Page 116 of Long Time Coming

“Thanks, buddy.” I squat to adjust the little lariat around his neck. “You look very handsome yourself.”

“Wait until you see Daddy. He said he looks handsome for you.”

“Oh yeah?” Standing back up, I add, “I can’t wait.”

He pulls something from his pocket and holds it in his hand. “I have something for you.”

“What is that?”

“I made you a friendship bracelet.” He holds up the satin ribbon with beads on it. “It has my name.”

I can’t handle his cuteness. Taking it, I hug him. “Thank you so much.” When I sit back on my heels, I ask, “Can I wear it now?” He nods. “Will you help me?” He takes the bracelet and slides it on my wrist. I twirl it back and forth several times to admire it. It really is perfect for the occasion. I manage to get one hug out of him before he dashes because he heard there were the good kind of gummy bears on a table somewhere.

A kid after my own heart.

* * *

With a ringof flowers wrapped around my head and my hair flowing over my shoulders, Sunrise brings me across the fields to where our friends and family have gathered.

It’s the perfect spot to see the sunset explode in stunning oranges and pinks with blues mixed in. The sky will be on fire before we seal our nuptials with a kiss.

In the shade of the orchard with the fragrance of peaches floating in the air, my soon to be betrothed is waiting for me. My cowboy looks as handsome as ever in his pale gray felt cowboy hat and his shined-up boots. He went with dark denim and a white shirt for the occasion. His incredible smile wins me over as if he hadn’t all those years prior.

Lauralee holds the bouquet of wildflowers I picked this morning near the ridge of where my mom is buried. A gentle breeze welcomed me with dew still shining on the leaves as the sun rose over the greener pasture. I only had a few minutes, but it was good to share the peaceful moment with her.

There is no music, but who needs music when love is in the air? Tagger isn’t an overly emotional kind of man. But the sunset shines in his eyes, and I can see the tears forming while he watches me.

The sun beats down, so I don’t want to keep everyone waiting in the heat. Griffin helps me off the horse, and Baylor guides me to where my dad will walk me down the makeshift aisle to my handsome soon-to-be-husband.

After a quick embrace of my best friend, I take the bouquet in one hand, and the tissue she sneaks with it, and hook my arm around my Dad’s arm. I catch the tears in his eyes as he looks me over as if it’s the last time.

We know it’s not, but this is the end of one chapter and the beginning of a whole new adventure. “You’ve made me unbelievably proud, Christine. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Dad.”

I turn to take Tagger’s offered hands, his heart, and give him mine in exchange because the way we look at it, it’s a win-win.

Dabbing the inner corners of my eyes with the tissue, I laugh from the happiness escaping me. I always thought I had a crush on Tagger Grange. It wasn’t. It was love. I knew he was my soul mate. The universe took us in different directions but destiny brought us together in the end.

And now, standing with our boots touching and our hands held together, the man I dreamed about my whole life is ready to marrymeas if I’m his dream come true as well.

EPILOGUE 1

Pris

As I hold my favorite black hat on my head, Tagger carries me onto the dance floor outside the barn and sets me down. He’s quick to take my hand and spin me around, out from him, and then bring me back to him again. He captures me in his arms, and we slow it down and sway together.

My love overflows for him like the champagne at the reception. “I’m afraid I might love you too much,” I say loudly, the music stopping before I finish talking.

Tagger smirks just eating up the attention when a few gazes find their way over. But most people are having too much fun themselves to pay attention to the newly married couple. Though he has my attention on lockdown. “Nothing to fear from loving someone as much as I love you, babe.” I’m dipped, the hat falling right off my head, and then my neck is kissed . . . and licked . . . and nipped, causing my body to stir for more of this. Hovering over me, he whispers, “How long do we have to stay, dear wife?”

He has me wanting to rub my legs together. Too obvious to others? Too late. I clench my thighs in anticipation. “As long as we want, dear husband.”

“I want to dance,” Beckett asks, staring me in the eyes.

Tagger rights me and then looks at me for the answer. An unspoken agreement is shared that we’ll be picking up where we left off later. I bend down, and say, “I’d love to, Mr. Beckett.”

Holding his hands, we come together and then back again. My grade school lessons of square dancing are coming back mixed with a little hokeypokey. But he’s swept up by Baylor and set on his shoulders. “Want to help Lauralee and me put the horses up for the night?”

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