Tears rushed in again. “That would be wonderful. Thank you both.”
So she left the room and descended the stairs with each of them at her side, heading for the man she’d waited so very long to marry. Ahead of her she saw her girls forget their flower petals and start running.
To Jackson.
There he stood, tall and handsome and beloved, his gaze stunned and admiring.
She smiled, and he smiled back.
And it was all she could do not to run to be with him, too.
Jackson thought his heart would stop when he saw her. He knew he should wait, but they’d already waited so long for each other.
He stepped into the aisle as she began her way to him, barely noticed Scarlett take the girls to their seats.
He took another step, and Veronica laughed through her tears.
Then he was in motion, and so was she. As they came together, he swept her up and vowed never to let her go. Eyes closed, feeling her slender arms around his neck, he was overcome with a sense that finally, finally everything fit.
He wasn’t sure who was trembling, her or him.
“Dad.” Ben approached, and Jackson opened his eyes.
“Dad, you’re supposed to let us give her to you,” Ben stage-whispered.
The audience laughter spilled in warm waves around them.
But he heard a few sniffles, too.
Her hand stroked down the back of his head. “Jackson…”
He made himself lean back. “Yes?”
A smile filled her eyes, though they glistened with tears. “I love you so much.”
He embraced her again, hard. Then, with a deep exhalation, he set her on her feet. “I don’t want to let go.”
“Then don’t. I don’t want to, either.” She held out her hand for his. “Walk me the rest of the way?”
“Yes.” He didn’t care what anyone else thought of his behavior. He’d loved her and missed her for so very long…
They reached Judge Porter, but Jackson halted a step shy. Turned to her. “You’re the most beautiful bride in the world. You take my breath away.”
“Awww…” More than one voice spoke.
She smoothed his tie. “You do look like a prince, you know.”
He could hardly speak, instead brought her hand to his lips.
“So…let’s be flexible, shall we?” Judge Porter said over their heads. “Ben, Tank, do you have something to say? Since it appears that the bride you were giving away has escaped you?”
A few chuckles, then a clearing of the throat. Tank. “My sister isn’t mine to give away. She’s belonged to you for a long time. But you won’t hurt her again,” he warned.
Jackson turned to face the man who had been a foe when they were younger. He noted the concern, the resolve in Tank’s eyes and understood both. “I won’t hurt her. I’m sorry I ever did. Thank you for protecting her, growing up. I promise I’ll keep her safe from here.”
Tank didn’t soften the warning in his eyes, but at last he nodded.
Veronica slipped from his grasp and went to her brother. Kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I love you.”
More than one sniffle was heard as Veronica turned away, then stopped before Ben and held out her hand. “Walk me the rest of the way?”
“My pleasure.” He closed the short distance and stopped in front of his father. “My sisters and I aren’t giving Mom away, we’re keeping her—but we’re entrusting her to you. She’s the best mom in the world, and we believe you’ll be a great dad.” His young jaw hardened with his own warning.
Jackson nodded his approval. “I will guard her with my life, son, just as I will care for all of you. Thank you for trusting me with the most precious gift in the world.”
Judge Porter cleared his throat. “Well, now.” He cleared it again. “I was going to say a few words about what it means to unite a family, but seems to me you all have learned that lesson well already. So shall we press on?”
Veronica handed her flowers to Penny, and Ben took his place beside his grandfather, who was serving as best man. Jackson’s sisters smiled at him, and Penny blew him a kiss.
Jackson had waited for this day for most of his life.
As Judge Porter readied himself to speak, Jackson made a split-second decision. “May I have a little leeway, Judge?”
“Seems to me that horse is out of the barn,” the older man commented.
Laughter rolled through, but Jackson wasn’t deterred. He looked behind Veronica. “Girls? Would you come here, please?”
“Beebee, we get to get married!” Abby crowed, and more laughter ensued.
Jackson pivoted to Ben. “Son?”
When they were all gathered, he took Veronica’s hands again. “I, James Jackson Gallagher, take you, Veronica Elizabeth Patton Butler, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to honor and to cherish, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live.”
Then he looked at her children. “Elizabeth Anne, Abigail Suzanne and Benjamin Edward Butler, I ask you to be my family from this day forward. I promise to guard you, to guide you to the best of my abilities, to keep you safe until my dying breath.”
Beth leaned into his side, and Abby touched his arm. “I love you, Prince Daddy.”
“I love you, too—all of you.” He looked at Ben.
Ben placed one hand on his back and nodded. “Me, too, Dad.”
“Veronica?” Judge Porter smiled at her.
“I, Veronica Elizabeth Patton Butler, take you, James Jackson Gallagher, to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to honor and to cherish, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live.” She smiled. “I gladly entrust you with my children, their hearts and their safety. I know you will take care of them—you already have.” She squeezed his hands.
He didn’t know how his heart could hold any more than it did at this moment.
Judge Porter asked for the rings.
Jackson held the other half of the gossamer ring he’d given her, his hands not quite steady. He looked into her eyes as he spoke, years of loving her echoing through time. “With this ring, I thee wed and pledge my life, my love and my honor, committing my heart and my soul to you and you alone from this day forward.” He slid the ring onto her finger, then brought it to his lips.
Abby clapped and jumped. Beth patted his arm.
Ben smiled at him, and Jackson smiled back.
Veronica took his ring and repeated her own vows to him in a voice as clear as angel song. She squeezed his fingers and looked into his eyes. “I love you so much,” she whispered. Her eyes shimmered with tears.
His own eyes burned as he looked to each of them in turn and spoke only to them. “Thank you all for the best Christmas of my life.”
Penny watched as her brother made his vows to the woman he’d never stopped loving. In a clear, strong voice, he vowed to love and honor and cherish her, to never leave her, and she knew the words held additional meaning for this bride and groom.
Standing up with them, she wished for Bridger beside her. She’d like to take his hand and tell him she was finally ready.
As if he could hear her, he looked up from where he was sitting.
Golden eyes burned. Promised everything she could ever hope for. He would love her with everything in him. He would keep her safe, not only her body, but her heart.
She only hoped she could do justice to his heart, his generous soul. I love you, she wanted to mouth. To say out loud.
But this was Jackson and Veronica’s time, so she only put her love in her gaze and hoped he could see it. Then she dragged her attention back to the couple pledging their lives right in front of her. She gripped Veronica’s bouquet with her own, and she watched her twin slide that astonishing ring on her finger, so much love spilling from his gaze that it swirled in the air around them.
She glanced down at her own ring and knew
that though Veronica’s was spectacular, hers meant more. Mama, let me be half the woman you were—no. Help me be every bit as good, as devoted. Bridger deserves all that and more. Please let me be a good mother because, heaven help me, I want to try.
When Judge Porter pronounced them man and wife, Jackson cradled Veronica’s face as if she were all that was precious and right in the world, and he kissed her with love that spilled over all of them.
Penny glanced down at her ring, then over to Bridger. He kept his gaze steadily on her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Gallagher and their family?”
There were cheers. There was laughter. There was applause.
And just when Penny was ready to break away and run to the man she loved, another voice cried out—
“Uh-oh, Boone.”
“Maddie?”
“My water just broke.”
“Bridger!” Boone shouted.
“Molly—” Bridger called.
Rissa laughed. “Never a dull moment in Sweetgrass!”
Then everything happened at once.
The reception didn’t go exactly as planned, but no one seemed to care. Molly and Bridger, in consultation with midwife Lorie Marshall, had quickly determined that Maddie’s baby was going to be born in Sweetgrass—and soon, three weeks early or not. Boone had carried Maddie to Ruby’s house, where the guest room downstairs had been pressed into service. EMS was headed their way, but they were on the other side of the county.
The contractions were too close together to be driving her to the hospital a hundred miles away, though Jackson had offered his plane or anything they needed. Molly wasn’t concerned after hearing the baby’s estimated weight at last doctor’s appointment and with all vital signs good.
“I’d certainly like better monitoring, I admit,” she’d muttered.
“Tell me what you need. You and Bridger make a list. We need a full-service clinic in town, at a minimum,” Jackson said. “That goes to the top of my list.”
Molly’s brows flew, and she and her brother exchanged meaningful glances. “Nice friends you have, bro.”
Bridger grinned. “I told you Sweetgrass was unique.”
Meanwhile the party had moved to the diner to be closer to Ruby’s. Right off, the quilters brought out the wedding ring quilt they’d made for the newlyweds.
Veronica cried and stroked it. “Oh, Melba…Joyce…Earlene…I don’t know what to say—oh! Look! That’s a piece of Bethie’s sundress.”
“Ben got into your box of clothes you’d saved from the children.” Ruth Sudduth smiled.
“You’re not upset, are you?” her sister Linda Vise asked. “We thought you would be pleased to have mementos of your children in it, too.”
“I’m not,” Veronica assured. She glanced at her son. “Benjamin, I love you.”
Ben all but shuffled his feet. “No big, Mom.” Then he pointed. “But you may not be real happy when you notice that your holiday apron got cut up.” He winced. “I figured that was better than taking any of your clothes. I couldn’t find anything from when you were a kid. Are you mad?”
“How could I be?”
Relief swept over his features. “Did you see Dad’s jersey Aunt Rissa found from when he was in high school?”
Jackson peered over her shoulder and beamed. “Oh, man…from the year we won State.” He clapped Ben on the back, then looked around at the group of women who’d quilted with his mother. “How on earth did you ever get this done?”
“Mel Brown gave up her dining room for us to set up a quilting frame. We’ve spent so much time together,” Linda Johnson joked, “we’re sick of each other.”
The group laughed. “Not true, Jackson,” said Joyce Walden. “We loved your mother. She would have wanted to do this for you herself.”
“She would have,” he agreed. “We will treasure this.” One by one he made his way around, bending from his great height to hug them, Veronica following suit, holding the quilt close and asking for stories of each fabric.
In the far corner of the dining room, Lilah Rose wasn’t thrilled that neither of her parents nor her beloved Bridger were on hand, so Abby and Beth, Davey Gallagher, Clarissa and Grant Marshall plus Christina Marlowe teamed with Perrie to act out one of Perrie’s children’s stories to the delight of everyone, not just Lilah Rose.
Penny decamped to Ruby’s when the other adults assured her they had things well in hand. She couldn’t assist Bridger, but she wanted to be close.
He came out to see her once. “It’s going fast. No signs of fetal distress, thank goodness, and Maddie’s holding up well. She’s a natural.”
“I heard her chewing out Boone.”
He grinned. “Women do that. Scare you off, Shark Girl?”
She screwed up her face. “I like being in control.”
He burst out laughing. “No kidding.” He bent to her. “But I make you lose it regularly, don’t I?”
She smiled. “That you do.”
“And you survive just fine.”
She looked at him, stripped down to a t-shirt smeared with unnamed fluids, latex gloves on his hands.
He held fast, no matter what life threw at him. He’d been to war, he’d nearly died. He cradled babies and defended the innocent. He was brave and strong and valiant—
And fun. And, oh yeah, sexy enough to fry her every last nerve ending.
“What? What’s going on in that busy brain?”
Let’s get married, she thought. Right now.
Molly called his name.
“Love you. Gotta go.” He kissed her quickly and took off.
She’d never loved him more.
She set off in search of her brother. They’d shared one important date.
Maybe he wouldn’t mind adding another.
Jackson laughed when she found him and explained. “Of course I don’t mind. I kinda like it.” He grinned and looked at the woman he hadn’t let go of yet. “Vee?”
“Bridger would be so happy. Of course we don’t. But you don’t have a wedding dress.”
“I don’t care. We have to wait and be sure Maddie and the baby are okay first, though.”
“Are you worried? Is Bridger?”
“They don’t seem to be concerned. Molly says both baby and Maddie are doing well.” She chuckled. “Boone’s getting the sharp side of Maddie’s tongue, though.”
Harley Sykes overheard. “It’s a man’s lot. My Melba cussed me up one hill and down the next.”
“What are you saying about me, old man?” Melba called out.
“Nothing—” Harley winked at them and left.
“Leave this to me,” Veronica said. “Brenda? Let’s go take a look at the flowers.”
“No, Veronica—you just got married,” Penny protested. “You can’t—”
“We’ll all help,” Jackson said. “Ian, Mackey, let’s round up the troops. My sister has decided to uphold the Gallagher wedding tradition.”
Just then Bridger burst through the back door. “Lilah Rose?” he called out. “Dalton and Sam? You ready to go meet your new sister?”
“Bwidge!”
The room erupted into relieved laughter.
“Maddie’s okay? The baby’s okay?”
“They’re both fine. The baby is nearly eight pounds, even early.” Bridger bent and caught Lilah Rose as she raced pell-mell toward him and her brothers followed. He turned to go.
“Bridger, wait—” Penny called out.
He turned back. “You want to come?”
“No—yes—that’s not it.”
“Okay…”
She clasped her hands and wrung them. “Bridger, will you marry me?”
He grinned. “Legs, I asked you first. When we were na—” He halted, a devil’s gleam in his eyes.
“TMI, my man,” Jackson warned. Then laughed. Others joined him.
She tried to ignore them, nerves jumping. “I mean… now.”
His brows rose to his
hairline. “Now?” He glanced down at his stained t-shirt. “Like now now?”
“I’ll just take these kids to see their mom,” Dev said, scooping up Lilah Rose. “Boys? Lace, come with me?”
“Okay, Uncle Dev,” answered Dalton. Sam followed right behind.
“Maddie will want to be there, you know,” Lacey murmured to Penny and Bridger as they passed.
“But—” How long would that take?
“Legs, we could wait. It won’t hurt anything.”
She didn’t want to wait now.
“Is that a pout I see, Penelope?” Bridger’s grin was irresistible.
Scarlett stepped up. “Maddie’s pretty tough. Everyone else is already at the courthouse getting things ready, Bridger. I’ll go see what Molly thinks and what Maddie wants to do, okay?” She looked him up and down, then grinned. “Meanwhile, need a new shirt?”
He glanced at himself then back up to Penny with that mischievous grin. “For better or worse, Legs?”
She smiled right back. “I’ll take you however I can get you.”
He reached for her. “A big hug on that?”
She jumped back. “Eww! Don’t mess up my dress!”
“That’s my Shark Girl.” Bridger threw back his head and laughed.
It was eleven-thirty when Penny finally had her chance, only they weren’t getting married at the courthouse, after all. Maddie might be tough, but there was no way Penny was making her travel, even across the town square.
The wedding was to be held in Ruby’s parlor. The old house had been built in the late 1800s, and it was an example of old-fashioned grace. The parlor and living room sat across the entry from one another, with sliding doors that could be opened to the foyer and to the formal dining room beyond the parlor.
Half of Sweetgrass was crowded inside, waiting, when Penny made her own trip down Ruby’s front staircase on her father’s arm.
She was wearing a different gown, one of the only formal ones she’d brought with her to Sweetgrass, never expecting to be married in it.
But it worked for her.
It was siren-red.
She couldn’t help grinning as Bridger’s eyes just about popped out of his head.
Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 Page 14
