The Bride Backfire (5 page)

A vague sense of unease, which Opal firmly told herself she should ignore, stalked her all morning long. No matter how many times she vowed Larry's threat the day before wouldn't affect her, she couldn't shake it. The hollowness in her stomach, the knot between her shoulder blades no amount of stretching could relieve, the heaviness of the air itself—none of it abandoned her until noon.

At that point panic wrapped around her, squeezing away any hollowness and leaving no room for pesky knots. Opal struggled against its tightening grip, searching for something, anything, to explain the inexplicable.

The men hadn't answered the dinner bell.

She rang it twice, racking her brain as she hurried toward the west field where Pa worked today, but no reason presented itself. Pa and her brothers never missed a meal. Pete grew so quick he couldn't spoon food into his face fast enough to fill out, so he most often beat her to the bell.

The only consolations she came up with were that God stayed with them, and that if anyone got hurt they'd have fetched her along with Dr. Reed. Cold comfort, considering the way things stood with the Grogans.

The thought added caution to her steps, making her duck behind the tall windrows of last season's corn waiting to be burnt. Only afterward could the next crop be planted free of any chance of the corn borer.

Clashing male voices revealed their location long before she spotted them. A swift glance showed five men at the far end of the field.
Wait. Five?
Opal crept closer. Pa, Ben, and Elroy stood in a semicircle facing Pete and ...
Cursed Grogan stupidity!

She didn't stop to consider whether her prayers for everyone's safety—even the trespasser's—nullified the previous thought. Keeping everybody in one piece mattered too much to get picky about how it got done. Then she caught a glimpse of the Grogan male's profile.

“Adam?” If anyone asked how she got from behind the windrow to the middle of the thick cluster of men, Opal wouldn't have been able to explain. One moment, she'd recognized the man Pete held a shotgun to, and the next, she stood beside him. Fast and foolish as that.

“Opal!” Five voices ranged in depth but matched in consternation made an alarmed chorus before orders came pouring in.

“Get away from him!” Pa wrapped his hand around her elbow and yanked her away.

“What do you think you're doing?” This from Elroy, who tried to step in front of her.

“Stop it!” She wriggled back to the front line by dint of sharp elbows and the tone she used to bully them into washing up before dinner. “Put your guns down and tell me what's going on this instant!”

“You shouldn't be here.” Of all people, Adam held the least authority. Which made his statement all the more powerful.

“Even Grogan knows that you should go home, Opal.” Ben's gaze bore a steely glint. “This is man's business.”

“I'm a Speck. My family, my home, my business, too.” She crossed her arms. “Have you taken leave of your senses, Pete? This is Adam, not Larry!”

“Oh, I know it.” Pete's brows met in the middle, giving him the look of an angry buzzard. “I'm the one who caught him.”

“What are you doing here, Adam?”
After I told you never to come back!
Opal kept the reminder to herself, knowing better than to bring up too many questions about their adventure the day before.

“We lost another cow. Looks like she got through a weak spot in our fence.” Misery and resignation marched across his features. “Since we lost Sadie, we can't afford to let this one go.”

“You hear that?” Ben burst in. “Lost another cow, he says. After their ‘warning' from before. Search him, Pete.”

Adam stood stock-still while her youngest brother patted him down, grimacing when Pete reached into his coat pocket.

Pete drew something out, glanced down, and froze. Livid marks mottled his skin. His mouth moved but no sound escaped as he passed his find to Pa.

The message.
Opal couldn't even close her eyes against the horror of it, bound by some morbid need to watch her father's reaction to the words. She saw his eyes narrow, a muscle in his jaw twitch when he reached Larry's addition.

“Despite your trespassing and your family's threats, I'd been leaning toward something non-fatal.” Her father gave a bark that could have been laughter, but raised the hairs on the back of her neck. “More fool, me, to think any Grogan deserved to live.”

“What's it say?” Elroy accepted it when Pa thrust it his way, reading aloud for Ben's benefit. “‘Next time we lose a cow, we take a Speck in payment. And I got my eye on your only heifer!' Our only...” Disbelief gave way to outrage. “Opal? You came after Opal?”

“No!” Adam shook his head. “I came to find the cow so we would avoid this.”

“Then why were you by the house?” Pete's voice cracked. “I found you staring at her while she got water.”

“Why would you be looking at me?” Stunned, Opal turned to Adam.

“Why does any man stare at a woman?” Elroy narrowed his eyes. “He liked what he saw.”

“Don't be ridiculous.”
As though a man like Adam would look twice at someone like me!
“
This
is your reason for brandishing shotguns at him? He probably was waiting for me to leave so he could find his cow.”

“The man wasn't looking for a cow. He gawked at you like I'd look at Midge if nobody was watching.” Red crept up Pete's ears, but he thrust out his jaw to make up for it. “Only I wouldn't look like I lost half my brains.”

“Stop pretending to know what other people think, Pete.” Opal refused to so much as glance at Adam for fear she'd get distracted wondering what ran through their prisoner's head. “Adam does not look at me like ... that.”

“Like a man?” Ben supplied. “He is one, ain't he?”

“No!” She realized her mistake when Adam gave a sort of growl, making Pete bash him in the skull and Pa push in front of her again.

Someday she'd wonder over his ability to take offense at something so paltry when he seemed indifferent to facing death, but for now she didn't have time to dwell on it. “Adam doesn't ... I mean, he's”—she huffed as she shoved back into the thick of things—“a Grogan!”

“But still a man. Who ogled my daughter.” Pa's tone brooked no argument. “And even though we only got half the message, he obviously planned what that note said.”

“I'm sure there's another explanation.” Opal swallowed.

“It's too late for excuses.” Ben cocked his gun. “He doesn't leave this property alive.”

“But he has to!” Opal looked at the hardened expressions of the men she loved and knew her words fell on fallow ground. “It's murder!”

“Every man has a God-given right to protect his family,” Pa informed her. “If Pete hadn't shown up early for dinner...” His left eye twitched. “Grogan set his course when he trespassed. He knew what he risked.”

Adam stood utterly still, apparently accepting his fate.

Well, I don't accept it. Not Adam.
She couldn't give up after all he'd done. “He saved my life two years ago. I owe him.”

“You helped save Larry's.” Elroy rejected her reasoning on behalf of the entire family, earning a glare that should have left him a pile of ash.

“Dr. Reed saved Larry, but Adam pulled me from that fire.” She tried to appeal to their masculine integrity. “Consider it a debt of honor.”

“Your honor—and safety—is exactly why I can't let him walk away.” Pa wouldn't look at her. “There's nothing in the world that can save him now.”

“You kill him, and the Grogans will come for us all.” Opal threw herself to her knees before her father. “There'll be more death. Don't do this!”

“If we don't, they'll strike again.” Elroy hauled her to her feet. “Run on home, Opal. You shouldn't see this.”

“I'm not leaving until you listen to me!” Tears pricked her eyes. For Adam, the only Grogan man she'd call innocent. For her family, who'd turn themselves into killers. Over her.
I'm not worth it!
How can I change their minds, Lord?

And suddenly she saw the way to save Adam's life ... if her strength held. Opal felt her tears burst free, washing away any ties to her past.

To save them, I have to betray us all.

Caught gaping like a schoolboy with a crush, Adam had no choice but to let himself be taken to the field where the remainder of the Speck men worked. Only then did he know the identity of his captor—Pete, the lanky boy he'd least concerned himself with.

“What on earth?” Murphy spotted them before his sons, though they followed hard on his heels. “I'd pegged you as the Grogan with half a brain, boy.”

“Adam?” Elroy's eyes widened before he lowered his hat brim to hide his surprise. “I could've sworn we spoke with you about your brother trespassing and warned what would happen the next time.”

“You did.” His only chance lay in appeasing the men his family'd threatened the day before.

“Wait.” Ben held up his gun. “Pete, where'd you find him?”

“Skulking behind the barn. I—”

“Adam?” Opal's cry interrupted whatever the youngest Speck meant to say as she rushed into the middle of everything.

Instead of taking advantage of the Specks' distraction to seize the nearest shotgun, Adam joined them in protesting her arrival. Some part of his mind registered that she wore a dress of pale green—the color of hope. It was then he began to wonder whether he had lost whatever sense God gave him.

If I lost it, Opal didn't find it,
he fumed as Opal resisted her family's efforts to tuck her behind them and out of harm's way.
Doesn't she know Larry, for one, would've snatched her as a hostage right off the bat?
The woman needed a keeper.

He added his opinion to her family's bluster. “You shouldn't be here.” It didn't take much to see she didn't see the value of the comment, but at least the other men backed him up. Adam wouldn't turn down any goodwill at this point.

Opal, of course, didn't budge. If anything, her indignation over his treatment grew. “This is Adam, not Larry!”

Nice to know she appreciates the difference.

His explanation as to why he'd ventured onto their land wasn't met with approval. Though, in light of the message Opal had passed along yesterday, he didn't expect it to be. Another troublesome cow seemed unbelievable.

“Search him.” Ben's order made Adam's blood run cold.

Uncertain whether he'd need to show Larry's addendum to Pa at some point, he hadn't burnt the message. Hiding it hadn't seemed prudent, so the incriminating thing sat like a firecracker in his coat pocket. The moment Pete drew it out, Adam knew he might as well have been carrying around his own death warrant.

Opal's reaction told him the instant she recognized what her brother held. All color fled her face, eyes huge and dark against the ice-white of her skin. Her stricken gaze skipped over him to fix on her father's fury as he absorbed its meaning.

Lord, protect my family when this is over.
Adam closed his eyes, knowing no words would save him.
Protect Opal from the bloodshed to come. Don't let her bear guilt for what's not her fault.

Elroy read the blasted thing aloud, disbelieving even in his anger. “You came after Opal?”

“No!” Adam willed her to look at him, to never doubt he intended her any harm. “I came to find our cow so we could avoid all this.”

Her slight nod took a weight from him he hadn't known existed. Then her fool of a brother burst out with the news he'd caught Adam staring at his sister.

Now he avoided Opal's glance as she asked why in favor of glowering at Pete. He had nothing left to lose, after all.
You couldn't have just shot me and left it at that?

“Why does any man stare at a woman?” The disbelief had left Elroy's voice. “He likes what he sees.”

“Don't be ridiculous.” Opal's scoff sounded genuine.

Wait. Why would that be ridiculous?
Adam opened his mouth and shut it again as she said something about his waiting for her to leave so he could find his cow. Not that he believed he'd be getting out of this one, but he wouldn't get in the way of her efforts.

Pete did a fine job of that, for him, as he accused Adam of gawking—and looking brainless while doing it. Yep, the youngest Speck was starting to make dying at peace a real challenge.

Opal, for her part, still protested that Adam didn't look at her like a man looked at a woman, ending Ben's patience.

“He's a man, ain't he?”

“No!”

A growl burst from Adam's throat before he could stop it. Of all the blows that day, this hit the hardest. Worse even than the smash of the butt of Pete's shotgun against his skull in response to his outburst.

Disoriented, it took everything he had to remain on his feet. Feminine protests broke against male pride, and Adam knew it wouldn't be long before he met his Maker. The fog cleared to a vicious throbbing that must have affected his hearing. How else to explain what Opal was saying?

“What?”
Four other men exploded with the question he would have asked if his vocal chords cooperated.

Tears poured down Opal's cheeks. She stared at him, imploring him to understand the impossible as she repeated, “You can't kill the man who's going to be the father of my child.”

“She's overset—doesn't know what she's saying.” Elroy grasped at straws to excuse her declaration.

“I know full well what I'm saying!” Opal also knew full well her face turned bright enough to rival a raspberry. Adam didn't say a word, which showed she'd been right about him catching on quickly. If he'd acted surprised, the jig would be up. Instead...

“You die now, Grogan.” Pa shoved the barrel of his shotgun in Adam's gut. “Opal, you should've told me the day this filth laid a hand on you. Don't worry about a thing. We'll take care of everything.”

“No!” Opal thrust herself between Pa and Adam, dislodging the gun. “How can you take care of it?”

“He took advantage of you, we take his life.” Ben tried to pry her away, murder in his eyes. “It's not your fault he forced you.”

“Adam would never force a woman!” Indignation on his behalf filled her. “Apologize right now!”

“You—” Pa grappled before abandoning the words. “Willingly?” Disbelief mingled with hope, making Opal realize her father loved her so much he'd rather she betray him with his enemy's son than suffer what he feared.

A fresh wave of tears shook her. “I swear to you he never forced me.” She couldn't stand to think what her brothers thought of her now. “Adam wouldn't hurt a woman.”

“
That's
true.” The emphasis Adam placed on the first word made Opal wince.

“We should still kill you”—Elroy practically shook with the force of his emotion—“for showing disrespect to our sister. Opal deserves better.”

“Absolutely.” Adam's swift agreement took the wind from her brother's sails for a moment, making Opal wonder.

Does he mean I deserve respect, or is he saying I deserve someone other than him because he doesn't want me—even if it spares his life?
Sorrow swamped her at the idea.

“You're sure?” Pa stared at her midriff. “You're going to make him a father?”

“God willing.” Opal prayed for forgiveness. She knew where this would lead—and that if she bore children, Adam would be their father. In the strictest sense, she hadn't told a lie. Deliberately misleading her father was more than enough to haunt her. “I'm so sorry, Pa.”

“Too late for sorrys.” Elroy's mutter sliced through her heart. “What are we gonna do now?”

“Ain't it obvious?” Pa didn't so much as glance at her. “Get the preacher.”

“You can't be serious.” Midge, realizing her mouth hung open, snapped it shut. Though, come to think of it, she'd never seen Peter Speck look so solemn.

“Pa sent me to fetch the preacher and a witness.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, as though bracing for a blow.

“Opal said she's carrying Adam Grogan's babe, and your Pa's got a shotgun trained on him while you bring the preacher?” She wanted to be sure she had the facts right. “
Opal?
”

“You comin' or not?” The ferocity of his question convinced her as nothing else could. Pete nursed a crush on her, so Midge knew it would take a lot for him to bark at her.

“Let me get Clara and Saul.” Something didn't add up here, and maybe her adoptive parents could sort it out before someone ended up dead. Or worse—married.

“No.” His hand closed around her arm. “I'll hogtie you and drag you back with me before you get another soul involved. Only reason Grogan still breathes is so Opal won't be ruined. Got it?”

“Yep.” Bumps prickled along her skin in spite of the warmth of the day.
When did Pete Speck get so forceful?
They walked in silence to the parson's house.

“Pa needs you, Parson Carter.” Pete didn't offer any explanations, and Midge didn't add to what he said.

Honestly, what would she say?
Pete tells me Opal says she's carrying Adam Grogan's child and you're needed for a shotgun wedding. I know it sounds crazy, but the whole thing just might be real because I've seen the way Adam looks at her when he thinks no one notices. If she had any other last name, I figure they'd already be hitched....

Actually, that'd probably do, in a pinch. But Parson Carter's wife might be around to overhear, and Pete had a point about Opal's reputation. So Midge kept her tongue between her teeth while the preacher brought out his Bible and they headed for the farm.

“What's this all about?” Parson Carter's share of courage didn't rank high under the best of circumstances. “Nothing to do with the Grogans, I hope?” He'd practically created a second career of avoiding the confrontations between the two families.

Midge, for one, could have mustered a heap more respect for him as a spiritual leader if he'd shown more—well, spirit! As it stood, she didn't see much to recommend his faith as having much practical use. Except that people listened to him because he was the pastor.
That would come in handy.

Pete's grunt didn't reassure their companion any, but from the way he kept looking at her, Midge figured the parson took comfort from her presence. She even understood his line of thinking: If there was blood to be shed or wrongdoing to forgive, Pete wouldn't be bringing her along.

No one would come within ten acres of guessing the truth behind their visit today. When news leaked out, folks would buzz around Buttonwood like vultures around a fallen bison. They'd pick the bones of the story until they had nothing left but sore beaks.

And for once, Lucinda Grogan wouldn't be in the thick of the gossip. Midge wondered how the old buzzard would like being on the rough end of things. The thought shouldn't make her smile, but it did.
I'll take my silver linings where I can find them!

They reached the end of a windrow, and suddenly, Midge spotted Opal. She sat apart from everyone else—away from where her father held a gun on Adam even. She didn't look up as they approached, but Midge could make out the trails from tears on her friend's face. Her smile vanished.

Ignoring the men, she hurried to Opal's side. Let the Specks explain things to the parson, she'd come for Opal. Midge sank to her knees, enfolding her friend in a hug before she spoke a single word. Not until Opal returned the embrace did she shift back enough to look at her. “So it's true?” Midge let no censure creep into her voice. Not a difficult thing, really, when she felt none.

“Oh, Midge.” More tears accompanied Opal's broken whisper. “I've made a terrible mistake!”

“Everybody makes mistakes.”

“Not like this. Pa's disowning me. My brothers won't even look at me. They think—” Opal gave a hard swallow. “They all think I'm a hussy.”

“Don't say that!” The very word brought back memories Midge couldn't afford.
Not now.
“Give them time to be angry. For now, Adam is the one who matters.”

“He's a good man.” A sniff, then a garbled, “Deserves better than to be forced into marrying me, but I don't see another way!”

“Hush!” Midge fought back the urge to go smack Adam Grogan. The fool hadn't made it clear he
wanted
to marry Opal? “He's a lucky man, and this is what's best for everybody involved.”

“You're right.” Opal accepted her handkerchief and mopped her face. The tip of her nose glowed a red rivaled only by her bloodshot eyes. “How do I look?”

“Erm...” Midge spotted some squirrel corn a few yards away. “You need a bouquet!” Ignoring the restless movements of the men, she made the short trip, plucked the fragrant flowers, and made an arrangement.

“It's lovely.” Opal fingered the heart-shaped blossoms, pure white against the lacy green of the leaves Midge tucked in. “Thank you.”

“All right.” Midge tucked Opal's free hand into the crook of her arm and walked her over to where the men waited. “The bride is ready.”

“Is the groom?” Parson Carter fiddled with his collar.

“He better be.” Mr. Speck hefted his shotgun high.

“Then maybe you oughta untie him.” The wedding would be memorable, but Midge tried to soften it a little. She hoped Opal didn't notice that Adam looked about as miserable as a man possibly could.

Without a word, Pete flicked open his pocketknife and did the honors before stepping back. Midge put Opal's hand in Adam's freed ones and joined Pete at a distance.

In what had to be the quickest wedding on earth, the preacher hurried through the part where he asked if anyone had a reason why the couple shouldn't be joined in matrimony. All the same, it seemed ages before he finished.

But, finally, they heard the words, “Then I pronounce you man and wife. What God has put together, let no man”—the preacher paused to glower at the Specks until they lowered their shotguns—“tear asunder.”

For a moment, all was silence and peace while everyone let loose the breaths they'd been holding. Midge just started to think they might all make it through this when the groom opened his mouth and spoke for the first time since pledging, “I do.”

Determination lit Adam's gaze as he pulled Opal close, ignoring the Specks. “Don't I get to kiss my bride?”