Read Online Awakening Veronica by Heather Rainier - Free Book Online

close enough to point her finger at the bride. “Maizy Owen, you are shaming your entire family! Harlot! Jezebel ! Defiler! You should be ashamed!” She stared at the grooms, an odd shifting of emotion apparent in her eyes. She was indignant, to be sure, judging by her red-cheeked fury, but there was some other emotion mixed in, as she once more turned her anger on Maizy and continued her harangue of the bride.
    Interesting. Not one word of condemnation for the grooms.
    Veronica watched as Maizy hung on to Cody’s hand and stayed Heath and Spencer with her other hand, refusing to allow them into the fray. She looked up the walkway and said, “It’s only one woman. Hank can handle her.”
    One of the guests, a short little man with an even shorter wife, muttered, “Ten bucks says it’s that lunatic, Tabitha Lester.”
    “Harlot! Adulteress —what? Sheriff, I’m exercising my right of free speech! This is a public place! What ? Wait! You can’t do that!”
    The guests were now chattering amongst themselves and the volume increased as the woman continued her tirade, slowly losing volume as Hank escorted her from the premises.
    A couple of minutes later, a Divine County sheriff’s patrol car pulled onto the side street where the entrance to the garden was located and came to a stop. Veronica couldn’t see much over everyone’s heads but she heard the sound of a car door slam and then the crowd shifted and grew quiet as Hank returned and waded into the center of the gathering.
    “I’m sorry for the disturbance, folks,” he called out.
    From the front, Amelia Owen, Maizy’s mother, called out, “Was it Tabitha Lester?”
    Hank nodded with pursed lips and then chuckled when she turned to her husband and held out her hand. Mr. Owen rolled his eyes, pulled his wallet out, and slid a twenty-dollar bill into her hand. She smiled and slid it into her purse.
    The minister stepped forward, a look of disbelief on his face. “Sheriff, can we continue now?”
    Hank removed his cowboy hat and nodded. “Yes, sir. She was the only protestor.”
    “Who would protest a wedding and call such despicable names to such a lovely bride?” Grandma Kate asked, sounding quite put out.
    Veronica stroked Kate’s shoulder as Maizy’s mother provided the answer. “Someone who’s bat-shit crazy and needs to get her own man.”
    Several guests chuckled and the murmurs gradually dwindled to silence as the ceremony continued without further interruption. Belatedly she realized that she’d been so busy observing and mentally cataloging the action that she hadn’t even turned to Travis, or said anything at all.
    He must think I’m totally rude for not even saying hello to him.
    She glanced over her shoulder at Travis, feeling a little guilty, but all he did was gently squeeze her hand, which she’d been holding the whole time, and smile as he watched the ceremony. Her negligence must not have bothered him.
    He’d grown a full beard, which looked good on him. His dark brown hair was flecked with a little gray here and there but his beard was brown with lots of red in it and matched his eyebrows. She thought the combination was really sexy.
    She turned back to the ceremony, mentally kicking herself again for not focusing, which was nearly impossible as Hank resumed his place behind her, next to Travis.
    The minister pronounced Cody and Maizy man and wife and presented them to the assemblage to boisterous applause. Veronica watched with avid curiosity as Heath and Spencer joined the throng, giving—and receiving—hugs, kisses, and well wishes from the guests. It was a subtle form of acknowledgment that didn’t make a big splash or draw attention, even when both men had their chance to kiss and hug Maizy.
    They were the epitome of cool and classy as they each held her in turn and kissed her with chaste restraint. Veronica wondered if it was her imagination or if she really saw the promise of erotic fulfillment in Maizy’s eyes as she