Chapter Ten

Marguerite stood in one of the rooms that stood in the church hallway. Her dress was a simple white gown with lace around a high collar and trimmed sleeves at her wrists. Marguerite's hair was done up in a bun and a flower had been placed over her right ear. Victoria was behind her doing up the last of the pearl buttons on her dress. The older woman was telling her she made a beautiful bride and was complimenting her on how she had handled things with Nick.

It was all Marguerite could do not to say anything, wondering what Victoria would think if she knew of the plans Marguerite and Nick had made. As it was, she simply smiled and said 'yes' now and then, letting Victoria think that Marguerite was simply a normal, nervous bride. Only when Jarrod stuck his head in did Victoria leave to take her seat.

Marguerite watched as Jarrod looked at her, feeling as if he could see right through her. She wasn't far off. After Nick's abrupt behavior at breakfast and his statement asking Jarrod to remember that 'we all do what we think is best', Jarrod was half afraid of what might be coming. Still, he smiled and complimented Marguerite. "You make a beautiful bride. Shall we?" He asked as he heard the music playing and held out his arm to escort her down the aisle.

For a second Marguerite hesitated and then took a deep breath, "Ready or not?" She smiled nervously and did her best to sound as if she was trying to be jovial. Soon Jarrod was leading her down the hall and into the chapel.

From where Nick sat in the fifth row back, he could see Marguerite without a problem. He made momentary eye contact with her and nodded ever so slightly, and then turned and made eye contact with the reverend. The man of the cloth nodded his head ever so slightly, but only Nick saw it and smiled. He then looked at the groom. Nick couldn't help but mentally shake his head. It turned out that Miguel's uncle, one Jose' Rodriguez, was an old client of Jarrod's. Because Jarrod knew the Rodriguez family was from the same area as Zach Stapleton, he had sat down with Mr. Rodriguez and asked for his help in finding a suitable companion for Marguerite. Nick just hoped the young man was the kind of gentleman everyone said he was, or Nick knew there was still a chance he and Marguerite would be leaving Stockton for awhile.

For Marguerite's part it was all she could do to keep moving past one pew after another, all filed with the guests that had been invited. At that moment, right or wrong, she half way wished she had just gone along with Nick's plan of running off. It would have been a lot easier on her nerves at least.

By the time the music stopped playing, and Marguerite was standing next to Miguel as Jarrod sat down, Nick wished the day was already over. He had to force himself to sit still as the preacher began talking and saying all the customary introductions and greetings. He was relieved when the traveling preacher-one Reverend Miller, who had been pulled in at the last minute to replace a very ill Reverend Stacy, apologized as 'he was going to do things just a bit backwards'. "I've never seen the use of going through the whole ceremony only to ask the one question that I think should be asked upfront." It didn't take anyone in attendance, but a split second to figure out what the man was saying, and a ripple of chuckles rolled through the guests.

"I'm glad you understand." Reverend Miller smiled and said, "With that explanation, may I ask if there is any here who can give just cause for these two not to be wed? If so, speak up now or forever hold your peace."

Nick took a deep breath and shocked his family, along the rest of the guests, when he stood up and barked out in one very loud voice, "I object!"

'What' 'Why' and 'I can't believe this!' could be heard rumblings amongst the crowd, as Nick stepped out into the aisle and took a few steps forward.

"Nick!" Jarrod stood up, the shock he felt was written all over his face.

"No!" Nick turned and snapped at his eldest brother. "I told you months ago I wanted to marry her! Besides, she only promised her mother she'd marry at a certain age. She only went along with her father's request because she couldn't see how she could keep her promise to her mother if she didn't!" Nick then turned and looked at Miguel. "Mr. Rodriguez, I know you're a fine young man and I'm sure you'd do the best you could by Maggie, only I can't just step aside. She was willing to marry me a few months ago and, if you ask her, she'll tell you she's still willing. She's only standing there because running off with me would be an irresponsible way to handle things."

` Miguel looked from Nick to Marguerite. He wasn't blind; he could see the look of hope in the young woman's eyes. "It is true? You are willing to marry him?"

Marguerite looked apologetically at Jarrod and then looked at Miguel. "Yes, I told Jarrod this too, only he was uneasy with it. I think because of our age differences, along with Nick's…" Marguerite paused, trying to find the right words without insulting Nick in front of both family and friends. "Impulsive behavior."

For a moment a deafening silence hung in the room, and then shock waves again rolled through the room as Miguel threw up his hands and shouted, "HALLELUJAH!" The moment he did that his uncle stared at him while his father, Mr. Gomez Rodriguez, jumped to his feet and demanded to know 'what was that all about'?

"Father, I don't want to get married to Marguerite! I was only doing it for Uncle Jose' sake and for the sake of this brave young woman, whom I thought had no other options that would enable her to fulfill her late parents' wishes!" He then stunned everyone by walking down the aisle to a young, dark haired woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. He held out his hand and the young woman, smiling from ear to ear, stood up. "Teresa and I were just talking about the fact that I wanted to seriously court her when Uncle Jose' approached me about this arranged marriage. But if Senor Barkley," Miguel smiled and gestured towards Nick, "is willing to take my place today, I say let him get up there!" Murmurs of approval ran through the people gathered.

Mr. Rodriguez looked at Jarrod, shrugged his shoulders and sat down while Nick looked at Jarrod as if to say 'don't tell me you didn't expect us to do something'. Jarrod shook his head and sat down. "I'd say it's a good thing we promised to help with the reception." That statement, made louder than Jarrod had meant to make it, had everyone laughing and Nick grinning from ear to ear as he walked up and stood in the spot Miguel had been standing just moments before.

For his part, Reverend Miller was smiling from ear to ear as he once again began the ceremony, without any more interruptions.