The Accidental Bride Read Online Free PDF

role? But of course, the dress would hardly fit her plump frame.
    A paper slipped from Pastor Blevins’s swollen Bible, and he stooped to retrieve it. His shoulder knocked into a wooden pedestal. It wobbled precariously, then he grabbed it, steadying it. That was new, the pedestal. Pastor Blevins poked his spectacles back into place with his index finger.
    Fifteen minutes. Just fifteen minutes and this will be over .
    On the other hand, if the preacher became distracted, he had a tendency to go down bunny trails. He could stretch this into thirty, easy.
    By the time it was finished, Shay would be ready to go home and hide. She was already regretting her decision to join Beau and the others at the picnic.
    But the quicker she walked, the sooner it would be over. She picked up her pace. Almost there. The only other person who wanted this thing over with was nearly in view. She turned a sympathetic smile in Riley’s direction as his plaid sleeve came into view.
    Yeah, I know. Me too , her grin said.
    The sleeve became a shoulder, and the shoulder became a face.
    But the face wasn’t that of Riley Raines.

6
    G ravity plucked at the corners of Shay’s mouth. At her shoulders. At her heart.
    Her step faltered, and Travis’s hand went out. But she caught herself before he touched her.
    She wanted to smack the cocksure grin right off his face.
    How could he do this? How could Miss Lucy?
    â€œIsn’t he the one . . . ?” someone whispered.
    â€œDid she know?”
    â€œMaybe he won’t run for the hills this time.”
    She stopped in front of the lopsided pedestal, facing Pastor. Her jaw clamped down. She felt her nostrils flare and wondered if steam was rising from the top of her head.
    Pastor started talking, and the whispering quieted.
    Please, God. Get me through this .
    He began a message on the sanctity of marriage, droning on. For heaven’s sake, it wasn’t even a real wedding. Thank God , she thought, remembering who was at her side.
    Travis stood close, his arm touching hers. Its warmth added to the furnace inside the dress, and a sweat broke out on the back of her neck. Her shallow breaths challenged her heart to a race. Hard to say which was in the lead.
    Breathe, Shay, breathe .
    How did this happen? He must’ve talked Miss Lucy into it somehow. Lied to her or something. The woman would never put her through this agony intentionally. She was the one person who knew the depth of pain Travis McCoy had caused. Knew exactly how the gossip and rumors had about been the death of her.
    She was going to kill him. As soon as this was over. As soon as the crowd left. She would tighten that bolo tie until his face went tomato red.
    No. She would hold him under the falls until he begged for mercy.
    Better yet—
    â€œFace one another, please,” Pastor Blevins said.
    She turned and followed the pearly white buttons up Travis’s shirt. Up past his stubborn jaw, past his crooked nose, to his gray eyes.
    She narrowed her own and hoped he could read her every thought. Self-absorbed, bigheaded, egotistical—
    â€œJoseph Edward Adams,” the pastor continued, “wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?”
    You man enough to say it this time?
    â€œI will.” His voice boomed, deep and certain.
    Easy enough when you’re pretending, isn’t it?
    â€œPrudence Jane Wilcott, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?”
    Not a chance in—
    â€œWilt thou love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health . . .”
    Ha!
    â€œ. . . and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall