by Iris Abbott
“No buts honey. Don’t the two of you have a wedding to get ready for? And it’s all the way in Texas too. I’ve always wanted to see Texas. Now I’ll have the chance.” She looked over at Landon. “I hope you hired a wedding photographer because I don’t want to miss a moment of my baby girl’s big day and obviously I can’t be there in person. I have another few days here in the hospital still.”
“It’s all taken care of Mrs. Sharpe. I’ll even have the photographer make an extra wedding album just for you.”
Linda Sharpe glowed. She was thrilled for her daughter. “This one is definitely a keeper, Emma. Now you two go.” She made shooing motions with her hands. “Head back to Texas and make your mother proud. And Emma I expect a phone call after the wedding, so you can tell me all about it.”
Emma bent down and kissed her mom one more time before she left for her new life in Texas with Landon. “I’ll call everyday mom while you’re still in the hospital. I love you.” Then she joined hands with Landon and allowed him to lead her out of the room and toward the next chapter in the story of her life.
EPILOGUE
Emma pinched herself. She expected to wake up from this fairytale dream at any moment. She looked around, but nothing had changed. She was still standing in the most spectacular and beautiful gown that she had ever seen, surrounded by the cheerful and sunny arrangements of sunflowers and roses. The pianist began playing the Wedding March. That was Emma’s cue to walk down the aisle.
Jackson Walker had offered to give her away when his mom had mentioned that Emma’s family wasn’t going to be at the wedding. Emma thought it had been a selfless offer made from the heart, the one she knew Jackson kept buried under that rough cowboy exterior. She had considered his offer, but in the end, declined. She didn’t want blood to be shed at her wedding. There was no need to tempt fate, or Landon’s possessive streak.
She slowly walked toward Landon who was flanked by his best man, Bruce and Emma’s matron of honor, Lynn. She passed the Walkers and smiled when Jackson winked at her. He shouldn’t be so smug. Emma was willing to bet he’d meet his match and probably one day soon at that. She continued walking until she reached the only place she wanted to be, Landon’s side.
The minister welcomed the guests and then began the ceremony. Emma and Landon both repeated their vows until finally the moment she had been waiting for arrived. “I now pronounce you man and wife,” the minister proclaimed. He turned and gave Landon a big smile. “You may kiss the bride.”
Emma watched as Landon bent toward her and lightly brushed her lips with his. Then he pulled her into a tight embrace and really kissed her. The kiss seemed to go on forever, and they were both laughing when several whistles and catcalls later they finally broke apart.
Lynn gave her best friend a hug and a kiss on the cheek, “welcome to the family finally, sis.” Then she patted her brother on the back. “Now that was what I call a kiss. I could feel the heat from here,” she teased.
Emma all but glowed inside and out. She could feel the love and warmth that radiated from the James family, and now she was a permanent part of that family. Not bad for a woman who grew up not really knowing what family love was about, and who had never thought she’d take the risk of marrying and having a family of her own.
Later that evening Emma threw the duplicate bouquet of sunflowers and roses into a sea of single women. To everyone’s surprise, the bouquet almost as if by magic took a wide right and landed right in the lap of Mandy Tyler. The Tyler Ranch, Emma would later learn bordered the James and Walker ranches. Emma couldn’t help but notice how fast Jackson disappeared from sight after the bouquet landed in Mandy’s lap. She would have to make sure she invited the Tyler and Walker families over for dinner one night soon. Maybe she would do a little matchmaking of her own.
Landon noticed her thoughtful expression and the glances she was giving both Mandy and Jackson’s retreating back. “Don’t even go there, my darling wife. Mandy is a sweet kid who’s had the misfortune of having a crush on Jackson for years now. If anyone deserves better than falling in love with Jackson Walker, it’s got to be Mandy Tyler.”
Emma took a deep breath. She was still basking in the glow of true love. She believed there was someone out there for everyone. They just had to be lucky enough to find them. “Well, you can’t blame me for wanting to see everyone as happy as we are. His retreat from the wedding, once Mandy caught the bouquet was so obvious it’s funny.”
“Mandy used to chase him all over Rancher’s Bend when she was younger. Her blind idolization of Jackson was amusing to everyone but Jackson. He just found it annoying, and he didn’t mince words when he let her know that right before she left town for college. She’s had a tough time of it lately. Her father died, and she is trying to keep the Tyler family ranch running while taking care of her mother, and she’s doing it all by herself. The last thing I would wish on that poor child is Jackson Walker,”
Emma rolled her eyes at her husband. “She is hardly a child she looks to be about the same age as Lynn and me. Secondly, Jackson is not as bad as you think he is. He just needs the right woman, and now I think I know who that woman is. I’ll enlist Lynn’s help and by the time we’re done Mandy and Jackson won’t know what hit them.”
Landon couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know,” he admitted with a big grin. “I almost feel sorry for Walker. Almost,” he couldn’t help but emphasize once again.
****
Emma watched the guests mix and mingle with each other. She had finally gotten a minute to herself to reflect on everything that had happened over the past couple of weeks. The day and the wedding were everything she could have hoped for, and she marveled at how it all came about. She felt Landon come up behind her and wrap his arms protectively around her before placing a loving kiss on her ear. “I love you, Mrs. James, now for the best part of this celebration. I get to hold you in my arms for the first dance of the evening.” He led her onto the makeshift dance floor. They swayed in each other’s arms oblivious to anything but each other. They were soon joined by the matron of honor and best man. Lynn and Bruce had participated in the wedding after all just not as bride and groom. That honor had gone to Emma and Landon. The two people fate had declared the accidental bride and groom.
Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed reading Accidental Bride and Groom! Reviews are welcomed and appreciated. Please visit my website irisabbott.com or my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IrisAbbottAuthor for more information on upcoming releases! I enjoy feedback from my readers, so let me know what you’re thinking. I can be reached at [email protected]. Happy reading and enjoy!
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
EPILOGUE
