Valentine’s Day had never been Harlow’s favorite holiday, but it was now and always would be. So much had happened in less than a year, and at last, she and Nash had come to this perfect day.
Never mind that winter hung on with cold fingers, and shiny gray clouds obliterated the sun. Their love would light up the world.
“Get a move on, sister.” As maid of honor, Monroe looked resplendent in a sleek, red, one-shouldered gown and the highest heels Harlow had ever seen her wear. With her blond hair clipped up on one side and the other side swooped over her scarred cheek, she looked like a 1940s screen star. “If you’re determined to marry him, the big oaf is waiting.”
Harlow slid her mother’s earrings, borrowed from Monroe, into her earlobes. Something old and new, borrowed and blue, she’d kept to the fun, old traditions. “You like him.”
“Put it this way. As long he keeps treating you like royalty, I won’t break his kneecaps.”
Bubbling with joy, Harlow hugged her sister. Tough girl had finally succumbed to Nash’s charm and natural kindness. “He really is a good guy.”
“I guess. If there is such a thing.” Monroe smiled to show she teased and leaned in to kiss Harlow’s cheek. “You are so gorgeous in that dress. He’s going to collapse when he sees you. Or cry.” She rubbed her hands together. “I love seeing big men cry.”
“Not too froufrou?” Harlow stroked her hands over the tulip skirt. She felt like a fairy princess in the long, lacy, winter-white gown and strappy heels. Everything about their wedding felt surreal.
In homage to Valentine’s Day, pink and white with splashes of red were their wedding colors. Nash claimed he didn’t care one way or the other because his tux was black, his shirt white and he’d wear whatever tie she liked. She’d chosen red.
“Perfect. It’s you.”
Harlow scoffed. “Muddy boots and faded jeans are me. This is like a dream. A fantasy. A fairy tale.”
“That’s the way weddings are supposed to be.” Monroe arched a cynical, if perfectly groomed, eyebrow. “Or so I’m told.”
If anyone was gorgeous it was Monroe, although such fancy attire was as unusual for the navy veteran as it was for Harlow.
“Mama.” Davis sprawled on his belly on a small sofa watching cartoons on Harlow’s phone. “Can we go now?”
He was getting restless, but so was she.
The now four-year-old had wanted to wear his football jersey, but Nash had convinced him that they should dress alike. The little boy adored his newfound daddy, so the deal was done. Nash had even taken him shopping, proudly showing off his son to anyone who noticed.
Some mornings Harlow woke up and pinched herself, wondering if she’d dreamed the past year.
The only thing that would have made today better was if Taylor was here as a bridesmaid. Harlow had asked, had even sent the bridesmaid dress. At first, Taylor had agreed. Then, she’d changed her mercurial mind without even making up an excuse. She couldn’t make it. Sorry. Shoot her a video of the ceremony.
The hurt from that rejection still stung, but Harlow refused to let it ruin her day. Taylor was different. Always had been. She’d had some struggles in high school. Since then, she was like an autumn wind—no one could predict which way she’d blow.
“I could kick her behind,” Monroe said, as if reading Harlow’s thoughts. “She should be here.”
“Never mind. Today is beautiful anyway.”
Giving herself one more glance in the mirror, she adjusted the sparkling jeweled headband, checked the back of her long, curled hair, then nodded. “I’m ready.”
Davis hopped to his feet. “Is Dad here?”
“He better be,” Monroe muttered.
“Yes, he’s waiting for us.” Harlow squatted, her long dress swishing against the tile. “Here, let me fix your tie. It’s crooked.”
The four-year-old tilted his neck to give her access. “Can we eat cake now?”
“Soon.” She patted his chest, hugged him. “All done. Where’s Poppy?”
“Coming.” Monroe hitched her chin toward the hallway as she guided Davis and Harlow’s bridesmaids out the door to line up for the processional.
Poppy appeared in their place. Determined to walk her down the aisle without using his cane, he wore braces on both knees beneath his black trousers.
She was so proud to be the granddaughter of this fine old gentleman, who once had cowboyed on the biggest spreads in Texas. As raw and solid as the earth, this man had been her anchor in every storm.
When Gus’s eyes found her, moisture filled them. He blinked it away, cleared his throat. Cowboys didn’t cry, he’d say. But she knew better.
“You gussied up real good, sis. Pretty as a paint mare.”
From Poppy, that was high praise.
“I love you, Poppy. Thank you for raising me when you didn’t have to, for loving me, for teaching me about Jesus and so many other good things. You really are the best.”
He sniffed. His snowy mustache quivered.
“Yep. Well. I love you too.” He cleared his throat and nodded. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Harlow kissed his weathered cheek, hooked her hand over his elbow and went out to meet her groom.
Nash adjusted his red tie for the tenth time. He was as fidgety as a rookie in his first NFL game. Not because he harbored a single doubt. Not because there were a hundred close friends and family filing into the small-town church.
In a few minutes, he’d marry the woman of his heart and the mother of his son. He’d never felt such eagerness, not even on the football field.
Zack and Jonas, along with Aaron, his third groomsman, another teammate, milled around the dressing room, cracking jokes and razzing each other. The two muscular football players had taken an immediate liking to the much smaller Jonas. Fine men he was proud to share this special day with.
Nash’s shoulder had healed well, and he’d enjoyed a successful season of play. Even though his team hadn’t made it out of the playoffs this year, his stats were strong, his team happy and his contract lucrative.
Best of all, Sterling Dorsey was in jail. Although too much of Nash’s money was long gone, his go-getter attorney had recouped a healthy sum, and Nash was now fully in charge of his own finances.
He could finally support his son and his bride in the manner they deserved.
Life was good. Today it got better.
Today, he gained a wife and officially became a father to his son. He hadn’t yet won another championship, but he’d won the best two prizes a man could have.
Throughout the football season, Harlow and Davis had flown back and forth to Florida, making the separation more tolerable. He’d taken great delight in squiring them around, introducing them, and in showing them the many wonderful amenities Florida had to offer. After visiting SeaWorld, Davis had declared he wanted to be a dolphin man when he grew up. And a football player like his dad.
In true Harlow style, she wanted Sundown Valley to be their home base with Florida as a second home. She loved them both but refused to permanently leave her eighty-one-year-old grandfather. How could a man argue with such devotion?
City or country, if she was there, he’d be fulfilled. For a man who’d once wanted to escape the stresses of ranching, he’d learned the value of true friendships and of appreciating his roots.
He’d also learned to put his trust in God instead of money, a hard lesson, but one he planned to teach his son. God first, everything else second, guaranteed that life would always work out for the good.
Pastor Cloud stuck his head inside the room. “Time to go, boys.”
His heart jumped.
Unable to stop the smile plastered on his face, Nash exited the anteroom with his three best pals.
Mom was here somewhere with husband Danny, all the way from Ireland. She’d been ecstatic to meet her grandson of the matching dimple and thrilled that her son had finally opened his eyes and his heart to the girl next door who’d always adored him.
Women were so smart.
As he and his attendants filed into place in front of the church next to Pastor Cloud, a lone pianist trilled gentle hymns.
And then it happened. The music changed. The heart-gripping wedding march began.
His adrenaline jacked high enough to run a hundred-yard dash with eleven big guys chasing him.
He thought his bounding heart might crack his rib cage when, like a trumpet blast to his soul, Harlow appeared at the top of the aisle.
He’d heard about these moments, had considered them to be the result of some writer’s imagination.
He’d been wrong.
Every cell in his body exploded with joy.
Like the photographer snapping away, his mind captured every detail of his bride.
With Gus straight and proud beside her, Harlow was a vision in white, carrying a bouquet of red, pink and white roses. Her long cinnamon-colored hair curled over one shoulder. Diamonds dangled from her ears, catching the light.
He’d always heard that a bride in love glowed. He’d never believed it until now. Did he have that same rapturous expression on his face?
He suspected he did.
The next moments seemed to move on fast-forward, and yet, were suspended in time. Acutely aware of every word and action, he hid them in his heart to revisit with Harlow later. Was she feeling the same ecstatic joy? Did she notice that everyone in the building was smiling, and some, like his mother, through tears?
The ancient words were spoken, rings exchanged, and suddenly he was a husband.
“Nash, you may kiss your bride.”
“Gladly.” Harlow raised her blushing face to his and he bent her backward, kissed her soundly and laughed into her eyes. “I love you.”
“You better.” Her moist lips curved. She pulled his head down for another kiss. A ripple of laughter moved through the congregation.
As he set her back on her feet, a small body slammed into his legs. He swooped his son into his arms.
Then, for the entire church to hear, Davis asked, “Is this over? Can we eat cake now?”
As a second wave of laughter filtered through the church and cameras snapped and filmed, Harlow lifted her bouquet high into the air and declared, “Let them eat cake!”
Inside the church fellowship hall, the reception was in full swing when it happened. Two things, actually, that Harlow would forever hold in her heart as icing on an already beautiful wedding day.
Music played through the sound system. The scent of reception foods mingled with the fragrance of roses. A crowd of well-wishers filled tables and milled about, visiting with friends most of them had known forever. If some were star-struck by Nash and his friends, they maintained their Southern manners well enough not be an embarrassment.
Harlow held on to her husband’s hand as they prepared to cut the fancy, flowery wedding cake. The photographer snapped photo after photo. Laurel Maxwell, who’d been given permission to write an article for the newspaper, snapped a few, as well, a lean and handsome Yates Trudeau at her side.
At the exact moment Harlow and Nash sliced into the cake, the outer glass doors swung open. A swirl of cold snaked across the floor.
“Look,” someone cried. “It’s snowing.”
Harlow glanced up, the cake momentarily forgotten. Her heart leaped. Her soul sang. She hadn’t known she could be any happier than she already was.
For indeed, fluffy fat white flakes floated from the sky like dove feathers pouring from heaven. But it wasn’t the perfectly timed snow that held her attention.
Dappled in that beautiful white blessing was a breathless, smiling, dark-haired woman in a pink bridesmaid dress. Late, but finally here.
“Taylor.” Harlow’s chest squeezed.
Nash leaned close to her ear. “Look what the snow blew in.”
She heard the smile in his voice. “You did this.”
“A wedding present. To make your day perfect. Though I can’t take credit for the snow.”
She turned to face him, then, and with all the love she’d carried for years, touched his jaw and smiled. “Thank you.”
“Let’s go say hello.”
Cake left with the servers, Nash took her hand in his giant paw and cleared a path to her sister.
Cleared a path. That’s what he’d done to bring them together as a family. All of them. Even the wayward sister.
Since that precious night when he’d redeemed her mother’s rings and she’d agreed to marry him, Nash had done everything in his power to make up for lost time with her and their son.
Harlow knew, if she hadn’t known before, that his was a love worth finding, a love worth waiting for.
A love that would last forever.
Don’t miss the next book in New York Times
bestselling author Linda Goodnight’s
Sundown Valley miniseries coming soon!
And look for the previous titles in the series:
To Protect His Children
Keeping Them Safe
The Cowboy’s Journey Home
Available now wherever
Love Inspired books are sold!
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Christmas Switch by Zoey Marie Jackson.