Sealed with a promise Read Online Free PDF Page A

one arm made her clumsy, and it had to hurt like hell. He was standing right there, he could move the damn train. He’d give her credit. She hadn’t complained once, but he’d been so irritated after a while, he’d had to find a way to take his mind off it.
      Pickett smiled and indicated the empty chair when she saw him approach the table. Do-Lord carefully laid his fork to the left of his plate and put his knife on the right. Chiefs were taken in hand by older chiefs as soon as they were promoted and taught table manners that could get them through a formal seven-course banquet. The wedge of quiche on Pickett’s plate looked untouched. Offering to serve others before seating oneself was good manners, but it was genuine concern that made him ask, “Can I get you anything from the buffet?”
      Pickett shook her head. “Thank you, but I have to leave in a minute. Jax and Tyler will be here soon, and I can’t let Jax see me. Bad luck, you know.”
      Oh yes, the notion that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. There seemed to be no end to traditions and superstitions surrounding a wedding. No limit to how seriously intelligent, educated people took them. “Why is it bad luck?”
      “Because, if he sees her, he might change his mind,” one of the cousins joked with a horsey laugh. Between guys a jab like that might be a sign of affection, but Do-Lord didn’t miss the way she flicked her eyes to see if the punch connected.
      Pickett laughed too, but the corners of her mouth looked tight.
      He pretended to think it over. “Naw. That cain’t be it. A smart man like Jax? He knows he’s getting the prettiest girl here-don’t you think?” Do-Lord kept his country-boy smile until she dropped her eyes.
      “Everybody has always said Pickett’s sister Grace is the beauty of the family. Pickett’s the smartest.” The other cousin covered Pickett’s hand. “But I have to say, Pickett you look the prettiest today I’ve ever seen you.” Meaning what? What was the matter with these people? “I’m so happy for you,” she added with a genuine smile.
      Pickett squeezed her cousin’s hand in return, then folded her napkin. “Well, I don’t know what my bad luck would be, and I don’t want to find out. I’m going to take my leave now.”
      In a few minutes the other two women excused themselves.
      Alone at his table at last, Do-Lord checked the master schedule of events he’d loaded into his smart phone, cross-referenced with directions to every breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dance, and the names of the hosts with degree of kinship to Pickett’s family. Etiquette demanded he thank his hostess before departing. As soon as he found at least one (there were twelve), he could return to the hotel and nap awhile.
      Do- Lord returned his phone to his belt and hefted his empty plate. It didn’t seem right to leave it on the table.
      “Here, I’ll take that.” Pickett’s grey-haired great-aunt spoke from his elbow. Her complexion was artfully preserved. Except for the obviously young, all the women appeared at least twenty years younger than they probably were. “Isn’t it nice the weather has cooperated? On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, you never know what the weather will do. But with Pickett’s sister Grace directing the wedding, why am I surprised? Everything she does is perfect.” The old lady rattled on in seemingly inexhaustible chatter. This was the woman he was looking for. He called up the correct leave-taking phrases and waited for an opening. “Nobody else could have pulled off a wedding with only a month’s preparation,” she continued. “It won’t be what it could have been, of course, but Grace swears Pickett wanted a small wedding. You should have seen the weddings we did for Pickett’s older sisters,” she sighed. “Still, family has to rally at times like this, don’t you think?”
      Do- Lord wouldn’t know. His