“Jonah,” Laurie gasped out in embarrassment. “Sit down. You’re ruining Marilee and Mead’s wedding.”
“Ah, they don’t mind, do ya?” he asked, turning to look at them. “Them being all love struck and all.
Marilee smiled and shook her head.
“See, now that’s what I mean. Everyone in town knows Matt here loves you, and you love him, too. I know you do ‘cause I heard you cryin’ when that pretty lady come to town and you thought he was gonna marry up with her. Sorry lady,” he said, blushing as he looked at Cara.
Cara nodded and grinned at Micah’s frown.
“But it’s the truth, Ma, and I don’t know why you won’t say so,” Jonah insisted. “Now I remember how it was with Pa, at least some of it, but I know it won’t be that way with Matt. He loves you and I think he loves us, too. We sure do think a lot of him. So, me and the boys decided it was time you quit pussyfootin’ around. Afore we end up with some mean old cuss as our Pa!”
“Gracious, I’ve never been so embarrassed,” she cried, rising and sweeping her skirt aside so she could leave the pew.
“The boy’s right,” Matthew said firmly. “He’s absolutely right!”
“Matthew, please don’t…” she pleaded, putting her hands on her red cheeks.
“Yes, yes, I will. In fact, I’m tired of waiting for you to come to your senses. I’m gonna kiss you right here in front of God and everybody, and if you hate it, I swear I’ll never bother you again,” he shouted out.
“No…”
Matthew Whittaker grasped Laurie Dixon’s shoulders and pulled her close, planting a kiss on her lips that lasted a long, a very long time. When he released her, she staggered a step, her eyes wide with shock.
“Now what’s it to be, Miss Laurie? Are you mine, or ain’t you?” he demanded, his hands on his hips.
“Oh, I think she’s yours,” Fancy said from the row behind them.
The congregation began to chuckle.
“She’s got to say so herself, or it won’t matter,” Matt insisted. “I don’t want her forced into it, although I do appreciate your help fellas,” he added nodding in approval at Jonah, Josiah, and Jacob. “If she says yes, it’ll be nice to know I got me three sons I can count on.”
Laurie’s eyes welled with tears at the proud smiles on her boys’ faces.
“I will marry you, Matthew.”
Grinning like a fool he hugged her. He noticed the whispering going on between Mead and Marilee, but Josiah was tugging on his arm.
“What is it, son?”
“Does that mean we get to be Whittakers’ too?” he asked fervently.
“I think we can arrange that,” he answered, bending down to look into the boy’s eyes. “Would you like to be?”
“Sure would, wouldn’t we fellas?”
“Yes, sir!” the others replied enthusiastically.
“Sorry Mead,” Matt said rising. “I didn’t mean to disrupt the services. Everything just sort of came to a head, it being a wedding and all. Forgive me, Marilee.”
“We forgive you, Matt,” Mead replied. “In fact, we were just saying it might be a good idea if you two got married right along with us. Having our anniversaries on the same day might be a good thing. We won’t be likely to forget them,” he laughed.
“I agree,” Marilee drawled softly. “And you, Doctor Brubaker, aren’t you itching to marry our Jane?”
“I have been for weeks,” he replied, standing.
“Come on, Jane. Get married along with me,” Marilee offered, smiling sweetly as she held out her hand.
“Should we, Horace?” Jane asked nervously.
