Joel Larson took Charlotte by the arm and rolled his eyes. “They act like that all the time. A person could lose their lunch watching this.”
Charlotte seemed amused. “Then be glad we don’t eat until after the wedding.”
Tom and Jessica led them toward the assembly of guests who turned to watch. Joel and Charlotte followed. Doug and Bob dutifully took out handfuls of petals and threw them into the air as if they couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.
One of her father’s friends began playing a sweet melody on his fiddle once they made it to the place where she would begin her wedding march. Margaret glanced at her father who patted her hand. She gave him a shaky smile. She still couldn’t believe this was really happening—and to her of all people.
Tom and Jessica didn’t make it three paces to the preacher when a woman ran up to Margaret. “Thank goodness I got here in time!”
Margaret frowned. “Do I know you?” she whispered, aware that Joel and Charlotte had begun their stroll.
Doug and Bob glanced over their shoulders and gasped. “Miss Potter?”
Ignoring the boys, the woman told Margaret, “You can’t marry Joseph. He’s supposed to marry me.”
Margaret spent a good five seconds staring at the woman and wondering who she was and why she’d make such a wild accusation. The person up front stopped playing the fiddle and murmurs came from the guests. And still, she couldn’t adequately decide how to proceed. Miss Potter, whoever she was, didn’t help further the discussion either, for she stared right back at Margaret and crossed her arms as if the matter was settled. Finally, Margaret turned to Doug and Bob for help.
“That’s the lady who wants to marry Pa,” Bob said. “But Pa didn’t want her.”
Miss Potter gasped. “You can’t say that. Your pa thought I was taken with another gent. That’s why he left.”
“That’s not what Pa said.”
“What do you know? You’re just a child.”
Margaret frowned. “Children know enough to know what their father wants.”
Miss Potter smiled at her and used a tone that one would liken to a woman using with a child. “Children may think they know things, but a grown man does not disclose his most intimate feelings for a lady.”
Doug scowled at the woman. “If Pa wanted to marry you, he wouldn’t have come here to marry Miss Williams.”
“That’s telling her, Doug,” Bob agreed. “Pa doesn’t like you.”
Margaret figured it was wrong, but she caught herself enjoying the way the two boys could stand up to Miss Potter. Surely if she was going to be their mother, she’d insist that they treat Miss Potter the respect due to an adult. But she couldn’t admonish the children. Not really. At least, not if she wanted to be sincere. This woman, after all, had barged in on her wedding and was threatening to destroy her perfect day. This was the one day in her entire life that was supposed to be absolutely perfect. And this rude individual was trying to interfere with it!
Miss Potter narrowed her eyes at the boys. “You are in desperate need of a mother.” She turned her gaze to Margaret. “One who knows enough to put a stop to your ugly words. Really, if these were my children, then I would not tolerate such insolence.”
Margaret shrugged. “Boys will speak their minds.”
“Not when I’m around, they won’t.”
Joel hastened over to them. “Is there going to be a fight?”
Miss Potter cringed. “Women do not fight. They merely quarrel.”
“What’s the difference?” he asked.
“None,” Margaret replied. She turned to her father. “Let’s get this wedding underway.” She didn’t care who Miss Potter was. Joseph came to marry her, and by golly, she was going to marry him regardless of what Miss Potter or anyone thought!
Miss Potter pulled her arm and spoke through gritted teeth. “He is to marry me.”
By now Margaret’s temper was starting to come to a boil. “Get your hand off of me or I’ll...”
“What? You’ll what?” Joel asked, practically jumping up and down with excitement.
“Leave our ma alone!” Bob yelled out. “Pa doesn’t want you and neither do we!”
Miss Potter glared at Bob. “You’re just a child. You don’t know what you want.”
“When I was a child, I knew what I wanted,” Margaret snapped. “And I assure you, they know what they want too.”
Joseph broke through the crowd that had gathered around them and jerked back. “Debra?” he asked in a tone that seemed to be the perfect blend between shock and horror.