“He’s twenty-two—no, he’s twenty-three now, his birthday was last week,” Pauline offered, ticking items off on her fingers. “He went to the University of Louisville for two years before…well, before our father died and DJ had to quit school and take a full-time job to help support the family.”
Mary’s heart sank hearing that. “University? So…he’s um…real smart, then?”
Pauline registered Mary’s meaning and she hastened to add, “Oh Mary, don’t think like that.” She exchanged a quick look with the doctor and went on, “You are smart, my friend. I’ve never seen anyone pick up spelling and vocabulary, as well as other school subjects, with the speed you do, and you have such a head for facts, figures, and anything you read. Stop thinking you’re dumb. You’re not,” she added firmly.
Mary’s heart warmed at her friend’s words, and she managed a grateful smile. “Thank you, Pauline.” Catching her lip between her teeth for a moment, she ventured, “So…what else…about him?”
“Well, he can be funny, and sweet…he likes to tease…and he’s very protective of those he loves. Sometimes he can go overboard being a big brother, but he means well,” she grinned, knowing Mary would remember the incident she was referring to. “He’s strong and brave, and talented…”
At that, Doc Reeves chuckled. “I must say, Pauline, you’re doing a marvelous job of declaring your brother’s attributes.”
Pauline sat back in her chair as they all laughed. A few beats later, however, Mary sobered again and stared at her friend.
“Why would he want to do this?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Pauline admitted. “I do know that he usually steps in when he sees someone in need of help. If it’s within his power to make something right, he does it. That’s just how he is. That’s one of the ways he and Tobias are alike,” she added, her eyes twinkling as she thought of her love.
“All of this is neither here nor there, Mary,” the doctor put in. “You two will probably not even see one another during the duration of your marriage. Then, once the baby is born, the marriage can be terminated.”
“But…what will I tell the people in town when they ask me where the father of my baby is?”
“I’m working on that,” the doctor admitted, exchanging looks with Pauline. Looking thoughtful, he went on, “Without resorting to outright lies, you could hint that…your husband has a job in another state and can’t have you with him…”
Mary raised a hand and absently brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “What if someone lets the cat out of the bag?”
“The only people who will know are myself, Pauline and Tobias, Charlie—but as to the telegraph operator, he’s sworn to secrecy, Judge Renner, and Attorney Mincer. Oh, and the man who will stand in and be the proxy groom. We’ll make sure he knows to keep everything to himself.”
Mary once again met the concerned eyes of the doctor and her friend and then, seeing no other recourse, she lifted her shoulder and let out a resigned sigh.
“All right. If you both think this is the best thing to do. When do we get this show on the road?”
With a relieved smile, the doctor stood and rubbed his hands together.
“You two go and get dressed for the wedding, and meet me at the courthouse in an hour.”
Ninety minutes later, Pauline and Tobias stood on either side of a nervous Mary—wearing her prettiest light green, gingham day dress—and Deputy Keith O’Neill, Tobias’ good friend who had volunteered to do the deed. Attorney Mincer and Doc Reeves stood by as witnesses and to help the judge with the paperwork, as the man had never officiated on his end to solemnize a proxy marriage.
“Well then, I guess everything is in order,” Judge Renner began as he finished reading the paperwork. Looking over the top of his glasses, he stared down at those assembled.
“This is the bride and the…proxy for the groom?”
“Yes, sir,” “Yes, Your Honor,” Mary and Keith spoke up at the same time.
She sent him a shy, embarrassed smile and he grinned back at her. My, but he’s handsome, with that soft blond hair…and those green eyes…tall and lanky.... She watched him for a moment as he stood by her side with his cocky stance and the look on his face. Mmm hmm. He knows it, too.
“All right, bride and proxy, turn to face one another, hold hands, and repeat after me,” the judge instructed.
Mary handed her bouquet—a hastily gathered handful of pink peonies tied together with string—to Pauline, and then held out her hands to Keith, who clasped them firmly in his own. She couldn’t help but notice how warm, strong, and calloused his fingers felt against her own.
“Dearly beloved…” the judge began, and Mary cringed at the wording of the marriage ceremony. Here she was, marrying a man she didn’t know, while holding hands with another man she didn’t know, and saying vows with him about the first man she didn’t know. It was enough to make a girl’s head spin! Oh, don’t think about your head spinning, or you might end up kneeling over that trash can in the corner, she warned herself sternly, remembering how quickly the dreaded morning sickness had struck when she’d first put her feet on the floor that morning.
The judge’s voice droned on, but Mary was only half listening. Everything seemed to be happening so fast! A week ago, she had no idea she was even carrying. She was just working her two jobs—for Huber’s Restaurant, and also helping watch Charise and Finn Maynard’s children for a couple of hours a day. Everything seemed fine; the
