Page 62 of A Family With the Cowboy

Sniffing, Laura dug into her pocket for a tissue. “I can’t stop crying! I’m so happy. It’s so dreary outside, but then you guys…”

Behind them, the door of the shop flew open. They all turned around. A very wet, shivering woman entered. For a moment, she stared at them before she burst into tears.

Laura’s protective instincts kicked in and she rushed closer. “Hello, I’m Laura,” she said softly as she took the woman’s arm. “Come on in. You look cold.”

“Here,” Riley said as she approached them with a towel in hand. “Let’s get you out of that wet jacket.”

*

Hayden kept lookingat his watch. What on earth was keeping the women? It was nearly nine o’clock. Maybe he should’ve spoken to Laura first and told her what they’d been doing. Springing a surprise like this one on her after a busy week was maybe not such a bright idea, after all.

“Heard anything?” Cooper asked.

Hayden took out his phone. “I’m going to phone…”

“There they are,” Becket called out, pointing toward the door.

His mom, Willow, Vivian, Annie, Janice, and Maria all stood in the doorway, looking for them.

He hastened closer. “Where’s Laura? Why are you so late?”

His mother hugged him. “We had a bit of a hiccup. Nothing we gals couldn’t handle, so don’t worry. Laura will tell you all about it. She’s just in the bathroom. You’ve found yourself a lovely wife, son. She’s got a big heart. We’ll wait for you at the table.”

What hiccup? Was Laura having second thoughts? Frowning, he hurried to the bathrooms.

As he approached, the ladies’ room door opened and Laura stepped out. A beautiful smile lit up her face when she saw him. His heart settled. Everything was okay. Whatever problem there was, they’d talk about it and figure it out together.

Relieved, he took her hand. “Hey, beautiful. You passing through town?”

She batted her eyelashes while moving closer to him. “Well, I don’t know. I could decide to stay. Depends on what you have to offer.”

“Marry me?”

Laughing, she leaned into him. “I’ve already said yes, remember?”

“And you said any place, any time?”

Slowly, she looked up. “Yes, but…”

“I miss you. It’ll make more sense to wait until winter when we’re not so busy, but I want you… I need you with me. There are still things we need to figure out, I know. Do you want to keep your house? Are you happy to drive into town every day, because we won’t mind staying with you…”

Surprised, she stared at him. “You’d do that?”

“From tomorrow, I’m never going to be apart from you again.”

“What happens tomorrow?” She smiled.

“We’re getting married.”

With his breath in his throat, he watched every emotion on her face—surprise, worry, and finally joy. “Really?”

“Really.”

“I don’t have a dress…”

“It’s hanging in our room on the ranch.”

Frowning, she angled her head. “I don’t understand. What is…” Her eyes widened. “Your mother?”

---