Chapter Thirteen
A large packaged arrived for Merlyn the week of her wedding. Gail helped her untie the box and remove the tissue. The girls oohed and awed over the silk ivory gown. Despite the circumstances Merlyn admired the dress. It was the prettiest thing she ever saw. When Caleb reached out to touch it Gail slapped his grimy fingers away.
She cried when Gage told her that she was engaged to Lucas. Lucas promised to give her time but her father had other ideas.
"You ain't staying here. You're starting to show and I will not let people think that you're a whore."
"You're the one whoring me out," she snapped. A second later a sharp sting landed on her face. Tears welled up in her eyes as she searched her father's face for some compassion.
Gage kept his face straight. Seeing his only daughter's tears touched a place he thought died with Judith. Why didn't she see that this was the best for her?
He kept a careful watch on her afterwards. Lucas warned him that she might try to run away. She did once unbeknownst to him.
"You don't have to do this Merlyn," Gail whispered in the bedroom later that night. "We can leave now and go to Charleston."
Merlyn refused. She remembered Lucas's warning and had no doubt that he would follow through with his threat. "Your car doesn't even run."
"We can take the bus. You have a choice in case you didn't know. Why marry him after all the wrong he's done?"
"What am I to do? He's right, daddy's right. I don't have a future beyond a baby on my hip. At least Lucas wants to take care of me."
She blew out the lamp leaving the room in darkness.
He gave her a choice. For once he let her choose her fate. A ceremony at his house with the minister or vows at the city hall with the justice of the peace. If felt unholy to ask the father so she opted for the judge.
Down the small courtroom her daddy walked her. A firm grasp on her elbow stopped her from bolting out. At the last minute she refused to walk down the aisle then like a ghost Lucas appeared and kiss her cheek. "Don't disappoint me Angel Face." He brushed her face before disappearing. With flies, not butterflies, in her stomach, she entered the courtroom.
In the front stood Gail with her hand on Caleb's shoulder. Miss Coombs stood next to Gail looking miffed. Ben stood up with Lucas and Judge Halpern. The gramophone played the Wagner's Bridle Chorus as she reached the front.
"You look pretty Merly Ann," Caleb smiled as she walked by.
"Who gives this woman to be married?" asked the judge as the song ended.
"I, Gage, her father do." Gage let go of her arm as Lucas took her hand.
A small sob escaped her.
"Why is she crying?" whispered Caleb concerned for his sister. Miss Coombs told him that weddings were a happy occasion. Why wasn't Merlyn happy?"
"Shush," said Gail squeezing his shoulder.
"Women tend to do that when they get married," said Gage as he stepped back joining them.
"Shall we begin?" The judge opened his small book and begin reciting their vows. "Do you Lucas Buck take Merlyn Temple to be your lawfully wedded wife. . ." He continued until Lucas said "I do."
His grip on her hand became painful. No. She did not want to marry him and spend the rest of her life serving him in misery.
"Miss Temple? What's your answer?" said Judge Halpern.
Lost in thought she missed her vows. She spent sleepless nights dreading the future with Lucas and decided risking his wrath was worth it. "I can't." She slipped her hand out of the glove and pulled away from him.
A small gasp came from Selena.
Merlyn stepped back only to have Lucas grab her wrist, the one he broke. "You want to reconsider your answer girl?" he said in a deadly tone.
"I don't want to marry you. I won't." She fought against his hold. Looking at her father she cried for help. Gage refused to meet her eye. He grabbed Gail when she moved to assist her. Gail stomped on his foot and kicked his shin.
"You bastard," she said.
In pain he let go and fell to the floor. Gail pulled Merlyn away from Lucas. Free at last Merlyn gathered her skirts and ran out of the courthouse.
Gail blocked Lucas. "You stay away from her you son of a bitch." She attacked him. Hit after hit she pounded on his chest. Her assault had little effect on him as he picked her up and threw her out of the way.
"I suggest you worry about the family you still have."
Caleb watched everything unfold unsure how to respond. Miss Coombs made sure he stayed seated through the excitement. He liked Lucas and was confused. Why didn't Merlyn want to marry him?
Gage groaned on the floor with a hand over his heart. Dropping down beside his daddy he asked what's wrong. Gage didn't respond.
"Daddy?" Caleb shook his arm.
"He's having a heart attack honey," said Selena as she knelt beside him and stroke his head.
Caleb's cries became more frantic as he tried to help Gage.
"Son, there's nothing you can do," said Lucas. "Selena, go get the doctor. Ben, Caleb, let's go find that runaway bride of mine. I sense a storm coming."