Chapter Twenty
Frustrated, Carson paced the bedroom. It was Friday night. The women had had a party for Abby over at Laura’s and Hayden’s house and the men had taken him out for a drink to Grey’s Saloon.
In between the work today, they’d moved furniture in the big homestead for the wedding, put out chairs, and helped the women where they could.
As with Dylan’s and June’s wedding, everyone had pitched in for the food and tantalizing smells from the kitchen had followed them all day.
He now wanted to be with his fiancée. Why did she have to stay at another house? It was ridiculous and outdated. Grabbing his coat, he stormed to the front door. George, who had already been sleeping, followed him sleepily.
“Stay, I’m fetching Abby.”
George cocked his head before he rushed toward the front door with a yelp.
“She’s not here yet,” Carson said, his hand on the door. “Go to bed, I’ll bring her back.”
But George wouldn’t hear of it, he kept barking.
“You don’t believe me?” Carson opened the door. “See?” he said pointing outside. It was only when he looked up that he saw Abby on the doorstep, dressed in a coat and boots.
Laughing, he picked her up and with George yapping at his heels, he took her into their house. “I was on my way to fetch you.”
“I’ve missed you.” She smiled. “I’ll sneak back later.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he walked back to his room.
“Much better, thanks. Must be the clean air and my fiancé who has been spoiling me rotten.”
In the room he put her down slowly. “You remember that song we danced to at the Autumn festival?”
“Mmm, the one about making love all night long?”
“Exactly,” he grinned as he slipped the coat from her shoulders. His breath left his body in one swoosh. All she was wearing were tiny red and black panties and a red and black bra.
“I’m a dead man,” he muttered as he gently put her on the bed. “You’re not sneaking away tonight, I’ll text Laura. I’m going to need a whole night to show you exactly how crazy I am about you.”
*
Saturday morning, Abby stared at herself in the mirror in Laura’s and Hayden’s house where the women had helped her to get dressed. It was nearly time to go down and get married to her cowboy. Excitement, delight, and anticipation were bubbling up inside of her.
When she’d arrived back at Laura’s this morning, all the Weston women had already arrived for breakfast. And since then, they’d been laughing and talking and crying and helping with the final touches of the food and the decorations.
For such a long time she’d been alone. Family get togethers had been something she’d heard about, sometimes she’d been invited, but she’d always been a guest, a spectator, looking on, never a part of it.
Within weeks her whole life had changed. Okay, she didn’t have a plan yet, but she was a part of a family now, she had friends and everyone wanted to help.
For a moment, she stared out of the window.
Why her mother hadn’t wanted her, she’d probably never know, but everything—good and bad—that had happened to her since that moment she’d been left at that church, had brought her here to this beautiful town, this ranch, and to this special family she now could call her own.
There was a quick knock on the door and June walked in with a small, wrapped box in her hand.
“Oh, Abby, you look gorgeous!” June cried out.
“That color is simply amazing on you.” She hugged Abby.
“You have to agree, it’s exciting to get an outfit that you haven’t meticulously planned for, isn’t it? ”
Abby smiled. “I still feel strongly about having a capsule wardrobe, but my new family has taught me the joy of coloring outside the lines at times.”
“You have no idea how glad I am to hear that because when you get back from your honeymoon …”
“Do you know where Carson is taking me? He just said to pack a bikini.”
“My lips are sealed.” Handing Abby the present she was carrying in her hand, June smiled. “This is for you from your bridegroom.”
“Oh, no!” Abby sighed. “He’s given me so much already.”
“What I’ve learned about the Westons is that they love showering their wives with gifts. You’ll have to get used to it! Come on, open it.”
Voices from outside announced the arrival of the other Weston women and the next moment the room was filled with feminine scent, voices, and soft giggles.
“Oh, Abby, you look beautiful!” Ellie exclaimed.
“I love the flowers in your braid,” Arlene said.
“I had the braid when Carson and I met.” Abby smiled shyly.
“Let her open her present from Carson,” June said.
Abby quickly opened it. Inside the square box was a dainty chain with a smoky-colored stone, a perfect match for her dress. There was a small note.
Thank you for agreeing to be my wife. Forever your red heart, Carson. He’d ended it off with a small drawing of a red heart.
Tears welled up, but sniffing, June took the chain from her. “No crying, we can’t spoil our makeup. Turn around, let me put this on.”
“It’s perfect with the color of your dress,” Willow said, turning her eyes to her mother. “You had something to do with it, Mom?”
“Well, he asked.” Arlene grinned. “Okay, girls, let’s go. Oh, I almost forgot. This is for you.” While she handed Abby a gorgeous bouquet of cream-colored roses and lilies, there was a knock on the door.
Willow opened it and peered outside.
“Your bridegroom drove to Bozeman yesterday to get it,” Arlene said.
“No!” June said quickly as Abby sniffed, “you’re not to cry!”
“Mom,” Willow grinned, opening the door. “Your date has arrived.”
Jeff Thomas appeared in the doorway, looking ill-at-ease but with a determined expression on his face.
“Jeff?” Arlene said as she rushed to him. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re here,” he said. “And where you are, that’s where I want to be.”
“Jeff,” Arlene said as he took her hands in his. “I … don’t know …”
“But I do,” he said. “I’ve waited for you for all this time, I’m not letting you slip through my fingers again. We can go as slow as you want to.”
They were all holding their breaths, staring at the older couple. Arlene glanced over her shoulder at Willow.
“You love him, Mom, go. We’ll see you downstairs.”
Very gently, Jeff put his arms around Arlene as they walked away.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, they were all sniffing.
“Oh, my goodness.” June laughed through her tears. “We have a wedding to go to. Come on. Abs, we’ll give you a minute. See you downstairs.”
As the women left, Abby took a deep breath, pressing her hand to her tummy. She was so happy for Arlene.
“You ready, Peanut? Let’s do this.”
Inhaling, she opened the door to find Dylan waiting outside. Lifting his elbow, he grinned. “May I have the honor of walking you down the aisle?”
Swallowing back the tears, Abby took his arm. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Patting her hand, he grinned. “I’ve always wanted a sister. You’re family now, Sis. And if my brother ever does anything to hurt you, you tell me, okay?”
Talking wasn’t possible. She hugged her soon-to-be brother-in-law’s arm.
*
Carson kept his eyes on the opening of the door where Abby would appear. His cousins and Luke were standing next to him. He wasn’t sure what happened to his brother, but there was probably a crisis somewhere. Life on a ranch didn’t stop, not even for a wedding.
Soft music filled the room, his heart tripped. She was on her way. Expectantly, he kept his eyes on the door, but there was no movement. Had something happened? What if she was feeling sick again?
A movement closer to him, had him dropping his gaze. George, a blue ribbon around his neck, was running full speed toward him. Laughing, Carson crouched down to grab his collar. “She’s on her way, you can relax,” he whispered.
And as if George understood every word, he sat down next to Carson.
As a ripple went through the small group of guests, Carson looked up. His eyes met Abby’s. Her smile was wide and relaxed and lit up the whole room. His heart settled. She was here. On his brother’s arm. His throat clogged up and blinking, he tried to keep the tears at bay.
Just look at his Abby. She was a vision in pale, dusty colors. He was deeply grateful this gorgeous and sexy and sweet and feisty woman had agreed to be his wife. The one he’d met only weeks ago but who had managed to turn his whole world upside down and showed him what love really meant.
As they reached him, he stepped forward.
“You treat her well, you hear me?” Dylan said as he gave him a hug.
“Of course I will.”
And then he was able to finally touch her. Pulling her close, he inhaled her softness, her scent. “What color?” he asked in her ear.
Her eyes twinkling, she pulled away. “It … uhm … it’s not possible to wear anything under this dress,” she whispered under her breath.
As his blood roared through his veins, he inhaled sharply. “I’m going to get you for this. How am I supposed to survive the rest of the night knowing that?”
The minister cleared his throat, bringing Carson back to earth. If the twinkle in the minister’s eye was anything to go by, he’d heard and he approved.
*
Abby was talking to the Weston women when Luke touched her hand. “Does he have a name yet?” he asked.
“Who are you talking about?” Abby asked.
“Your baby. Does he have a name yet?”
A collective gasp went around. Before Abby could tell him they didn’t yet know what the gender of the baby was, Arlene sniffed.
“Another Weston little boy?”
“Oh, we don’t know yet whether it’s a boy or a girl,” Abby said quickly.
Luke grinned. In that instant he was all Weston. “Oh, I know.”
Willow exhaled loudly. “Thank you, Luke. I was bursting to tell her.”
As Luke turned to move away, he grinned at Willow. “You should tell them your news.” The next minute he was speeding away.
Stunned, they all stared after him.
“How would he know it’s a boy?” Abby asked.
Laura shook her head. “I have no idea, but he’s probably right.”
“Willow?” Arlene said as she turned to look at her daughter. “What is Luke talking about? What news?”
For the first time since Abby had met the brunette, Willow seemed to be speechless. Her mouth opened and closed but she made no sound.
“Willow?” Laura asked, clearly worried. “Are you okay? I don’t know why Luke …”
“I haven’t even told Hunter yet,” Willow finally said.
“Told me what?” Hunter asked as he put his arms around his wife.
Sighing, Willow leaned against him. “This wasn’t quite the scene I pictured when I’d tell you, but in this family, nothing stays a secret. I didn’t want to steal Carson and Abby’s thunder.”
Frowning, Hunter turned his wife around so that he could look at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Hunter’s eyes widened before he picked Willow up with a whoop. “Pregnant!” he cried out.
“Well,” Willow said, “now everyone knows.”
Warm hands closed over Abby’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“Willow is also pregnant,” she told Carson. “And, according to Luke, we’re having a boy.”
A huge grin lit up Carson face. He placed a hand protectively on her tummy. “A boy?”
“I don’t know, but Luke seemed convinced.”
“A little boy with his mom’s green eyes?”
“Or,” Abby said with a laugh, “one blue and one green one?”
Just then the first chords of a song had her turn her head. It was the song she and Carson had danced to at the Fall Festival Ball.
Carson put out his hand, “May I have this dance, Mrs. Weston?”
Laughing, she moved into his arms. “It’s our song.”
“I had a talk with the band.” His voice dropped. “What they’re singing about? That’s what we’ll be doing all night long.”
As they moved around the small dance floor, he pulled her close. “Happy?”
“So happy. Thank you for today. For my new family, my beautiful ring, the pendant, the flowers … you’re spoiling me.”
“I love you. Please allow me to spoil you whenever I want.”
Chewing her lip, she looked at him. “I’ve always worked according to a budget and a plan.”
With that light she knew by now in his eyes, he grinned. “That isn’t quite true, is it? If you hadn’t forgotten about your plan for one night, we wouldn’t be here, dancing. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was waiting for you.”
“You were?”
“My heart knew that the moment you walked into the bar. It’s a good thing not to always have rules.”
“You’re right and I’ll try, but I like rules.”
“Oh, I’m happy to make new rules,” he grinned.
“What kind of rules?”
“Rules like …” As he proceeded to suggest numerous rules for the bedroom, her heart sighed.
He was right. The one night she’d stepped out of her comfort zone led her to the cowboy who had been waiting for her in the bar.
“And you?” she asked. “Are you happy?”
He nodded. “I’m usually happy outside on my horse, my camera nearby, but having you and George and Peanut to come home to for the rest of my life is a whole different level of happy. And right now, dancing with my wife, I’m very happy.”
“Well,” she whispered, “if we slip out now, I’ll try to make you even happier.”
Before she could catch her next breath, he’d taken her hand and they were moving toward the front door.
“Shouldn’t we say goodbye?”
“We’ll see them at breakfast before we leave for the airport.”
At the door, she looked over her shoulder. The whole Weston clan were dancing with their partners. June and her adoring husband were barely moving as they stared into each other’s eyes.
Of course, life wouldn’t always be dancing, there would be difficult times, she knew that, but she would never forget the magic of two foster kids finding their forever homes on a ranch near the magical town of Marietta, Montana.
There really was something about this town.
The End