In June of that same year
Sunshine streamed in through the side windows, but Allie stood in the shadows at the back of the Dry Creek church. She clutched a bouquet of pink roses in one hand and held her father’s arm with the other. She hoped no one could see how nervous she was. All she could do was stare ahead at Clay as he stood in the charcoal-gray suit he’d bought especially for today. He was hundreds of feet away, but she could feel his gaze warming her. Suddenly, she was calm.
She and Clay had wanted a simple wedding, but the women of the church asked to be part of the celebration, and now everything shone. Rose bouquets lined the aisle and gave a sweet scent to the air. Two of the town’s best seamstresses had made Allie’s white silk dress. Another had made a short veil for her head. Every pew was filled with neighbors and friends, all of them attired in their Sunday-best clothes.
Allie and Clay had finished their marriage counseling with the pastor weeks ago, and he had pronounced them a good match. Now he looked over at Clay with approval and nodded.
That was the signal for Doris June Hargrove to stand and walk up to the piano.
Allie took a deep breath and turned.
“It’s almost time,” she whispered to her father.
He nodded before glancing back at the church door furtively.
“They’re not coming,” Allie said.
Everyone had thought her brother’s old girlfriend, Hannah, would relent and allow Allie’s nephew to attend the wedding.
“She’s got to talk to Mark eventually,” her father muttered.
“Hannah says not,” Allie countered. A curt note had come from a lawyer last week; Hannah had been informed of the change in Mark’s condition and he had tried to contact her, asking to meet his son, but she never answered any of Mark’s messages.
Allie didn’t know what to do. Mark had regained his memory and told all of the people in Dry Creek what had really happened the night of the robbery. He knew Jeremy was his son. But Hannah kept refusing to see him or to let him see Jeremy.
Allie told herself there was nothing she could do about it today.
The music to the wedding march started. Allie and her father began to walk forward.
From then on, Allie couldn’t think of anyone but Clay. His voice when he spoke his vows made her shiver. She couldn’t believe she had wanted to send this man away when he appeared back at the ranch in March.
When Clay finished his vows, he added something they hadn’t rehearsed.
“Allie Nelson, I will love you until the day I die,” he said with such sincerity that Allie heard a flutter of sighs in the pews behind her.
“And I will love you,” Allie said, blinking back tears.
Clay kissed her then, fierce and hard like he was sealing a bargain.
The pastor cleared his throat indulgently. “We’re not quite to that part of the ceremony yet.”
A ripple of soft chuckles came from the pews.
“We don’t mind doing it twice,” Clay said with a grin.
Allie said her vows, her voice not wavering once.
“And now,” the pastor said, “I pronounce you man and wife.” He turned to Clay. “You can now officially kiss your bride.”
Allie felt the warmth of that kiss right down to her toes. She was happy and knew Clay was, too.
* * * * *
If you liked this story,
pick up these other heartwarming books
from Janet Tronstad:
SLEIGH BELLS FOR DRY CREEK
LILAC WEDDING IN DRY CREEK
WILDFLOWER BRIDE IN DRY CREEK
SECOND CHANCE IN DRY CREEK
WHITE CHRISTMAS IN DRY CREEK
ALASKAN SWEETHEARTS
Available now from Love Inspired!
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Keep reading for an excerpt from WINNING OVER THE COWBOY by Shannon Taylor Vannatter.
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