To Marry a Texas Cowboy

by Julie Benson

  Once in the cry room off the sanctuary, McKenna asked Katharine to sit in the wing chair and closed the door. Then she explained the situation, including all they’d done to locate another singer.

  Katharine paled, her lower lip trembled, and her hands clenched the chair’s arms. “I could handle the disappointment, but this will crush Rainy.”

  “Unfortunately, we’ve run out of time and people to call.” McKenna sank into the matching chair beside Katharine and placed her hand on the woman’s arm. “I wish there was another option, but Martin is an extraordinary pianist. I’m sure the arrangements he’s selected are beautiful. When he gets here, we’ll have him play them for you.”

  There is another option. You simply refuse to consider it. You’re letting your fear keep you from making their day perfect. You’re failing them.

  “This feels like one more example of the world being against us. First the assistant at the wedding shop in Dallas. Her entire attitude changed once she discovered I was marrying another woman. She still altered my dress, but clearly she was uncomfortable and didn’t approve.” Tears filled Katharine’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “Rainy’s had a difficult relationship with her parents and grandparents. She comes from a long line of conservative Oklahoma farmers. She’s always been bohemian artistic, a free spirit, and that was before she came out to them. Don’t get me wrong. They always loved her, but they don’t understand her, and struggle relating to her.”

  “Tell me about why this song means so much to Rainy,” Zane asked from his spot against the wall by the door.

  “She thought if we had the same song in our ceremony as her parents and grandparents, it would help them make a connection to us. Maybe it could help them see our wedding isn’t that different from theirs.”

  “We need to hear what Rainy has to say,” Zane said.

  Katharine nodded, called Rainy, and after putting her on speaker, explained the dilemma. “Jennifer and McKenna have called everyone they can think of. There’s nothing else we can do.”

  McKenna cringed. She could help. If she chose to.

  “A piano arrangement of ‘Oh, Promise Me’ won’t be the same. People need to hear the lyrics, especially my father. I can’t get married without that song being sung.”

  The anguish and desperation in Rainy’s voice tore into McKenna. How could she refuse to help forge a connection between generations with different views on marriage?

  She’d been terrified to sing before she knew the importance of the song to Rainy, but now? Call her as paralyzed as a tree in the petrified forest. How could she handle the responsibility and pressure? What would happen if she tried singing and botched the song? That could ruin the entire ceremony. How could she risk that? But how could she live with herself if she could have helped, but refused because of her fear?

  How could she choose between two risky options? Goodness, she wished Ginny, with her calm, no-nonsense approach. and wisdom was here. Then she wouldn’t have to make this decision alone. Wait. She wasn’t alone. But how much help would Zane be with his cynical views on marriage? Right now, she even welcomed his advice. Anything rather than making the decision alone.

  When she joined Zane near the door, she leaned close and whispered in his ear. “I don’t know what to do. They appear both defeated and hopeless. I fear not having the song will ruin their wedding. But I’m scared if I try to sing it, I’ll massacre the song and that will ruin their wedding.”

  “You can do this. I believe in you, but it’s your choice.”

  He sounded sincere, but was he? She scanned his features. He appeared earnest, but how could she know for sure when he covered his feelings so well? Could she trust him? “Do you mean it?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Katharine burst into tears and threw her phone across the room. “We’re postponing the wedding.”

  The bride’s anguish tore through McKenna as she raced to her. She couldn’t let her fear keep her from helping. She gave brides their dream weddings. How could she let this one fall apart when she could prevent it? “There is one other person who could sing, but she’s not a trained singer.”

  “Who is it? Can she be here in time?” Katharine asked, wiping her tears away with the heel of her hand.

  “It’s me.”

  Katharine’s wide-eyed gaze pinned McKenna. “Have you sung at weddings before?”

  Zane pushed away from the wall. “When I saw McKenna sing the night of Chief Quinn’s engagement party, her voice reached deep inside me in a way no one’s ever done before.”

  McKenna pinched her lips together to keep from gasping. What? Why would Zane say that? Not wanting to mislead Katharine, she said, “Actually, I—”

  “McKenna has a clear, pure voice. Any bride would be lucky to have her sing at her wedding.”

  Right. A bride would be lucky if McKenna got the words out, stayed anywhere near on key, and didn’t faint from stage fright.

  “I have to tell you I’m not sure I can do this. I have stage fright,” McKenna said.

  “Please, you have to sing,” Katharine begged, as clasped McKenna’s hands in her cold ones. Her eyes now red and slightly swollen from crying, her desperate gaze bored into her. “I have this terrible feeling if we postpone the wedding, something terrible will happen. We’ll have a huge fight, or I don’t know what else, but we won’t get married.”

  McKenna straightened and her gaze locked with the bride’s dejected one. “Don’t worry. You’re getting married, and ‘Oh Promise Me’ will be sung at your wedding. Now, do you need to ask Rainy for her approval?”

  Katharine wrapped her arms around McKenna and squeezed tight, cutting off her air. Then she ran across the room to find her phone. “I’ll call her, but I’m sure she’ll be as grateful as I am. I can’t thank you enough. You saved my marriage. We’ll name our first child after you, I promise.”

  McKenna smiled, trying to project a confidence she didn’t feel. Oh, Lord. How I am going to pull this off if I faint or open my mouth and nothing comes out?

  *

  “You’ve given them quite a wedding present,” Zane said once Katharine left for the bride’s dressing room.

  McKenna was incredible. Fear lining her face and in her movements, McKenna ignored the emotion to save a couple’s wedding. Few people would have done that. He wasn’t sure he could have. She’d put the couple’s happiness and his grandmother’s business first, but now the reality of what she’d agreed to swamped her.

  He walked to where she sat appearing small and fragile, huddled in the chair. When he sank down next to her, she gave him a weak smile, but her eyes remained clouded with fear and insecurity.

  “There’s an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where they’re having nightmares. In Willow’s, she’s an opera singer on stage in a packed house. When her cue comes, she opens her mouth. Nothing comes out but a squeak. That’s what I’m afraid will happen to me.”

  “It won’t.”

  “It could.” McKenna bounded to her feet and paced the small room, each lap faster than the last. “I was crazy to agree. I feel light-headed. I’m going to faint. No, I’m going to throw up. No, going to be sick and then faint.”

  He stepped in front of her. When she stopped, he cupped her elbow, led her back to the chair, and pointed. “Sit. If you feel faint it’s from lack of oxygen. Lord, I’ve never met anyone who could string more words together in one breath.”

  “It’s an underappreciated skill and comes in handy more often than you realize.”

  He grinned. The small show of humor and defiance were good signs and gave him something to work with. “You agreed to sing. No backing out now. What would that do to Lucky Stars’ reputation?”

  “I could also hurt the company by trying to sing and screwing up.”

  He laughed. “Not if you drop the Chicken Little impression.”

  “This is serious, Zane.”

  “I know it is, but you’re a smart, strong woman. I don’t know where the Mac
I know went, but she needs to get her butt back here.”

  McKenna’s brows scrunched together. “How many times do we need to discuss my name is McKenna?”

  He smiled. Right on cue, as he’d hoped. “There she is. Welcome back.”

  McKenna swatted him on the arm. “You did that on purpose.”

  “Sure did.”

  “I know you said all those things to make Katharine more comfortable with me singing, but you lied to a bride in a church on her wedding day. That has to be a double sin or something. Who knows what will happen because you did that?”

  He’d spent a lifetime perfecting the skill of skirting the truth, but the ability deserted him. While on the surface she appeared to be a control freak, leaning a bit toward OCD, workaholic, when McKenna sang, got upset, or lost her cool, she transformed into a woman he suspected possessed deep, set-a-man’s-boots-on-fire passion.

  “Everything I said was true.”

  “Including the comments about my voice?”

  McKenna’s voice reached deep inside me in a way no one’s ever done before.

  “Every word.”

  When McKenna sucked in her breath in surprise, Zane closed his eyes for a second and silently cursed himself. Why had he said that?

  “You really think I can do this?”

  A flip comment sat perched on his tongue but gazing into her pale face again and her uncertain wide brown eyes, he folded. “I have complete faith in you.”

  The words settled between them, thick and potent. He was being silly and overly dramatic. He’d said those words because they were what McKenna needed to hear. She’d made a promise and to pull off the performance she needed to believe in herself. For that to occur she needed reassurance and confidence. No big deal. He’d given her what she needed.

  Liar. She’s gotten to you in ways you never imagined possible, and you want to reassure her and ease her fears. You want her to know you believe in her.

  “I need to warm up my voice and practice the song, but I have other details to see to. I can’t do both.”

  He raised the tablet he still held. “Is what needs to be done on here?”

  McKenna nodded, stood, and leaned toward him. Her lavender and peppermint scent floated over him as she showed him her checklist. “Other than what’s here, keep the brides and attendants calm. If someone needs a button sewed on or forgot something, you’ll find what you need in my duffel bag there in the corner.”

  Zane cleared his throat and stepped back, needing to put distance between them. “I’ll see to this. You practice.”

  Then before he knew what she intended, she threw her arms around him and held on tight. “Thank you for giving me the courage to do this.”

  After she hurried out the door, he stood there for a minute before his breathing returned to normal.

  *

  About fifteen minutes before the ceremony was to start, McKenna joined Zane in the narthex.

  “It’s been crazy. I’ve sewn on three buttons. I kept pricking my finger.” Zane raised his right hand to reveal a bandage on his index finger. “I’ve also answered more questions on how makeup looks than any straight man should have to answer in a lifetime. Here, take this.”

  She accepted the tablet he shoved in her direction. “It usually gets hectic right before the ceremony starts.”

  “Does everyone become helpless on their wedding day?”

  She bit her lip to keep from smiling at his frazzled tone. “They simply need extra reassurance. It’s a big day. People get nervous.”

  “That’s an understatement.” He swallowed hard and straightened his suit coat. “You look like the rehearsal went well.”

  “It was a little bumpy at first, but with Martin’s help, I improved quickly. You know, I might pull this off.” McKenna checked her list and the time. “Now we need to get the attendants and our couple ready to walk down the aisle.”

  Back in her element and confident, McKenna gathered the attendants, while Zane hung back, a shell-shocked look still on his face. The photographer buzzed around taking photos. After reminding him of certain specific shots the couple wanted, McKenna checked in with both brides to ensure their parents were with them and ready. Then she returned to the bridesmaids, reminding them to walk slowly, almost pausing between each step, and started them down the aisle.

  Wearing a flowing, wispy gown that swirled around her as she walked, a white rose with baby’s breath tucked behind her ear, escorted by her parents, Rainy processed first. Her father, a small, stocky German man, though obviously uncomfortable, was there for her. McKenna mumbled a prayer. Please let me get the words out when I sing and let them speak to this man.

  With Rainy partway down the aisle, McKenna retrieved Katharine. Dressed in a sleek, formfitting full lace dress, Katharine placed her hand on McKenna’s arm. “Thank you again for what you’re doing for us. If it weren’t for you—”

  “You’re welcome,” McKenna said as she glanced inside the sanctuary as Rainy kissed each parent on the cheek before moving to her place beside her attendants. McKenna turned to Katharine and smiled. “Let’s get you two married.”

  Zane joined McKenna and once both brides stood at the altar, he said, “What do we do now?”

  “We monitor the wedding for issues. In this church the best place for that is in the balcony. You want to come with me?”

  Zane nodded, and they crept up the back stairs to the organ-choir balcony. Once there, she inched forward. Her heart hammered so hard her chest hurt.

  No need to worry and certainly no reason to panic. Right now, you’re still the wedding planner monitoring the service.

  As she observed the ceremony, the closer she came to singing the more her confidence shrank.

  “I’ve never been this afraid. This is awful,” she whispered to Zane, who stood beside her near the balcony’s railing.

  “You said the night AJ locked us in his office was the worst of your life,” he said.

  “Thanks for reminding me of that great experience. If it was supposed to help me feel better, it doesn’t.”

  “I brought it up because you survived that, and you’ll get through this.”

  From the behind the organ, Martin glanced at McKenna. “You’re after they exchange rings.”

  McKenna’s hand gripped the railing so tight her fingers grew numb. “I can’t do this.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Stop it. You agreed and it’s time to cowgirl up,” Zane said, his voice firm and final.

  McKenna nodded. He was right. She needed to stop whining and get the job done. “Would you stand by the rail in front of me?”

  “Sure. Why?” he asked as he moved into position.

  “You’ll block a good part of my view. Maybe if I imagine we’re the only ones here, it’ll make this easier.”

  “Plus, since I know you’re a fabulous singer there’s no pressure to impress me.”

  McKenna nodded. “Tell me one more time you know I can do this.”

  He smiled in the self-assured yet boyish way that made her heart do somersaults. “Woman, you can do anything you set your mind to, and Lord help anyone who tells you otherwise.”

  “Thank you.”

  He flexed his hands and stepped closer. “For luck.” Then he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss though light and airy stole her breath.

  Oh dear. Getting through the song wasn’t her biggest problem anymore. She had a much bigger fear. She could be falling in love with Zane.

  *

  That night after the reception, Zane hauled out the last trash bag while McKenna dismissed the staff. When they returned to the ballroom, he said, “Things got so crazy after the wedding, I never told you what an amazing job you did with ‘Oh, Promise Me.’”

  When he’d told her to cowgirl up during the ceremony, she’d changed before his eyes. She’d straightened, resolve flowed over her features, and she’d screwed up her courage. Admiration mixed with desire had bolted
through him. Who would’ve thought courage could be sexy? Hell if he knew why, but he’d learned it was. Very.

  When McKenna sang, the world disappeared. No one existed but the two of them, the music, and her mesmerizing voice. The incident left him shaking and since then, his body had been on a lower simmer.

  “I never could’ve pulled it off without your encouragement.”

  Uncomfortable with her gratitude and how drawn he felt to McKenna, he said, “Let’s finish and get outta here. I’m exhausted. I don’t remember working this hard when I was in high school and college. I never stopped moving.”

  “This job makes it easy to get my daily steps, that’s for sure.” McKenna smoothed a hand down her simple formfitting pink floral dress. He sure appreciated her new wardrobe. “Thank you for dealing with Katharine’s brother when he locked himself in the bathroom and passed out. That would’ve been a nightmare for me, especially since you found him with his pants around his ankles.”

  Zane shuddered in horror. “Never speak of it again.”

  She giggled, and her eyes glistened. “I promise.” She made an X over her heart. “I’ve never had this many bathroom issues. We set a record with clogged toilets. These guests either need to use less TP or deal with their digestive issues.”

  Zane laughed. How could he have thought McKenna lacked a sense of humor? “I’m calling a plumber tomorrow to check the pipes. I’m not dealing with this every weekend.”

  He brushed off his dark gray suit pants and unbuttoned his collar. “I feel like I’ve been ridden hard and put to bed wet, while you still look—” Astonishing. He paused. “Great. Still perky, smiling, and energetic.”

  “Some party animal you are.”

  “Running the bash is harder than partying at it. How do you do it almost every weekend?”

  “Clean living and lots of caffeine.”