by Sara Orwig
“Josh! Josh!”
He whipped around and saw Laurie dashing after him. For one stunned moment he blinked and couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Josh, wait!”
His heart thudded as he ran toward her, catching her up in his arms to kiss her hard.
He paused, holding her. “You missed your plane?”
“No!” She was crying and laughing at the same time. “I can do something here. I’m selling the agency. Why not open one in San Antonio? I don’t care. I’m in love—what’s there to go home to? This is home.”
He was scared to breathe. “That’s a snap decision. You better think it over.”
“You think so?” she asked, tilting her head to give him one of her saucy looks.
“Oh, hell no! Will you marry me?” he asked, his heart pounding with joy.
“Of course I will! Didn’t I warn you—”
He silenced her with another kiss, until a car honked and he realized they were standing in the street. “Come on. I’m taking you home. We’ve got a wedding to plan—and it’s going to be soon!”
Epilogue
J osh stood impatiently in the shade of a tall oak. The day was what he and Laurie had hoped for, one with blue skies, bright sunshine and a warm spring breeze. The hillsides were blanketed in red Indian paintbrush, red lantana and yellow coreopsis, all dazzling against lush green fields. Every spring of his life Josh had looked at this land and thought the ranch was the most beautiful place on earth, but today he was only dimly aware of his surroundings or the people with him. He was barely conscious of Gabe Brant, his best man, standing beside him, because his attention was on the back door of the house. He was waiting for Laurie to appear.
Her uncle was giving her away, both sisters were maids of honor and Ben and Kevin were groomsmen. Josh’s gaze roamed over the crowd, watching as each stepmother was seated. He felt a pang, wishing that his father were here. He reminded himself that he had the rest of his family, and now there would be Laurie.
He shifted impatiently. She should be coming out of the house. He was anxious to see her, anxious to say the vows that would bind them together.
Gabe jabbed him lightly in the arm with his elbow. “Check the guests.”
Josh glanced at his best man, who was looking straight ahead. Josh’s gaze shifted to the audience. He saw Ashley holding their little girl, Ella, with Julian, their son, dressed in his best. Ashley was smiling at her husband. Josh saw his stepmothers, all beautiful women, some remarried, some single. He scanned the other guests—ranchers, bankers, cowboys, cooks—and then his gaze went back to one and a shock jolted him. A broad-shouldered, black-haired man with a deep tan, mirrored sunglasses hiding his eyes, sat near the back row of chairs.
It looked like Wyatt Sawyer, yet it couldn’t be! Wyatt—after all these years. Yet Gabe must have thought it was him or he wouldn’t have told Josh to look at the guests. The man looked like Wyatt, yet didn’t. And what would he be doing here?
Then Josh remembered the deaths of Wyatt’s brother and sister-in-law. Had that brought his old friend home?
The music changed, and Josh forgot the guests, forgot Wyatt, forgot everything else as he watched Laurie’s sisters emerge from the house. Emily was shorter than Laurie, with straight blond hair, but she was a beautiful woman with large blue eyes and peaches-and-cream skin. Talia was taller, equally lovely, with short, cropped, honey-blond hair. Then his bride appeared on the steps of the house, a breathtaking vision of beauty. Josh stared, his knees going weak. Tall, dressed in white, with her golden hair tumbling over her shoulders, Laurie was radiant. Smiling, she came toward him. Her long white dress showed her curves and tiny waist and slender arms. She looked gorgeous, and Josh was overwhelmed with love for her. Everything faded except Laurie’s smile and then she was there, her uncle placing her hand in Josh’s. He gazed down into her luminous brown eyes and he felt as if he would burst with happiness.
They repeated their vows, and as he said them, Josh meant them with all his heart. He wanted to love and cherish her forever, and intended to spend a lifetime showing her how he felt about her.
“You may kiss the bride.”
He turned back her veil, smiling at her, feeling as if they were in their own world in spite of all the guests. He leaned down to kiss her lightly, a promise of deepest love.
And then they were hurrying past their guests, to the patio where the reception would begin. They posed for pictures and then joined the festivities.
Caroline was one of the first to speak to them, hugging Josh and then turning to hug Laurie. She leaned back to look at Laurie. “I am happy for both of you and I’m not surprised. After he brought you back to the ranch that Sunday morning, I think I expected this to happen.”
Laurie laughed. “I didn’t. Not at that time. But I hope you’re all right with it. I love him.”
“At the time, we were all worried about his safety, but I’m glad you came back. He needs you. I wish you both all the happiness in the world. Josh deserves a good marriage.”
Laurie smiled at her, glad to find the family was accepting her.
Gabe and Ashley came to congratulate them. “I want you to meet Julian,” Ashley said, looking around. “Right now he’s playing with other children.” She held a little black-haired girl. “This is Ella.”
“Hi, Ella,” Laurie said, smiling at the child, who smiled in return.
“You’re a beautiful bride,” Gabe said to Laurie. “And you’ve got one heck of a husband.”
“Thank you. I think so,” she exclaimed fervently.
He turned to Josh. “Congratulations! I’m glad for both of you.” Gabe grinned. “Maybe that old legend about the white stallion is true. Look at us!”
“Baloney!” Josh said, smiling at Laurie. “That horse didn’t have anything to do with this.”
“Wyatt is here,” Gabe said. “We just talked to him, and he met my family.”
“I can’t believe it,” Josh said quietly, staring at the tall man approaching them. He looked faintly familiar, yet at the same time a stranger. Wyatt Sawyer was a man now, not a boy, as he had been the last time Josh had seen him. His wild black hair was cut shorter, yet still unruly. He was thicker through the shoulders, tanned. Josh clasped his extended hand and hugged him.
“I can’t believe it,” he repeated.
“I got here for your wedding,” Wyatt stated huskily. Then he turned to smile at Laurie. “And I can’t believe this gorgeous woman is marrying you.”
Josh laughed and slipped an arm around Laurie’s waist. “Laurie, meet my friend Wyatt Sawyer. My new bride, Mrs. Josh Kellogg.”
“It’s Laurie,” she said, smiling.
“I was sorry to hear about Hank and Olivia,” Josh said. “Is that why you’re back?”
“Yes, it is.”
Gabe’s eyes twinkled. “He’s been asking our advice. Guess why?”
Josh looked from Wyatt to Gabe. “Something’s up. Advice on what—cows, horses, marriage?”
“Kids,” Wyatt answered. “I’ve inherited my brother’s baby. I’m the legal guardian for Megan.”
“That he is,” Gabe replied. “You’re married—the impossible—and Wyatt is back, to be a father for a baby girl—even more impossible.”
“No more impossible than a Ryder marrying a Brant,” Wyatt retorted. “People are waiting to talk to you two,” he said to Josh. “I’m here to stay, and we’ll get together after the honeymoon. Congratulations!”
Wyatt, Gabe and Ashley moved away. Josh was filled with questions about his friend, but other guests came up to shake his hand and the afternoon passed in a joyful blur.
“Let’s get out of here,” he finally said to Laurie.
“It’s fine with me. I’ve already told my family farewell, and your stepmothers, too.”
“We’re outta here.” He took her arm and they went through the back door. Laurie hurried upstairs to change, slipping into a blue sheath dress and pumps and rushing back down to find
Josh waiting. He took her arm and they went out the front of the house to his waiting car. Josh drove away swiftly.
In San Antonio they took a plane, and by late afternoon they were in their own villa with a private beach on Cozumel.
“So you do know how to get out of Texas,” she said.
“Occasionally.” Josh handed her a glass of champagne and raised his own.
“I’m causing you to drink?” she asked, arching a brow.
“This is a reason to really celebrate. To a long, long, happy married life, Mrs. Kellogg.”
“I’ll drink to that, Mr. Kellogg.” Their arms entwined, each sipped from the other’s glass, and then Josh took the glasses and set them aside.
“Now, come here and let me show you how much I love you,” he said, pulling Laurie into his arms.
She wrapped her arms around his neck while he bent his head to kiss her. She felt his hands at the back of her dress as he pulled down the zipper.
Laurie kissed him back, holding him tightly, knowing she had made the right decision. And she intended that Josh would have the long, happy marriage he deserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0117-0
ONE TOUGH COWBOY
Copyright © 2002 by Sara Orwig
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Table of Contents
I feel like youre the only friend I have.