One year later
“What did Flint give you this year for Valentine’s?” Pearl asked.
“It was tough to outdo last year’s present, when he gave me a set of keys to the house, the barn, and all the vehicles, and a bouquet of wildflowers,” Jasmine said as she looked into the makeup mirror on the worktable in the tack room. “This year’s gift is going to be his wedding vows. I’m giving him the same thing.”
Pearl removed the rollers from Jasmine’s hair while she put on her makeup. “I can’t believe y’all waited a whole year to tie the knot.”
“I wanted to be sure, not just for myself but for Flint.” Jasmine finished the last touch and twisted her hair up into a bunch of curls. “Now you can put the ringlet of baby roses on for me and pin it down.”
“We’ve only got about thirty minutes until…” Pearl said.
Jasmine’s sister, Kathleen, came into the tack room with a disgusted look on her face. “I can’t believe you’re getting married in a barn, of all things, and getting ready in a nasty room like this.”
“I’ll have you know”—Jasmine shook her finger at Kathleen—“Flint scrubbed this room until there’s not a speck of dirt or dust anywhere, and why wouldn’t a rancher get married in a barn?”
“But you have arrived.” Kathleen set her mouth in a firm line. “Your first cookbook hit the market in a big way, and you’ve been on television talk shows. I hated that title, but it’s growing on me. Chicken Fried just didn’t seem like a decent thing to name your first book, but who am I to argue with success?” She sighed. “Even if you are too stubborn to go on a book tour.”
“The second one will be out by Easter, and it’s called The Promised Land Ranch Cookbook,” Pearl told Kathleen.
“Well, it’s your life, but you could be a lot bigger than you are if you’d do a little more with your life than live on this godforsaken…”
Jasmine took a couple of steps back, put her hand over her heart, and rolled her eyes toward the rafters. “Be careful. There’s not a dark cloud in the sky today, but honey, I don’t want to be standing beside you right here on the Promised Land when you say it’s godforsaken. If lightning comes through that ceiling, I might even run out there to the barn and hurry up and marry Flint in this robe before the place burns down.”
“Hmphhh!” Kathleen huffed. “You always were a smart-ass. Get your dress on.”
“Have you talked to Flint?” Jasmine asked.
“He’s nervous, and good grief, Jasmine, where are your shoes?” Kathleen pointed to the dress hanging on the door leading into the small bathroom and the cowboy boots sitting on the floor.
“I’m wearing boots.” Jasmine dropped her robe and slipped into the straight champagne-colored dress that was covered with lace.
Pearl zipped it up the back and then dropped to her knees to help Jasmine put on the boots. “You look amazing, girlfriend.”
“Thank you.” Jasmine smiled and shot a look over at her sister.
“If you like the flower-child look, I suppose you do look all right.” Kathleen sighed. “I had eight bridesmaids and a designer dress that had a twelve-foot train. Mama still shows off the pictures every chance she gets.”
“Sister, you wanted a wedding.” Jasmine crossed the room and gave her an air kiss on the cheek. “I want a marriage, and”—she lowered her voice—“I’m sure that when the baby gets here, Mama will have plenty of pictures to show off.”
“You’re pregnant?” Kathleen’s eyes got so wide that Jasmine thought for a minute they would pop out and roll around on the floor. “I’m the oldest. I should have the first grandchild.”
“Too bad, honey,” Jasmine said. “This little rancher is due the first of September. He or she will be just the right size for cute Christmas pictures. Don’t be upset. You are going to be an aunt.”
“Does Mama know?” Kathleen asked.
“Not yet, but she will right after the wedding. I’ll tell her at the reception, and if you say a word before I get to tell her, I won’t ever speak to you again,” Jasmine said.
Pearl put Jasmine’s bouquet in her hand just as the music started playing. “It’s time for me and Kathleen to lead the way for you. Be as happy as I am, and, FYI, I’m going to be an aunt too.”
“Thank you.” Jasmine took the bouquet.
Sam poked his head in the door. “I hear there’s a beautiful bride waiting for this homely old cowboy to walk her down the aisle.”
“No, sir, she’s waiting on a handsome cowboy who will never be old in her eyes to escort her down the aisle.” Jasmine looped her arm in his. “Thank you for doing this for me, Sam. I hope my dad is looking down through the holes in the floors of heaven and can see how happy I am.”
“I’m sure he is, darlin’ girl,” Sam said, “and I’m downright honored to get to do this.”
Flint had been so nervous he could hardly stand still, right up until the time he could see Jasmine coming down the aisle. Then, a peace settled over him, and everyone in the room seemed to disappear. Like it had been for the last year, if he was with her, everything was fine.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the preacher asked.
“I do, with honor and pride,” Sam answered as he took Flint’s hand and put Jasmine’s in it. “Love each other. Trust each other. Lean on each other. Just like you’ve done this past year.”
“Yes, sir,” Jasmine and Flint said in unison.
Flint didn’t wait for the preacher to go on, but drew Jasmine a little closer, looked deep into her eyes, and said, “I didn’t believe in fate or love at first sight until a year ago, but I do now. I think I fell in love with you when I came close to plowing right into the café porch and you stepped outside. I’m convinced that fate caused that dog to make me stop in Ringgold, and I’m so glad it did. Jasmine, without you my life would be empty and my heart nothing but a shell. I love you with my whole being and will forever.”
Jasmine handed her bouquet off to Pearl, slipped her free hand into Flint’s so that she was holding both of his hands, and said, “Flint, if someone would have told me a series of events was about to happen that day that would turn my life and my heart around, I would have thought they’d been sippin’ too much moonshine,” she said.
Everyone in the barn chuckled.
“But I’m so glad it did because I’m just reaffirming that you have my whole heart today and forever. You’ve had it since the morning you said you’d stay and work for me until the new owner of my café arrived. I love you and this life we are building right here on the Promised Land Ranch.”
“Well, I don’t know if there’s much more I need to say,” the preacher said, “but I would like to read a verse from Romans: ‘Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.’” He went on with the traditional giving and taking of the rings and the rest of the ceremony and ended with “Flint, you may kiss your bride.”
Flint bent her backward in a true Hollywood kiss and whispered, “I love you, Mrs. Walker.” He straightened her up and pulled her close with his arm around her waist.
“I’d like to introduce to all of you for the first time ever Mr. and Mrs. Flint Walker,” the preacher said.
Amid the applause, they walked together down the aisle and to the other side of the barn where the reception was set up.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.” Flint kissed her again. “And darlin’, you are the most beautiful bride in the whole world. I love the dress, the boots, your hair, and everything about you.”
“You look pretty sexy yourself, all fancied up in your black suit and your shiny boots”—she leaned in to whisper—“but I’d rather be naked with you in our big bed than be all dolled up in our fancy wedding clothes.”
Flint laughed out loud. “Darlin’, you read my mind.”