Cowboy Country (45 page)

Sterling’s mouth split into a wide smile. He saluted. “Yes ma’am, I never disobey a direct order.”

“Idiot.” She shook her head.

Sterling let out a whoop, picked her up, and twirled her in the air. “Let’s go tell the family.”

She followed his truck back to the house.

When they told the family they were getting married they decided to keep the other news to themselves awhile longer.

She and Lena were the ones crying. Everyone else was hootin’ and hollerin’ like a Saturday night shindig the whole town turned out for.

****

Silver couldn’t believe it—her parents were getting married.

“Can I be in it?”

“Of course, it wouldn’t be a wedding without you,” Mommy said.

“And can I get a pretty new dress?”

Her daddy picked her up and hugged her. “You bet. You’ll be as pretty as your mommy.”

CHAPTER 17

Sterling was dressed in new jet black Wrangles, a crisp new white shirt, and bolo tie, standing by his truck waiting for Silver to come out. His mother was helping her get ready for the wedding. He adjusted his cowboy hat.

Dad had already left to go get the grandparents. The rest of the family would be meeting them by the old oak tree near the pond.

The day before the family had gone there and set up a wrought iron archway that was trimmed with an ivy garland and Magnolias. The brothers had cleared the area so that the photographs would be magnificent.

The reception would be held back at the house.

By the time he and Silver showed up and the family arrived, Regina still wasn’t there. He wouldn’t be able to deal with life if she change her mind, but considering how she’d been acting all week, it was more than likely she was in the midst of a nasty bout of morning sickness.

The minister arrived.

The family was present.

They were just waiting for the bride.

The only others attending the nuptials were Carl, Regina’s boss, Charlie the cook, and the waitresses from the café.

Sterling let out a breath of air as he spied a cloud of dust trailing through the grove of oaks.

He didn’t recognize the truck hauling a horse trailer. He took a step but his father pulled him back.

“It’s Gigi,” Darcy announced.

“When did she get a truck and what’s the need for a trailer? This is a wedding.”

“Never mind! Just stay here and be patient,” his father said with a mischievous grin.

The second Gage stepped out of the truck Sterling about lost it.

Gage waved.

Sterling wanted to flip him the bird.

Regina stepped out of the truck but he couldn’t see anything from the angle the truck was parked.

Several minutes later, Regina rounded the truck dressed in the gorgeous blood red satin and velvet dress. It had an off the shoulders cut with mini caps riding low on the upper arm. The v-neck was cut low, showing enough cleavage for his pants to tighten. The dress belled out like an old-fashioned civil war gown.

The red dress had him perplexed. But even more surprising was the fact that she was leading a horse, a magnificent mare, as black as Luther. In fact she was a perfect match for him.

Regina strolled up to him, her dress dragging the ground and a smile as wide as McKelligon Canyon.

Sterling forced himself to ignore a grinning Gage. He only had eyes for Regina. She made her way to him, and handed him the reigns.

“What’s this?” He stared at the horse then accepted the reigns.

“You once told me that if I expected you to ride up on a white horse to rescue me, that I was sadly mistaken. I figure if you won’t rescue me, then I’ll have to rescue you. It’s your wedding present.
That’s
why I met with Gage, to buy you six mares for your stud ranch. This one matches Luther. The rest are just as good.”

“I thought the same thing when I saw her.”

“There are five more back at his ranch, just waiting for the barn to be done.”

“What about your restaurant?”

“It can wait. This is more important.”

Sterling left the horse to graze while the family made their way to the arch. Fifteen minutes later the vows were spoken and sealed as they shared a kiss.

The family clapped, the brothers erupted with whistles shotgun blasts in the air. Each of his brothers had brought a shotgun in case he backed out. They insisted the guns be aimed at him in at least one of the pictures. After the rest of the photos were taken, the family went back to the house. Sterling felt compelled to invite Gage.

They shook hands and Gage accepted the invitation.

“Can we ride her back to the house?” Regina asked.

Sterling mounted the mare. Dane picked up Regina and set her on his lap.

They rode toward the house as the family pulled away, honking at the newly married couple.

****

An hour later they rode up to the house. The picnic benches were been covered with fine white Irish linen tablecloths.

By the time she and Sterling dismounted and put the horse in a stall in the barn the tables were laden with food.

They ate and danced on the front lawn.

When the time came to cut the cake, Sterling lifted his champagne glass to offer a toast.

“Thank you all for sharing this special day with us. Despite our mutual stubborn temperments we finally did it.”

The brothers laughed, the family cheered, and Silver spun around letting her dress twirl.

“I wish we’d had more time. I would have loved to have put in the brick patio we’ve been talking about,” Lena said.

“Don’t worry mom, I’ll get Rooster to help me put it in for you before summer comes,” Dane promised.

Leave it to Lena to worry about the silliest things. Everything was perfect. She couldn’t have wished for anything more, except Virgil wasn’t present, but he’d understand the rush.

Sterling stood beside her, pulled her into his embrace. “Regina, this is for you.” He handed her an envelope.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.” He smiled and nodded.

She lifted the edge and removed the document. Scanning it, her mouth drop open.

“I can’t believe you did this. Can we afford it with everything else?”

“Yup. Not to worry. It’s yours, free and clear. Now you can use your money and open the bakery.”

“Thank you.” She threw her arms around Sterling’s neck, then turned and looked at the family. “You’re looking at the proud new owner of the Blue Moon Café.”

After another round of cheers they cut the cake.

****

Silver swayed side to side as her parents danced. They looked so happy wrapped in each other’s arms, like Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Grandma and Grandpa smiled dancing beside her parents. Both sets of great-grandparents whispered and danced, smiling too.

Aunt Darcy came from the barn, her hands were behind her back and she was smiling.

“Hey Cupcake, I have a surprise for you.” Darcy pulled a basket in front of her. The lid popped up and a puppy stuck its head out. The brown big pawed pup with black  bandit eye patches barked.

“For me?”

“Yup! All for you.”

Darcy put the basket on the ground and the puppy jumped out.

Silver kneeled on the ground, forgetting about her dress. The pup jumped into her lap, leaving puppy prints on her dress and lavishing her with kisses all over her face.

Her parents smiled and nodded.

Nothing else mattered. Her parents were married, she was a Bronco, and she finally got her puppy.

The pup ran toward her dad, who squatted down calling it to him. “What are you going to name him?” her dad asked then showed her that he’d already taught him to roll over and shake.

“His name is Ranger.” Silver picked up the pup and began to dance with him right next to her parents.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

While some say truth is stranger than fiction, Deb Julienne’s experience runs more along the lines of a slap-stick comedy; when life tosses you lemons the only thing to do is to turn it into Limoncello. Deb’s dream of being published came true with the release of her first book, SEX, LIES, AND BEAUTY AIDS, a romantic comedy, in March of 2014.

As a longtime member of both Romance Writers of America (RWA) and her local RWA Chapter, the Sacramento Valley Roses, she fills the hours she’s not writing romantic comedy and romantic suspense with her day job at a Silicon Valley Corporation and playing in the kitchen concocting her award-winning jams, jellies, preserves, and sauces (with alcohol of course). She resides in her own little bit of heaven in the Sierra Tahoe National Forest Basin, with her husband of 34 years, their three sons and one daughter, and two very precious grandkids and a third on the way.

Find Deb at:

Website:
www.debjulienne.com

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Deb-Julienne/752399544824095?ref=hl

Twitter: @debjulienne

Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/debjulienne

Last Chance Cowboy

Lilly Christine

Other Books by Lilly Christine

McGreers Series

McGreers #1 “Crashing Into Tess”

McGreers #2
“Crazy On Daisy”

McGreers #3
“Right Kinda Bull

McGreers #4 “Designs On Daphne”

McGreers #5 “Loving Lulu”

McGreers #6 “Whole Lotta Bull”

McGreers #7“Candi for Christmas”

McGreers #8 “That Kinda Bull”

McGreers #9 “Daisy Does Dallas”

Last Chance Cowboy

Copyright © 2016 Lilly Chrisine

All rights reserved.

Last Chance Cowboy

By Lilly Christine

Hobble Creek Heartache...

Jessie O’Rourke’s dad died on an oil rig and her mamma turned to the bottle…once Wade Callanbach was all she had. When he hurt her badly, she moved on.

A successful Austin attorney overseeing an alternative juvenile adjudication program, Jessie helps at-risk youth beat the odds, just like she did.

Now Jessie's program is at stake, and Wade sees his chance to once again be her hero. He's two-stepped around since she was Homecoming Queen….Last Chance, Cowboy!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thanks to my 2015 cross-country book tour support team Asha, Kim, Pam, Robin, Terry, Nova, Deb, Danny, Sofia, Cianna, Denise, Ed, Christina and of course

Noelle...

For blessing and enriching my adventure with your incredible generosity and insights.

From the Maples of Black Bear Farm, across the Mississippi, to the plains of Kansas to the Rocky Mountains, from Donner Pass to the Redwoods of the Russian River,

This Land Was Made for You and Me!

xoxoxox

1

RETURNING

Sunday, May 15, 2016, 7:49 AM~Austin, TX

The vast eastern sky of Texas glimmered with the coming light of a springtime morning as Jessie O’Rourke floored her sporty blue Audi sedan, zipping directly into the passing lane. The driver behind her tooted his horn angrily. Realizing too late she’d cut off a fully loaded cattle truck, she checked the clock on the console.