Free Mail Order Madness by Kirsten Osbourne

the hand and walked with them toward the courthouse.
    Susan walked behind her with David, the older boys on either side of the couple. 
     “Are you nervous?” he asked.
    She nodded.  “I’ve never been married before.”
    “Well, I have, and it’s nothing to be afraid of.  The ceremony will be simple, and
     then we’ll head out to the ranch.”  He just hoped the boys could behave for long enough
     to have her legally tied to him before she realized they were hellions .   Mrs. Hackenshleimer had a firm grip on the twins’ hands and she’d watch over the
     older two during the ceremony.  He was almost there.
    They entered the courthouse and went to the judge who was waiting for them.  David
     had sent a messenger in that morning that he’d be there at ten and needed a few minutes
     of the judge’s time.  The ceremony was short and simple, and Susan was surprised when
     the judge pronounced them husband and wife.  It was so short, it didn’t seem like
     it could possibly be legal.
    After he’d kissed her briefly, they all trooped back out onto the street.  Susan looked
     at David.  “That was so fast.  It doesn’t feel like it could possibly be real.”
    David smiled and stroked her cheek.  “It’s absolutely real.  You are now Mrs. David
     Dailey.”
    She once again found herself mesmerized by his brown eyes.  What was it about this
     man that brought out strange urgings inside her?  She didn’t know, but she was glad
     she had feelings for him.  It would make marriage so much easier.
    Susan heard the howl of a cat, and turned to see one of the twins had a cat by the
     tail.  The cat broke away and ran down the street.  Both twins tore free of Mrs. Hackenshleimer
     and ran after the cat.  The older boys took off after the twins.
    Within moments Susan watched the twins fall off the boardwalk and into a puddle of
     mud created by a store owner dumping a bucket of mop water.  They stood up dripping
     mud.  Their Sunday clothes were covered and they were howling with anger because the cat had gotten away.
    The older boys were still running after the cat and dove toward it, bonking heads
     on the way down.  The cat streaked away, but Albert and Lewis shouted at one another.
    “I can’t believe you let her get away!” Albert yelled.
    “It’s all your fault!  I had her!” Lewis pushed his brother.
    Not ten minutes after her wedding, Susan watched her two youngest step-sons howling
     in the street dripping mud while her older boys fought with their fists not twenty feet away. 
    One of the shopkeepers came out of his store to see what the commotion was.   He sighed. 
     “Oh, it’s just those rotten Dailey boys again.”   He shook his head as he went back into the store.
    Again?   Susan’s heart sank.  She’d married a man who came with hellions.  She glared at David.  “Again?”
    David met her eyes and shrugged innocently.  “This may have happened once or twice
     before.”
    Susan marched to the buggy and climbed up with no help.  He could deal with his own
     children.  She refused to deal with monsters within an hour of her wedding .  When they arrived home would be soon enough.

Chapter Four
     
     
    Susan was silent while David and Mrs. Hackenshleimer rounded up the boys and for the
     trip back to the ranch.  She couldn’t believe David had deceived her, but really,
     what had she expected from a stranger?  Sure, he was a stranger she enjoyed kissing
     whom she was now married to, but he was still a stranger.
    She watched the scenery pass by wondering what to expect from her wedding lunch. 
     She was not looking forward to having to appear happy and hosting a large group of
     people with the mood she was in.  Her wedding day was ruined, and she was in the same
     situation she’d been in back home, except now she was expected to be the parent. 
     How could she have misread the family so badly?
    When they pulled up in front of the ranch, David helped Susan