Chapter 35 #2
They parked in front of the main homestead, where Wilder still lived with his parents in the West Wing—at least until after the honeymoon. She found Mocha, Nacho, and Sheepskin in the front yard.
“Momma, where’s Carl?” Gal asked. “You said Carl was going to be in the wedding.”
“Carl is going to be with Wilder, baby.” Savannah checked the rearview, unbuckled, and turned. “It’s how we’re going to get the llamas down the aisle without causing a scene. Remember?”
She smiled at her mother and let everyone get out first. Many of the Glovers had gotten married at True Blue down the road, but today the ceremony sat in the large family gathering area by the fire pit, outdoor barbecues, and ring of seats.
Cars lined the road in front of the ranch house where Wilder’s aunt and uncle lived, and all the way to the end where another aunt and uncle always hosted a Christmas light show.
Nerves ran rampant through Savannah now. She gathered Gal and Sequoia to her side like a hen protecting her chicks. “Stay right by me, babies,” she said. “Remember, Grandma and Granny Oakley will have to go sit down as part of the wedding party.”
“When is it going to be our turn?” Gal whispered, though they were outside and alone.
“Very soon,” Savannah said as her mother and Oakley crossed the street in their diamonds and heels.
Savannah’s best friend, Cissy, had been tasked with telling her when everything was ready.
In the rehearsal yesterday, Cissy had met her at an opening between two buildings; that sidewalk became the aisle, leading to an altar at the back of the graveled area where Wilder would be waiting with Carl.
“Let’s get our llamas,” Savannah said. “Remember, Gal, you’re taking Mocha, and Sequoia, you’ve got Sheepskin.”
She expected Gal to argue—they’d fought about who got to lead which llama—but either Savannah had been forceful enough earlier, or God had comforted her child, because Gal simply skipped to Mocha and picked up the lead. “Come on, girl,” she chirped. “Momma’s getting married today.”
Once everyone had a lead secured, they started across the street at a slow crawl. Savannah didn’t have her phone and would have to rely on others for cues. Back in the more private area behind the buildings, trees ringed the space and a slight breeze ruffled across Shiloh Ridge.
“Let’s wait here, girls,” she said, her nerves growing wings. Yesterday, Cissy had showed up almost immediately. Today, seconds ticked by, and still her best friend didn’t appear.
Savannah was about to send Sequoia ahead when Cissy stepped out from between the buildings in a gorgeous, apricot dress with wide shoulder straps and her hair piled on top of her head.
She smiled widely, her peach-tinted lips gleaming, and beckoned.
“They’re ready,” she whispered as Savannah got close.
“Now remember, you girls go down side-by-side and then wait for your Momma.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sequoia said, drawing a deep breath like she was about to make the hardest walk of her life.
Savannah loved her with her whole heart and watched Sequoia reach for Gal’s hand.
The two latched on to one another and took the first step.
Tears pricked Savannah’s eyes at the way her girls loved one another.
Cissy hooked an arm through Savannah’s. “This is a gorgeous dress.”
Savannah glanced down at the lace bodice and the frilly tulle that started just below her bust and flared in every direction.
She had no train; the dress stopped at her heels, her cowgirl boots peeking out—perfect for marrying a cowboy billionaire like Wilder, and sure to make him smile, laugh, pull her close, and say how much he liked them.
She floated down the sidewalk, and the entirety of her future opened before her. Then she stepped into place, and everything snapped into reality.
Across the gravel stood Wilder in a deep black suit with matching boots and a cowboy hat. One hand rested lazily in his pocket; the other held a rope loosely, Carl at his side. The llama stood nearly as tall as Wilder.
Their eyes met, and electricity flowed freely between them. Chairs curved around the space, Wilder at the epicenter and Savannah at the other end. “Go on, girls,” she said.
Sequoia walked to the left, along the back row to a secondary aisle at the same time Gal went right.
They would meet in the widened middle, where three girls and three llamas could walk together.
Potted plants spilled bluebonnets, red poppies, crimson roses, and bright yellow sunflowers along that aisle—a nod to the flower cowboy her girls had fallen in love with long ago.
Savannah took careful, measured steps, noting Sequoia’s eyes locked on hers while Gal waved at everyone she knew, drawing giggles and twitters from the crowd.
Savannah stopped in the middle, grinning at Wilder while the girls brought their llamas back over to her.
She threaded Nacho’s lead over her elbow, then took Gal’s hand in her right and Sequoia’s in her left.
The three walked side by side, flanked by Mocha and Sheepskin, with Nacho hurrying them all along to Wilder.
At the altar, Wilder crouched and opened his arms. The twins rushed into his embrace. He said something in his calm, quiet cowboy way; they both nodded. He kissed their cheeks, then stood. “Go put the llamas where they belong.”
The girls obeyed. Savannah handed off Nacho’s lead, her eyes never leaving the cowboy she loved.
“Sorry we’re running a little late, sweetheart,” he said. “Were you worried?”
Savannah shook her head, though she had been a touch concerned. “A story you’ll have to tell me later.”
“Definitely.”
The girls returned to her side, and they all stepped forward together. Wilder slid a hand to her waist, pressed his cheek to hers, drew a deep breath, and murmured, “I love you so much, Savvy.”
“I love you too, Wild.” She felt shiny, full of glowing energy.
“Time to get married,” Gal announced.
Savannah and Wilder laughed with the rest of the crowd—because yes, it was definitely time to get married.