Page 65 of Wrangling a Wild Texan

Hallie huffed an exasperated sigh. “Once again, Elle has ordered a bridesmaid’s dress that’s too small for her.”

“I can’t help it if I’ve gotten a little bigger since I ordered the dress. In case you forgot, Hal, I’m pregnant!”

“How could I forget when it’s all you ever talk about? I’m so sick of hearing about the cradle Casey is making you and how he calls the baby ‘Sugar Muffin’ and your detailed plans for the ‘cutest little ranch room,’ I could puke.”

“I hate to point this out,” Liberty said. “But you puke at the drop of a hat, Hal. And I believe I overheard Jace calling your baby bump ‘Teenier Weeny.’ Which is pretty pukeworthy.” Sherubbed her huge stomach. “Besides, my bridesmaid’s dress is a little snug too.”

“Because you’re the size of the Goodyear Blimp.”

Liberty’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, you just wait, Hallie Carson. The shorter the waist, the bigger the belly.”

“What?” Noelle looked horrified as she placed a hand on her rounded stomach. “That means I’m going to look like a beach ball with shoes.”

Belle patted Noelle’s shoulder. “Every woman carries babies differently, Elle. Just look at me and Libby.”

Liberty stared at her twin. “And just what does that mean, Belly?”

Before Belle had to answer, Cloe stepped in. “What Belly means is that every pregnant woman is stunning in her own way. Now let’s focus on finding a solution for the problem at hand.”

“Cloe’s right,” Sweetie said. “And lucky for us, we have a grandmother who sews.” She looked over at Mimi who was talking to Darla and Hank. “Mimi! We need you.”

Mimi looked more than a little skeptical when she arrived. “Just what mischief are y’all up to now?”

“We have a dress situation,” Cloe said. “Do you think you could alter Noelle’s dress before the wedding tomorrow?”

“And mine,” Liberty said.

“And mine,” Hallie said. When all the sisters turned to her, she shrugged. “What? I might have gained a little pregnancy weight too!”

Everyone laughed and Mimi patted Hallie’s arm. “Yes. I’ll get to yours too, Halloween.” She shook her head. “Y’all should thank your lucky stars that your great-grandma taught me how to sew. Ima altered wedding dresses for blushing young brides until the day she died. God rest her sweet soul.”

Sunny stared at Mimi. “Your mama’s name was Ima?”

“Ima Lee Rhimes. Best mama a woman could ever ask for.”

Reid wasas nervous as a dog on bath day. He was more than thankful Sunny hadn’t wanted a formal wedding. He would have died from heatstroke in a tuxedo jacket. Even in a cotton western shirt and jeans, he was burning up. And that was in an air-conditioned house. Once he got in the barn, he would be a walking sweat ball.

“Here.”

He turned to see his best man holding out a bandana. He took it from Corbin and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Just so you know, this has nothing to do with me getting cold feet. There’s nothing more I want than to marry your sister. I’m just . . .” He struggled to find the right words. Corbin helped him out.

“Worried about being enough. Believe me, I get it. I was terrified about the same thing when I married Belle. She was everything good and I was?—”

Jesse, who was sprawled out on the twin bed in one of the Holidays’ upstairs guestrooms with Buck snoozing on his chest, cut his brother off. “A grudge-holding asshole.”

Corbin shot him an annoyed look. “Thanks, Jess.”

Jesse grinned. “Just trying to keep it real, Whitty.” He glanced at Reid. “I was nervous too. I still wonder how in the hell I got so lucky.”

“Every single day.” Decker sat on the opposite bed, watching his new kitten, Loretta Lynn, play with Tay-Tay on the carpeted cat condo that stood in the window. Jelly Roll, Jace and Hallie’s cat, was sitting on the very top looking down at the young kittens with disdainful eyes.

“Try every single second.” Jace walked into the room, carrying a cooler of beer. No doubt homebrewed by Hallie. Once he finished passing out the bottles, Rome spoke.

“What we’re trying to say, Reid, is that we’ve all been in your shoes. We’ve all felt the same insecurities about marrying strong women with high expectations. The question is . . . are you going to let a few insecurities keep you from marrying the best thing that will ever happen to you in your life?”

Reid didn’t hesitate. “Hell, no.”

Casey slapped him on the back. “Good man!” He held up his beer and grinned. “To the Holiday sisters’ men. We’re some lucky bastards.”

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