Rebellious Bride by Donna Fletcher

meal. And while we eat, we can discuss plans for the end-of-summer dance.”
    Lil groaned, but Holly ignored her, hurrying off to the kitchen for the plates she had prepared.
    “That’s weeks away,” Lil protested in a raised voice.
    Holly returned carrying a tray laden with enough food for four people. She arranged the plates on the white linen tablecloth that covered the large cherry-wood table and then slipped back into her seat. “It’s barely three weeks away,” she corrected.
    Lil served herself the tempting food. “So what do you want me to help you with this year?”
    Holly smiled sweetly, a spattering of wrinkles fanning the corners of her eyes. “I thought a new dress would be nice.”
    “Sure, I’ll help you sew a new dress,” Lil offered, relieved it was a simple task and not some tremendous baking job.
    Holly shook her head. “Not for me... for you.”
    Lil put her fork down with the piece of ham still speared to it. “Why would I want a new dress?”
    “It’s been ages since we stitched you one. I think it’s about time you had a new dress.”
    Lil eyed her skeptically. “You can’t lie to save your life, Holly Davin. Now tell me the truth.”
    Holly’s soulful frown expressed defeat. “If I tell you the truth, you won’t let me stitch you a new dress.”
    “I don’t need a new dress.”
    Holly waved her finger at Lil like an irate mother scolding her child. “Yes, you do. All the young women are busy stitching dresses for the dance. They’re all primping and preening themselves to look their best, hoping to snag Lord Sherborn as a husband.”
    Lil moaned. First the doc and now Holly. Her father was the only person not looking for a husband for her. “I’m not interested.”
    “I told you once before that he’s prime husband material.”
    And with a wink Holly added, “Best of all he’s not hard on the eyes.”
    Lil returned a mischievous grin. “That’s the only thing in his favor.”
    “Well, it sure is working to his advantage. Mary Beth pants over him. Lou Ellen is insisting that her mother stitch for her an eye-stopping dress. And Sissy Dawson...” Holly let her voice trail off, shaking her head and thinking a moment before she continued. “Sissy Dawson is refusing to wear her spectacles. She feels they might hurt her chance of Lord Sherborn noticing her.”
    “But the girl’s practically blind without them.”
    Holly nodded and fought back a giggle. “I know. She walked into the hitching rail in front of the mercantile and fell right over it.”
    Lil couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculous behavior of all the women. “And you want me to join in this frenzy?”
    Holly’s tone turned serious. “Don’t you want to marry and have children?”
    Lil’s response wasn’t immediate. She did want a husband and children. She loved kids. But she also wanted to love her husband. She questioned whether she could love a man like Rolfe.
    “Of course I do, but Lord Sherborn isn’t what I had in mind.”
    “A woman doesn’t have a wide range of men to pick from around here, Lil.”
    “Regardless, I don’t plan to settle for a man just because my choices are limited. I won’t be forced into accepting less than what I want.”
    “Sometimes we don’t have choices.”
    “I do, and I don’t choose to consider Lord Sherborn prime husband material.”
    “You are a stubborn woman,” Holly said with a gentle shake of her head.
    “I like to think of myself as determined.”
    “As I remind you often enough, you’re a rare bird, Lil Prescott.”
    Lil leaned forward, resting her crossed arms on the table. “That’s why I need to find a rare husband.”
    Holly immediately understood. “One who’ll accept you for who you are and what you do.”
    Lil released a light laugh, though it was strained. “Not an easy task. There aren’t many men who would accept a wife who runs out at all hours of the day and night to tend to sick people.”
    “I’ll bet you’ll find just