t silent. I was tempted to peek, but the priest shook

nk it's ove

riumph and evil disappear

had said that Joshua had angered their boss. That meant Joshua ha

and

omeone grabbed my elbow a

ed? Are they de

llowing his wide steps. My heels stepped on the puddle of

his dress off and throw i

nd h

you goin

out. You're safe. T

e me, he was horrified by the chaos that had occurred in h

father. We

u going to d

he snapped

He had a bruise under his chin. How many of his men were killed

to worry about. It started with what would happen to me in the next

ried, father. Plea

want to marry you. You should b

accept re

cept coercion. I don

I looked over my shoulder and found the muzzle

e your mother as pa

t de

mother didn't tell

n't und

he couldn't pay it when it was due. Thi

possible. My mother

all this time? Where do you think your

was from her hard work all this time. Mo

er to pay her debt to me.

0

y pulled my arm to stand at the altar. Father Robert stood in front o

nt to take my bride away

t your

ret saving you fro

tely pressed the muzzle of hi

, fa

to marry you. Ar

I refused to tremble under his intense gaze. Even though this man ha

that every rebellion yo

a

shua had just shot one of his men in the leg. The man groane

ill die if you try

g? Why did you sho

ing the gun, in horror. He could sho

E

w could this

sitate to shoot someone who means something to yo

t do it aga

to marry

's horrific massacre. I didn't want to see any

I'll ma

d ch

his grip. He wasn't letting down his guard one bit. And that meant he

h

up in this

, fa

th renewed vigor and happiness for my mother. I was so proud to wear this white dress. My first fancy dress. I had intended to keep it and wear it to my graduation party in six m

io

tured for me to say my piece after

..

is was wrong. So wrong. I shouldn'

oshua hisse

. I