Page 27 of Chasing Trouble
Caroline tittered.Mac hadn’t heard her give a girlish titter since his dad had passed away.He glanced at his mother and saw her eyeing Daniel with interest.What the heck?Those thoughts immediately vanished as he realized everyone in the church was staring back at him.He pulled at the collar of his dress shirt.“Is she here?”he croaked at Daniel.
Daniel chuckled and nodded.“She’s here.”
“I’m totally amazed,” Adeline snarked.
“More than he deserves,” his mother added.Then she held her hand out to Daniel.“I’m Caroline, Mac’s mother, and this is my daughter Adeline.”
“Pleased to meet you both,” Daniel replied, his eyes twinkling.“I’m Whitney’s father, Daniel Johnson.
“You’re sure she’s here?Or heading for the hills out the back door as we speak?”Adeline asked, looking skeptical.
“That’s enough, Adeline,” his mother scolded.“We’ll add extra to the collection plate to thank God later.”
“Will you two stop now?”Mac growled in exasperation, tugging at his collar.
Daniel cleared his throat, his lips quirking like he wanted to laugh but was refraining.“You need to get to the front now.I hope you have a ring?”
He shook his head.“Not yet, but I have a gold band I brought with me just in case.We can pick out a ring she likes later,” he replied gruffly.
“Then get going, the preacher’s waiting.”
Mac nodded and started following Luke, along with his mother and sister, towards the front of the church.His heart was pounding like crazy, and sweat was beginning to bead at the back of his neck.With his three-piece suit, he hadn’t needed to wear a coat; he was hot enough already.Knowing Whitney, she’d appear in her pants with her hair up under her hat just to be willful.She was in for a shock if she thought that would deter him from marrying her.If she’d actually brought her onery little butt to the church in pants, he’d marry it!
And spank it later.
“Mac,” Reverend Minstrel said with a nod and a twinkle in his eye.
“Preacher,” Mac replied gruffly, turning around and taking a deep breath as he stared down the aisle.Daniel nodded to the pianist, who instantly started playing the traditional wedding march.His nerves jumped and jiggled like pins were sticking him.The sweat thickened on his neck.When Daniel held out his arm to someone off to his right, he was unprepared for the vision of loveliness that stepped out and took his arm.
Suddenly, Mac could barely breathe.It was worse than when Jake had punched him in the stomach at the bar and taken his breath away.He couldn’t take his eyes off Whitney as she walked towards him with a smile on her beautiful face.Daniel hadn’t lied; she was here, and she was the most gorgeous thing he’d ever seen.
Sitting on her golden head was a lace headband with delicate blue roses—a gold chain with a blue teardrop nestled in the sweetheart neckline just above her breasts.The white, satiny dress overlaid in lace had just a hint of a train behind her, and her honey-blonde hair was fastened up on her head with ringlets coming down the side of her face.
He gulped; glad he’d worn a jacket since his buddy was also appreciating the woman before him.The dress outlined her delicate curves perfectly, and she looked like a goddess coming down the aisle in dainty, matching blue slippers.
Down on the left pew, Amelia clapped her hands and crowed, “Witty so pretty.”Luke held her hands and shushed her.
Mac agreed with Amelia, though.
When Daniel passed Whitney off to him, his heart nearly burst with love and pride.She was going to belong to him.And only him.Because he would never let her go once, she belonged to him.He smiled at her and turned her to face the preacher—time to make this little poacher his.
When it was her turn to say I do, he held his breath and stared down at her, willing her to say it.Could fate be so cruel as to change her mind at the last moment?He thought he was going to hyperventilate until she finally said the words.
“I do.”
Then his breath came out in an exultant whoosh, and he grabbed her and kissed her like a drowning man.
Everyone started laughing, even the preacher.“I’m not finished yet, Mac,” Reverend Minstrel reminded him.“I have to ask if anyone objects.”
Mac turned to the crowd.“Anyone object?If you do, I have a shotgun I can show you,” he growled.
Then the crowd really hooted and laughed.Mac turned back around.“Okay, preacher, let’s make it official.”
The reverend held up his hand for silence, and with a twinkle in his eyes, punctuated the words very clearly, “I now pronounce you man and wife.You may kiss the bride.”
And Mac did.
When he finally let Whitney up, the preacher made one more announcement.“I now give you, Mr.and Mrs.Maclede Cane Wainwright.”
