Free Wedding at Wildwood by Lenora Worth

prewedding nerves, I guess. I sure made a fool of myself in there, though, didn’t I?”
    Coming to stand by her friend, Isabel put a hand across Susan’s back. The woman was trembling. “Susan, tell me what’s going on?”
    Near bursting, Susan turned to hug Isabel close, a new batch of sobs racking her body. “It’s just…Eli can be so stubborn at times. We had a terrible fight today—he was so moody and mean to me. Something about boll rot or boll weevils—I can’t remember which. And now I feel horrible, fighting over some silly bugs!”
    Hiding her smile, Isabel hugged her friend tight. “Oh, Susi, I’ll bet he was just worried. I’m sure he didn’t mean to take it out on you. But boll weevils can be bad for a cotton crop. And so can boll rot—the crop won’t yield as much if the plants can’t mature properly.”
    Susan let go to stand back and stare at Isabel. “You think I’m being spoiled and selfish, don’t you?”
    “No, I think you’re a bride—maybe a bit emotional and overstressed, but that’s to be expected, I imagine.”
    Susan let out a sigh, then plopped down on a wrought-iron bench. “I never knew such a happy event could cause so many hurt feelings. Eli means well, I know. But…he gets so mad when I suggest even the smallest of changes.”
    Wanting to understand, Isabel sat down, too. “You mean with the wedding?”
    “With everything,” Susan blurted out. “He doesn’t want me to change a thing about this house—not that it needs changing. It’s perfect. But that’s the problem. I want to add my own touches. You know, make it homey. It seems so lofty and grand, I’m afraid to walk through it for fear of knocking something over and breaking it.”
    “I understand,” Isabel said, looking around at the immaculate yard. “It needs children running through it and a swing set over there. Little things that make a house a home.”
    “Exactly,” Susan said, bobbing her head. “And Eli refuses to even discuss children. Plus, he’s watched over the plans for the wedding like a general watching over a battle plan. He wants everything to go off without a hitch. ‘What would people think if a Murdock had a tacky wedding?’ That’s exactly what he said to me when I showed him the teal material I’d picked for the bridesmaid dresses. Said it was too loud and bright.”
    “I’m sure it was lovely.”
    Susan hung her head. “No, I have bad taste. I know I do, but Miss Cynthia’s helping me there. We settled on a pale pink instead. Oh, Isabel, what if I can never measure up?”
    Angry that Eli had inflicted the same kind of pain on Susan as he had her, Isabel jumped up to pace in front of the rippling pool. “That’s ridiculous. You more than measure up to Eli Murdock. That man had better tread lightly, or he’ll lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him.”
    “I won’t leave him at the altar, Isabel,” Susan said, her eyes widening. “I truly love him with all my heart, and besides it would devastate him. Not to mention the embarrassment. I’d never be able to hold my head up in Wildwood again.”
    “Hogwash,” Isabel said. “Is that all anybody around here worries about, appearances? If you’re having doubts about this wedding, Susan, you’d better halt it now. Before it’s too late.”
    Appalled, Susan jumped up to stop Isabel. “No, I didn’t mean to imply that. I fully intend to marry Eli. I love him. I…I just get so confused and worried. And I know he loves me, and he can be incredibly sweet about things. But on days when he’s in one of his tempers…Well, I just start doubting if I can ever make him happy.”
    Isabel didn’t want to tell her friend that she seriously doubted anyone could ever make Eli Murdock happy. The man just didn’t seem to have any compassion or understanding for his fellow human beings. But she’d already pressed Susan enough, and she knew her interference would only cloud matters.
    “Of course you’ll make him