Page 29 (2/2)

Mostly Alanna didn't haveThere was shopping to be done, a si dress and a small trousseau, Alanna insisted it be s else and because she didn't care

THE MORNING OF HER WEDDING it was raining—sheets of water driving against thepane of her bedrooht, as her e was headed for trouble if it rained on the bride on her wedding day Alanna considered it a good omen for her plans

When she rode with her parents to the church, a shaft of sunlight pierced the dark clouds She bit her lip tightly to keep froo away It was only a silly superstition She would never be happyday or not

When she left the church on her husband's ar appeared freshly scrubbed and crystal bright, the air refreshing and clean Alanna didn't notice the vivid green of the trees as they drove to her parents' house for the s reception

Stoically she endured the endless offers of congratulations and best wishes She couldn't accept any of theuests noticed her quietness, they attributed it to bridal jitters She kept s her teeth to maintain the brittle pose

At last Rolt suggested that they could leave Alanna nodded a quick agreeainst the arm that had rarely left her waist As she e about what she was doing and why, but pushed it aside

Amidst a shower of rice, she left the house with Rolt His black car was parked in the drive Only it wasn't solid black any ans of Just Married and His and Hers painted on the sides, decorations done in good fun But Alanna didn't find the It only served to point out that she had e and not love

"You can relax now, Alanna It's over," Rolt said dryly after reversing the car on to the road

"Yes" At least the need to keep up a pretense was over With a sigh, she leaned against the seat back "How long will it take to reach your house?"

"It's about a twenty-minute drive from here to our home," he answered with quiet emphasis

The silence during the drive was estion that their wedding night would be spent anywhere but at Rolt's house Had he suggested spending the weekend at a hotel, Alanna would have refused A hotel room was dominated by the bed In a house, there were other rooms

She had never been to his house, never seen it Her father had taken s, these that weren't packed in the suitcases now in the truck of the car, to the house the day before She knew its general direction and that it was in the country near a lake

Tall pines overshadowed the lane leading to the house They grew so close to the road that it was nearly like driving through a tunnel In a clearing just below the crest of a hill stood the house It was built of unfinished cedar, rustic and ras

Attractive, Alanna aded to Rolt The car stopped and he walked around to open her door

"My suitcases," she re to the front door