by Dawn McClure
Mounted on Storm, she glanced over at the chutes and saw her brother and David. They were both sitting on the top of the gates, waiting for her ride with their backs to her. Matt was going to record the run for her on his cell.
She caught sight of Brandon and Carrie in the bleachers. That woman was hard to miss. Sunlight bounced off the blonde highlights in her hair as brightly as sunlight off the backend of a semi. Misty still couldn’t believe it. Only a few short months ago Brandon had confessed he’d been ready to propose to her. Sunlight bounced off more than Carrie’s hair. It shone like a beacon off her fiancés ring too.
“Hey Misty!”
Misty turned in her saddle to see Abby sitting on her horse, a big grin on her face. “What?”
“I usually don't want my competitors to win, so don't get used to it, but I hope you kick my ass. In fact, make sure that you do.”
Misty was dumbstruck. Why the hell was everyone…
The announcer made her introduction, and Storm started shuffling sideways. Misty got Storm under control. “Save that energy for the ride. Get ready, girl.”
Everyone has gone crazy. She glanced back once more at Abby, who was grinning like an idiot. What the hell was going on?
A fast country song suddenly started blaring from the speakers, and she looked away from Abby to zero in on the open gate, the arena beyond, and kicked Dakota Storm into high gear. The mare took off like a bullet. Misty shot into the arena and focused only on the barrels, the path, and the run. She kept pressure in the stirrups. She took the first barrel, coming damn close, but not knocking it over. She jerked in the saddle when Storm shot off again.
Storm was taking the second barrel before she knew it, and when she rounded the third, she let the mare loose, grabbing her whip and nudging her to go faster by slapping her on the rear on both sides. Her cowboy hat fell off and landed in the dirt in the arena, and her legs bounced against Storm a little more than she'd have liked, but they were hauling ass so she couldn't complain.
When she was out of the arena, she circled around to hear her time. The crowd was going nuts, which was always a good indication. Another good indication was how good the ride felt.
And God, the ride had felt good.
Breathing hard, Storm still antsy under her, she waited for what seemed an eternity. Then the announcer bellowed out that Misty had taken first with fifteen seconds flat. She threw her arm up and let out a yell, then dismounted and handed the reins to Shane, who'd just come up to congratulate her. She gave him a quick hug, wished him good luck in his own event, and started to make her way to the arena to accept her buckle. The town wasn't giving out award money, since this rodeo was a fundraiser, but someone had donated buckles to all the winners in each event.
She smiled up at David and Matt when she walked past them into the arena. Matt gave her a thumbs up. David only smiled, looking more reserved than she thought he'd be if she won. Why wasn't he a little more excited? Maybe he was on edge just as she'd been before her event. He hadn’t ridden a bull outside of a practice arena in quite a while.
Larry Knowles, the Mayor of Garner, held out his hand to shake as he handed her the buckle. “Good run, Misty.”
She thanked him and stood for pictures. She looked to where her parents were sitting and found them standing just on the other side of the gate. Big Mike and Nora stood beside them. She was just turning to exit the stage when Larry stopped her with a hand to her shoulder.
Into the mic he said, “Now if the crowd will settle down for a minute, we have a returning hometown Marine who'd like a minute to say a few words.”
She was so shocked at his words, Larry could have pushed her over with his pinky and she'd have landed on her ass in the dirt. His words hadn't fully worked their way through her brain yet, and he literally had to put his hands on her shoulders to physically turn her around to face David, who was walking her way as she stood about a quarter of the way into the arena.
I have a surprise for you.
What the hell was he doing? The spectators in the bleachers had lost their ever-loving minds, screaming and clapping and calling out words she couldn't make out. The earsplitting sound was making her head spin. She felt the gazes of the entire town of Garner on her. As David walked up, she looked over his shoulder to see her brother with his cell out still recording, a big shit-eating-grin on his face. What the…
That's when it hit her. The buckle felt like a dead weight in her hand as her mind caught up on the only thing that would bring David out here in front of the whole town. So that's why everyone kept telling me that I had to win. Dear God...
The deafening roar of the crowd trickled down as David reached her and stood in front of her, wearing those chaps and that cowboy hat of his. He stood not two feet away and looked down at her with only the smallest hint of a smile. He was nervous. She could have heard a person at the top of the stands sneeze it had grown so quiet in the arena.
And that's when David took a knee in front of her.
He had a mic on. And when he looked up at her from under his cowboy hat, his gaze locked on hers. Her hands started shaking even with the weight of the buckle weighing them down. Her parents, his parents, and everyone in attendance was on their feet, and yet just like at the last rodeo they'd attended, everyone slowly faded into the background to leave just her and David in this pivotal moment.
One boy. One girl.
David smiled, and he looked so much like the boy she'd grown up with that she could have sworn they were back in high school. She saw that his hands were shaking just as much as hers were when he brought up a silver box and opened it. A beautiful diamond ring glinted under the sun's rays. The crowd went absolutely crazy. He waited until the screams died down to say, “Misty Ann Evans, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
The shaking in her hands had made its way to her knees, so she gave in and joined him down in the dirt, unable to do anything but nod her head and wrap her arms around his neck.
God had answered her prayers. Every last one of them, and a few she hadn’t even thought to say.
The announcer yelled out the obvious to their family and friends, over the utter roar of the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, she said yes!”
One boy. One girl. One impossible dream come true.
Keep reading for an excerpt from the second book in my Dakota Cowboy Series, Dakota Lightning.
Coming soon!
Dakota Lightning
Chapter One
Abigail Spencer never thought the day would come, but here she was, walking down the aisle beside the only man she’d ever loved—Matthew Christopher Evans.
Wedding guests were seated in the wooden pews, decked out in their best dresses, suits and ties. Matt’s parents were there, seated in the front pews of the church, as were hers. All their close friends were in attendance, more than likely hoping the vows went quickly so they could get their drink on at the reception. Like her and Matt, most of their friends had just graduated college last spring, and they hadn’t grown out of their kegger years quite yet.
The organist began to play. The deep, resounding chords blanketed the quiet guests, letting everyone know that vows were about to be said today in the tiny, dusty town of Garner, South Dakota.
With her hand resting on Matt’s offered forearm, Abby closed her eyes and took in a deep, calming breath.
Lord, he smells so good. Usually smelling of cattle and hay, dressed in dusty jeans and T-shirt, a threadbare ball cap pulled low over his forehead, he sure cleaned up nice. Abby sighed and leaned into him, wishing—
Matt jostled her with a quick shake of the arm, obliterating her fantasy and nearly causing her to chip one of her teeth. “Hey, you see Caroline Parker?” he whispered loudly. He leaned down closer to her ear, probably because the couple ahead of them turned and glared. “She’s wearing some nineteen eighties leopard-spotted dress that barely covers her ass. I thought my mom was going to slap the shit out of her in the vestibule.”
He half laughed, half snorted in her ear as they stood in the wedding party line just outside of the inner church doors in the vestibule. Instead of looking at Caroline, Abby looked up at Matt. He stood six foot one, so she needed to crane her head back, being five two herself. Man. Reality sucked. She’d been lost in a daydream, wishing this were their wedding.
His teal eyes were so light that most people who didn’t know him—and even a few who did—thought they were contacts, their color was that intense. He had dirty blond hair that could benefit from a few quick snips of scissors, but she’d always liked his hair long like that. The style went well with his playful personality. He’d trimmed it back for the wedding, but the ends would still curl out of the bottom of his baseball cap, just like they had since they’d been in elementary school.
She looked away from him and straightened, smoothing out her burgundy dress with a few swipes of her free hand. Unfortunately, this wasn’t their wedding. They were walking down the aisle by default—as friends. Very close friends. Friends with zero benefits. This was his twin sister’s wedding, and Abby was the maid of honor and Matt was the best man.
If their relationship ever made it out of the friend zone, Abby wouldn’t know what to do with herself. Hell, she didn’t need a happily ever after. At this point, she’d take a drunken tumble in the hay. She might not know what to do with herself if they ever became more than friends, but she sure knew what she’d do with him. Or better yet, to him.
Jesus, Abby, calm down.
As another groomsman and bridesmaid began their slow march down the aisle, she and Matt took a step forward in unison, closer to the double-door entrance of the main church. Only one more couple to go before they were up.
Matt leaned down to whisper in her ear again. “I went and did it.”
This time she looked up at him in confusion. He hadn’t yet moved away. Their mouths were a scant inch apart, but she doubted he’d be affected even if her lips had accidentally brushed against his. Having been friends all their lives, and close as thieves in college, more than just lips had touched a time or two. Not that he’d ever noticed. He’d never really shown an interest in her other than—suddenly it dawned on her what he was referring to. “You didn’t,” she said, even though she knew Matt would never tease about something like this. She’d had a good idea that he was going to do what he’d promised.
He gave her his trademark shit-eating grin. “Misty’s going to love it.”
Maybe after a few beers and a couple of Xanax. “She’s gonna tan your hide.”
He stood straighter when the couple ahead of them started walking down the aisle. She and Matt stepped into the frame of the double-doors of the church.
When Misty found out what her twin brother had done, shit was going to hit the fan. Abby thought Matt had come up with a great idea, and this kind of thing was why she and Matt were such good friends. They liked to have a good time. Always. They were the first to break out the beer pong and the last to call it a night. They were still the only two residents of Garner who’d managed to climb the water tower in town and rappel down. She still had a wicked scar from the rope burn on her right side. She’d been grounded a whole month for that one.
He looked down at her and she looked up at him again. This time their faces weren’t close, and her gaze was drawn to his lips.
“You bring your suit?” he asked, barely keeping his lips from twitching.
She’d had a good idea he was going to pull his stunt today. She’d learned a long time ago to never underestimated Matthew Evans. “Got my itty-bitty black bikini on under this dress.”
The smile he gave her promised that they were going to have a blast at Misty’s reception, and not because of the free alcohol. Then again, when did they not have fun together? They’d been tearing it up circa two thousand four.
The last bridesmaid and groomsman reached the front of the church and took their place in the wedding line.
That was their cue.
She and Matt began walking at the exact same time, staying in sync to the heavy sound of the organ as they’d practiced at rehearsal last night, slowly gliding down the aisle. She recalled that the wedding photographer was going to be at the end of the aisle, taking pictures of each member of the wedding party as they made the slow hike to the front, and they’d been asked to put on their best smiles.
Everything was going smoothly until about halfway down the aisle. Abby caught sight of Caroline and most of her thigh in that ridiculous dress Matt had pointed out. It was impossible to miss her. Abby tried to stifle a laugh. It didn’t work. Especially when Caroline looked Abby up and down and sneered. Abby tried her best to keep from laughing, completely horrified when a distinct snort escaped her.
But everyone knew, once you got the giggles in church, it was a done deal. Had the organ music covered the snort? Damn.
Unfortunately, Matt knew exactly what she was laughing at, and he failed to control his own reaction. A flash of light let her know that the photographer chose that moment to take his shot of them coming down the aisle, their faces contorted from trying not to laugh so hard they pissed themselves.
She chanced a glance at the groom. David shook his head, looking more amused than disappointed.
Both she and Matt had been voted the class clowns of their graduating class—because you couldn’t have one without the other—so she doubted anyone seated in the church was surprised that the two of them couldn’t keep their shit together, even at his twin sister’s and her best friend’s wedding.
Seconds later, at the front of the church, she reluctantly let him go—story of her life.
She walked to stand where she was supposed to and turned to watch the flower girl bounce down the aisle. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Matt and David exchange a handshake and a rough slap on the upper arm just before Matt took his place behind his best friend.
The deep tone of the organ took an almost ominous turn as the Bridal March began to play. What was it about that song that made your pulse race and tears spring instantly to your eyes?
This was Abby’s third wedding this year. Her college friends were getting hitched left and right. Jane had just had a baby, for crying out loud. And now Abby’s best friend since kindergarten was slowly making her way down the aisle in a princess gown that cinched in at the waist with a silver belt. The bottom billowed out, but not obnoxiously. It was the dress Misty had always wanted. She looked absolutely breathtaking in it. Tall, blonde, tan…Abby had always wanted to look like Misty.
Would their relationship change? More than likely. Like Matt said yesterday at the rehearsal, things were going to change in their circle now. Soon David and Misty would be starting a family. Raising kids. Trading their rusty trucks in for a soccer-mom van, and their Saturday nights at the Longbranch for Sunday morning cartoons.
Sadly, she wouldn’t be raising kids with Misty like she’d always dreamed. Abby wanted to be exactly where Misty was, walking down the aisle. In fact, the two had dreamed about this for years. Abby could see herself moving into that phase of her life so easily. The only problem was, she couldn’t see that future with anyone other than Matt, and that simply wasn’t going to happen. The cows on her dad’s farm would sprout wings out of their ass and fly first.
Unlike David and Misty, she and Matt would always be in the friend zone, no matter where life took them.
With her gaze locked on Misty, who took her place next to David in front of the preacher, Abby realized at some point she had to be good with that.
Abby’s head ached something fierce.
The wedding reception held at the Evans’ Farm had been a blur of toasts, bell ringing for kisses, and Matt nudging her shoulder every time Carline walked by in her ridiculous leopard dress. Dinner plates hadn’t even been cleared before the country music beckoned everyone to the make-shift dance floor. You couldn’t hold country folk back from their beer and two-stepping for long.
The dance floor was crowded, but the weather
had played nice, and a gentle breeze wiped away some of the heat that was gathering under the big white tent. Abby’s gaze lit on Jennifer Pierson and her eyes narrowed despite her best intentions.
Channeling an old, crabby lady in church, Abby slut-checked Jennifer as though the woman was working a street corner. Her dark blue cocktail dress was much too short for a wedding, and her boobs were about to make their own appearance on the dance floor. Her spray tan looked as fake as those mile-long eyelashes she’d glued to her face.
Jennifer had slithered her way under Abby’s skin back when they’d been in high school, gunning for Matt since freshman year as though he were a twelve-point and she was a hunter with something to prove. Problem was, she’d caught him more than once. With thick, light brown hair down to the middle of her back, a tiny waist, and an ass you could bounce a quarter off of, most men would mount themselves to her wall and never give the consequences a second thought.
Jennifer had everything Abby didn’t, and Matt was one of them.
At least they weren’t an official couple. Abby would rather be Matt’s best friend than his Friday night booty call. And that was the truth. Mostly. She took a healthy drink of her booze and tried not to sneer.
“You look like you want to kill her with your bare hands.”
Misty’s voice slapped Abby out of bitch mode, surprising her enough that she spilled a little champagne over the rim of her glass when she turned to face her. Abby’s pathetic crush on Misty’s twin brother wasn’t exactly a secret, but since their first year in college over four years ago, she’d pretended that she was pretty much over him just to save face.
She glanced over her shoulder and scanned the crowd, her gaze sliding over Jennifer as smoothly as the booze was going down her throat. Turning back to Misty she attempted an act of innocence. “Who?”
