The mayor pointed a finger at his sheriff. “Sittig there doesn’t need to marry anyone. The deeds done and nothing he will do can change it.”
There it was again. That prickle that something wasn’t like Fred expected.
Rex Martin took his hand down from Fred’s shoulder. Shrugging, he added one last reason to marry Lilah. “At least you won’t have to take any risk by sending away for a mail-order bride, like your brothers. Seems like you have a guaranteed good wife.”
Finally, Fred spoke. “Just came back from my brother’s. I was talking marriage out there since I don’t want to let the perfect woman for me get away.”
A cheer sounded from the crowd. Many voices cheering at once for his upcoming marriage. He hadn’t lied to them. Myra had been talking marriage.
Men moved forward to slap him on the back, asking for details. He only shrugged, studying the mayor and the banker. Strong frowned when he saw that he’d lost the interest of the crowd. No surprise there.
What drew Fred’s eye was the almost feral expression on Ledbetter’s face. He met Fred’s gaze with narrowed, calculating eyes. Before this terrible year, Fred might have backed down or shivered at that look. Now, he stared back until the other man looked away first, leaving Fred to wonder whether the timid lawyer persona was an act.
Chapter 6
The Wedding
“So, will you come out to the farm with me, Reverend Nillson?”
The long moment of silence alarmed Fred. He’d explained the situation to the man. Certainly, the minister could see the need to marry. Why didn’t he say something?
The older man harrumphed. When he finally spoke, tight lines stayed around his mouth. “You haven’t done anything wrong to warrant a hurried wedding. I worry that you are using something sacred as a convenience.”
Stammering out a denial, Fred frantically fought to form a convincing argument. “She’s been through a trauma, Reverend. A family will be the healing tonic she needs. I’m sure of it.”
The older man leaned back in his desk chair and nodded. “That’s fine, my boy. A husband needs to provide for and protect his wife.”
The man’s light blue eyes suddenly pinned Fred with an accusing glare. “You are dealing with a woman’s feelings here. A husband vows to love. Will you do that, as a part of your ‘healing tonic’, as you called it?”
“I—I don’t—” Fred stuttered before breaking off his words, tipping his head down to think. He definitely felt more for Lilah than Carl had for Merrilee when they married. The same went for Holder and Myra.
This minister had married his brothers and their mail-order wives knowing no love existed between them. Why was the old preacher making such a fuss now?
He felt what his mother had called his “mulish look” tighten his face. Ready to confront the man, he almost opened his mouth to tell the minister what he thought of this love talk.
Almost. Reverend Nillson had been nothing but honorable and caring to the people of Idyll Wood and the surrounding area. He must have a good reason.
Fred’s face relaxed. He raised his head to see the old man watching him with a fatherly look that spoke of caring and concern. Something in Fred’s retelling of the situation definitely disturbed Reverend Nillson. Well, he’d never know if he didn’t ask the older man.
“What has you hesitating, Reverend? You married both of my brothers without love present.”
Quickly, without thought, the other man shook his head. Vehemently, the minister protested. “No, that’s not true. Both were committed to making a marriage with their mail-order brides and needed the women.”
Leaning forward in his chair, the man’s mouth turned downward as he studied the brawny sheriff. “I’m not sure you believe you need anyone. This seems to be about her needing you and not the other way around.”
Fred arched an eyebrow at that. “Is that so bad?”
The pastor gave a clipped nod. “Yes, she’ll spend her life beholden to you for marrying her. That’s not the way a woman should have to live.”
Those words struck him dumb. Fred opened his mouth, but it gaped without words coming out. Realizing how accurate the minister’s observation was, he closed it and sat silent and contemplative.
Why did he wrap his arm around Lilah on the sofa? What caused him to care enough about her to plan for her to talk with Myra?
Large, soulful brown eyes came to mind. Eyes that stared back at him across a café table the first day they’d met. He’d been so drawn to her that he asked her to lunch, something out of character for him.
Fred had never used brutal force with a criminal. Not until that night when he broke into the brothel room and saw the man ready to abuse Lilah. Red rage pumped through him at the sight. He might have killed the man if his deputy hadn’t pulled him away from the crumpled figure.
“When I look at her, I see goodness and a delicate beauty that makes me want to guard it.”
The preacher nodded. “Yes, you’ve told me about the need to protect her.”
Grimacing, Fred tried again. “No, I’m not saying this right. German men don’t talk about feelings.”
Nillson snorted. “Well, you’re one German man who had better start if you want to marry the girl.”
Jumping up from his chair, Fred walked to the bookshelves that lined one wall, floor to ceiling. He studied titles that spoke of the ministers intelligence. It went against Fred’s grain to talk about such things, but he did it anyhow.
Groaning, he ran a hand through his wavy blond hair and faced the older man. “She draws me
