by Brooke May
It was as if missing pieces of myself finally returned with each of them coming back to my life. Holt, Decker, and Ryder still wanted to fulfill their dreams in the military, but Chase didn’t sound as convinced.
“You look ready to take on the world.” Angie floats around me in the tiny dressing room we crammed ourselves into in the back of the church. I’m thankful for the confined space because that means my mom will give me some space.
I’m so grateful for Angie and Mercy. They’ve been the true friends I’ve longed for. I still have the guys, and I know I always will in some way, but having them all to myself is wonderful.
“You’re glowing so brightly that even the sun is going to envy you when you step outside.” Mercy messes a little more with my hair that I’ve decided to keep short.
“That’s because I am.” My loose pale cream dress wraps around my chest perfectly, encasing my boobs in the softest material I’ve ever had on my body. It flows over my swelling stomach, not hiding the ever-growing bump but making the baby a part of this wonderful day.
Today is the day I give up my maiden name for the last time and become Patience Michaels. I’ll finally have the name I grew up doodling on my notebooks.
Growing up in Centennial means every citizen knows everything about everyone else in town, so we’re the talk of the town, according to our moms and my aunts. When we came back, the news of our engagement spread like wildfire.
But it never stopped people from coming into the store or my café.
Glares were tossed in Duke’s direction because a few people who didn’t know about what kind of man Greg was thought Duke stole me from my ex. I even received a few for being that type of woman to cheat on my husband.
Even though I split with Greg before Duke came home.
And Greg was and still is the cheater.
I lost my temper a few times before I learned to ignore all of it once more. I did it once when those same voices blamed me for Greg’s unhappiness, so I can do it again. Besides, it wasn’t long before that died down, but then it picked back up once word of my pregnancy got out. Then the news made the whole town, and the women, mainly, wondered what was wrong with Greg that he couldn’t give me children after I lost my first.
But I knew the truth.
I was greeted warmly then, and that put a smile on my face. Especially when one of my grandma’s friends, one of the biggest gossips, told me she was glad I finally got the right man.
It got even better when Greg was picked up for DWUI by none other than Duke. He was working late when he saw Greg’s car swerving from one lane on Main Street all the way over to the other side and onto the abandoned sidewalk before he pulled him over.
Drunk driving wasn’t the only thing Greg ended up being charged with. Duke could smell something funky when talking to him before having him blow into the breathalyzer. He then called in backup with a dog and found drugs on him.
Karma is real, and sometimes, in those moments when I don’t have to be her avenging angel, it happens in reality.
Greg got what was coming to him. It was a long time coming.
Just like today.
Right as there is a knock on my door, I hear Duke’s voice booming from somewhere out there, calling for the small furry beast that has come into our lives and helped Duke a great deal. It took some time, but Duke’s therapist managed to get a dog from a woman who ran a rescue where she helped turn dogs into service dogs in Forsyth. Scouter has been a perfect addition to our ever-growing family.
Dad steps in, quickly closing the door behind him so Scouter can’t sneak in.
“Look at you.” Emotion flashes in his eyes. “You are breathtaking, Patience.” A rare smile floats across his face. “Are you ready to be someone else’s problem now?”
Angie, Mercy, and I laugh at him. It keeps the tears at bay.
“I’ve been Duke’s problem since the day he went along with Chase’s and my idea of dumping a whole lot of green food dye at the outgoing port at the water treatment plant.”
I don’t miss the strange flinch Angie has from the corner of my eye when I mention Chase’s name. I’ll bug her some other day about that.
“Very true.” He laughs, turning to offer me his arm. “Let’s get you out there.” Winking down at me, he leads the way but not before Angie skirts around us, holding both of our bouquets.
“Let’s.” Looping my arm with his, I take a deep breath, laughing once more when my baby kicks me. I head out the door with the man whose feet I once danced on, who taught me how to throw a great right hook and shoot straight, and the man who was always there for me and will continue to be even though I’m getting married.
And now he is ready to pass the torch to Duke.
He was reluctant at my wedding to Greg, but he is honored now knowing I’m getting the happiness and love I’ve always wanted.
Angie hands me my flowers, then grabs Mercy, and they head out before the door closes, leaving me with my dad for a moment.
“Second time’s the charm, right?”
I snort a laugh as tears begin to brim my eyes. “Right.”
The “Bridal March” begins just as the door opens one final time to let us through. And like so many times with Duke, my breath is stolen, and tears slowly pool in the corners of my eyes at the sight of all my friends lined up next to him.
Angie and Mercy line up at my side, and Holt, Chase, Decker, and Ryder are across from them by Duke. I went from seeing none of them to having all of them here for our special day. Each one of them is in their own dress uniform, and I love it all the more.
This is absolutely wonderful.
Perfection.
With each step that I get closer to Duke, I realize and remember every step it took me to get to this point.
Losing Duke.
Losing Abel.
Losing myself.
Divorcing Greg.
Finding myself.
Finding Duke again.
And with every single step I took, something I thought I had lost comes back.
It took courage.
Note from the Author
Dear Reader,
Thank you for joining me on this new adventure. Duke and Patience took on a world of their own as I wrote their story. I originally had something else planned for this book, but like everything in my mind, things change. I’m glad they did and I hope you enjoyed this.
Love,
Brooke
Acknowledgements
Always and forever, first and foremost, I thank God for giving me this gift and the courage to put my stories out there into the world.
The warden and boys; thank you so much for making my life anything but easy. You three keep me on my toes, give me strange inspiration, and I would be lost without you.
My family; thank you for always being around when I need someone to bounce ideas off of. Mom, you were my first cheerleader with my imagination. Thank you for listening to whatever concept I was trying to work for. Dad, thank you for teaching me a lot of what I’m using in this series. Without your mountain man ways, I wouldn’t know the details of the animals like I do.
Jenny, thank you for being the amazing editor you are. I feel I’ve learned and grown since My Cowboy and I hope to continue to grow but not too much because I will always need you.
Tracie, once more you have made an amazing cover that I knew right away was for my book. I absolutely love this one. I love every one you’ve made for me, but this one makes me sigh. Dark Water Covers is the best!
To every single blogger and fellow author out there, thank you for doing what you love. Thank you for inspiring me with your written words and for the bloggers who love to read and spread their love to everyone they can.
And, of course, to you the reader, thank you for finding my book and reading it. Thank you for taking a chance. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you for your support, your reviews, wonderful words, and your encouragement.
About the Author
Born and raised in Northern Wyoming. Brooke spent a great deal of her childhood and even well into her adulthood in her imagination and creating different stories. With an overactive imagination life has been truly entertaining.
A mother of two wild and reckless boys and a wife; Brooke keeps busy year round doing things with her pups and family. When she isn’t writing, can usually be spotted walking somewhere in town, at the library with her youngest, or up in the mountains four-wheeling, hiking, fishing, and some hunting. A notebook and camera are never far from her side when she is out on her adventures with her family.
She loves hearing from readers and anyone who feels like talking. Feel free to pay her a visit whenever.
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Books by Brooke
My Cowboy Series:
My Cowboy
Faith in My Cowboy
Loved by My Cowboy
My Cowgirl
The Predator Series:
The Predator Part One
The Predator Part Two
The Predator Wildfire Knockout
Back in the Ring
Moto X Series:
Roosted
Cased
Pinned
Powder River Pack Series:
A Second Chance
Code of Honor Series:
Courage of Us
Coming soon:
Love, Mercy: A Code of Honor Short Story, pre-order now
Call of the Alpha: Powder River Pack Book Two, early 2020
Bottoming Out: Moto X Book Four, summer 2020
She’s No Cowgirl: My Cowboy Book Five, late 2020