Page 76 of Caught By A Cowboy

“I slipped her a Valium,” Kendra whispers as Mother sways toward me with her arms open wide.

“Don’t you look beautiful? Look at you.” Mom shocks the hell out of me when she leans down and presses her lips to my stomach. “That's my grandbaby in there. He’s going to be a little cowboy,” she tells the girls as she pats me like a dog.

“Congratulations.” Taylor keeps a smile fixed on her face as she watches my mom continue to stroke me as if she’s at a petting zoo.

“Jace is waiting in the barn and looking as handsome as ever.” She dances her shoulders, and I look between my friends in shock.

“Come on, Mrs MacKenzie, let's get this show on the road.” Kendra moves to take her arm, and she shoves her away so she can down her glass, then she allows her to lead her out.

“Wow, she's changed her tune.” Isabel still looks shocked while Taylor makes some final adjustments to the flowers she’s poked into my braid.

“She’s right, though, you do look beautiful,” she assures me as Isabel hands me my bouquet. I’ll admit Eleanor did a great job in such little time. When Taylor told Jean about our emergency wedding she rounded up the whole town and ensured they came through for us. Jean has taken care of all the catering while Sawyer’s set up a makeshift bar in the barn. She even had people shifting chairs from the town hall out to here for the ceremony. It’s been a crazy twenty-four hours but seeing how kind and helpful everyone has been has overwhelmed me.

“Come on, your dad’s waiting.” Taylor kisses my cheek as she picks up a posy of flowers for herself and guides me out the door.

“You look beautiful,” Dad tells me when I get to the bottom of the stairs, his proud smile isn’t Valium-induced like Mom’s is, and it means the world to me.

“I look very pregnant,” I laugh.

“Well, there's that but you also look bursting with happiness, and that's all a dad wants to see on his little girl's wedding day.” He blinks back tears as he holds the crook of his arm out for me. “We’ll see you at the top of the aisle.” Isabel and Taylor move outside to join Kendra while I take a slow and very steady walk with my father.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened with Adam. I had no idea about his family's financial situation, I was just trying to take care of you. You’ll know yourself, when they put that baby in your arms, how much pressure you feel to get it right. You’ve worried me since the day you were born, and that's never going to go away.”

“What happened wasn’t your fault. I shouldn't have let it get that far. I should have told you how I felt.” I pause when I feel another tight squeeze around my middle.

“Are you okay?” Dad looks worried.

“Fine, I think he’s excited.” I smile back at him, though I have to admit I’m starting to worry that these are more than just practice contractions.

“He?”

“Well, we don’t know for sure but Jace is pretty certain,” I explain.

“I’m sorry we haven’t been there, sweetheart, but all that's going to change now. Your mom was even talking to the nice lady from the diner about looking at real estate out here.” He continues to walk me across the yard.

“I think that was the Valium talking.” I giggle and notice how he sniggers a little, himself.

We eventually get to the door of the barn and the girls lead the way as Eamonn Jefferies' granddaughter starts to play her violin. Me and my dad follow behind them, and I see Jace waiting for me at the top of the aisle with Sawyer beside him. I smile at him and wonder how I got so lucky.

My man may be a little rough around the edges but that's exactly what I love about him. I know there will never be a dull day ahead of me with him.

Pastor Michael’s enthusiasm echoes from the rafters as he conducts his service, while I try to hide the fact that the pains in my stomach are getting worse.

Jace slips the ring over my finger and the whole town cheers when he kisses me hard, and unforgivingly, in front of them all. The Valium must not have worn off yet because Mom stands up and starts the applause, dragging Jamie and my dad to their feet as we walk down the makeshift aisle and outside to have some pictures taken.

“You okay?” Jace checks as everyone piles around us and offers their congratulations.

“I’m fine.” I brace myself for the bear hug Sawyer gives me as, one by one, all the people who came here to spend our special day with us offer their well-wishes.

Somehow, as the day goes on, I get a better handle on the pains I keep getting and although some make my eyes water, I manage to hide my discomfort from Jace because he’s so busy.

“There is definitely something going on between them,” Kendra tells me, gesturing her head to the other side of the barn toward Riley and Sawyer. They do seem to be having a heated discussion and when he shakes his head and storms out, I’m about to check if she’s okay but get barricaded by my husband.

“Where do ya think ya goin’, Mrs Sullivan?” He’s wearing that handsome smile and his eyes are glistening with promise.

“I was just–”

“Gonna dance with your husband,” he finishes my sentence for me.

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