Page 46 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

“You, Victoria ‘Tori’ Parker. For all the days of my life and beyond. Will you marry me?” A diamond solitaire held between his fingers cast its brilliance in the waning sunlight.

This was the dream held tightly within her for so long. And this was the man who came in answer to her prayer. The dream she was always afraid to voice in case it would disappear and never come again. The wall came tumbling down.

“Yes, Cade Lockwood. I very much would like to marry you.” The ring slipped onto her ring finger. Then she was lifted off her feet and the kiss was one to seal their promises. She was home and it wasn’t a dream.

Epilogue

Two months later

The garden wasbursting with color. Bright yellow daffodils, tulips in reds, pinks, yellows, white, hyacinths purple and pink. Baskets and urns held arrangements of brilliant yellow and pink glads with roses in pale to bright pink. Butterflies waited to be released. The gazebo with its intricate scrollwork and fresh white paint, stood in the center ready to welcome the bridal couple. White chairs sat in a semicircle around the gazebo. Two harpists sat in a corner of the wraparound porch playing softly as guests arrived.

Jillie sat in the window seat in the second-floor bedroom watching the goings-on below. Her dress was a soft pink confection with a full skirt of tulle that fell to her ankles. Her hair had been curled to fall down the center of her back. A headband with sparkles in pale pink sat on her head.

Cassie came into the room in her bridal outfit…also in a shade of pink darker than Jillie’s. It was street-length with a full skirt also of tulle over satin. Her hair had been swept up on top of her head and held in place with a glittering clip.

“You need to get your shoes on your feet now, Jillie. We’re going downstairs soon.”

“But where is Tori? She said I could see her dress before we went down.”

“You can but only with your shoes on. Get a move on or we’ll have to leave you up here.”

“I’m going to check on her and I’ll call you when she’s ready.” She turned and remembered something. She took the basket with its pink petals out of the florist’s box. “You need to keep up with this now. You remember what you’re supposed to do when we get to the porch?”

“I know. I’ve been practicing.”

Cassie smiled. She had watched her niece from a window yesterday when she thought no one was watching. She had done the walk over and over. She took her job as flower girl very seriously.

“I’ll call you.”

Cassie left her alone. She crossed over the hall to another bedroom and was about to go inside. A voice stopped her.

“When does this party get started?”

“It’s about time.” Cassie grinned and did a quick skip over to wrap her arms around the cowboy’s neck.

“Hey,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t wrinkle this fancy suit. There might be some women in attendance that I want to impress.”

Cassie stood back and made a show of straightening the lapels of the gray western-cut suit. “Excuse me,” she said with mock contriteness. “I forgot how conceited my little brother could be. But I warn you that any women in attendance today will only have eyes for the groom. You’ve met your match. But maybe you can help patch up those broken hearts a bit.”

“Ouch.” He grimaced. “I came here to be insulted by my sibling? But who knows, maybe there will be one or two men here today that might be willing to take you on. Otherwise, you could possibly be the last old maid in our family since Tori is walking down that aisle today.”

“You might remember that our sister also carries a gun, little brother. And she is a better shot than you are.” Matt came up the last step of the staircase and met the handshake of his brother.

“Thanks for the reminder.” Rance grinned. “I hear that you and I are walking the bride down the aisle today?”

“Change of plans,” Matt said. “I’m taking my rightful place beside the groom. I’ve been elevated to best man. You’ll have to steady the bride down the aisle. Think you can handle that?”

“As long as I’m not the one standing in the groom’s spot in this wedding, I can do a great job.”

“One of these days,” Cassie said with a shake of her head, “you won’t run fast enough and we’ll be laughing at you as you say those vows.”

“I flew in here to be subjected to your taunts? I don’t think so. Where is this bride at?” Rance said. “Let’s get this party started.”

Cassie turned and motioned for them to follow. “Matt, please get Jillie and let her come in also.”

When Matt had rejoined them with an excited daughter in tow, she became even more animated when she saw her uncle Rance. He swept her up and around in his arms. “Now here is the prettiest girl at this wedding. Are you going to dance with your old uncle today?”

She nodded quickly. “Every dance. And we have a lot of cake to eat, too.”

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