A Bride for Tom by Ruth Ann Nordin Page B

horse so I came to switch ‘em out
for shoeing.”
    “Switch what out for what?” Connie asked.
    “Tom already has the horse with the new
horseshoes on. So I got to switch.” He peered around Jessica’s
shoulder and into the parlor. “Isn’t he here yet? He bolted out to
town as soon as he washed up.”
    Jessica’s heart leapt. That meant Tom did
plan to see her tonight!
    “Is Tom allowed to be here?” Joel asked.
    “Of course, he is,” Jessica said at the same
moment that Connie said, “No.”
    Joel blinked in surprise.
    Jessica glared at Connie. “I’m not marrying
Peter.”
    “So it’s true?” Joel asked. He shifted from
one foot to another, and another clump of dried mud fell off his
boot. Snatching it up, he threw it outside. “Tom wasn’t just making
up tall tales?”
    Connie shot Joel a scolding look. “Tom is
going to ruin Jessica’s life. If her mother would be sensible, the
poor thing wouldn’t suffer with your kind.”
    Jessica’s mother stiffened and straightened
her shirtwaist. “I allow her the freedom to make her own
decisions...and to be honest, I kind of like Tom.”
    “Really?” Joel asked as if he couldn’t
believe it.
    “But Peter better suits her,” Connie said,
ignoring Joel.
    “That’s not for us to say,” Jessica’s mother
replied.
    Jessica groaned. “Peter doesn’t want to marry
me either, Mrs. James.” She glanced at Peter—who remained sitting
in silence in the parlor. “Tell her!”
    He paled and shook his head.
    She nudged her mother. “You see what I
mean?”
    Her mother nodded. “Mrs. James, no woman
wants to be married to her husband’s mother.”
    Connie pressed a hand to her heart. “Peter,
they are being cruel to me!”
    He obediently stood and went to her side.
    Seriously, the man needed a good kick in the
behind, Jessica thought in disgust.
    Jessica’s mother sighed but kindly said,
“Neither Peter nor Jessica were happy. This is better for
everyone.”
    Connie grabbed the handkerchief Peter held
out to her and dabbed tears from her eyes. “I had my heart set on a
wedding. Maureen was impressed, and she’s hard to please, you know.
Now everything’s ruined, and I’m the laughing stock of the
town.”
    “You’re not the laughing stock of the town,”
Jessica’s mother soothed.
    “You don’t understand. I spent hours planning
out every little detail. All my work is gone, and there’s nothing I
can do to get it back.”
    Joel threw back his head and laughed. “You’re
all a hoot. Who’d have thought Tom could cause so many
problems?”
    Tom knocked on the open door and cautiously
peered into the entryway. “Is this a bad time?”
    Joel waved him in. “Heck no. Things are just
getting good.”
    “Watch your language, young man.” Connie
pressed her hands to her ears. “There are ladies present.”
    Peter, looking uncomfortable, told his
mother, “Perhaps we should leave.”
    “No!” She uncovered her ears and pointed to
Tom. “This is all your fault. If you’d just stayed out of town, I’d
still be having my wedding.”
    “Would you listen to yourself?” Jessica’s
mother asked. “This is not your wedding. You’re not the bride.
You’re the groom’s mother.” She stopped and glanced around at those
watching her. “I mean, of course, that you were the groom’s mother.
Tom’s mother is the groom’s mother now. Uh... That is to say if
they get married. Not to say that anything is set yet.
So...well...you’re Peter’s mother, and Peter’s no longer getting
married, which makes this whole thing a useless debate anyway.” She
grunted and threw her hands up in the air. “Well, you know what I
mean.”
    Jessica nodded. “Ma is right. Tom’s mother is
the groom’s mother now.”
    “Jessica!” her mother warned.
    She shrugged. “Just trying to clear up any
confusion.”
    “No, you’re not. You’re trying to sneak your
wedding past me, and I won’t have it.”
    “It’s as good as done,” Jessica