Free Heartland Wedding by Renee Ryan Page B

thing. Maybe, just maybe, God had a plan she couldn’t discern just yet.
    Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid.
    Shoulders back, Rebecca forced a smile on her lips and addressed Mrs. Jennings. “Will you stand with me at my wedding?”
    “Oh, my dear. Of course.” Tears filled the woman’s eyes. “I would be honored.”
    Rebecca touched her brother’s shoulder. “I’ll go change now. Send someone to find me when Pete arrives.”
    “No need.” His gaze locked onto something behind her. “He’s already here.”
    Pete was here? Now? A flutter captured her heart. She wasn’t ready to see him. She wasn’t prepared. She wasn’t calm.
    It didn’t matter.
    Pivoting quickly around, she faced the man who would soon be her husband. Her breath clogged in her throat.
    Pete Benjamin looked… magnificent.
    His hair was still damp at the edges, indicating that he’dwashed before coming to her this time. But more shocking than that, he was wearing…he…was…wearing…
    A suit.
    A freshly pressed solid-black suit with a crisp white shirt and a green brocade vest. There was no neck cloth tied at his throat, but a gold watch fob dangled from the center button of his vest to a small pocket on his right side.
    He should have looked ridiculous. Or at the very least uncomfortable.
    But, instead, dressed in his fancy clothes, Pete Benjamin looked big and masculine and so very, very handsome. A tower of strength encased in wool and crisp linen.
    In that moment, Rebecca knew she was making the right decision. With Pete, she would be safe. Safe from gossip. Safe from men like the Tully brothers. Safe. Always safe.
    It wasn’t the same as love, or even affection, but she knew it could be worse. Much worse.
    Tears blurred her vision before she blinked them away and lowered her gaze to the clump of flowers Pete strangled in his right hand. She could tell he’d gathered the colorful array of wildflowers himself. A few stems still had their roots hanging ragged at their tips.
    What a dear, dear man.
    With slow, methodic steps, he came toward her, his eyes never leaving her face. And then…
    He lowered to one knee.
    Smiling sweetly, he thrust the makeshift bouquet at her. “These are for you.” His voice came out gravelly, with an edge of tenderness that sent her heart kicking against her ribs.
    “They’re…they’re…” She touched a fingertip to the corner of her eye and sighed. “Really quite lovely.”
    Fingers shaking, she took the bouquet and buried her nose in the blossoms.
    Taking her free hand in his, Pete pressed a soft kiss to the knuckles. “Rebecca.” He looked back into her eyes. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    Unable to catch a decent breath, Rebecca shot a quick glance at her brother. Her gaze fell onto his split lip, the harsh physical reminder nudging her in the proper direction.
    Squaring her shoulders, she turned her attention back to Pete. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll marry you. As soon as possible, please.”
     
    Two hours after Pete’s second—and final—proposal, Rebecca eyed High Plains’s only church from the bottom of the boardinghouse steps. Situated directly across the street, the modest structure seemed to sleep contentedly under the indigo sky. Moonlight polished a row of square-paned windows into clear, sparkling diamonds.
    The building practically glowed, beckoning Rebecca forward. To her new life.
    Her heart filled with a fierce longing. Would this marriage be the best decision of her life? Or the worst?
    “Let’s go.” Edward took her elbow and attempted to guide her across the street. They stumbled and staggered a few steps until Rebecca took charge. She ducked under his right arm and did most of the guiding while her injured brother did a considerable amount of leaning.
    Mrs. Jennings’s worried gaze met Rebecca’s before shifting to the church up ahead. “My dear boy, are you sure you can make it up those steep steps?”
    A pained smile