Finally a Bride Read Free Page B

window—directly at the mayor’s house. The bright light caused an ache deep in her head, but it wasn’t as bad now as it had been when she’d first fallen. Closing her eyes, she willed her blurry vision away. She’d been in bed for three days now, and neither the doctor nor her mother would let her get up. Sweat dampened her cheek where it lay against her arm. If she didn’t get out of this room soon, she’d go plumb loco.
    Yesterday, between headaches, she’d spent the afternoon trying to think of a story angle, even though she hadn’t heard a peep up on the mayor’s roof. What could he be planning? Mayor Burke wanted Lookout to grow, despite the fact many of the town’s residents preferred to keep it small. She exhaled a sigh. She needed to get out of this bed.
    Looking around the bedroom she shared with her two sisters, she pretended it was all hers. The pale floral wallpaper that the bedroom had been decorated in when she first moved in after Shannon O’Neil had married ten years ago had been stripped off and painted a soft green. Floral curtains had replaced the spring green ones, reminding her of a flower garden. But that had been many years ago, and now the room needed to be redone. Perhaps she’d talk to her ma about painting it lavender, even though the room had always been called “the green room.”
    “Ugh!” She smacked the mattress. How could she be so bored that she was actually redoing her room?
    She heard a noise, and then the bed creaked and the mattress tilted. A small body crashed into her back, sending sharp pain spiraling down her leg. Jack sucked in a breath. Her younger sister’s giggles softened the throbbing ache. Jack rolled over on her back, wincing at the stabbing in her head. “What are you doing in here, Emmie?”
    The sweet urchin patted Jack’s stomach. “No no, sleep. The sun camed up.”
    Jack stroked Emma’s wispy blond hair. “I’m sick—sort of.”
    Emma scowled, her little brows dipping. She turned and reached toward Jack’s injured knee, which the doctor had wrapped in a bandage. Emma patted it. “Sissy gots a owee.”
    Jack’s mother rushed in the door—as much as she rushed these days—relief evident when she spotted Emma. “What are you doing upstairs, young lady?”
    Emma fell back against Jack’s arm. “Me sick.”
    Her ma bit back a smile and crossed the room. She felt Emma’s head. “Oh my, if you’re so sick, I guess I should put you in your own bed.”
    Emma elbowed Jack’s chest and shot upward to sit. “Me all better now.”
    Jack grinned at her ma. “Me better now, too.”
    Her mother shook her head and smiled, her light blue eyes twinkling. “What am I going to do with you two?”
    Emma stood and bounced on the bed. Gritting her teeth, Jack turned her head so her mother wouldn’t see her pain.
    “That’s enough, Miss Emma.” Ma picked up her youngest daughter and set her on the floor. “Let’s go back downstairs.” She patted Jack’s hip. “Do you need anything?”
    “I’d like to go downstairs. I’m going batty being unable to move or see anyone.”
    Her mother pressed her hand against her rounded stomach. “You know I can’t help you down, and Luke’s not home right now. Besides, the doctor said to stay abed for a week.”
    Emma grabbed Abby’s doll off her bed and hugged it.
    Jack placed her arms behind her head and sighed. “I know, but I’m bored to death up here. I need something to do.”
    “Oh, that reminds me. I brought you something.” A smile twittered on Ma’s lips. She reached into her apron, pulled out a newspaper, then crossed her arms. “Now that you’re feeling better, would you mind explaining why you haven’t told me you were getting married?”
    “What?” Confusion clouded her thoughts as she grasped for a memory of a wedding proposal. “I’m not getting married. What are you talking about?”
    “Hmm … must be that head wound causing you to forget.” Ma tossed the paper on the bed.