No matter what I did, it was a risk. The only thing I knew for certain? If I walked out of this church without marrying Ricky, Renee Rango would destroy everything Lincoln had ever cared about.

I couldn’t let that happen.

I would stand by the decision I made—I’d save Lincoln’s future by marrying Ricky.

That didn’t mean I had to like it.

I lifted my chin and met Renee’s stare. “Get out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again until this is over.”

Her lips quirked up and her smile turned even more vicious. “I don’t give a damn what you want. You’ll do what I say or face the consequences.” She moved toward the door. “I’ll leave you to get yourself ready for your . . . performance.”

As soon as Renee stepped out of the room, Jackie slipped in.

“Are you okay, Whit? You look even paler than you did before.”

I wanted to tell Aunt Jackie everything, but I bit my tongue until the sting brought tears to my eyes.

“Can I have a tissue?”

Aunt Jackie frowned and reached for the box on top of the piano next to the pastor’s desk. “Of course. What’s wrong? Are you having second thoughts?”

Second thoughts? I wanted to say. More like fifth, sixth, and seventh thoughts. But I didn’t. I just shook my head as I dabbed carefully at my eyes.

“You know you’re making the right choice, don’t you, sweet girl? I know you thought you had something with that Riscoff boy, but it wasn’t going to end with a white dress in a church and vows in front of your entire family.”

I lifted my gaze to hers. “Why would you say that? How can you possibly know?”

“Gables and Riscoffs never end well together.” She paused, and I wondered if she was thinking about my mom, because she’d been on my mind nonstop today.

What advice would my mother have given me? I would never know . . . because she died with a Riscoff. My stomach flipped again, and this time bile burned as it climbed up my throat. Aunt Jackie didn’t seem to notice, though, and she kept speaking.

“Feuds don’t last a hundred seventy years without there being plenty of hostility on both sides. It would take a hell of a lot more than some Romeo-and-Juliet kind of love story to end this one. I know you want to be the exception to the rule, Whitney. I understand. I get it. But you can’t be that naive. He’s too young and reckless to pin your hopes on. You just happened to be the first girl in Gable he picked. That doesn’t mean you’d be the last. As a matter of fact, I’d be willing to put money on it.”

“But—” I tried to interrupt and tell her she didn’t know Lincoln like I did.

“No buts, girl. You’re smarter than that. At best, he’ll pay all your bills so you’re around whenever he needs you to get off. But you’re not a whore, Whitney. You’re better than that. Why would you let a man buy you when you have a good one waiting outside that door who wants to marry you and treat you like a queen?”