a guffaw. “Olivia Christiansen, you say the darndest things. Someday, that might get you in trouble.”
Livvy sent him an impish grin. “So I’ve been told.”
Mary laughed and shook her head at her sister-in-law’s antics. Just then, the baby decided to kick, quite hard, jostling Mary’s cup and making her spill a few drops. She laughed and reached for a napkin from the bar, brushing it across the front of her dress.
“Active little cuss, huh?” Hank laughed. “When did you say you’re due to hatch?”
“Two weeks, and I can’t wait. Around the 10th of January, Doc predicts.”
Mary had answered without thinking it through. She’d been trying to dodge the setting of a specific date, for obvious reasons, and now as she realized what she’d said, her eyes widened and she took a quick sip of her drink as she strove to think of something else to talk about. No one seemed to notice her blunder, thank goodness. Dwight and Tobias were having a discussion about how they both hoped Republican James G. Blaine defeated Democrat Grover Cleveland in the upcoming presidential race.
Hank took another sip as Olivia and the twins reached for goodies. Livvy sampled a piece of fruit cake, while the twins gobbled up Christmas cookies from a large platter on the bar. The mood was merry and festive.
The musicians were just finishing up their song and as everyone clapped, they started up another carol.
Hank’s brow furrowed and Mary saw him glance at her out of the corner of her eye. She held her breath in dread. Over the months, she had become adept at sensing when someone was about to ask her a difficult question. Oh no…
“Pa was killed and you left Lincoln last March…you got here in April…where did you and your husband meet, huh Mary? When did you get married?” His voice had the slightest edge to it…
Mary’s heart sped up and she gulped down a mouthful of cider as she sought out Dwight’s assistance; he had turned his head toward her when he heard the questions.
Her eyes imploring, she saw her husband open his mouth to answer, but before he could, Grace announced loudly, “I know, Uncle Hank! They got married in July. Dwight wasn’t here and it was something called a proxy, because Mary was in some kind of trouble and Doc wanted to stop something called censure.” The child smiled proudly up at the adults surrounding her, thinking they would praise her grasp of the details.
Mary shut her eyes for a moment and stifled the groan that wanted to escape. Her heart began to race again and she wanted nothing more than to run as far and as fast as she could.
Livvy let out a horrified gasp and grabbed her sister, placing a hand over her mouth. “Sshh, Grace Ann!” she reprimanded, much too late. Mary opened her eyes and peeked at her brother’s face.
Realization dawning—that Mary had already been with child when his brother-in-law had, after the fact, married her—Hank’s countenance turned stormy.
Training his eyes incredulously on Mary, and then on her husband, Hank slammed his cup down on the bar and groused at Dwight, “You got my sister in the family way, and then you married her? You son of a—” he bit the last word off as he stepped forward and slammed a hard fist into Dwight’s jaw.
Mary couldn’t believe her eyes! She screamed as her husband was knocked to the floor. He lifted his palm to the affected area in disbelief and mumbled, “What the…”
Doc and Pearl, who had crossed to the other side of the room to greet friends, came running to see what the commotion was as people squealed and scooted back.
The music screeched to a halt of sour notes.
Hank stood there panting in fury, both fists at the ready, as he glared down at Dwight.
“Nobody takes advantage of my sister without gettin’ a whoopin’ from me. Marryin’ her don’t take the shame away, Christiansen,” he spat.
“Hank, please!” Mary gasped, mortified, as she reached for her brother’s arm to try and get him to calm down.
Up and down the long room, people were staring—some with open mouths. Oh no…no no no… This was the nightmare she’d dreamed of many times—but had hoped and prayed wouldn’t happen. And now—for
