Page 19 of The Cowboy Takes A Bride

Meredith knew if she walked out there and let that rough-skinned but gentle-touch cowboy make all the decisions, she would eventually be living a life she hadn’t wanted and would be no better off than she was with her father.

The contrast was to be bossy and demanding, mannerisms that went against the very fiber of her core, and her gut told her that wouldn't be successful. Jace, the people in his family, and even she would probably end up disliking herself if she embodied that behavior. No, Meredith needed to strike a balance.

A rap on the door made her jump. “Are you in there?”

If a person’s voice could tell a story, Jace’s would be a western. It was deep with a hint of huskiness that was likely due to yelling out of doors for extended time. But it sounded like something one heard when they watched old movies of cowboys and wagon trains. His drawl, though not Texas southern like she was used to, spoke of a slower pace of life. Or perhaps this was what she wanted to believe.

Or maybe his story was a whole lot of sexiness. He certainly sounded like it. Or what she thought sexy might sound like. Not that she knew. He was raw and rough around the edges, and she had no trouble picturing herself locked in his arms. Sexualenergy rolled off him in heady waves that made her feel loopy. Until this very moment, she hadn’t given her own sexual identity much thought. She knew she was missing out on it. Knew she wanted to try it. But it was all academic. Something she had thought about after watching movies or reading a book, even when discussing it with Dr. Fleming, it had still been abstract.

Jace Shepard brought it to life. To the real world and made her yearn in a foreign way.

He rapped on the door again.

“I’m here.” She finished touching up her makeup with one last stroke of her blush brush across her cheek. The simplicity of the act at a time when nothing was simple brought a small chuckle forward. Not that she needed the color. Thinking about Jace and sex was all it had taken to add a hint of pink to her cheeks.

He stood before the door holding a simple bouquet of snow-white hellebores with dusty miller wrapping around it. A sky blue ribbon tied the bouquet together. The Stetson she’d seen him holding earlier was on his head, and though it worked well with his suit, it changed his appearance. The fierceness she’d first seen when he stepped into the room was no longer the image of a cutthroat businessman, but that of one who lived by the rules of a rugged land. He looked less cattle rancher and more cowboy.

Jace shifted, his gaze darting from her to the flowers. “Ah, I thought you might like these. Mrs. Williams, the lady who owns the flower store, said all brides should have something blue, and I wasn’t sure if you had anything blue or borrowed. I, ah, there’s a few more that you should have, too, but I forget what they are.”

“Something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new.”

“Yeah, that’s it. So I took a chance that you didn’t have anything blue.” He thrust the flowersat her.

“I don’t.” Her hand trembled as she took the small bundle. It was stunning in its simplicity and beauty. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“How about the others?”

“Well, these are my mother’s pearls.” She touched the delicate strand around her neck. “This can be something old. If you let me hold on to this handkerchief that will be my something borrowed.” She opened her hand to show the fabric she had clutched there.

He nodded.

“I’m all set then.” This was as authentic as her wedding was going to get and as close to her dreams as possible.

“Ah, it seems that while we were in here…talking, Rina made herself useful and invited the entire town to the service.” He pointed over his shoulder to where the chapel was. “It’s nearly full. I don’t want to cause you any undo stress, any more than you might already have that is, but if we hurry this along, we’ll beat the rush. I’m betting in the next thirty minutes, it’ll have a crowd bigger than Sunday service.”

Suddenly, Meredith felt a bit lightheaded. “How many people usually come to Sunday service?”

“About two-fifty. But we’re timing this well because it’s before lunch so not everyone close by can get off. It’s when people have to stand and watch that things tend to get rowdy.”

Meredith stepped back and leaned against the wall. She fanned herself with the bouquet. “So we better get a move on it then.”

Jace smiled. “I’d like you to meet my folks before we do this. You okay with that?”

She nodded. It only made sense. How awkward would that be to meet afterward?

“I’ll also get Rina.”

He stepped back. She held his gaze, and something akin tofamiliarity passed between them. Or at least she thought he felt it, too, because his brow had furrowed slightly. Certainly, they shared this moment in common, but Meredith’s gut told her it was more than that. Deeper. Whatever it was left her feeling a little less alone, if only a tad.

No sooner had Jace left than Sabrina arrived. Her smile was wide, and she clasped her hands together in excitement.

“Oh, Meredith. I have to confess that I’m looking forward to watching the two of you come together. You should know that Jace is one of my closest friends. It’s why I have so much faith in the two of you. You look beautiful, honey. Did Jace give you these flowers?” She gestured to the bouquet.

“He did.” She couldn’t help but smile.

Another side door opened, and a tall woman dressed in a long suede skirt, plain shirt, and large belt walked in. Her dark hair, fringed in silver, was pulled up into a large, loose bun. Her skin was like Jace’s and looked tanned but not weathered. Behind her was a man, undoubtedly his father as the resemblance was amazing. Same eyes, height, hair, and smile. His steps were slow, more labored and planned. He was dressed much like his wife with simple slacks, plain dress shirt, and a large belt with an even larger buckle with a bucking horse engraved on it. He wore a gray Stetson like Jace.

“Mercy, Sabrina. You blow into town and always bring with you some surprises.” The woman went straight to Sabrina and folded her in a hug. “I hadn’t even realized Jace saw you the last time he was in Dallas, much less met someone.” She gestured to Meredith.

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