Free The Bride Backfire by Kelly Eileen Hake Page A

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    â€œYou comin’ or not?” The ferocity of his question convinced her as nothing else could. Pete nursed a crush on her, so Midge knew it would take a lot for him to bark at her.
    â€œLet me get Clara and Saul.” Something didn’t add up here, and maybe her adoptive parents could sort it out before someone ended up dead. Or worse—married.
    â€œNo.” His hand closed around her arm. “I’ll hogtie you and drag you back with me before you get another soul involved. Only reason Grogan still breathes is so Opal won’t be ruined. Got it?”
    â€œYep.” Bumps prickled along her skin in spite of the warmth of the day. When did Pete Speck get so forceful? They walked in silence to the parson’s house.
    â€œPa needs you, Parson Carter.” Pete didn’t offer any explanations, and Midge didn’t add to what he said.
    Honestly, what would she say? Pete tells me Opal says she’s carrying Adam Grogan’s child and you’re needed for a shotgun wedding. I know it sounds crazy, but the whole thing just might be real because I’ve seen the way Adam looks at her when he thinks no one notices. If she had any other last name, I figure they’d already be hitched....
    Actually, that’d probably do, in a pinch. But Parson Carter’s wife might be around to overhear, and Pete had a point about Opal’s reputation. So Midge kept her tongue between her teeth while the preacher brought out his Bible and they headed for the farm.
    â€œWhat’s this all about?” Parson Carter’s share of courage didn’t rank high under the best of circumstances. “Nothing to do with the Grogans, I hope?” He’d practically created a second career of avoiding the confrontations between the two families.
    Midge, for one, could have mustered a heap more respect for him as a spiritual leader if he’d shown more—well, spirit! As it stood, she didn’t see much to recommend his faith as having much practical use. Except that people listened to him because he was the pastor. That would come in handy.
    Pete’s grunt didn’t reassure their companion any, but from the way he kept looking at her, Midge figured the parson took comfort from her presence. She even understood his line of thinking: If there was blood to be shed or wrongdoing to forgive, Pete wouldn’t be bringing her along.
    No one would come within ten acres of guessing the truth behind their visit today. When news leaked out, folks would buzz around Buttonwood like vultures around a fallen bison. They’d pick the bones of the story until they had nothing left but sore beaks.
    And for once, Lucinda Grogan wouldn’t be in the thick of the gossip. Midge wondered how the old buzzard would like being on the rough end of things. The thought shouldn’t make her smile, but it did. I’ll take my silver linings where I can find them!
    They reached the end of a windrow, and suddenly, Midge spotted Opal. She sat apart from everyone else—away from where her father held a gun on Adam even. She didn’t look up as they approached, but Midge could make out the trails from tears on her friend’s face. Her smile vanished.
    Ignoring the men, she hurried to Opal’s side. Let the Specks explain things to the parson, she’d come for Opal. Midge sank to her knees, enfolding her friend in a hug before she spoke a single word. Not until Opal returned the embrace did she shift back enough to look at her. “So it’s true?” Midge let no censure creep into her voice. Not a difficult thing, really, when she felt none.
    â€œOh, Midge.” More tears accompanied Opal’s broken whisper. “I’ve made a terrible mistake!”
    â€œEverybody makes mistakes.”
    â€œNot like this. Pa’s disowning me. My brothers won’t even look at me. They think—” Opal gave a hard swallow. “They all think I’m a