by Becki Willis
“It’s only been two months since Jeanie died. We were still grieving her passing.”
“Had she been ill?”
Collette’s bark of laughter lacked humor. “She was probably healthier than you and I put together. She exercised, ate all the right foods, avoided alcohol and exposure to the sun. None of that mattered when she had a blow-out and ran into the back of an eighteen-wheeler.”
“How sad.”
“She kept telling Bobby Ray he needed to order her new tires, but he kept putting it off. He was too busy playing soldier.” The bitterness in her voice was palatable. “But that’s water under the bridge now. They’re both gone, and none of it matters. I just wanted you to know that I did finally decide to have the autopsy done, even if I waited too long.”
“I’m glad you let me know.”
Collette’s voice changed abruptly, taking on a bright and upbeat lilt. It was the conversation they should have had forty-five minutes ago. “So! Are you excited about tomorrow? I bet you can hardly wait!”
“To say I’m excited is an understatement.”
“Tell me about your dress.”
Madison could picture the other woman settling into a comfortable position, curling up like a teenager to hear the details of prom. She expected to hear her squeal at any moment, drooling over how hot Brash was.
“Collette, I don’t mean to be rude, but I really need to go. As you pointed out, I have a big day tomorrow, and I’d like to be awake to enjoy it.”
The apology took another three minutes, but at last, Collette hung up the phone.
Madison glanced at the text message that had come through a few moments earlier.
It’s our wedding day, my love! Fourteen hours until our FOREVER begins.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Their wedding day dawned bright and sunny. How could it be anything less?
The bright sun was no match for Madison’s smile. The silly thing wouldn’t wipe off her face, even when she attempted to put on makeup. She settled for smile lines creased with foundation, and lipstick spread thin to stretch the breadth of her face.
“Oh, honey, you look absolutely stunning,” her mother told her. Allie Cessna, known simply as Happy to her grandchildren, helped Madison dress for the wedding.
“Thank you, Mom.”
“You’re absolutely glowing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” Madison confessed. “When the twins were born, I was ecstatic, but I was also scared and nervous. What did I know about being a mother, especially to two crying babies? And I was almost this happy when I married Gray, but I was also nervous. Yet oddly enough, today I’m not nervous at all. Today feels so absolutely right. All I feel is excited, and impatient, and completely and utterly content. This is what I’ve been waiting to feel my entire life.”
Happy’s eyes misted as she hugged her daughter. “That’s because this was meant to be. You and Brash belong together.”
“I love him so much, Mom. Every single day, I think I couldn’t possibly love him more, and every single day, he proves me wrong.”
“I know, honey. I feel the same way about your father. Even after forty-four years of marriage, I find something new about him to love every day. Here, I have something for you.”
Madison looked down at the familiar piece of jewelry in her mother’s hands. Allie had worn the braided silver bracelet for as long as Madison could remember. There were a dozen or so beaded charms sliding along the band, each holding a special memory for the older woman. Madison knew the story behind them all, having heard them numerous times over the years. And Madison had worn this very bracelet at her first wedding, as something borrowed.
“I want you to wear this,” Happy said.
“I… do you think that’s in good taste?” Madison worried. “I wore this to my first wedding.”
“Honey, I know you and Gray had problems. I know he hurt you terribly, and he betrayed your trust. But don’t forget that, once upon a time, you loved that man, and that he gave you the most precious gifts of your life. He’ll always be a part of your life, because he’s your children’s father. And good or bad, he helped make you the woman you are today, and he prepared you for this day with Brash. Perhaps because of your heartache with Gray, you can embrace today with such confidence, and such certainty.”
Happy circled the silver braid around Madison’s slender wrist and fastened it. “My mother gave me this bracelet on my wedding day. I loaned it to you when you married Gray, but today, I’m giving it to you.”
“But you love this bracelet! You always wear it.”
“Yes, that’s true. But I love you more.” She stroked the individual charms, as if telling them goodbye. “I haven’t always been the best mother to you, Maddy girl. I admit, there was a time in my life when I wasn’t prepared to be a mother. You…You frightened me, if you must know. Even as a child, you seemed so much wiser than me. You were a solemn child, full of questions and quiet contemplation. You loved puzzles and figuring things out, and how things worked. And there I was, an adult, and I didn’t even have my life figured out.” She gave a nervous laugh, her eyes filled with tears as she fingered the bracelet. “You were so smart, and so inquisitive, and I was afraid I would stifle you. It seemed best to let your grandmother raise you. And she did a fine job. Your father and I are so proud of you, sweetheart.”
Happy raised her eyes to her daughter’s. They were both crying now and smiling through the tears. “And we couldn’t be happier that you’ve found Brash. He’s such a fine man. Maybe…maybe I knew, somewhere in my heart, that Gray wasn’t your soul mate. Or maybe I was just selfish. I couldn’t bring myself to give you this bracelet outright, not then, but it’s different this time. It just feels right, just like you and Brash feel so right together. I want you to have this, Maddy dear, because I want you to be as happy with your soul mate as I have been with mine. I love you, sweetie.”
“Thank you, Mom. That’s such a beautiful thing to say, and such a beautiful gesture.” She hugged her mother, clinging for a moment longer than necessary. “I love you, too. And I have no regrets about my childhood. It turned out just fine.”
“We’re both going to ruin our makeup if we keep this up,” Happy cautioned. “Here, let me make sure your dress is straight before we hitch a ride to your wedding.”
It was a simple sheath with an overlay of pale cream lace. Sashed at the waist with flutter sleeves just below the elbow, the ballerina-length dress revealed the graceful white sandals upon her feet. A simple diamond heart hung from a delicate chain around her neck, a gift from Brash last night at rehearsal. Along with her smile and the bracelet, it was the only adornment Madison needed.
They had dressed at Laura’s house, as it was closest on the ranch to the wedding site. As the clock neared two, Madison made her way outside to the stagecoach. Flowers and ribbons adorned the refurbished antique vessel, which four white horses led. Ahead of her, the twins and Megan rode in an open carriage.
Two dozen wooden folding chairs were set up alongside the banks of the Brazos River, holding their nearest and dearest loved ones to share in the happy occasion.
A single guitarist strummed a sweet melody as the wedding party arrived. Madison and the kids arrived from the east, while Brash rode up from the west on his favorite horse. Madison’s heart hitched in her chest when she saw her bridegroom. She didn’t remember ever seeing him look so handsome, or so virile. Her knees were weak as she watched him and the preacher take their places beneath a simple wooden arch. Looking suspiciously like the one from Lydia’s garden, its only disguise was a single spray of wildflowers on either side, held by a pale-yellow ribbon. The sprays bore a marked resemblance to the bouquet Madison held in her trembling fingers.
The song changed as Megan and Bethani stepped from their carriage. Madison had always been a huge fan of Bryan Adams, so a guitar rendition of (Everything I Do) I Do It For You played as the girls floa
ted down the aisle and took their places across from the men.
When the Wedding March began, Madison forced herself not to run down the aisle toward her future husband. Smiling tenderly at her son, she allowed him to take her arm and escort her over the carpet of grass at a moderate pace. The guests stood as she approached, but after a brief scan and a welcoming smile, she only had eyes for Brash.
Her heart thudded wildly as Blake delivered her to the lawman’s side. The teen brushed his mother’s cheek with a kiss and firmly shook Brash’s hand before taking his place as best man. With a dreamy sigh and a film of happiness in her eyes, Madison gazed up at her husband-to-be.
She barely heard the preacher’s words. He admonished them to be faithful and true, and to put no one before God and the sanctity of marriage. Madison nodded when appropriate, but her mind and her heart raced ahead. She could already see their future, holding grandbabies and turning old together. She knew she would be every bit as happy then, as she was now.
They had written their own vows, which neither shared aloud until now. Turning toward one another and joining hands, Brash’s rich baritone infused the afternoon sunshine with an extra layer of warmth.
“My beautiful bride,” he began. Unable to resist, he touched her face with his fingertips. “There are no adequate words to describe how I feel about you. To say I love you sounds so ordinary, when you, my sweet Madison, are an extraordinary woman. I want to share my life with you, to know your sorrows and your joys, to walk this journey of a lifetime with you by my side. When you are troubled, I will help you find a solution. When you are sick, I will stay by your side and nurse you back to health. Even when we are apart, I will be with you, in mind and in spirit. I will be your soul mate, your lover, your helper, and your friend. We will be partners in this marriage, sharing the life we will make together. I promise to be your rock when you need added strength, to be your crutch when you get weary. I will be faithful and true, and I will never betray the trust or the love you bestow upon me. From this day forward, we are one. Everything I have, I give to you. My heart, my soul, my riches, my fears, my future. You complete me. Along with Megan, Blake, and Bethani, you are my everything, and I vow to love you until the day I die.”
Madison recited her vows with misted eyes.
“You, Brash deCordova, are the missing piece of my heart. You complete me. I can think of no greater honor than to be allowed to share your life with you. You and Megan complete the broken circle of our family and make us whole again. I vow to share everything with you, to come to you when I have a problem, and to help ease whatever worries you are facing. Together, we will find a solution. I vow to be faithful and true, to nurse you back to health when you are ill, to cheer you on when you are weary, to share the good times and the bad, to give you a home and a place of refuge. I will be your partner in life, your lover, your confidante, your biggest admirer, your soul mate, and your friend. All that I have is yours, and I will love you and be true to you until the last breath I take.”
“Do you have the rings?” the preacher asked.
Brash slid a simple white gold band onto her finger. It was slender and elegant, like the bride herself. “This ring is a reminder of my commitment to you, to my vow of fidelity and love, and of unconditional support. Like the circle of this ring, my love knows no end. From this day forward, sweetheart, we are one, until death do us part. Forever and always, and for keeps.” He made certain the ring was snug. “I love you, Maddy.”
A light breeze stirred the clouds above them, splashing a few drops of rain upon them. Madison laughed as she took a silver band and slid it onto Brash’s long, tapered finger. “This ring is a symbol of my love and commitment to you. Like now, I can’t promise that the skies will always be sunny and clear, but I can promise you that we’ll face the clouds together. With this ring, I become your wife, and you become my husband. Forever and always, and until death do us part.”
It seemed only fitting that their first kiss as husband and wife should take place here amid the wildflowers and fresh spring grasses blowing gently in the wind, here in the same spot along the Brazos where they had shared their very first kiss, ever. Brash didn’t wait for the prompt. He pulled his bride into his arms and kissed her, his mouth hungry but carefully tempered for control.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, it looks like I’ve been grandstanded,” the preacher chuckled. “As soon as they find time to join us, I would like to pronounce these two fine people as husband and wife.”
“Sorry, sir,” Brash murmured, looking anything but remorseful. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“I understand. Now, by the powers vested in me by the State of Texas and our great and merciful Lord, I pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Brash deCordova. And family.”
This kiss had a little more control, but only by a small margin. All too soon, they were interrupted by squeals from the girls and a hearty round of hugs from all three teenagers. The rest of their family wasn’t far behind.
Another rustle of the clouds had everyone scurrying for cover, but Madison and Brash merely laughed. Nothing could put a damper on today’s happiness. They even opted for an open-air carriage ride back to Laura’s house, defying the heavens to rain in earnest.
As they drove away, Brash threw out a warning that he would arrest anyone who dared disturb them before six o’clock.
“That,” Madison said dreamily as they left their guests behind, “was absolutely perfect. Simple, elegant, and uniquely ours.”
“Best of all,” Brash agreed, “it was legal.” He pulled her closer with a sexy growl. “Come over here and kiss me, Mrs. deCordova.”
As she well knew, her husband was a master at kissing. Brash had turned the technique into an art form, and his kisses never failed to delight her. As he cupped his large hand around her neck and held her face close, her skin tingled with anticipation. He gently rubbed his thumb back and forth, the rough texture a delicious contrast against the softness of her cheek. It was an enticing reminder of what was to come, when his hands would explore the rest of her body.
Slow to move in, he grazed his mouth along hers at first, barely touching her lips, making her want more. His breath was sweet with peppermint, warm with need.
He tortured her for an agonizingly long moment, trailing his lips over her cheek, her neck, that erotic spot just under her ear. While Madison melted beneath his touch—one quickened breath at a time, one thought evaporating upon another, one limb more languid than the next—he gathered her ever closer, still teasing, still refusing to give her the proper kiss she craved. She even whimpered, her mouth now watering for the taste of his. Brash refused to be rushed, tugging her closer, weaving his fingers into the fine hairs at the nape of her neck.
Then, and only then, did he touch his mouth to hers.
Long moments later, Brash raised his dark-auburn head and grumbled, “Why didn’t we choose the stagecoach? At least it offered privacy.”
Madison tucked her head into the crook of his neck, embarrassed by the intensity of their kisses. She had wound up sitting in his lap, completely lost to the pleasures of being in his arms. “Soon, my love,” she whispered, laying her palm against his cheek.
“Not soon enough,” he muttered thickly.
“Brash?” she ventured after a moment, suddenly shy.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“It’s… it’s been awhile. Gray and I were all but separated those last two years. We slept in separate bedrooms. So I may not… I mean…”
“Shh. Let’s not worry about that. It’s been awhile for me, too, love. I know I had a reputation as a player in high school, but I was never really like that, not even when I was young and stupid. I’d like to think I learned a few things as I got older, including how to control myself. I haven’t been a monk all these years, but it’s definitely been a while.”
“I just don’t want to disappoin
t you.” She revealed her greatest fear in a shaky whisper.
“That’s not possible, sweetheart. I love you. That’s magical, all on its own.”
Madison managed a laugh. “No pressure there. You just expect magic, is all.”
“I promise you, sweetheart. You’re worrying for nothing. And if it takes me all afternoon to prove it to you, I will.”
It didn’t take nearly that long. The first time was convincing enough, even though the magic was short and fast. They took their time after that, learning and exploring and practicing the miraculous art of love. Fully sated and replete with happiness, Madison dozed off in Brash’s arms soon after.
It came as no surprise, but her husband was a master in the magic department, too.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Still steeped in the rosy glow of lovemaking, the couple was reluctant to leave their fantasy world and return among the living. But their guests awaited, and they knew the community had wanted this wedding almost as much as they had. Being loved and supported by so many people was too humbling to ignore.
Knowing they could pick up tonight where they left off now, the newlyweds changed into casual clothes and headed off to the party.
The old cotton gin was in rare form tonight, the cavernous space decorated with thousands of twinkling lights, tables covered in simple white cloths, and not a single yard of tulle. Each table sported a trail of wildflower bouquets, tied with raffia and presented in Mason jars for a simple but elegant country look. Two long buffet tables were laden with a feast befitting Southern royalty. From barbecued brisket and chicken to boiled crawfish and shrimp, there was plenty to choose from. Traditional sides included boiled potatoes and corn on the cob, coleslaw, pinto beans, sliced onions and pickles, and crusty slices of bread. More choices included a huge mixed greens salad, relishes, pickled okra and pickled peppers, a variety of cold salads, and several choices of pasta, with or without sauces. Another table offered fruits, cheeses, and crackers, amid cold meats and sausages. The dessert table, independent of the cake table itself, offered Lydia’s peach cobbler, Granny Bert’s pecan pie squares, cookies baked by the twins and Megan, and the delectable chocolate brownies that only Genny could perfect.