Free Though My Heart Is Torn: The Cadence of Grace, Book 2 by Joanne Bischof

crooked spectacles up his nose. He cleared his throat. “I’d like to hear each of your testimonies. But first, we’ll start with the church documents.”
    He opened a heavy book across his lap and skimmed his hand down the page. Tossing a black satin ribbon out of his way, he tapped the paper with the tip of a thick finger. “Ah. Here it is. On the thirteenth of May, 1900. A ceremony of marriage was performed, by myself, between Gideon O’Riley and Cassie Allan.” He glanced at Gideon over his spectacles. “I recall—with excellent clarity—performing that ceremony. Do you, Gideon, recall being present?”
    Gideon swallowed. “Yessir. I was there.”
    Lonnie’s hand loosened inside his.
    “And”—Reverend Brown directed his gaze at Cassie—“you were present as well?”
    “Yessir.” Her voice was fearless. “I was present.”
    The reverend turned his attention back to the book in his lap. “Now that wasn’t so hard,” he murmured under his breath as he continued to skim the page. “But what I find interesting is that you came to me, to my small church in Tuggle Gap. Why not simply marry here, with Reverend Gardner?” The smirk on his face made Gideon think that he had arrived at his own interpretation of the truth.
    Gideon pressed fists to his knees.
    “Cassie, can you answer my question?” Though the reverend’s voice held a hint of agitation, he kept his words slow and cool.
    “Yessir, Reverend Brown.” Cassie drew in a breath. “It was Gideon’s idea. He thought my family wouldn’t approve.”
    “That’s not entirely the truth,” Gideon muttered.
    She glanced at him, blue eyes ablaze.
    Reverend Brown snorted. He removed his spectacles and poked an earpiece between pursed lips. “Would you like to tell me what that means, Mr. O’Riley?”
    Cassie shifted in her seat, and for the first time that day, her confidence visibly crumbled. At least he had one trump card in his hand.
    “Mr. O’Riley.”
    Gideon cleared his throat. “All I’m saying is that I wasn’t the only one who wanted to be discreet.”
    “Discreet.”
    He nodded once, suddenly wishing he hadn’t spoken. His pulse shot through his veins like hot lead. “We both thought it best if her … if her parents weren’t involved.”
    Lonnie drew in a shaky breath.
    The reverend tapped the heel of his boot. “We need to get to thebottom of this. I suggest we start now. So far, what we know is that you were married. In my church. And then you married someone else under Reverend Gardner’s approval? Is that correct? Did you really think no one would notice that you had two wives?” He eyed the page, then lifted his face to Gideon, taking no care to hide his exasperation. “Two wives within a few months’ time.”
    “I married Lonnie, sir, because I was no longer married to Cassie.”
    “Huh.” Reverend Brown slid his spectacles up his rutted nose and searched his ledgers. He flipped forward a few pages, then back a few more. “And you have a copy of this document? Some tangible proof? From the county or the state?”
    “No.” Gideon leaned forward. “Cassie has it. She spoke to the circuit rider when he came through—”
    “
I
spoke to the circuit rider.” Reverend Brown nearly growled the words. “And he
never
received anything from the pair of you to deliver to the court.”
    “But he should have. I signed my part.” Gideon turned to the woman he had avoided all morning. “You took care of it, right?” His voice was low as he struggled to control his anger, his words intended for her ears alone. “You said you would take care of it.”
    Cassie turned to Gideon. “I was going to.” Her mouth opened wide, but the words she spoke came out small. “I was uncertain. I wasn’t ready.”
    Even as the heat rose in his neck, Gideon fought to keep his voice even. “Not ready for what?”
    “For my pa to find out.” She hissed a whisper, and Gideon knew she didn’t have to say more.
    Gideon hung his head,