Besides, in light of John's history with Findley, his presence would likely make matters worse."I'm positive.""I'm afraid he might hurt you.""I'm not," Mary insisted. John scoffed, and the sound brought a smile to her lips."The man's an ass.""That he is," she agreed, "but he'd never stoop so low as to physically abuse me. Despite what I said or did.""There's a first time for everything. Losing you"—he took both her hands in his and stole a kiss-—"would provoke any man to new heights of outrage.""You are too sweet, my darling husband," and her heart did a flip-flop as she referred to him as her spouse.She couldn't figure out how he'd worn her down so rapidly, or why she'd acquiesced. He'd been so persistent, and before she'd had much of a chance to consider what she was about, she'd been standing at the altar in the small chapel near his home and repeating her vows with only Gabriel and the minister's shy, young wife as their witnesses.The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of panic and indecision, as she'd vacillated and fussed, wondering how to terminate his tenacious pursuit without damaging his manly pride, of which she'd discovered he had a huge amount.But late one night, in her lonely bed, as she'd desperately wished he was there with her, or that she'd had the courage to sneak out and be with him, it had dawned on her that she was being foolish.Why deny herself?
