Page 59 of What the Cowboy Wants
“And we think she’s a very brave young woman,” Arlene said.“One of the reasons I’m so happy she’s engaged to Cooper.”
“I don’t care when the wedding is,” Cooper said with his hand on Rose’s leg.“As long as I don’t have to wait too long, I’m happy.”
“Why don’t you tell them your idea, Mom?”Willow chuckled.
Arlene shook her head.“Before we talk arrangements, we may as well spill all our secrets and tell you about our family.Willow, my darling girl, is like her grandmother.She knows things.Coop talks to animals.There are always cats and dogs and horses around him, and my grandson, Luke,” she pointed at him, “is also very intuitive.I hope the weird and wonderful don’t freak you out?”
“Not at all.It sounds delightful,” Rose’s mother smiled.“Sorry I’ve interrupted you.Tell us about your idea.”
Arlene inhaled deeply.“Well, Coop and Rose, I was wondering why you don’t get married while your parents are visiting?”
All eyes turned to Rose and Cooper.Speechless, she turned to him.
He was smiling.“Sounds perfect to me, but if you want to wait, I’m okay with that too.”
“Where will you get married?”Vivian asked.
“What about right here, on the ranch?”Arlene asked.“Like Hayden and Becket did?”
“What do you think?”Cooper asked.
“I love the idea,” Rose nodded.Still trying to catch her breath, she turned to her parents.“Will you be okay with that?”
Her mom nodded enthusiastically, but her dad got up and left the room.As she moved to follow him, Cooper pushed back his chair and touched her shoulder.“Let me talk to him?You decide what you want to do, we’ll make it work.”Bending down, he gave her a quick kiss before he left.
“Your dad will come around,” her mother said.“You’re his only child and what happened with you really upset him.”
“That I can understand,” Arlene said.“If it’s not what you want, Rose, please ignore me.”
As Rose turned to her friends she noticed the other men had also left.“I don’t know.Is it even possible to get married in two weeks’ time?”
Ellie and Laura looked at each other and laughed.“With the Westons helping, of course!”
“Mom?”she asked again.
“I’ll love to be a part of everything,” her mom smiled, “and I can’t do that if I’m back in San Diego.And it sounds as if you’ve done this before?”
“Twice,” Arlene laughed, pointing at Laura and Ellie.“My boys, as you’ve heard, are very impatient men.”
“My godchildren were also in a hurry,” Janice smiled.“If everyone pitches in, it can be done.”
“Tell her about the dress, Mom,” Willow said.
“You remember the slinky, champagne-colored dress you tried on when we went to Bozeman?”Arlene asked.
Rose inhaled sharply.“Oooh, that will be perfect, but do you think they will still have it?”
Arlene’s eyes were bright with tears.“I know they don’t, because I bought it.For you.But if you and your mom would rather…”
“It sounds perfect!”Rose exclaimed.
“Have you’ve tried on this dress?”Rose’s mom asked her.
“Ooh, yes,” Annie said.“She looks gorgeous in it.The color, the style, the material—it’s a perfect dress for Rose.”
“So when can we see it?”Rose’s mom asked Arlene.
“It’s at my house.You can come over tomorrow…”
