Could a wedding ceremony so impatiently awaited have passed by more quickly? It seemed in only the briefest of moments their vows were spoken and simple gold bands exchanged, followed by a blessing and then Seth lowering his head to kiss her so tenderly before murmuring, “I love you, Kari.”
“Mrs. Davis,” she whispered back to him, reaching up to touch his face. “I love you, Seth. More than you’ll ever know.”
Her words were no sooner uttered when the congregation, in true Texas fashion, erupted in exuberant whoops, while Lucius handed Seth his black cowboy hat that he brandished like a triumphant hero in the air. She’d never seen him grin so broadly, his joy over their wedding as plain as daylight for everyone to see.
Kari couldn’t stop smiling, either, as people rushed from the pews to congratulate them before she and Seth could even walk down the aisle. A pretty little girl in a yellow dress, no more than five years old, pressed forward to stare with shining brown eyes at Kari.
“You look like a fairy princess, Mrs. Davis!”
Kari leaned down so she could reply to the child eye-to-eye. “So do you, sweetheart. Would you like a rose from my bouquet?”
The quick nod made Kari laugh as she plucked a bloom and handed it to the little girl, who gasped with delight and spun around to her father.
“Papa, look!”
Straightening, Kari realized the sweet child belonged to Sheriff Joshua Logan, the widower whom she’d been introduced to when she first came to Walker Creek. A man of few words, Caleb had also told her, but an able protector of their community. Even at a wedding Joshua appeared the serious lawman as he shook Seth’s hand, but his expression softened as he spoke gently to his daughter.
“Emily, how about we let the fairy princess say hello to some other folks.”
With that, Joshua took his daughter’s hand, his gaze moving to someone standing directly behind Kari. She glanced over her shoulder to see Ingrid blushing to her roots, but Kari didn’t have another moment to wonder about it as Seth swept her with him down the aisle.
She knew a flower-bedecked phaeton awaited them outside the church to take them to their wedding luncheon at the Frederick Hotel. As more felicitations came from left and right, Seth warmly shaking hands though he kept Kari close to his side, she nearly stopped in her tracks at the sight of a tiny woman smiling at them from a back corner.
“Seth, wait, there’s someone I want to greet,” Kari said even as he followed her startled gaze.
“You know her? That’s the same woman who came up to me on the train platform and said you might need my help.”
“She did? She was on the train with me, but I never saw her get off. Oh, yes, let’s go speak with her—Seth, where did she go?”
Now Kari did stop no matter the crush of people around them, and she stood on tiptoes to look around her, but the woman was nowhere in sight. It was then she heard the kindliest laughter and the featherlight pressure of what she felt certain was a kiss pressed to her cheek, though Seth was once again drawing her toward the church door.
Only when he had helped her into the carriage and took his seat beside her, everyone rushing outside to wave them on their way to the hotel, did Seth draw her close to say, “I didn’t see her, either, as if she just disappeared. Did you ever think that you might have a guardian angel after all?”
She gazed at him in astonishment, pressing her fingertips to her cheek. “She told me on the train that her name was Kari…just like mine.”
Seth grew suddenly serious, looking into her eyes. “Now that I think about it, you resemble her, too, but all I know for sure is that she helped to bring us together. That’s angel enough for me.”
Kari didn’t have a chance to say another word as he lifted her chin and kissed her, though her heart was singing that she couldn’t have agreed more.
INGRID
Walker Creek Brides, Book 2
If you enjoyed Kari, Book 1, don’t miss Ingrid!
Read Now!
Also by Miriam Minger
Romance from sweet to sensual and historical to contemporary, you’re sure to find stories to love!
WALKER CREEK BRIDES
Sweet Western Historical Romance
Kari
Ingrid
Lily
THE MAN OF MY DREAMS
Regency Historical Romance
Secrets of Midnight
My Runaway Heart
My Forbidden Duchess
Kissed At Twilight
My Fugitive Prince
THE O’BYRNE BRIDES
Irish Medieval Historical Romance
Wild Angel
Wild Roses
Wild Moonlight
On A Wild Winter’s Night
CAPTIVE BRIDES
Medieval Historical Romance
Twin Passions
Captive Rose
The Pagan’s Prize
DANGEROUS MASQUERADE
18th Century Historical Romance
The Brigand Bride
The Temptress Bride
The Impostor Bride
TO LOVE A BILLIONAIRE
Steamy Contemporary Romance with an Historical Romance Story within a Story
The Maiden and the Billionaire
The Governess and the Billionaire
The Pirate Queen and the Billionaire
The Highland Bride and the Billionaire
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Operation Hero
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Operation Rescue (as M.C. Walker)
About the Author
Miriam Minger is the bestselling author of sweet to sensual historical romance that sweeps you from Viking times to Regency England to the American West. Miriam is also the author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, inspirational romance, and children’s books. She is the winner of several Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards—including Best Medieval Historical Romance of the Year for The Pagan's Prize—and a two-time RITA Award Finalist for The Brigand Bride and Captive Rose.
Miriam loves to create stories that make you live and breathe the adventure, laugh and cry, and that touch your heart.
For a complete listing of books as well as excerpts and news about upcoming releases, and to connect with Miriam:
Visit Miriam’s Website
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Kari (Walker Creek Brides Book 1) Page 9