that going into this deception. But she had not realized how conspicuous she would feel. Or how unlikely she would look as the object of attention for a man like Rome Akers.
But Rome, she decided at that rather uncomfortable moment in the pew, was not the kind of fellow who would ever choose a bride based upon the practicalities that the woman offered. Gussie would suit Amos Dewey perfectly. That was obvious both to her and to everybody who knew them.
But Rome Akers? No, there was simply too much … too much passion in the man.
Beside her, Rome leaned in closer and spoke to her in a low and private tone.
“Did you see Amos?” he whispered. “He’s near the back, sitting with the Bensons. I’m sure he saw you.”
It was all Gussie could do to face forward and not glance behind her in the man’s direction. Her plan was really happening. Amos had seen her. What had he felt? she wondered. Confusion. Anger. Jealousy. Pain.
Not pain, she hoped ardently. She didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want that at all.
Rome covered her gloved hand with his own. It was then that she realized she was trembling. She looked at him.
“Courage,” he whispered.
Gussie straightened her shoulders.
It was at that moment that Mr. and Mrs. Penderghast moved into their pew just in front of them. An audible intake of breath got Gussie’s attention. She raised her head to see the Penderghasts, both of them, gazing in shocked incredulity at the sight of Gussie and Rome holding hands in church.
The two schemers realized their breach of etiquette at exactly the same instant and Rome released her hand. It had been a comforting gesture, not a romantic one. But no one else would ever know that.
Gussie had wanted to create talk. She was certainly going to get it now. Nervously she glanced around the room. There was a great crowd of people. Nearly every family in town was represented. And she knew most everyone. Most from her social circle, but also a few from the ice plant, her employees and their families. What would they make of this mismatched pair?The owner and the manager of their livelihood holding hands together in church. At the very least, it boded upheaval and change. She hadn’t given a thought to how this deception might affect her employees.
The minister entered rather noisily from an anteroom, walking from pew to pew, loudly greeting people and discussing the weather, cotton prices and the latest exploits of “Dark Cloaked Avenger,” a serial fiction currently being published in
Cottonwood Beacon
.
When he reached Gussie and Rome, he was momentarily struck speechless. He quickly recovered himself and shook Rome’s hand in a manner too enthusiastic to be enjoyed.
“I’m so glad you’ve brought this sinner with you today, Miss Gussie,” he said. “We haven’t seen Rome in church here since he was wearing short pants.”
Gussie was embarrassed by the pastor’s attention. It was … well, it was so loud. Churches should be quiet, reverent places. And the men who headed them should be likewise. She knew Reverend Holiday to be an upright, righteous and worthy member of the clergy. But for the life of her, she had to bite her tongue to keep from shushing the man.
And now, being the loud focus of attention in the building was almost more public display than she could bear. Anyone who’d missed their entrance, the long walk to the Mudd Family pew or Mrs. Penderghast’s gasp could not fail to note the loud comments of the good reverend.
Reverend Holiday continued to gush for several more minutes before he moved on to make his way through the rest of those in attendance.
Why had she chosen this night? Why had she chosen this place? Surely another occasion would have been better for this deception. She quickly met Rome’s eyes. He looked as disconcerted as she.
4
R OME COULDN’T IMAGINE HOW LONG ONE EVENING could last. And it had hardly begun. It seemed like a lifetime had passed before the groom and his best
But Rome, she decided at that rather uncomfortable moment in the pew, was not the kind of fellow who would ever choose a bride based upon the practicalities that the woman offered. Gussie would suit Amos Dewey perfectly. That was obvious both to her and to everybody who knew them.
But Rome Akers? No, there was simply too much … too much passion in the man.
Beside her, Rome leaned in closer and spoke to her in a low and private tone.
“Did you see Amos?” he whispered. “He’s near the back, sitting with the Bensons. I’m sure he saw you.”
It was all Gussie could do to face forward and not glance behind her in the man’s direction. Her plan was really happening. Amos had seen her. What had he felt? she wondered. Confusion. Anger. Jealousy. Pain.
Not pain, she hoped ardently. She didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want that at all.
Rome covered her gloved hand with his own. It was then that she realized she was trembling. She looked at him.
“Courage,” he whispered.
Gussie straightened her shoulders.
It was at that moment that Mr. and Mrs. Penderghast moved into their pew just in front of them. An audible intake of breath got Gussie’s attention. She raised her head to see the Penderghasts, both of them, gazing in shocked incredulity at the sight of Gussie and Rome holding hands in church.
The two schemers realized their breach of etiquette at exactly the same instant and Rome released her hand. It had been a comforting gesture, not a romantic one. But no one else would ever know that.
Gussie had wanted to create talk. She was certainly going to get it now. Nervously she glanced around the room. There was a great crowd of people. Nearly every family in town was represented. And she knew most everyone. Most from her social circle, but also a few from the ice plant, her employees and their families. What would they make of this mismatched pair?The owner and the manager of their livelihood holding hands together in church. At the very least, it boded upheaval and change. She hadn’t given a thought to how this deception might affect her employees.
The minister entered rather noisily from an anteroom, walking from pew to pew, loudly greeting people and discussing the weather, cotton prices and the latest exploits of “Dark Cloaked Avenger,” a serial fiction currently being published in
Cottonwood Beacon
.
When he reached Gussie and Rome, he was momentarily struck speechless. He quickly recovered himself and shook Rome’s hand in a manner too enthusiastic to be enjoyed.
“I’m so glad you’ve brought this sinner with you today, Miss Gussie,” he said. “We haven’t seen Rome in church here since he was wearing short pants.”
Gussie was embarrassed by the pastor’s attention. It was … well, it was so loud. Churches should be quiet, reverent places. And the men who headed them should be likewise. She knew Reverend Holiday to be an upright, righteous and worthy member of the clergy. But for the life of her, she had to bite her tongue to keep from shushing the man.
And now, being the loud focus of attention in the building was almost more public display than she could bear. Anyone who’d missed their entrance, the long walk to the Mudd Family pew or Mrs. Penderghast’s gasp could not fail to note the loud comments of the good reverend.
Reverend Holiday continued to gush for several more minutes before he moved on to make his way through the rest of those in attendance.
Why had she chosen this night? Why had she chosen this place? Surely another occasion would have been better for this deception. She quickly met Rome’s eyes. He looked as disconcerted as she.
4
R OME COULDN’T IMAGINE HOW LONG ONE EVENING could last. And it had hardly begun. It seemed like a lifetime had passed before the groom and his best
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