Epilogue
Three Months Later…
There was a breeze that day, a nice one. It carried through the trees, bringing with it the scent of fresh wildflowers and hay.
Spring had come. Josie’s favorite time of the year. It had been difficult loving much of anything for a while after Amelia’s passing. But now, she’d learned to love things again. Cash had made it a little easier. Even as infuriating as he was sometimes.
Today was another reason to be happy for Spring. It was a day that had been long coming.
The little chapel sat on the edge of Austin. It was nothing fancy from the outside—whitewashed wood, a pitch roof, and a modest little steeple beneath the sky. But that sky was lovely today. A perfect hue of blue, dotted with even more perfect puffy white clouds.
And the inside of the church was decorated beautifully.
Sunlight spilled in through the tall narrow windows on either side of the building, windows framed by lace curtains that fluttered in the wind.
The rough wooden rafters and beams were softened by draped linens from Clara’s shop, lit with lanterns.
There were even a few garlands of fresh wildflowers from the ranch that had been strung between the pews.
Josie stood at the front of the church, hands clasped together as she looked down the aisle at the glowing bride.
Clara Whitmore looked radiant. Her dress was lovely.
Yellow and bright, flowing around her like an airy cloud, clinging to her waist perfectly.
It swayed with every step she took. She had spent weeks stitching it, and Josie had helped.
Her honey-colored hair was gathered low at the nape of her neck, braided and threaded with a few wildflowers and a delicate pearl comb. Her cheeks were rosy.
Luke stood at the foot of the altar, dressed in his Sunday best—a pressed shirt, black vest, and new black boots that had been shined that morning. His hair was slicked back. And the expression his face made Josie’s heart clench.
The way he looked at his bride—like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. His eyes were fastened on Clara like she was the only thing he ever wanted in this world. As if the sun rose and set out of her.
That was the thing that had been missing in Josie’s own wedding.
It wasn’t missing anymore. She stole a glance at Cash, who stood next to Luke in support as the music began to play and the bride breezed down the aisle, arm looped in her father’s elbow.
Cash had worn his best shirt. One that Josie had made for him.
Light blue fabric, tucked into newly sewn brown trousers.
His blue eyes weren’t on the bride, though, and they weren’t on his brother.
They were on Josie. She blushed under his gaze.
She wasn’t sure what was making her so giddy—him, or the music, or the flowers.
She could smell their sweet scent of the flowers—daisies, bluebells, and baby’s breath in every bouquet and along the entire aisle.
Even in Clara’s hands. Josie smiled, recalling how Luke had spent the entire day before picking those flowers.
Her heart beat nervously all of a sudden as Clara reached Luke at the head of the aisle, tall Mr. Whitmore still bearing her on his arm, looking proudly at her.
It’s time.
Josie looked between the happy couple. She’d never seen the two of them more joyful than in this moment. She had begun to think of Clara as a sister.
Not to replace Amelia, but to accompany her, as one of the most important people to ever grace her life. She could gratefully say that she loved spring again—and some of that was because of Clara Whitmore—or rather, soon-to-be Clara Montgomery, her sister-in-law.
She watched as Reverend Johnson placed Clara’s hand in Luke’s.
The reverend began to speak, but Josie hardly heard the words. She was too absorbed in watching the way they continued to look at one another, how their hands trembled just slightly as they held one another.
The entire room seemed to still, as if the little congregation in the pews was holding its breath.
There was no grand organ, no violin. Just a small fiddle and a few people there to celebrate true love—Clara’s family, the Montgomerys, Hank and the ranch hands, and a half dozen other close friends.
Josie loved listening to the wedding vows. They were simple. Simple, yet powerful. Nothing more needed to be said. Not that anything needed to be said at all between these two. The love they had for one another was obvious enough.
Reverand Johnson read from the good book, and Luke and Clara repeated their vows after him, promising themselves forever to one another. And then, finally, the reverend paused for a moment and cleared his throat.
“Do you, Luke Montgomery, take Clara Watkins to be your wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”
Luke’s voice was thick with emotion as he said, “I do.”
Josie could feel that same emotion clutching at her own throat. She wasn’t sure how he was holding himself together. She was already about to sob. She could feel tears burn the brims of her eyes, and she could have sworn she saw Clara on the brink of crying as well.
“Do you, Clara Watkins, take Luke Montgomery, to be your husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me by God and this great state of Texas, I now pronounce you man and wife,” Reverend Johnson announced. “You may kiss your bride.”
And Luke didn’t hesitate. He cupped Clara’s face in his hands and kissed her like a man who had waited his whole life for this moment.
Josie’s heart leapt. That was the truth—he had been waiting his whole life for her.
They swept down the aisle, beaming, as man and wife, and were followed quickly out of the church by everyone else.
As soon as the couple made it to the bottom of the church steps, the ranch hands and Beau and Hank all clapped tastefully—and then, like men who had been stifled for far too long, they let loose.
Loud cheers of “Yeehaw! Woo!” broke out. Whistles sounded. Cash and Josie just looked at one another, and she was laughing as the two of them held back, clasping each other’s hands, letting the chaos flood around Luke and Clara.
Cash didn’t look stoic at all in that moment. He looked overjoyed for his brother. Josie’s heart beamed. As if there wasn’t reason enough to be in love with the man. He loved his brother, and wanted his brother happy, and it made her fall in love with him all over again.
***
The whistles and cheers didn’t stop, not the entire way back to the ranch.
“They sure were eager to hoot and holler,” Cash mused, grabbing Josie’s hand as they trekked through the yard toward the party. And he was right. They sure were—and they were more boisterous now than she had ever seen them before.
Beau and Cash had pulled out all the stops for a wedding celebration.
The long wooden tables they’d procured from a willing neighbor were all over the front yard, covered in blue and white checkered cloth, littered with vases and tins of yellow daisies.
There was roasted meat on one table, cornbread, and pies and sweets galore. Josie had never seen so much food.
Hank had even pulled out a fiddle, a talent Josie hadn’t known he’d had, and began to play a lively tune. People began dancing almost immediately. Boots kicked up dust under strings of glowing lanterns that the boys had strung up all around the trees.
Josie found herself watching the dancing from the side, smiling at Samuel tucked neatly in Mrs. Guthrie’s arms. “Thank you so much for keeping an eye on him today,” she said to the older woman.
It had been a happy accident that she’d run into Mrs. Guthrie after Randall Pierce was gone from her life. She had ridden back to Lockhart with Cash to look for fabric for Clara’s dress, a specific fabric that she knew was sold in Mrs. Guthrie’s shop.
And am I glad I did. The woman had always been sweet to her. Kind. And Josie never forgot those who had been kind to her. There hadn’t been many, but they counted for a lot.
“We’re just so glad to see you both so happy,” Mrs. Guthrie said, beaming with happiness as she looked down at Samuel. “He looks just like your sister…”
Tears burned Josie’s eyes as she nodded gratefully. “Thank you—thank you both, for everything.”
“If you ever need a job, you know you’re always welcome back,” Mrs. Guthrie offered.
Josie nodded. “I appreciate it so much… but I think I’ll stay here,” she laughed. She’d been working with Clara in the shop, but not because she needed the money. She just liked making dresses with Clara.
“We figured as much, but the door is always open, dear,” Mrs. Guthrie said with a smile, and Josie smiled back.
She had to admit, it was nice not having a baby constantly on her hip or toddling around during the wedding ceremony.
She was grateful that she knew people she trusted to watch him for her.
She hadn’t had that before. For the first time, she felt like she could breathe when Samuel wasn’t in sight. He was finally safe.
All the same, Josie was glad to perch him on her hip now as they watched couples spin and sway with the lively fiddle music.
She started moving on her own accord, moving Samuel with the rhythm of the music.
He clapped along excitedly, his chubby little fingers grasping at the air.
She giggled and spun, holding him close.
“Mind if I steal him for a bit?” Cash whispered in her ear, walking up behind her. His breath was warm on her skin.
She smiled wide and Samuel stretched out short little arms to Cash, who was already smiling at him. He lifted up the little boy effortlessly and rested him on his shoulders.
Samuel squealed and giggled in pure joy, gripping Cash’s hair. “Papa!” he cried happily.
Josie’s heart fluttered. The sight of them together—Cash, a rugged cowboy, doting on little Samuel as if he was his own… it sent a warmth through her that settled deep inside.
“You’re pretty good at that,” she observed.
Cash chuckled, bouncing Samuel lightly to make him laugh. “Reckon I’ve had some practice by now. …I am his papa, right?” he added, a little uncertainly. His blue eyes met Josie’s, something unreadable passing through them. “He’d be happy with that?”
Josie swallowed. “Yes.”
And she meant it. On both accounts.
They stood in comfortable silence as the crowd of people danced and laughed all around them. For a moment, it seemed like just the two of them all over again, looking into each other’s eyes—holding their son.
Cash nudged her to look next to her, though, and when she did, she saw Luke and Clara walking into the clearing, hand in hand.
The music slowed. It was their first dance as husband and wife. The way they held each other, so tenderly, made Josie’s heart ache in the best kind of way. They were so deeply in love.
“You ever think about it?” Cash asked suddenly.
Josie turned to him as Samuel giggled. “Think about what?”
His gaze lingered on the couple before flicking back to her. “Doin’ this one day. A wedding celebration like this.”
Her breath caught, but before she could answer, Samuel reached for her, his little hands waving excitedly. She took him from Cash, using the moment to gather her thoughts.
“We had a wedding…” she began uncertainly.
He shook his head and cleared his throat. “No, I mean a real celebration like this. One where you mean your vows and celebrate them. You could wear your dress. You looked so pretty…”
Josie blushed. “I never thought about it…”
Cash’s fingers grazed hers as she shifted Samuel in her arms. “Maybe we can,” he said quietly. “I’ll wear my nicest suit.”
Her heart stuttered, but before she could say anything, Hank appeared, clapping Cash on the back. “Come on, no sittin’ out this time. You owe the bride a dance!”
Cash grumbled but let himself be pulled into the shuffle, shooting Josie a lingering look before disappearing into the whirling dancers.
She exhaled slowly, her heart still fluttering. A smile spread across her face.
What a good day.
And what a wonderful thing to look forward to—a real wedding celebration?
Not just that. A real marriage, with a real husband. A real papa for Samuel.
THE END?
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