Page 54 of Soldier Cowboy
“Thank you. You look pretty good, too.”
Prettygood? He looked amazing. She had no idea the man could clean up like this.
When he held out his arm she took it, grabbing her little wrist purse with her other hand, and followed him out the door.
Colton watchedSean and Bonnie Lee finally exchange their sacred vows, and marveled that his brother finally had the woman he’d always loved. It had been a long and circuitous route to their happy ending, but here they were, still with a lot of good years ahead of them. He couldn’t be happier for his brother. At one time, Colton had also pictured winding up on that altar with his first love. It hadn’t happened and now he couldn’t be happier. As the Garth Brooks song went, sometimes God’s greatest gifts were unanswered prayers.
He could barely remember the boy/young man who’d thought he loved Cherisse. Could barely remember what he found appealing about her at all. It seemed like an entirely different man had loved her, if he could even call it love. More likely it had been lust. Maybe true love was something that never died, like with Sean and Bonnie. Even with time and distance they still couldn’t stop loving each other. Colton once had his doubts it would ever happen for Sean, but the look on his brother’s face now was proof some things were worth waiting for.
Pastor June’s sermon focused on Sean and Bonnie Lee’s past, mentioning Corinthians and the true meaning of love.
“Sean Henderson, do you take Bonnie Lee Wheeler to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health from this day forward until death do you part?” Pastor June recited.
“I do,” said Sean.
“You better,” whispered Bonnie Lee, and their small group of family and close friends in the pews tittered.
The vows were repeated for Bonnie Lee, who loudly declared, “I do,” and then added, more softly, “I always have, I always will.”
At that point, Maybelle, Delores, and Beulah brought out the tissues and began to quietly sob.
“This is so beautiful. I think I’m going to cry.” From next to him, Jennifer sniffed and wiped away a tear.
“Here.” He handed her a handkerchief, the kind he never carried except to weddings and funerals since someone inevitably cried and Colton was always prepared.
He wasn’t surprised by Jennifer’s emotion. She was full of a range of feelings he’d witnessed since the day they were thrown together, neither one of them thrilled by the arrangement. He’d seen anger from her, desperation, fear, joy and now tears. His own emotions were ranging from tenderness to confusion to lust.
He'd nearly swallowed his tongue when he had a look at her today. She reminded him of a brunette Jessica Rabbit in that dress, all curves and scrumptious behind. Her sweet alabaster skin glowed pink, showing just enough cleavage to make him beg for more. At that moment he wondered how he’d keep his hands to himself and then remembered he didn’t have to. At least, not in public. Everyone believed they were in love, about to be married, and no one would blame him for wanting to be near her every moment.
The vows and pronunciation over, everyone filed out for the ride back to the ranch. Colton steered Jennifer ahead of him down the steps of the chapel, scanning his surroundings, grateful he had a reason to be on high alert. He didn’t just have to write it off to PTSD and the sense that something could go wrong at any time, no matter how careful a soldier was. In this case, he suspected it to be true. Jennifer was the kind of woman who drew a man in and if that man happened to be obsessed, anything could happen. He was ready for it.
Seeing Riggs leaving the church with Winona and all three kids in tow reminded Colton that he still needed to have “the talk” with his older brother. Once Riggs saw that Colton was staying, regardless of his relationship situation, once he was assured, it would go down easier when all this…ended. He realized with a start it wasn’t the talk with Riggs he dreaded but the moment when Jennifer left. The moment he no longer had someone to talk to every morning and night, to cook and bake for, or commiserate with over bad TV reception.
She’d be gone soon, and he supposed the biddies would be after him to get hitched next. The last one standing. He could tell them his heart was broken and he needed some time, but that would only get him six months tops. The thing was, he wasn’t interested in getting married. First, he had to get his own act together and he wasn’t foolish enough to think three months of therapy and picking up a relaxing hobby meant he was good to go. He would sign up for more therapy at some point, even if the nightmares weren’t coming as frequently. The other night when he’d gotten up in the middle of the night to bake, he’d had the first real nightmare since his arrival in Stone Ridge. But he had his coping mechanisms in place and kept reminding himself someday it would get a little bit easier.
Their ranch was barely recognizable due to a large white tent in the middle of the field, with an open area that had been converted to a dance floor. An eight-piece band was setting up on risers, and caterers were rushing back and forth.
“Colton, I’ve made a big mistake.” Jennifer tugged on him.
“What is it?” If she was going to change her mind about the reception now, excuses might be even more awkward to make.
“I’m having a shoe moment.”
He followed her gaze to her legs. She stuck out a foot wearing a shoe with a heel that made every man stop thinking coherent thoughts.
“I mean…? You know?”
He swallowed hard and then had the epiphany right along with Jennifer. These were certainly not the type of shoes to wear on a ranch. And wedding or not, they were on a ranch.
“They were great for the chapel, but I can’t wear these here. I’ve already sunk into the ground a few times.”
“You should have said something.”
“I’m saying something now.”
They went back to the house so she could change. He stood near the door, glancing at his watch, and waited several minutes hearing frustrated and agonized sighs from her. One pair of shoes flew out the door and sailed into the hallway landing with a thud.
“You okay in there?”
