Chapter Twenty
He had his cowgirl in his sights. Finally.
Although, she was still too far away.
Asher stood under the awning of Lucky Lane Tavern.
The Red, White and Bluegrass Parade was rolling slowly past him, turning from Derby Hollow Road onto Hitch Post Avenue.
Mayor Corbin had kicked off the July Fourth celebration earlier, leading the procession in the Grand Marshal’s horse-drawn wagon.
Flags waved nonstop. Cheers went up nonstop like a sparking current.
Asher skipped his gaze past the Front Porch Pickin’ Float and the local Bluegrass band playing a lively tune.
There.
A flash of crimson red and gold behind the 4H Farm Animal Showcase. He pushed away from the wall of the tavern. And suddenly, Kelley was there. She was radiant. Stunning. Heart-stoppingly so. Asher lost his breath and every bit of steady he thought he had.
His cowgirl was front and center of the Munroe sisters’ trinity.
Sitting atop Maple Moonlight, all confidence, courage and grace.
Her smile flashed brighter than the sun glinting off her gold crown.
There was more gold sparkling in her thick braid falling over one shoulder trailing down to her split riding skirt and Maple’s adornments.
Shimmery gold ribbon had even been woven through Maple’s plush red floral horse collar.
It was magical. Enchanting. Asher could not look away.
He was caught on a cowgirl, heart and all.
And wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
He was careful to stay beneath the shadow of the awning.
This was Kelley’s moment, and he wanted her to absorb every minute.
Soon enough, Asher hoped to have her in his arms for their own private sort of moment.
After he told her a few of those heartfelt truths he had been keeping to himself for far too long.
He waited until Kelley and her sisters rode past him, then with his cowgirl in his sights, he followed her along the last of the parade route.
Asher kept his greetings to folks on the sidewalk brief and matched his pace to Kelley’s.
The area in back of Briarwood Reserve was the parade’s disbanding area.
And the closer they all got, the more he fought the urge to run to her.
As it was, he lost the trio within the happy confusion of floats, band equipment and cheerful participants celebrating among themselves.
Then he spotted that flash of red and gold and beelined around a trailer and dodged a door opening of a 1948 Ford pickup.
The Blackwell trailer attached to Walter’s truck was parked at the end of the street.
A quick jog and he got to Kelley before she dismounted.
Elliot James and Edie Kincaid were about to assist Kelley. However, Asher stepped between the pair and got to his cowgirl first.
“Asher.” Kelley gasped, delight sparkling in her wide eyes.
He reached for her. And with her hands on his shoulders, Asher gripped her waist, swung her down and straight into his embrace.
Her arms curved around his neck. Her head fell back, and her laughter streamed out. She shifted and squeezed him close. “I can’t believe you are here.”
Asher could not believe he had his cowgirl right where he wanted her. He tightened his hold, watched as Edie led Maple away, then he said, “I couldn’t miss your parade comeback.”
More amusement escaped. Her hazel eyes flashed. “What did you think?”
“Incredible. So beautiful. Stunning, really.” He watched color bloom in her cheeks. “Truth is, you made me forget how to breathe.”
She stilled in his arms as if suddenly holding her own breath.
He caught her stare and opened the door to those truths he’d been holding on to. “And if breathless is how love is supposed to feel, then that’s how I want it. Forever.”
Her lips parted. Her eyes went impossibly round.
Someone shouted Kelley’s name, then Asher’s. The moment paused as if love now held its breath.
Footsteps sounded behind Asher.
Kelley glanced over his shoulder, set her forehead against Asher’s and whispered, “Pauline has spotted us, and she looks quite determined. I don’t think we can outrun her.”
He chuckled and hugged Kelley, then said, his tone serious, “There is still much more that needs to be said.”
“So much more,” she agreed.
The promise was there in the low hush of her words. That was enough for now. Asher slowly lowered Kelley’s boots to the ground yet kept his arm around her waist.
“Come on, you two.” Pauline jogged over, looking set to mobilize the group. “We’ve got to get a move on.”
“Where are we going?” Kelley asked, confusion in her words. “Asher and I were—”
“Coming with me. Back to the diner.” Pauline glanced quickly around, then called out, “Frannie, we need you as well.” Her gaze shifted to Kelley, and she asked, “Can Laura-Beth cook?”
Suddenly, Laura-Beth appeared beside them and said, “I can serve.”
“What is going on?” Asher asked and started following Pauline down the street.
“The Morning Gallop is here,” Pauline replied, practically sprinting and talking just as quickly now. “They want to feature the Galloping Fork Diner in their Hotspots for Foodies feature.”
Kelley’s hand found Asher’s. Her fingers entwined swiftly with his. Surprise overtook her expression. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” Amusement spread Pauline’s smile wide. “Apparently, Mayor Corbin’s comments were very convincing. So, they wanted to see what all the grilled cheese fuss was about for themselves.”
Asher squeezed Kelley’s hand and said, “There is a lot to make a fuss about when it comes to Kelley’s cooking.”
“We know that. Now we need to show the Morning Gallop staff,” Pauline said, looking cheerful. “But you should also know that Mayor Corbin would also like the diner to have a booth at the festival.”
Kelley shook her head. “The festival in the next hour or so?”
“That’s the one,” Pauline said.
Frannie sputtered. “Uh. Okay. That’s nothing to worry about, right?”
Kelley looked at Asher. Concern flickered in her hazel eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said and smiled. “I’m here for you. Tell me what you need. I got you.”
She searched his face, then her grip relaxed, and she said, “Together.” Certainty came through in her words. “Together. We totally got this.”
* * *
Hours later, the festival officially closed to allow families to prepare for the fireworks show, Kelley stood in a clearing on Whistle Bend Bluff. She shook her head. “This was a bad idea.” Turning on an LED candle, she placed it inside a Mason jar and muttered, “What was I thinking?”
Frannie laughed, gave Kelley a quick hug and took the Mason jar from her. “You were thinking that you are in love, and you want Asher to know it.”
Kelley scanned the clearing she had chosen to make her declaration to her cowboy.
A large navy-and-white gingham blanket covered part of the grassy area.
A packed picnic basket, several plush pillows and more blankets sat on top.
Mason jars lined the entire perimeter, sitting on rocks and tucked into the longer grass.
The candles inside the jars flickered, adding a mellow glow to the area.
“I think it looks amazing.” Frannie set her hands on her hips and surveyed their work. “It’s private and romantic and magical.”
“Like a secret garden for two.” That was what Kelley had envisioned. Still, she bit her bottom lip and considered the bouquet of a dozen red, white and blue roses near the picnic basket. “Maybe the flowers were a bit much. Who gives a cowboy flowers?”
“I think they are a perfect touch,” Frannie countered and adjusted several Mason jars to her liking. “And remember what I told you about what each rose color represents.”
“I got it.” Kelley bent and straightened the tassels on the blanket. “And if I can’t get the words out or if they get stuck in my throat, I’ll just thrust the roses at Asher and tell him these say it all.”
“You’re going to get the words out fine.” Frannie chuckled. “You just need to speak from your heart.”
Kelley rounded on her sister. “Francine Marie, when have you ever spoken from your heart to a cowboy?”
“I haven’t,” Frannie said, her words soothing. “And this is why you must get this perfect grand gesture completely right so I can one day follow in your footsteps, big sister.”
“Is this supposed to be a grand gesture?” Kelley blanched and shook her head again. “I don’t think it’s grand enough. And more importantly, will Asher consider it grand?”
“Wrong thought. Never mind.” Frannie stepped to Kelley’s side and wrapped her arm around Kelley’s shoulders. “This is just you telling a cowboy how you feel about him. The rest of this is a pretty backdrop.”
“And if he doesn’t feel the same?” Kelley arched an eyebrow at her little sister.
“As if.” Frannie’s gaze fairly danced. “The entire town watched Asher practically push Edie and Elliot out of the way so that he could sweep you off Maple’s back today at the parade.”
Her first time being swept off her boots and Kelley had rather liked it. A lot. She grinned. “Asher didn’t push them.”
Frannie chuckled. “Well, he certainly made his presence known. And Asher had every cowgirl in town sighing all day over how he looked after you and stuck by your side in the diner booth at the festival.”
That was quite nice. Asher had not hovered, yet her cowboy had seemed to know when Kelley needed him and been right there. Admittedly, Kelley liked knowing Asher was within quick reach. “I looked after him, too.”
Frannie tapped her finger lightly on Kelley’s nose. “And that is why you two are a perfect match.”
That and so many other reasons. Kelley clasped her hands together underneath her chin and nodded. “You’re right, Frannie. This is just what I wanted. And it is going to be grand.”
Frannie gave Kelley’s shoulders a squeeze, then checked her cell phone. “Laura-Beth and Wes are almost here with Asher. So that is my cue to leave.”
The blissful couple was set to leave for their honeymoon in the morning, but they wanted in on Kelley’s reunion with Asher first. Kelley inhaled and worked to slow her pulse.