His Montana Bride

by Brenda Minton

  * * *

  Cord had other duties before he could talk to Katie and tell her their wedding, fake as it might be, was off. He had to go in front of the crowd gathered in the wedding tent and thank them for coming to Jasper Gulch. He had to stand there as the media took pictures and hoped for something interesting to report.

  The grooms were all in the reception tent waiting. The brides were in the festival hall. Marci was with them, putting on a pretty bridesmaid’s dress Katie had helped her pick out. He had to get this speech over with so he could stop them from walking out to meet him.

  He stepped to the front of the tent, clipped the lapel mic to his jacket and smiled at the gathered crowd. They clapped for a long period of time. He finally explained that the wedding would begin in fifteen minutes.

  “First, I want to thank all the couples who are participating. They’ve made this an amazing experience. I want to thank their families. I know that we all have ideas about weddings, what we want for our loved ones. And a wedding with fifty couples usually isn’t at the top of the list.”

  More applause. Cameras flashed as the media moved closer, taking pictures. He’d already talked to several journalists.

  “I want to thank our wedding coordinators. Helen Avery helped at the beginning, but another job made it impossible for her to finish. We thank Kate Archer for taking over and for providing this amazing experience for our couples.”

  He lifted his gaze from his notes and saw something at the back of the church. A hand waved. Faith, wearing her bridesmaid’s dress, stood in the doorway, waving her arms. He drew in a breath and continued trying to ignore her wild pantomime.

  “As the wedding vows extol, marriage is not an institution to be entered into unadvisedly. When I think of marriage, I think of Jasper Gulch, of small-town values, of people who hold on to each other through the tough times. This town has seen tough times. It has seen its share of ups and downs. The citizens of Jasper Gulch sometimes see eye to eye. Sometimes they don’t. But they work it through.” He glanced around the crowd and tried to remember what came next. Faith was still waving to get his attention. “The citizens of Jasper Gulch know that to keep a town united you have to keep working through the hard times. There’s a foundation of faith, of love, of hope. With those three elements, a marriage is stronger. A community is stronger.”

  And without Katie Archer, he was weaker. Because she was his other half. His phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, knowing the text would be from Faith. He smiled an apology because any other time he would have let it ring.

  Hurry. Can’t find Katie, it said.

  He smiled at the confused-looking crowd, including his dad in the front row. “I’m sorry, I have to leave you all now. But the wedding will begin shortly.”

  With that, he ran down the aisle and out the side flap of the tent. Deputy Cal Calloway was pulling up as Cord made his dash to the festival hall. He stopped when the cop flashed the lights at him. Taking a deep, pretty impatient breath, he strolled over to the police car as the window came down.

  “Cal, you coming to the wedding?”

  “Not today, Cord.”

  Unease settled in his gut. “Cord, Rusty Zidek just found the time capsule. He was driving his ATV mule this way, across the fairgrounds.”

  Cord looked around, unsure of what to do or say next. “I should tell my dad.”

  “You’ve got a truckload of media in that tent. They’re armed with cameras and recording devices. If I was you, I’d get this wedding over with and then we’ll all have a good sit-down and discuss what comes next.”

  Cord nodded and stepped away from the car. The time capsule had been found. Too late, he thought to ask if there was anything in it. Cal had already pulled away.

  He also should have asked the cop if he’d seen Katie. Faith was heading his way, but someone had walked up behind him. He turned, hoping it would be Katie. It was his dad.

  “Cord?”

  “Dad.”

  “You okay?”

  “I’m good.”

  “You ran out of there in a hurry.”

  “Faith said they can’t find Kate.” He was already walking, leaving his dad to catch up. Faith was almost to them.

  His dad nodded. “I’ll help you find her. What was Cal doing here?”

  “Dad, they found the time capsule. Rusty found it. We’ll talk after this wedding is over. Cal is right, we don’t want to rush off right now and give the media something to cover other than the wedding.”

  He looked off in the direction of the time capsule’s location. “Well, if that don’t beat all.”

  “Yeah. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to find my bride.”

  “Find your bride?” His dad’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t push.

  “Yes, bride. Dad, can you stall this wedding?”

  “I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”

  Cord started across the parking lot and Faith grabbed his arm. “She was pretty upset, Cord.”

  “About?” As soon as the word left his mouth, he knew what about. He knew because he’d been standing in front of a tent full of strangers discussing the merits of a strong relationship when he realized that over the past month, Katie had become that person for him.

  In a month? She’d been the person with him as he coped with Lulu’s dementia. She’d been with him as he comforted Marci. And through it all, he realized now he’d been that person for her, as well.

  At the door of the festival hall they were met by Annette, who had become Katie’s assistant for the day. And obviously bouncer of men trying to gain access to the brides.

  “What are you doing here, Cord Shaw?”

  “I need to see Kate.”

  “Well, I hope you can find her. She put on the dress that was her grandmother’s, looked in the mirror and said she couldn’t do this. Be a good boy and don’t break her heart.”

  “I’m trying to keep from breaking her heart, Annette. Now, if you or someone else could tell me which way she went?”

  “I’m sorry, Cord, I really don’t know.” Annette looked at Faith. “Did you happen to see?”

  Faith shook her head and before she could answer, Marci was sliding through the door, wiggling her way around Annette. “She got in her Jeep.”

  “Which means she could be anywhere.” Or gone for good. Cord brushed a hand over his face. “I guess third time isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be. We can’t hold up the wedding. Annette, if you could get the brides together, I’ll go see that the grooms are ready.”

  “Cord.” Faith reached for his arm. He paused midstep and smiled back at her but stopped her with a raised hand.

  “Don’t. I’ve had it all said to me twice before. I don’t need to hear it a third time. After all, this wasn’t even a real marriage.”

  But it might have been the first time he’d known for sure that he wanted forever with a woman.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cord went back to the other grooms. They were gathered at the corner of the wedding tent, being lined up by the grocery store owner, Rosemary Middleton. If there was something that woman knew how to do, other than meddle, it was how to keep some men in line. The thing about Rosemary was that meddlesome or not, everyone liked her.

  “Cord, we’re going to have you at the back of the line. You’re the last one in.” She reached for his arm and he shook his head.

  “No, we won’t be having fifty couples today, Rosemary.”

  She gasped. “Oh, honey, not again.”

  Right, of course, that’s what he’d be known for. The next centennial celebration, when he was long gone, they’d still be talking about Cord Shaw, who had been jilted three times. By then, maybe people would know that this third wedding hadn’t been real. Or maybe this third time would be known as the time that turned
him off romance forever.

  “It happens.” He smiled as he said it.

  She patted his arm, “No, honey, it doesn’t.”

  Well, in that she was right. Another thing about Rosemary Middleton, she was always right. And she didn’t beat around the bush.

  “Time to get this show going, Rosemary. You go on in and have a seat. I’ll take it from here.”

  The music was starting. He saw the bridesmaids and best men going in the front door and taking their walk down the center aisle. The brides would be lined up at the side center door, opposite the grooms. Each couple would meet in the center and finish their walk to the front. He stood at the tent opening urging each groom through as his prospective bride appeared on the opposite side of the tent.

  It was the longest process in the world, and by the time forty grooms had made it through the opening, he was thinking he might take off and not watch the ceremony.

  The forty-fifth groom was Ryan, soon to be husband to Julie, and Cord’s brother-in-law. He shook the other man’s hand and wished him his best. Ryan looked a little pale but happy as he stepped through the opening.

  Jack McGuire went next. On the opposite side of the tent Livvie was smiling a huge smile as her soon-to-be husband walked toward her.

  A song played about loving forever. Cord watched the couples make their way to the front. Forty-nine. It was close. He started to step away, but someone moved on the other side of the tent. Late-afternoon sunlight caught the movement, shimmered in hair the color of autumn.

  As he stood there in that opening, the last light of sunset shot red and gold behind her. The candlelight glowed, warming her skin.

  She wore her great-grandmother’s dress. The silk was warm white, and looking at her in that dress he knew, without a doubt, that he was seeing his future. In her. Everything else up to this point had been mistakes. Bullets dodged. All to get him to this day, to this woman. His.

  He stepped forward, smiling, hoping she would smile back. When she did, he knew. His.

  And if she would have him, he would be hers. His heart would be hers. Everything he had he would willingly place at her feet. If only she would accept the love he had for her and allow him to make this day real for them both.

  They met at the center of the tent. Her hand went on his arm. He clasped it with his other hand, holding her steady. He looked down at her and smiled. “I was worried you’d left.”

  “I couldn’t let you down,” she whispered as they took slow steps toward the front of the church and Ethan with his knowing smile.

  “I almost let you down, Kate.”

  She faltered but he kept her moving forward, his hand holding hers on the crook of his arm.

  “I’m sorry?” She sniffled as she whispered.

  He smiled at her. “I love you. And I really hope you love me back or I’m about to make a fool of myself.”

  “Cord, people are staring.”

  They were close to the front of the tent, her steps were slowing.

  “I don’t really care what people think,” he leaned in to whisper. “I have to tell you something.”

  “Right now?” She gave the flower-strewn carpet at their feet, and then Pastor Ethan in front of them, a meaningful look.

  “Yep, right now.”

  “We’re in the middle of a very important event.”

  He stopped at the front of the tent, the place where the two of them were to go left and join twenty-five other couples. “I think I know that.”

  “Then what are you doing?”

  “I’m proposing.”

  Her eyes widened. “Cord, you can’t do this.”

  He had to disagree. He could. And he would. She was his. She’d been meant for him since the beginning of time. She’d been saved for him. He’d been saved for her.

  They’d finally found each other.

  * * *

  Cord dropped to his knee in front of her, a gorgeous rancher in a suit that made him look like an Old West cowboy. He just needed a six-shooter on his hip and a horse. He probably had both, but not here.

  Katie tried to put together everything happening to her in this one very crazy moment. She looked around at the crowd watching. She saw her mother’s hand go to her mouth. Nadine Shaw gasped and began to cry. Katie hoped they were happy tears.

  Ten minutes earlier, she’d been in her Jeep thinking she might leave town. But she hadn’t. She’d sat in front of the store she wanted to rent and thought about the choices she had. She could run. But she didn’t know what she would be running to. Or she could stay in a town with people who had brought her so much happiness. She could stay and start the business that she wanted.

  She could stay and wait for Cord Shaw to realize he loved her because she thought he did. She’d come back to the wedding because he was here and counting on her.

  And now.

  Cord Shaw had just told her he loved her. He kneeled now in front of her, on one knee. She watched as he dug around in his pocket, and she giggled a little because what else could she do as she stood in front of hundreds of people, some friends, some strangers, waiting for a moment she’d prayed for. She’d prayed for God to send the man into her life who would love her. Just like this.

  She wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “Cord?”

  “Give me a minute because I have to do this right.” He looked out at the crowd as if he had just remembered where he was. “You see, I was going to stand next to you today, Kate, while the vows were read. But they weren’t going to be our vows. And I can’t do that.”

  A tent full of onlookers gasped and Cord smiled up at her, that smile that turned her inside out. He was turning her inside out because he loved her.

  “I can’t walk down that aisle without letting you know that I do love you and no matter what, I will mean those words today.”

  “Cord....” What did she say? Should she tell him to get up?

  He reached for her hand and with his hand trembling he slipped a diamond ring on her finger. “Kate, I’m trying to ask you to marry me.”

  Someone shouted that this was a wedding and they were getting married. He grinned up at her. “Marry me, Kate. Let me love you forever.”

  She took hold of his hand and helped him to his feet and then she placed a hand on either side of his face, pulling him down so that she could kiss him.

  “Is that a yes?” he whispered close to her ear.

  She nodded and leaned to wipe her eyes on his shoulder, knowing her mascara was toast. He slipped a handkerchief into her hand and she sobbed. He slayed dragons on weekends. And he carried handkerchiefs. “That is very much a yes. I love you, Cord Shaw.”

  Ethan cleared his throat. “Well, that was a very fine proposal. Do you two think we could carry on with the wedding now that you’ve gotten that out of the way?”

  Cord led Katie to stand next to couple forty-nine. He held her hand throughout the entire ceremony. He repeated the vows, each and every word. Katie couldn’t stop the tears that trickled down her cheeks as he slid another ring, a wedding ring, on her finger.

  “I love you, Kate Archer Shaw.”

  “You may kiss the brides,” Ethan announced to a joyful shout from the crowd. And fifty couples kissed.

  But Katie cared only about the man in her arms. The man who had just vowed to love her, cherish her and hold her forever.

  * * *

  As the reception ended that evening, Cord led his bride outside. The other couples were leaving on honeymoons, many of them bundling into limousines that were lined up waiting. Since he and Katie weren’t legally married, they were going to make their marriage real, as soon as possible. He watched his sister and Ryan Travers jump into Ryan’s truck. They were heading for the coast. Olivia and Jack, Hannah and Brody were all takin
g one limo to the airport.

  Katie hugged her sister goodbye, Dr. Jeff, the groom, and then her parents.

  He heard her tell her mother not to worry and then, “No, we won’t wait longer. Mom, I love Cord and when something is right, you know.”

  He had known since probably the first day, but he’d fought it. He’d fought the attraction. He’d fought the way she made him feel whole. He wouldn’t call it love at first sight. No, nothing that spectacular. He’d just known that she was his.

  “Where are you going?” Cord’s dad approached as Cord was giving Austin last-minute instructions about his horses and cattle, as well as the other animals. A cat and a dog.

  His younger brother told him not to be such a worrier before he wandered off to flirt with the sister of one of the brides.

  “Heading to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,” he answered his dad. “Annette recommended it. She said we can get a license and get married up there at a wedding chapel.”

  “You don’t want to think about this?”

  “Dad, I dated Susan for two years.”

  “That you did. But a month?”

  “A month and I’ve never been more sure.”

  “I’m happy for you, Cord. Real happy. How long are you going to be gone?”

  “A few days. When I get home, we’ll figure out the situation with the time capsule and I’ll try again to reach at least one of the Masseys. Maybe they don’t want to be found.”

  “That could be. It isn’t as if they have real roots here. Just history.” Jackson stepped away for Nadine. Cord smiled at his mom and then hugged her. “Take care of Marci for me.”

  “You know we will. She’s our first grandchild. That means something.”

  And then Marci was there, her hand on Katie’s. He smiled at the girl who would be theirs. “So, you’ll be good for Gran and Pop?”

  She nodded. “I get a horse.”

  “You have one at my place.”

  She shook her head and looked up at his dad. “Pop said I get my own horse to break. Faith will help me.”

  “Great. Don’t break an arm while I’m gone.”