Page 206 of Conveniently Wed
Her gaze shot to his. What? No. She wanted to be withhim.
“That’s what you deserve, Leah. So much more than that.” His arms tightened around her waist. “But do you think you can see yourself on a ranch in the Rockies?”
She released her breath and snuggled into his chest. “I couldn’t stand to be anywhere else.” She felt his breath exhale, and his heartbeat grew strong under her ear.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
She could spend the rest of her life listening to his deep voice.
He held her close for a few minutes, then spoke again. “So, since we’re here at the church, shall we go see the preacher now?”
It took a moment for the words to register, then she sprang back. “Get married now?”
He raised a brow, a devilish grin on his face. “Only if you want to.”
“But what about Miriam?”
He lifted a shoulder. “She’ll be happy.”
“She’ll never forgive you. Nor me. She might even skin you alive.”
Both brows rose now.
She brought a hand to her hip. Apparently she would have to shake some sense into him. “Gideon Bryant, if you think your sister would ever forgive you for getting married without her there—without her even knowing you were engaged—you must not have met her yet.”
He sent her a rakish grin as he gathered Leah back into his arms. “I don’t think she’d mind so much. As long as I let her say ‘I told you so.’”
Leah stood with Miriam outside of the little white church. They were to wait for the cue from the harmonica before entering for the ceremony. A smile pushed through her nerves. Who would have thought Ol’ Mose knew how to play the Wedding March on his harmonica? He was certainly a man of many talents.
“You don’t have to be nervous.”
She glanced at Miriam, whose smile could barely fit on her cute little face.
“I’m not nervous.”
One of the girl’s brown eyebrows rose. “If you smooth your dress one more time, you’re going to wear the shine off.”
She looked down at her dark green gown. It was one of the few she hadn’t altered to make more practical. And it was her favorite. She rubbed a hand to smooth the fabric.
Miriam chuckled. “See?”
Miriam’s giddiness was infectious, but Leah tried to keep her own giggle inside. This was herwedding day, she wasn’t a school girl anymore.
“Really, Leah. I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.”
Leah raised her eyes to take in Miriam’s face, now as serious as her words. She was such a dear friend. God had blessed her, indeed.
She wrapped Miri in a quick hug. Anything more might bring on tears, and that was not to be allowed right before her wedding. “I’m so glad I have you here,” she whispered. The tears threatened harder, so she stepped back and dabbed her eyes.
Miriam sniffed, her own eyes glistening. “I didn’t mean to make you cry on your wedding day. You’re gonna have yourwork cut out for you with that brother of mine.” Her face broke into a wobbly smile. “But if anyone can handle him, it’s you.”
The clear note of a harmonica drifted through the church door, saving Leah from another teary hug. She inhaled a deep breath and then released it, ran a hand down her dress, and moved through the doorway behind Miriam.
Miriam strolled down the aisle in front of Leah, blocking Gideon from her view at first. Leah released another breath, trying to force down the butterflies flitting about in her stomach.
And then she saw him.
Gideon stood between the preacher and Ol’ Mose, wearing a long-sleeve green shirt that matched the emerald in his eyes. His hair was trimmed short, his clean-shaven face accentuating every wonderful feature.
