Smiling, she blushed prettily and spoke her own vows.
“I, Lindsey, take you, Shane, to be the bright light of my morning sky and the quiet moon of my nights, the sun that warms my blossoming heart, and the guiding star of my life journey. You have taught me that love is deeper and more complicated than I ever could have imagined, and I look forward to a partnership that will last throughout both our lifetimes and beyond.” Her smile widened. “Will you, Shane, take me, Lindsey, to be your awful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to kiss and canoodle, from this day forward?”
Canoodle? He’d canoodle Lindsey anytime she wanted, but he felt his face heat at the word, and he could see the cowhands nudging each other and grinning. Well, let them laugh. Someday they’d find a woman who would love them, and if they were lucky, they’d get to canoodle too.
“I do,” he said fervently. “I do. I do.”
The minister stepped forward. “I now pronounce you man and wife. As the Bible tells us…”
Shane cleared his throat and shot the reverend a dark look, making the old man pause.
“Can I kiss her now?”
Shane knew he was being rude. He knew he was out of line. But he wasn’t about to stand there while Revered Bannister droned on about marriage for another half hour. Not when his new wife stood before him, waiting for the kiss that would seal their hard-won bargain.
She was his. He was hers. And he’d never felt so much at peace in his life.
The preacher lifted his chin, as if it had been his idea to bestow permission. “You may.”
Stepping forward, Shane wrapped Lindsey in his arms and kissed her, letting all his love and gratitude flow into his kiss, releasing the doubts and frustrations that had dogged him all his life. He felt himself growing strong and sure, with a sense of purpose that would join them as surely as their love.
Lindsey gave as good as she got, starting the kiss with sweet acquiescence before ramping up the passion and showing Shane just how she felt about him. Surprised by the strength of her kiss, just as he’d been surprised by the power of her love, he took a step backward and tripped over a certain Yorkie, who evidently wasn’t done causing trouble.
He could have caught himself, but then he might have stepped on Stormy’s little paw. There was no doubt the dog deserved it for that stunt with the boxer shorts, but still, he was only a pup.
Besides, Stormy’d yip and spoil the moment, and that was no way to begin a life with Lindsey. So he took the fall, tumbling over backward and tugging Lindsey with him. The two of them hit the floor in a cloud of white lace and wedding tulle, kicking up the dust the dogs had dragged in and giggling as they finished their first kiss as a married couple by rolling in the fine red dirt of Rescue Ranch.
Acknowledgments
You can blame this book on the usual suspects—my mother, Betty Smyth; my sister, Carolyn Smyth; my agent, Elaine English; and the folks at Sourcebooks, especially Deb Werksman, Susie Benton, Eliza Smith, and Skye Agnew.
I’m also grateful to the kids, who enrich my life in so many ways: Alycia and Ryan Fleury, who gave us the best, smartest grandchildren in the world and teach me about hunting even though I’m ridiculously pro-squirrel; my web guru, Scott McCauley, and his wicked-awesome wife, neuroscience genius Aminda O’Hare, who live much too far away; and Brian Davis, who is really and truly an Air Force pilot—and a true hero for all he’s surmounted and survived. A special shout-out to Jackie Littlefield, because she’s family too, and I couldn’t be happier about that.
I’m lucky enough to have friends too numerous to mention, but I need to give special thanks to Jeanette Daly for her cheerful phone calls, for the be-bopping road trips, and for letting me think I’m looking after her when, really, she’s taking care of me; and to Jeannette Gallagher, my long-lost lunch partner. I’m so glad we reconnected.
Finally, I need to say a special thank-you the two extraordinary men in my life.
The first is my father, to whom this book is dedicated. He passed away suddenly before it could be published, but I hope he knew how much I loved and admired him. He was a scientist, and his dedication to his work taught me to dream big and try hard. He and my mother were married for over sixty years, and their strong and happy marriage taught me the true meaning of love. I miss him, as we all do, but I hope he had the ultimate “eureka moment” when he moved out of this world and on to the ultimate discovery.
The second great man in my world is Ken “Scrape” McCauley, to whom I owe my happiness. Thank you for Stillwater, and for surviving Bethlehem! Thank you for loving my family as if they were your own and for helping me, with infinite care and patience, through so many challenges. Thank you for giving me your heart and for accepting mine.
You are the best man I know, and the reason I write romance.
—Joanne Kennedy
Stillwater, May 2015
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Rebel Cowboy
Book 1 in the Big Sky Cowboys Series
by Nicole Helm
Under a big sky
For hotshot NHL star Dan Sharpe, hockey isn’t just his job—it’s his everything. But when claims of cheating get him bounced from the ice, he finds himself feeling lost. Everyone thinks he’s crazy for taking on his grandfather’s ramshackle Montana ranch, but, hey, he’s Dan Sharpe: How hard can it be?
As it turns out? Plenty hard.
Mel Shaw has been fighting tooth and nail to keep her family from falling apart. The last thing she needs is a distraction, but taking a job as some city slicker’s consultant may be her only chance to save the land she loves. She never expected someone like Dan to come roaring into her life, and it doesn’t take long for Mel to realize this hockey star turned cowboy has the power to upend her carefully ordered world—and heart—for good.
“Full of emotion, a little heat, and some great banter.”— Long and Short Reviews on Flight Risk
For more Nicole Helm, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
About the Author
Joanne Kennedy’s lifelong fascination with Wyoming’s unique blend of past and present inspires her to write contemporary Western romances with traditional ranch settings. Her books include Cowboy Tough; Tall, Dark and Cowboy; and the RITA-nominated One Fine Cowboy. At various times, she has dabbled in horse training, chicken farming, and bridezilla wrangling at a department store wedding registry, but her love of reading led to twin careers in bookselling and writing. She lives with two dogs and a fighter pilot in Wyoming. The dogs are relatively well-behaved.
How to Wrangle a Cowboy Page 38
