Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 (21 page)

The reception didn’t go exactly as planned, but no one seemed to care. Molly and Bridger, in consultation with midwife Lorie Marshall, had quickly determined that Maddie’s baby was going to be born in Sweetgrass—and soon, three weeks early or not. Boone had carried Maddie to Ruby’s house, where the guest room downstairs had been pressed into service. EMS was headed their way, but they were on the other side of the county.

The contractions were too close together to be driving her to the hospital a hundred miles away, though Jackson had offered his plane or anything they needed. Molly wasn’t concerned after hearing the baby’s estimated weight at last doctor’s appointment and with all vital signs good.

“I’d certainly like better monitoring, I admit,” she’d muttered.

“Tell me what you need. You and Bridger make a list. We need a full-service clinic in town, at a minimum,” Jackson said. “That goes to the top of my list.”

Molly’s brows flew, and she and her brother exchanged meaningful glances. “Nice friends you have, bro.”

Bridger grinned. “I told you Sweetgrass was unique.”

Meanwhile the party had moved to the diner to be closer to Ruby’s. Right off, the quilters brought out the wedding ring quilt they’d made for the newlyweds.

Veronica cried and stroked it. “Oh, Melba…Joyce…Earlene…I don’t know what to say—oh! Look! That’s a piece of Bethie’s sundress.”

“Ben got into your box of clothes you’d saved from the children.” Ruth Sudduth smiled.

“You’re not upset, are you?” her sister Linda Vise asked. “We thought you would be pleased to have mementos of your children in it, too.”

“I’m not,” Veronica assured. She glanced at her son. “Benjamin, I love you.”

Ben all but shuffled his feet. “No big, Mom.” Then he pointed. “But you may not be real happy when you notice that your holiday apron got cut up.” He winced. “I figured that was better than taking any of your clothes. I couldn’t find anything from when you were a kid. Are you mad?”

“How could I be?”

Relief swept over his features. “Did you see Dad’s jersey Aunt Rissa found from when he was in high school?”

Jackson peered over her shoulder and beamed. “Oh, man…from the year we won State.” He clapped Ben on the back, then looked around at the group of women who’d quilted with his mother. “How on earth did you ever get this done?”

“Mel Brown gave up her dining room for us to set up a quilting frame. We’ve spent so much time together,” Linda Johnson joked, “we’re sick of each other.”

The group laughed. “Not true, Jackson,” said Joyce Walden. “We loved your mother. She would have wanted to do this for you herself.”

“She would have,” he agreed. “We will treasure this.” One by one he made his way around, bending from his great height to hug them, Veronica following suit, holding the quilt close and asking for stories of each fabric.

In the far corner of the dining room, Lilah Rose wasn’t thrilled that neither of her parents nor her beloved Bridger were on hand, so Abby and Beth, Davey Gallagher, Clarissa and Grant Marshall plus Christina Marlowe teamed with Perrie to act out one of Perrie’s children’s stories to the delight of everyone, not just Lilah Rose.

Penny decamped to Ruby’s when the other adults assured her they had things well in hand. She couldn’t assist Bridger, but she wanted to be close.

He came out to see her once. “It’s going fast. No signs of fetal distress, thank goodness, and Maddie’s holding up well. She’s a natural.”

“I heard her chewing out Boone.”

He grinned. “Women do that. Scare you off, Shark Girl?”

She screwed up her face. “I like being in control.”

He burst out laughing. “No kidding.” He bent to her. “But I make you lose it regularly, don’t I?”

She smiled. “That you do.”

“And you survive just fine.”

She looked at him, stripped down to a t-shirt smeared with unnamed fluids, latex gloves on his hands.

He held fast, no matter what life threw at him. He’d been to war, he’d nearly died. He cradled babies and defended the innocent. He was brave and strong and valiant—

And fun. And, oh yeah, sexy enough to fry her every last nerve ending.

“What? What’s going on in that busy brain?”

Let’s get married
, she thought.
Right now
.

Molly called his name.

“Love you. Gotta go.” He kissed her quickly and took off.

She’d never loved him more.

She set off in search of her brother. They’d shared one important date.

Maybe he wouldn’t mind adding another.

Jackson laughed when she found him and explained. “Of course I don’t mind. I kinda like it.” He grinned and looked at the woman he hadn’t let go of yet. “Vee?”

“Bridger would be so happy. Of course we don’t. But you don’t have a wedding dress.”

“I don’t care. We have to wait and be sure Maddie and the baby are okay first, though.”

“Are you worried? Is Bridger?”

“They don’t seem to be concerned. Molly says both baby and Maddie are doing well.” She chuckled. “Boone’s getting the sharp side of Maddie’s tongue, though.”

Harley Sykes overheard. “It’s a man’s lot. My Melba cussed me up one hill and down the next.”

“What are you saying about me, old man?” Melba called out.

“Nothing—” Harley winked at them and left.

“Leave this to me,” Veronica said. “Brenda? Let’s go take a look at the flowers.”

“No, Veronica—you just got married,” Penny protested. “You can’t—”

“We’ll all help,” Jackson said. “Ian, Mackey, let’s round up the troops. My sister has decided to uphold the Gallagher wedding tradition.”

Just then Bridger burst through the back door. “Lilah Rose?” he called out. “Dalton and Sam? You ready to go meet your new sister?”

“Bwidge!”

The room erupted into relieved laughter.

“Maddie’s okay? The baby’s okay?”

“They’re both fine. The baby is nearly eight pounds, even early.” Bridger bent and caught Lilah Rose as she raced pell-mell toward him and her brothers followed. He turned to go.

“Bridger, wait—” Penny called out.

He turned back. “You want to come?”

“No—yes—that’s not it.”

“Okay…”

She clasped her hands and wrung them. “Bridger, will you marry me?”

He grinned. “Legs, I asked you first. When we were na—” He halted, a devil’s gleam in his eyes.

“TMI, my man,” Jackson warned. Then laughed. Others joined him.

She tried to ignore them, nerves jumping. “I mean… now.”

His brows rose to his hairline. “Now?” He glanced down at his stained t-shirt. “Like
now
now?”

“I’ll just take these kids to see their mom,” Dev said, scooping up Lilah Rose. “Boys? Lace, come with me?”

“Okay, Uncle Dev,” answered Dalton. Sam followed right behind.

“Maddie will want to be there, you know,” Lacey murmured to Penny and Bridger as they passed.

“But—” How long would that take?

“Legs, we could wait. It won’t hurt anything.”

She didn’t want to wait now.

“Is that a pout I see, Penelope?” Bridger’s grin was irresistible.

Scarlett stepped up. “Maddie’s pretty tough. Everyone else is already at the courthouse getting things ready, Bridger. I’ll go see what Molly thinks and what Maddie wants to do, okay?” She looked him up and down, then grinned. “Meanwhile, need a new shirt?”

He glanced at himself then back up to Penny with that mischievous grin. “For better or worse, Legs?”

She smiled right back. “I’ll take you however I can get you.”

He reached for her. “A big hug on that?”

She jumped back. “Eww! Don’t mess up my dress!”

“That’s my Shark Girl.” Bridger threw back his head and laughed.

It was eleven-thirty when Penny finally had her chance, only they weren’t getting married at the courthouse, after all. Maddie might be tough, but there was no way Penny was making her travel, even across the town square.

The wedding was to be held in Ruby’s parlor. The old house had been built in the late 1800s, and it was an example of old-fashioned grace. The parlor and living room sat across the entry from one another, with sliding doors that could be opened to the foyer and to the formal dining room beyond the parlor.

Half of Sweetgrass was crowded inside, waiting, when Penny made her own trip down Ruby’s front staircase on her father’s arm.

She was wearing a different gown, one of the only formal ones she’d brought with her to Sweetgrass, never expecting to be married in it.

But it worked for her.

It was siren-red.

She couldn’t help grinning as Bridger’s eyes just about popped out of his head.

He’d cleaned up nicely, too, in a silver-gray suit borrowed from Jackson and a blinding white shirt with a red tie that fortuitously matched her gown.

Or they had a mole. Veronica, probably. Such a romantic.

Penny was feeling pretty romantic herself right now.

Mackey and Jackson stood up with Bridger, while Rissa and Veronica were her attendants. Veronica still had on her wedding gown, though she’d offered to change.

Penny wouldn’t hear of it. She felt like Mama was with them because of the dress. Rissa was still in her cerulean gown from Jackson’s wedding. Abby and Beth had had a little nap, and they were reprising their roles as flower girls, too, while Ben played usher.

Maddie was ensconced in a chaise, her sleeping newborn cradled in her arms. Boone stood over them both, their boys at his side and Lilah Rose in his arms. She looked ready to leap toward her Bwidge.

Penny had to smile. Would they have a little pistol like her one day?

Quite possibly. Lilah Rose was a Gallagher girl, after all.

Then she and her father were in front of Judge Porter, who’d also had a nap.

“Who gives this woman?” he asked.

“Her mother and I,” James responded. He looked at Penny. “She’s here with us. I feel her.”

Penny bent her head to her father’s shoulder and pressed her lips together. Oh, how she wished she could hug Mama, too. Then she sniffed and straightened. “Thank you, Daddy. I love you.” She kissed his cheek.

“Proud of you, Princess.” He sent Bridger a mock-glare. “You better take care of her, son. She’s precious to me.”

Bridger made a solemn nod. “To me, as well, sir. You can count on it.”

James smiled. “I believe you.” Her father released her to Bridger, and she took his arm.

“Hey there, Legs.” He winked. “You sure are gorgeous.”

She smiled back. “I wouldn’t mind if you suffered a little.”

He scanned her in one long, slow roll. “Trust me, I am.”

Judge Porter cleared his throat. “An unruly family you have here, James.”

“I certainly do, Daniel.”

Laughter poured over them like a blessing.

“Well, now. Shall we get on with it?”

Oh, yeah. She was more than ready.

Penny missed half of Judge Porter’s words because her gaze was locked on Bridger’s, and worlds swirled in those golden eyes. Promises and dreams, delights they would share, so many moments to look forward to…

“Penny?”

“Yes?”

“Would you care to go first, to make your vows to him?”

She smiled into Bridger’s eyes. “I really would.” And so she began. “I, Penelope Lucinda Gallagher, take you, Bridger McCarthy Calhoun, to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to honor and to cherish, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live.”

The old-fashioned words were a comfort, a sealing of a promise that spooled back hundreds of years before the two of them.

She thought about The Lady and her soldier. Where were they now? Had they ever had the chance to make their own vows?

Could they be half so happy?

Bridger began to make his promises in a deep voice, and she was mesmerized by him. Couldn’t see anything but this amazing man who had chosen to overlook all that was not easy about her.

“…For as long as we both shall live,” he finished.

And didn’t smile but instead looked solemnly, seriously into her eyes.

“Do you have a ring for her, Bridger?”

“I do.” Then the irrepressible Bridger awoke. He waggled his eyebrows at her, no doubt remembering the morning and their state of undress.