by Clare Morgan
“I can’t wait to be there!” Alison said, trying to match her tone with Gabbie’s excitement. She was having a great time already, being a bride and somehow, Alison already knew that it won’t be an easy task to keep her calm. She was the official maid of honor and it was her duty to be always there for the bride, without asking any questions.
“I am really happy for you, Gabbie. I can’t believe that you are getting married!”
Alison said as they entered the premises of the town, knowing that their lives were going to change. She would be bidding goodbye to her best friend with the best of wishes, and she didn’t even know if she was ready for it. Terrified and excited as hell, they both entered the town.
“Welcome to Luckenbach!” they both said in unison as they read the big signboard that welcomed them to Gabbie’s hometown. They could already taste the raw country essence in the air, and knew, just knew, that they were at the right place!
Chapter 2:
Luckenbach was not how Alison has imagined it to be. It was a homely town and had some of the most beautiful gardens and happening pubs that she had ever visited. She fell in love with the town, the moment she entered. It was not just the scenic beauty or the people that she liked, but it was the amount of surreal peace that prevailed in the town that attracted her the most.
Gabbie’s parents were one of the founding members of the town and had a huge mansion. As Alison settled herself in her lavish room, she could see various people coming in from her tinted window glasses. The wedding was supposed to take place in just three days and she knew that almost the entire town would be there. It was a small town in which everyone knew everybody else. Gabbie belonged to an affluent family and the event was already the talk of the town.
Alison decided to unpack her bags and as the sun started to set, she decided to explore the town in a better way. She greeted Gabbie’s parents as she stepped out of the house and decide to take a stroll. There were some of the age-old pubs and restaurants that were there near the central square. As she kept walking towards almost nowhere, she saw how happy everyone was. Alison had never visited a small country town like Luckenbach, and she was certainly fascinated by it. She loved it, each and every bit of it.
As she kept walking towards an empty road, she realized that she should hit back. Though, it was only after a few minutes when she found herself lost in that small town. She kept exploring the place in order to find someone, anyone to guide her way back home. She was about to lose her hopes when she saw a man riding a horse. He was already coming towards her and she didn’t know if it was a good or a bad thing.
“Hello, ma’am. Do you need any help?” the stranger said as he approached towards her. He was riding a huge brown horse that had lustrous hair and an amazing built. Alison looked at the man, and couldn’t stop admiring his flawless jawline and the color of his hazel eyes. He had slight stubble that only turned Alison on. He was wearing perfect cowboy attire and it seemed that he had come out of those old southern movies.
“Ah! I think I am lost!” she said innocently.
“You certainly don’t look lost to me, ma’am. It seems like you are one of the guests for the big wedding that will happen this week,” he said while looking at her attire. Alison was wearing a red T-shirt and pair of light blue denim shorts. Her tan brown boat shoes were complimenting the color of her blonde hair, making her stand out of the crowd. She was wearing the kind of clothes that certainly weren't going with the place.
“Okay! You guessed that right!” she said after she analyzed her clothes and got a little embarrassed.
“I can drop you off to Gabbie’s place if you want,” he stepped down from the horse and offered her some help. Alison looked at him and got pulled by his enigmatic aura. There was something truly mesmerizing about him. From the way he spoke to his charming looks, everything was simply perfect.
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t even know you,” Alison said and regretted the moment she spoke those words.
“This is not your big city, ma’am. Everyone here knows everyone else – we all are like a big family. Still, let me introduce myself to you. I am Henry Clarkson and I went to high school with Gabbie. We were good friends back then and our families know each other too. So you don’t have to worry at all. You are in good company,” he smiled and looked at her with his seductive eyes, inviting her to steal a kiss. Alison tried to calm her senses and take control of the situation. She loved Henry’s raw country accent and how he explained it all to her.
“Oh! I am Gabbie’s best friend. We work together,” was all she could say to continue the conversation. She was getting nervous like one of those teenage girls who are scared to talk to their crush.
“Let’s get you home then!”
“How?” she asked, knowing what Henry had in this mind.
“I am not going to ride this!” she said, looking at her boat shoes and comparing her fragile legs to the beast of the horse that was standing in front of them.
“Oh! Johnny here won’t let you ride him either. I am going to ride the horse, you are simply going to sit with me,” he explained her and gave her a hand while brushing his hands with Johnny’s face.
“Be a good boy, Johnny!” he whispered in Johnny’s ears while making Alison sit on his back.
“I don’t think it is a good idea!” she said while trying to take control of the situation. She didn’t want to come out as one of those delicate city girls, but she had never sat on a horse before and the situation was certainly making her nervous. She was a tough girl who played baseball with the guys when she was a kid. She had made way for herself, overcoming every situation. Considering everything that she had been through in her life, riding a horse was supposed to be a child’s play – except that it wasn’t. It was a herculean task for her and she was finding it hard to keep her calm.
“You are almost done. This is it. Yes!” Henry said as he adjusted himself on the horse and made enough space for the both of them.
“Are you ready?” he asked her before starting to ride the horse.
“No. I am not!” she whispered in his ears and inhaled his sweet scent that imparted a euphoric feeling to her.
“It’s fine, let’s get you home.”
He didn’t wait for her, knowing that she would never be ready and started to ride the horse. He was enjoying Alison’s company as she came to his life like a breath of fresh air. Henry was already going through a rough patch in his life and started to believe that love doesn’t exist until he met Alison. He loved each and everything about her, from the color of her eyes to how lustrous her blonde hair was. He loved her tone and her polished charm. She was everything that he wanted her woman to be.
They both were having a great time riding Johnny and didn’t want it to stop. As the sun set down, they looked at the beautiful picture it painted on the sky and knew that it was a moment they both would cherish for years.
Chapter 3:
The next morning, when Alison woke up, she had a huge smile on her face. She was utterly delighted to be there and had experienced a long and peaceful sleep. It was after ages when she slept for so long and that too without any disturbance. There were no city lights and noises in the background that were disturbing her sleep. She was blessed to be there and started to fall in love with the raw charm of that beautiful small town.
When she got herself ready for the day, she got a call from Gabbie who invited her for breakfast. Alison knew that all friends and family members would be there and wore her best clothes to impress them. She wore a floral print blouse and a pair of navy pants to go with them. As she stepped down and came towards the common area, her eyes started to look for Henry.
She slept a peaceful night thinking of Henry as it was after so long when she felt something for a man and that too at such an expected place. As she sat on the big table, she heard a voice coming from her back.
“Looking for me, I guess?” she smiled, knowing that it was Henry’s voice. She could recognize h
is accent without any effort.
“Uhm! I was just looking for Gabbie,” she said and tried not to blush.
“Is this seat taken?”
“Not at all,” she answered and signaled him to take the seat right next to Alison.
“So what are your plans for the day?”
“I don’t know, Henry. I might help Gabbie to sort out her wedding dress and help her organize the event. Oh! I can also go and explore the town if time allows,” she answered honestly, hoping to have a memorable day.
“Let me take you out. It’s a beautiful town and I am pretty sure that you will love it. Let me show you from the eyes of an insider,” he gave her an offer that she couldn’t refuse.
“That sounds like a plan!”
It was all that she could ask for. As they finished their breakfast, they decided to hit the town and explore it. Alison was not able to find Gabbie and dropped a message instead as they both left the mansion.
It was without a doubt, one of the most memorable days of Alison’s life. She had definitely read about rodeos and ranches when she was a kid, but never saw it all so up-close. Henry taught her how to ride a horse and together they explored the town in a beautiful way. Riding Johnny and getting the true country experience in the rodeo, Alison got to witness a whole new side of Texas.
“This was amazing, Henry!” she said as she emptied a mug of freshly brewed beer. They were both sitting at a local bar and were surrounded by musicians from all sides. They were all playing some legendary country songs in the background, creating a perfect setting for the lovers to unite.
“I am glad that you had a great time, Alison! I have to be honest, when I met you the first time, I didn’t think that you would turn out to be such a tough girl. I thought of you as one of those delicate city gals, but you have some muscles. I really like you!” he said, in order to appreciate it.
Alison loved it! She loved how easy it was being with Henry. When she was with him, it felt like nothing else mattered. No work, no trouble, no future planning – she was getting a perfect and much-needed escape from her world. She was getting addicted to Henry’s presence so much that she knew how tough would it be for her to return to Dallas.
“I really like you too!” she said and took another sip of beer. The night was coming to an end, and as Henry dropped her back to the mansion, they shared a perfect moment.
“I will see you tomorrow then!” he said as he dropped her off.
“I will definitely see you tomorrow, Henry. Thanks a lot for such a beautiful day. I loved it!”
She confessed honestly and looked at him, knowing that Henry was more than just a form of escape for her. He was everything that she had ever dreamt of. She looked at her own reflection in his golden eyes and took a step towards him. Henry inhaled the sweet scent that she was wearing and the smell of lavender that was coming from her elevated his senses.
He seized the moment by stealing a long and passionate kiss. As their lips met, they closed their eyes and tried to remember that moment. Their tongues touched each other and they inspected the insides of each other’s mouth with the presence of their warmth. It was magical, in every way. None of them had ever experienced such a beautiful kiss, and couldn’t wait for their love story to commence.
“Goodbye, Henry. I will see you tomorrow,” she said after breaking the kiss and started to walk towards the mansion.
Henry took his cowboy hat off that only made Alison smile. He kept looking at her as she took each and every step away from him. It was just a matter of one night, but they both couldn’t wait for it to get over. They both couldn’t wait to see each other once again, which only made them realize what they had was not mere attraction or simple infatuation – it was love.
Chapter 4:
The next few days passed the same way. Alison was being a great friend to Gabbie and tried her best to make her feel as comfortable and relaxed as she could. There were times when she would become a true Bridezilla and enter her panic mode. It was Alison who was making her calm every time something bad happened and always was there to fix it.
She would also juggle some time off for Henry. They would go out, share a drink together, or have early morning breakfasts, whenever they would find enough time to be together. They both didn’t realize how quickly time was passing and that with each day; they both were only coming together, more than ever.
Finally, the much-awaited day came, when the entire town was decorated with wedding bells and flowers. The stage was set and as the bride and groom exchanged their vows, the entire town celebrated in unison and wished them luck. Gabbie cried when they exchanged their vows and Alison was right beside her, being her true friend. She made her cherish that moment at its best. Alison kept looking at Henry from the corner of eyes as she stood with Gabbie, wondering what he would be thinking about her. As the ceremony came to an end, everyone was invited to enjoy, as a grand party was organized.
The reception was beautifully done and Alison felt fortunate to be there. It was a grand celebration and it seemed like all the people of Luckenbach were invited for the event. Alison saw Henry standing at a corner, wearing a black tuxedo and looking handsome as hell. She was wearing a purple dress that matched with the other bridesmaids and was surely making every other man in the room have another glance at her.
Despite the hundred odd men present there, Alison only had the eyes for Henry. She wanted to dance with him and make the moment count. She wanted to add to her list of endless memories already. She knew Henry was the one and she couldn’t wait to express her feelings.
She had decided to tell Henry about what she felt after the wedding as she didn’t want to steal the glory from Gabbie’s day. However, every second she spent with Henry was special and she wanted to live the beauty of the moment.
As the dance started, Henry took Alison in his arms and they started dancing to one of the most melodious tunes. Alison didn’t know the song, she hadn’t heard it before and yet she knew it would end up being one of her favorite.
She looked into his hazel eyes and she knew that he was one of those dreamy cowboys who could bring all her fantasies to life.
“What is my princess thinking so hard?” he whispered in her ears.
“About her charming prince on a brown horse.”
He laughed and loved the way she told a brown horse rather than white.
“Is the brown horse called Johnny?”
“Well, you can suppose so, definitely.”
They both kept giggling like little teenagers and danced their heart out to the melodious tunes. Even when the turn came to exchange the dancing partners, their eyes never left each other. Everyone in the party could see how the two were romancing with each other, but Alison didn’t mind any of it because she was ready to soak in the glory of love.
She was ready for this new phase of her life to begin and she knew that she would soon express her feelings to Henry. It was just the matter of the night. She knew that she had to tell Gabbie about it too and wouldn’t Gabbie be so excited!
Sometimes, you meet a stranger and despite not knowing much about them, you still find yourself falling for them because you know that this was a collision which was meant to happen. She could feel something in her bones, something in the way they walked together; their footsteps in sync with each other. The little moments they shared were something so surreal and beautiful.
Alison couldn’t help but hide her smile and as Henry once again scooped her up in his arms. She blushed and let love touch her soul. They were conjoined and touching at a lot of places as they danced seductively. Henry could match Alison’s poise and grace as a dancer and they burned the floor alive with their chemistry and passion. She knew that too many eyes were on her and she kind of enjoyed the attention.
She realized that she was eternally thankful to Gabbie for bringing her to this charming countryside or else she would have missed out on her true love story. After an hour of dancing, Alison felt her feet getting sore.
She decided to take a little break and even change her attire and wear something less flowy. After she had changed and was tiptoeing down the stairs, she heard two men conversing. She wasn’t the kind to eavesdrop a conversation, but when she heard her name and Henry, she couldn’t help but listen.
“What a shame! I never thought Henry would do something like this! Elle would be heartbroken to know this. Just because she is not in the country, Henry is cheating on her.”
Alison could feel a major drop in her stomach. Who was Elle and why would Henry cheat on her? Henry had never mentioned seeing someone. She was sure that they must be mistaken and she wanted to talk to them to clear the confusion, but even before she could confront them, the other guy spoke, “Marriage has become such a joke these days. It’s been less than a year that Henry got married. Poor Elle, what would she do when she would come back! He was dancing with the city girl like they were up to something. God knows what has happened to the generation. People so shamelessly cheat on each other.”
Alison’s heart sank as she realized what a mistake she had made. Why! She asked the Almighty. Henry had never once brought his marriage up and even Gabbie hadn’t told her anything. She realized that she didn’t get the time to tell Gabbie anything about this so that her friend could warn her.
She felt like her whole world had shattered and it was so hard to stay where she was. She felt like the ground underneath her feet had crashed and she could feel herself falling terribly. She needed something to hold on to. All her memories flashed in front of her eyes and she wanted to go anywhere, but somewhere far away from this place.
It was impossible for her to stay there any longer and she could feel the tears blocking her view. In less than a week, she had fallen completely in love with Henry only to become an object to be ridiculed. What was he even thinking to play her like that!