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Authors: M.B. Buckner

Sweet Talking Cowboy (24 page)

BOOK: Sweet Talking Cowboy
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“And if I’d kissed you back then, I’d have been a child
molester.”  He drew in a ragged breath.  “Our lives have taken some wild turns,
but here we stand, in this barn, finally sayin’ what we needed to say…at least
the night Tris was conceived.  I love you, Bri, and I want nothin’ in this
world so much as to marry you and be a part of this family.”

“Let’s go tell Tris and Aunt Poog!”  Briann was suddenly so
excited she wanted to shout.

“In a minute,” he whispered, tilting her face up with a
finger crooked under her chin.  “I just want a few minutes to enjoy this.”  His
mouth covered hers and for some minutes they were both lost in each other. 
Finally they broke apart.

Briann laughed up at him.  “Wait, before we go inside.”  She
dug deep into the pocket she’d put the ring in earlier and held it up for him
to see.  “I love this ring, Slade.  It couldn’t be more perfect it I’d picked
it myself.”

He grinned and took it from her.  With slow deliberation he
held it up between them, and then dropped down so he was kneeling on one knee. 
“Briann Hudson….De Angelo, I love you and hope you will agree to be my wife by
accepting this token of my love.”

She nodded, batting back tears while he very solemnly
slipped the ring onto her finger.  “Please, darlin’, don’t ever take it off
again,” he whispered, rising to his feet and dropping another long kiss on her
lips.

Slade couldn’t let her go as they walked to the house, one
arm still holding her close to his side.  Poog and Tris were in the study,
making sure Tristin’s book bag was ready for school the next day when the happy
couple found them.

The elderly woman and the child turned as one and froze at
the sight of Briann being held close by Slade and both of them glowing with
happiness.

“Oh….” Poog breathed in deeply, already knowing what they
were going to tell her, tears of joy pooling in her eyes.  “I wish Mike was
here.”

Tris looked at Aunt Poog and then back again at her parents
who she’d noticed had been very careful to never touch or make any display of
affection.

Slade beckoned Tris to him and squatted to lift her with his
other arm so she was with him and Briann.  His eyes sparked with joy and humor
as he stood and looked at Poog.  “How long will it take to plan a nice weddin’?”

Poog looked at Briann and was delighted to see her head
nodding enthusiastically.

Tris gasped and leaned out to look at her mom.  “Are we
getting married?”  Her childish voice was raised with excitement.

Briann nodded again then reached out her arms to take her
daughter. 

“Do you think you can put up with your dad living here with
us all the time?”

One of Tristin’s arms was around Briann’s neck and the other
one reached to pull Slade’s head to her, hugging them both and almost crowing
in her joy.  “We’re getting married!  We’re getting married!”

Poog lifted her apron to wipe the tears that were suddenly
blurring her vision before she smiled at the big picture of Mike that sat atop
the table where she worked on her scrap book.  She smiled because she knew that
up in Heaven, if the Good Lord allowed him a peek into this room right now,
Mike would be wearing a big smile too.

THE END

 

 

 

 

 

BOOK: Sweet Talking Cowboy
4.86Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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