Page 49 of A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy

Tate took a deep breath. “That’s always been my plan. At first, as you might recall, I didn’t think I’d be in Montana for more than a couple of months. A single summer at the most.”

Wariness crossed her face.

“I wasn’t toying with you, Stephanie. From the very beginning, I’ve planned to make you a permanent part of my life. Wherever it happened to take me.”

“I think this is something we need to discuss further.” Brr, there was a distinct chill in her voice.

Could he really give up his penthouse and all that went into his Chicago life forever? Sure, he was flexible. He’d spent months in Kansas, helping Mom with Jamie. Now he was here, assembling the building blocks of Grandfather’s grand vision. But to say a permanent goodbye to his life in Chicago?

He glanced at Stephanie.

She stared at something just past his ear.

Great. This was a dealbreaker for her. “We could stay at the ranch if you preferred.”

Pastor Marshall crossed his arms on his desk and leaned forward. “Just like that?”

What business was it of the man’s? Oh, right. Accepting his role as a premarital counselor kind of made it his business.

Tate shrugged. “Sure. Anything to keep my wife happy.” Was he as certain as he tried to sound? Nope. Not at all. But it was something he and Stephanie could overcome together given time. He’d take her to Chicago a few times and get her accustomed to the idea of eventually moving there. She’d love the views of Lake Michigan from the penthouse. She’d love the architecture and the music scene and the amazing restaurants. He’d win her over.

The set of her jaw indicated it might be a harder sell than that.

Chapter Sixteen

Leave Jewel Lake permanently? To live in a busy city like Chicago? If Stephanie had wanted city life, she’d have left rural Montana a long time ago. Nothing had tied her here.

She turned in front of the cheval mirror in her parents’ bedroom and studied herself wearing her mother’s wedding dress. It actually fit.

Stephanie sighed. She enjoyed living near her parents. At least, she had until Eli broke up with her. She loved attending Creekside Fellowship — she wasn’t so fond of either pastor at the moment, but they’d all get past that. She’d invested so much time into teaching Sunday school and hosting Bible studies and chairing the missions committee. She couldn’t imagine the trauma of settling into a new church in a new place.

Besides, she had good friends here. Friends who were getting married and having babies left, right, and center, leaving her behind.

Not anymore. Not since she was marrying Tate in just a couple of weeks’ time. She’d be Stephanie Sullivan, mother to the little boy who already called her mama. They’d give Jamie siblings.

“It’s amazing you’re the same size I was when I married your father.” Even Mom’s voice sounded misty as she eyed what had once been bright white satin but was now a little yellowed with age. “You look so beautiful in that dress, honey.”

She wouldn’t have picked this style from a bridal magazine, but it meant so much to her mother. “Do you think the dry cleaners will be able to restore the color?”

“I’m sure they can. I’ll drop it off in the morning and see what they say.”

Tate had offered her a trip into Missoula to buy a gown off the rack, but then the busyness of the first week of the guest ranch being open overtook him. Oh, he’d have capitulated if she pushed him. He’d also have been willing for her to drive on her own. Or she could have picked up Carey or Harper and made a day of it.

But then, Mom.

And did it really matter? Well, it mattered to Mom, and Stephanie was denying her mother the joys — was that a thing? — of planning her daughter’s wedding the way most moms did, over the span of a long period of time.

She could give Mom this one. Stephanie smiled at her mother’s reflection in the mirror. “Something old and something borrowed, all in one.”

“Something blue!” Mom jumped off the corner of the bed. “I have this lovely necklace. Would you like to wear it?” She rummaged in her jewelry case and came out with a silver chain with a sapphire dewdrop.

“It’s pretty, but I’m not sure. I still have to figure out colors.”

“You’re having Harper and Carey stand up for you? Both of them would look lovely in blue.”

On this short notice, it would be so much easier to have one attendant, so dresses wouldn’t have to match. But Tate had two brothers. At least he didn’t want his three cousins, as well. Whew to that.

Oh, Stephanie had always dreamed of a huge wedding. Wouldn’t ten bridesmaids be an amazing sight? It would prove she had friends aplenty. But now that the time was nearly upon her, she didn’t care anymore.

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