38. Sarah
Chapter 38
Sarah
Everything was perfect. A light sprinkle of snow came down last night and the pine trees around Johnny and Willow’s cabin had a thin dusting of white while the beautiful deep green of the pine needles shone through. The bright sun kept the cold temperature bearable.
I’d helped Stephanie unload their wedding cake onto the display table earlier this morning before I was swept away to spend hours getting our nails, hair, and makeup done by a group of experts Willow had flown in from Nashville.
Bubbles from the champagne I drank were giving me an airy feeling in my mind, or maybe it was just the sensation of being surrounded by so much love.
“I’m almost ready!” Willow called through the door of their bathroom while I waited in their bedroom.
“Okay!” I took another sip of champagne, cherishing the moment we were in together. My two best friends were getting married today. They’d fought through countless obstacles and over a decade of separation to get here. Love always had a way of winning if we were willing to fight for it.
The door behind me creaked open. I turned around and tears immediately burned my eyes. “Oh my gosh. Willow!” I whispered, bringing a shaking hand to cover my trembling lips.
Her face fell in a heap of emotions. “No, no, no!” Setting my champagne flute on the bedside table, I made my way to her. The fabric of my gown swished across the hardwood floors.
“No, crying.” I snagged a tissue from the box we’d been carrying around with us all day and handed it to her. “Your makeup is too perfect to ruin it this early.”
She dabbed the corners of her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “Okay. Yes, you’re right.” Blinking a few times to keep the tears at bay, she finally looked at me again. Taking her hands in mine, I gave them a squeeze.
“If there were any two people in the world who deserved to have a day like this, it’s you and Johnny. Willow, you have shown me that despite your biggest fears, love is worth fighting for. Today, we all get to celebrate what you and Johnny fought for.”
She sniffled. “You’re going to make me cry again.”
Carefully, I took the tissue from her and ran it gently under her eyes to gather the stray tears that built up. “Are you ready to go marry your man?”
She nodded, unable to form words. I could see she was barely holding on and I needed to get her down the aisle before she totally lost it.
“Alright, let me make sure the coast is clear.” I opened the door and found the rest of the cabin to be completely silent.
“We’re good to go.” I turned back to Willow and gave her a big hug. “It’s time.”
“Okay,” she managed to say. I took her hand in mine and we walked out the door of their bedroom to the back door of the cabin.
With a final hug, I whispered, “I’ll see you out there. I love you, Willow.”
She held me tighter. “I love you too, Sarah.”
I left Willow to stand with the door cracked so she could hear the music for her cue. When I stepped onto the back deck, my breath caught when my gaze landed on Ranger. His shoulder length black curls were shining under the brim of his black cowboy hat. A baby blue long sleeve shirt peeked through the deep brown of his sports coat, bringing out the hue of his eyes. Every curve of his muscular thighs were accentuated with the grip of his blue jeans.
He looked delicious and I wanted a bite.
But the music started. The cue for me to walk down the aisle. So, I wrapped my fingers around the small bouquet of flowers that were waiting for me on the deck’s railing, I squared my shoulders and made my way down the aisle. The rose petals outlining the aisle glimmered in the sunlight. Mrs. Sheehan, their officiant, gave me a warm smile as I neared the end .
“You look so handsome, Johnny.” I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as he hugged me.
“Thank you.”
“You’re going to love her in white.” I winked at him. His laughter was rich as tears lined his eyes.
I took my spot opposite of Johnny and Deacon and turned my attention toward the people in front of me. It was a small group, but that didn’t matter. Every person here today was a champion for the love Johnny and Willow shared. They were members of our family. One we’d created from love and respect. It made my heart sing knowing that my best friends would receive nothing but joy and admiration on their day.
When the music transitioned, I stole a glance at Johnny. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, barely able to contain himself. Then the door of the cabin opened and everyone gasped and awed at the sight of Willow. Her long veil trailed behind her as she started her walk down the aisle.
Johnny’s face crumpled, tears flowing freely down his face. I couldn’t help the tears that started to roll down mine.
Love was so damn beautiful .
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Willow made her way to Johnny. When they were standing in front of one another holding hands, Mrs. Sheehan began, “We are gathered here today to celebrate the eternal love of Willow Baxley and Johnny Moore.”
As she continued, I found myself staring at Ranger, unable to look away from him. His face was illuminated with a brilliant smile. I’d never seen him look so happy before. The joy on his face as he looked back at me had my mind reeling to a future where it was the two of us standing before everyone we loved, sharing words of endearment and promises of forever.
Our love had been a crazy ride and I knew life probably had a million more wild moments in store for us. But he was mine and I was his. That was the only thing that mattered.
Everyone’s cheers and claps tore me from my thoughts and I looked to Johnny and Willow just in time to see them seal their vows with a kiss. Giggles blossomed from my chest as Johnny dipped Willow in an elaborate bow and kissed her again. Asher barked his excitement and dashed towards Willow, licking her face before Johnny could swing her upright again.
Laughter roared around them. It was the perfect beginning to the rest of their lives together.
They made their way back down the aisle, Asher prancing right beside them. Deacon and I high-fived before following the happy couple.
Doing my best not to topple over in my heels, I lifted my gown and jogged towards Ranger. Catching me in his arms, he spun us around before pressing his lips to mine. Butterflies soared in my stomach as his lips made their way to my jaw, then the edge of my ear, and down to my neck.
“Get a room!” Deacon called to us.
“I second that!” Callie Rose said, passing by us and following Willow and Johnny down the winding path that led to the outdoor reception area.
He stopped spinning us but still held me in his arms so my feet were off the ground. “What they don’t realize is just how tempted I am to carry you away to a room and have my way with you.”
I kissed the tip of his nose. “As badly as I want that too, I have a bouquet to catch, cowboy.”
His dark brows rose. “Is that right, sugar?”
“Mmhmm.” I nodded quickly, a smile pulling at my lips.
My feet touched the ground as his hand slipped over mine, our fingers intertwining. “Well then. We better get our asses moving.”
Ranger’s scent of warm leather hung around me as we swayed side-to-side on the dance floor. Willow and Johnny had chosen a clearing in the woods several yards in front of the lake to hold their small reception. But they’d thought of everything to keep the party going all night long. Heat lamps were placed every few feet around the dance floor and they lined the walking path to the tables, bar, and food area. Twinkle lights hung in all the trees, casting a beautiful glow over all of us.
When the song came to an end, Ranger whispered in my ear, “Go for a walk with me.”
“Okay,” I whispered back, letting him lead me off the dance floor. I’d discarded my heels hours ago and Ranger had brought me a pair of winter hiking boots to keep my feet warm. We strode arm in arm through the trees next to the lake until we found a little alcove. It was a clear winter night with the moon hanging high and the stars shining bright.
I rubbed my hands together to ward off the cold. Ranger cupped his hands around mine and brought them up to his lips. Hot air blew over my skin, warming my fingers and palms.
“Thank you.”
He pressed a kiss to my knuckles before taking me into his side, wrapping an arm around me so we could both look out at the water.
It was so easy with him. Standing in silence while we both took in the scenery around us. My heart felt full and yet I knew there was still room for all the moments we’d have together like this.
“Willow and Johnny’s vows got me thinking,” he said, voice low.
“Oh yeah?” I glanced up at him sidelong.
He shifted so we were able to look at one another. “I don’t say it nearly as often as I should. Mostly because I don’t know how to communicate my feelings very well. When it comes to you, Sarah, I feel a hell of a lot.”
A smile had my lips tilting upward.
“I need you to know that you saved my life. Before you came along, I was a shell of a man. Tired of waiting for something to change in me, but too scared to do anything about it. When you asked me out on a date, I felt excited for the first time since I went to prison. I stopped myself from giving in to it because I was ashamed. I felt like I deserved to be punished for what I’d done and how it stole time away from my family.
“Then I saw you on that Ferris wheel and I think some part of me knew I’d loved you even then. My soul called to yours and from that point on, there was no more resisting you or what I felt.
“And I know that choosing to be with me hasn’t been the easiest path for you. It’s caused a riff in your life that I wish I could mend more than anything. I just want you to know that I will spend the rest of my life making sure you feel like your choice was worth the sacrifice.”
My heart fluttered at his proclamation and the way love shone in his eyes as he slipped his hand through my hair, letting it rest at the base of my neck. I realized I would always feel electric when his hands were on me. Our love ran too deep for me to not be affected by his touch.
“Well, there’s one vital mistake you’ve made, cowboy.” I grabbed the lapels of his coat and brought him closer to me. “It’s thinking that there is anything in this world that I wouldn’t happily sacrifice to be with you. And it’s not just because I love you beyond measure. It’s because you’ve been my strength when I had none. You supported me and showed me what family means when my own family was never capable of doing that.
“You’ve made me feel brave when I was scared. And you’ve taught me that there are so many moments to cherish if I’m just willing to let my heart be open to them. You let me love you and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. ”
He chuckled, a warm throaty laugh as silver lined his eyes.
“I love you,” I said. “And I’d give up everything to keep doing that.”
Warmth spread through my face when his lips met mine. He pulled me close, running his fingers down my spine as I opened up for him. His tongue rolled against mine in a slow tantalizing motion that had heat pooling in my center. A preview for what was surely to come later tonight.
“Sarah! Ranger!” Someone called for us, their voice echoing through the trees.
“Damnit,” Ranger whispered against my mouth. He grabbed my ass and groaned. “I’m getting a piece of this later.”
“I’m down for that, cowboy. But I still have a bouquet to catch.”
“If that’ll get you to marry me faster, then maybe I’m not as upset.”
I waggled my eyebrows at him. “Maybe I could be convinced.” We turned to head back to the reception area. We called out to whoever was yelling our names to let them know we were coming.
The only people in line for Willow’s bouquet were Callie Rose and me. She had a look of tortured pain on her face as she tried to hide herself in the corner of the dance floor even though her brother kept urging her to move forward. She shot him a crude gesture and Ranger laughed.
Fine by me, I had one goal in mind and that was to catch the flying bundle of flowers.
“Ready?” Willow looked at us over her shoulder.
I rubbed my hands together, playfully.
“That’s my girl!” Ranger called to me, his hands creating a cup around his mouth.
“One! Two! Three!” The flowers soared through the air, tree canopies, and the open night sky a perfect landscape above.
I was thankful I didn’t have my heels on anymore because Willow threw long and I had to dart backwards to catch them. The stems landed in my hands, delicate petals flickering to the floor from the impact.
“Woohoo!” I hollered, raising my arms above my head. More petals flitted down around me.
Everyone clapped and Ranger dashed onto the dance floor, picked me up, and spun me around. I let my head tilt back as laughter bubbled from my chest.
When we stopped, I slid down his front and showed him the now-destroyed bundle of flower stems, with only a few petals remaining.
“I got it!”
“You know what that means now, sugar.”
“What’s that?”
He smiled at me. “We’re next.”