“That’s all right,” Rachel whispered as Pastor Merrick walked toward the podium.
She scanned the crowded room, looking for Cash, waving back at Mag who had turned in her wheelchair to wave at her. Cash had already promised to get The Last Riders to build an additional room for Mag if she decided to move in with them.
She didn’t see Cash until her eyes were caught by his. He was casually leaning against the side of the church, near the pulpit.
Rachel frowned, wondering why he was standing there, facing the crowd instead of sitting in one of the pews.
The Pastor had barely started his sermon when a loud shot rang out. The pastor’s voice came to a stop as he stared, open-mouthed toward the door.
Brooke released a scream as her brothers, each carrying a rifle, came to the front of the church, all three aiming their rifles at Cash.
“Cash Adams, we have some talking to do!” Tate yelled.
“What do you want?” Cash didn’t seem worried about being cornered by her brothers.
Rachel wanted to warn him that her brothers only picked up their guns when they were ready to shoot.
“I heard you knocked up my sister!” Greer roared.
Rachel paled, getting to her feet.
“What are you going to do about it if I did?” Cash taunted.
The man had lost his mind. Rachel frantically started fighting her way out of the pew.
All three of her brothers pointed their guns at him, but it was Tate, as head of the family, who spoke.
“You’re going to marry her and make her your wife. Then, we’re going to make her a widow.”
As Cash laughed in their faces, Rachel barely managed to step in front of him before her brothers filled him with holes.
“Tate, Greer, Dustin, go home. I’m not pregnant!” Rachel yelled, wanting to hide. The whole church was witnessing her embarrassment. She’d thought Mrs. Langley’s party had been humiliating, but that couldn’t touch this horror in the making.
“That’s not what you told me,” Mag hollered from a few feet away. “Told me I needed to live for my great-grandbaby.”
Rachel’s mouth opened and closed like a landed fish.
“Is that true?” Tate demanded.
“Yes… but I lied. I was trying to save her life,” Rachel confessed, sending Mag an apologetic look.
“So, you’re not pregnant? You’re sure?” Tate asked skeptically.
“Of course I’m sure.”
“You’ve been careful?”
Rachel turned brick red. This was going beyond the realm of what her brothers needed to know.
“No, she’s not. We haven’t been using any protection,” Cash admitted.
“Yes, we have,” Rachel snapped. ”I went on the pill.”
“When? You didn’t tell me.” Cash lost his casual attitude. He actually seemed angry she had taken steps to prevent getting pregnant.
“Because I don’t think that your belief that you can’t get pregnant standing up, or in water, or if the weather is too hot is actually considered—”
“You don’t actually believe that you can’t get pregnant standing up, do you?” Tate inquired while Greer and Dustin looked at her in pity.
“No, I didn’t—”
Again, she was cut off. “I told you to let me be the one to give her the girl talk. This is your fault, Tate,” Greer accused.
“No, it’s not. I know I explained sex well enough that she shouldn’t have believed you can’t get pregnant if you’re in water.”
Rachel ground her teeth, losing all patience. “Shut up! Go home!”
“We’re not leaving until he marries you,” Tate answered with Greer and Dustin’s vocal support.
“I won’t marry him. I’m not pregnant!” Her voice rose in embarrassment.
“You might as well marry me; they aren’t going to believe you.” Cash’s amusement had her wanting to commit blasphemy in front of the pastor and the entire congregation.
“If you’re not pregnant, then you are coming home with us,” Tate ordered.
“I’m not coming home with you; I’m moving in with Cash,” she refused.
“Hell no, you ain’t! My sister ain’t living in sin.” Greer cocked his rifle.
“Greer, stop it.”
“Are we having a wedding or a funeral?” Tate prompted.
“Rachel, I love you.” Cash’s words drew her attention to him.
Rachel believed him, or she would never have agreed to move in with him.
“I think that’s a good start to our courtship.” She took a step toward him.
“Courtship’s over. We’re going to see he marries you before the baby’s born,” Greer argued.
“I told you, I’m not pregnant.” Rachel planted her hands on her hips, practically stomping her foot.
“You will be,” Cash promised arrogantly.
“Do you want to die?” Rachel asked him shrilly.
“No, what I’m trying to do is get married.”
“Wait, you want to get married?” Rachel asked in confusion.
“Will you wash my clothes and fix my dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s do it. Dean’s here. Why not?” He turned to look at Pastor Merrick. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Pastor Merrick replied with a broad smile.
“Will you marry me, Rachel?”