Loving the Texas Lawman

by Sands, Charlene

  Jillian smiled warmly at Maddie, but her stomach ached every time Trey or Maddie brought up their new family ties. She felt worse than guilty in deceiving these lovely people. And maybe, her ache also had something to do with the way she felt about Jack. She loved him. There were no more denials in her mind, no more fooling herself. He was the perfect guy. He always had been. She was crazy about him and it only served to make it that much harder when she would have to pack up her belongings and leave town.

  “I couldn’t do this without either of you.” Jillian took Tessa and Maddie’s hands, sealing her appreciation in a gentle squeeze. The three of them simultaneously smiled as tears welled in their eyes. Weddings had a way of making a girl feel sentimental. “Thank you both so much.”

  “You’re welcome,” both chorused. “No more tears, please. You’ll ruin your pretty face.”

  Maddie dashed over to the bed and began unzipping the garment bag housing her wedding dress. “It’s almost time, Jillian.”

  With her friends’ help, Jillian stepped into her gown. Maddie took a step back to get the full picture. “Oh, Jillian, I have to say I had my doubts about this dress,” she confessed, “but the fit is perfect and with your hair and makeup, the whole package is really gorgeous.”

  Tessa applied a tiny flowered tiara-like comb into her hair.

  Maddie handed her a simple bouquet of fresh lavender lilies. “You do look like a princess, my friend.”

  Jillian did a half turn to gaze at her reflection and her heart nearly stopped. She hadn’t wanted any of this. The dress, the hairdo, the flowers, but now that it was done, her emotions rallied. “Oh, my,” she said softly.

  “I know, right?” Tessa said.

  Maddie beamed at her. “Jack’s gonna lose it when he sees you.”

  No, he wouldn’t. But it was a nice thought anyway.

  Maddie glanced at the digital bedside clock. “It’s time. Slip into your shoes, Jillian, and we’ll escort you to your groom.”

  It wasn’t a long walk to Maddie’s gardens where she’d spoken her vows to Trey. They stopped thirty feet from where the ceremony was to take place, Maddie sequestering her behind a tall mesquite tree. Sticking her head out to view the proceedings, Maddie said, “Looks like all the guests have arrived. Jillian, are you ready?”

  “I’m ready,” Jillian said.

  “Remember as soon as the music starts, walk along the path to the arbor.”

  She held her bouquet tight in her hands, her nerves bouncing. After leaving Hope Wells as a teen, in a million lifetimes she’d never believed she’d actually marry Sheriff Jack Walker. But today was the day.

  “Okay, good luck,” Maddie said, shooting her an air kiss. “Well go take our seats now.”

  “I’m so happy for you,” Tessa said, and another air kiss came her way. “By the way, it looks like your sheriff is already there waiting for you. And OMG, Jillian, he’s gorgeous.”

  “I know,” Jillian said, but Tessa was gone and she was alone behind a tree, waiting for her destiny… well, for the next twelve months anyway.

  A tremor passed through her. Could she really do this? Could she enter into a fake marriage with Jack? And then little Beau Riley’s face flashed in her mind. That sweet boy needed Jack. Before another thought could cross her mind, a rendition of the “Wedding March” piped across the gardens signaling her to begin.

  She came out of hiding and slowly took a step, and then another, each stride a little easier than the last, until her white satin pumps reached the beautiful rose petal-laden aisle. Everyone surged to their feet and turned to her. Monty stood beside a smiling Beau. Maddie and Trey, and Tessa were standing together and she saw many of Jack’s good friends as well. But when her gaze flowed a little further to Jack standing under a trestle of traveling vines dotted with vibrant flowers, her heart rang out. Dressed in a black tuxedo with wide western lapels, a narrow tie and wearing his Stetson, Jack Walker simply took her breath away.

  As she approached, everything blurred as soon as Jack came forward to take her hand. “You look beautiful,” he whispered for her ears only. “You okay?”

  She nodded, giving him a smile.

  He led her to the natural altar and they faced each other as the minister began the ceremony. It was a short service, without fanfare or lengthy verses. The I-dos were spoken solemnly and as she gazed deeply into Jack’s eyes, she witnessed his sincerity, his commitment as he spoke his vows. Hers weren’t spoken with any less commitment and then the clouds in her head parted and she had a moment of clarity. They could honor each other as man and wife in all ways, for the time they had together. Some real marriages ended in much less than a year’s time. And nothing drove that point home more than when Jack put the wedding band on her finger and she in turn did the same. The bands bonded them now, as did the vows. And Jillian knew a moment of true joy.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  Jack took her face in his hands and leaned forward to bestow a kiss on her lips. She could always count on Jack to stir her to the very core. This altar kiss was no less potent, and when they finally came up for air gazing into each other’s eyes, they were met with great applause. For a small cluster of guests, they certainly made a racket and a half.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Walker.”

  Jack took her hand and squeezed and then both turned to face their guests. They met with teary-eyed faces on Monty and Maddie and Dakota, but little Beau’s wasn’t among them. He wore the biggest smile. Even Brett Collier had shown up, a last minute invite to the man who was reshaping the bookstore into Jillian’s shop. Through the days she and Brett had become friends. Warmth invaded her body from top to bottom at these lovely people.

  “Well, Mrs. Walker,” Jack said, “shall we?”

  Hand-in-hand, they walked down the aisle as husband and wife. No rice was thrown, no bubbles were blown, but the love surrounding them was just as sweet. Jack kept on walking, farther than she thought necessary, past the last chair, past the tree where she’d hidden behind and then when they were well out of earshot and eyeshot, of the guests, Jack took hold of her other hand.

  He held both now and stared into her eyes. “You make a beautiful bride, Jillian.”

  “You look handsome yourself, Jack.”

  “I just wanted to say th—”

  “I know.” Jillian touched two fingers to his lips, shutting off the rest of his comment.

  She didn’t want to hear him thank her. She didn’t want to make any more deals or fall into any more deceit. This was her wedding day. It might be the only wedding day she would ever have and she desperately wanted to believe it was real, just for a little while.

  “Jack, let’s not talk about it. Can we please not talk about it today?”

  Uncertainty entered his eyes and his thick, dark lashes shuttered a few times. “Sure thing, sweetheart.”

  She gave him a small smile and patted his chest. “Good. Now, I think there’s some friends waiting to congratulate us.” She lifted her dress and stepped away from her groom, leaving him standing there by himself.

  And looking a little dumbfounded by her request.

  *

  After a lovely dinner Maddie and Trey provided, most of the guests wished Jillian and Jack good luck on their marriage and said their farewells. It gave Jack a chance to make good on his promise to Beau. Now, as the sun was taking its last dip on the horizon, he sat atop Trey’s gentlest mare and Jack, Trey, and Monty walked beside him as he circled the corral on horseback. The boy’s giddy grin could light the sky.

  “He’s having a good time,” Tessa said.

  “Yep, Beau might be just be born to it.”

  “I meant Jack,” Tessa said, correcting her.

  Jillian laughed. “That too.” Who could argue with that? Jack looked happy, and in his shirt and slacks, minus the tie and jacket with white shirtsleeves rolled up, he was instructing Beau, protecti
ng him, and beaming with pride all at the same time.

  “Tessa, tell me you can stay a few more days. You don’t have to leave tomorrow.”

  “Are you forgetting you’re on your honeymoon? You don’t need a third wheel hanging around.”

  “We’ve been honeymooning for weeks now, if you know what I mean,” Jillian whispered.

  Tessa’s eyes grew wide. “Lucky girl.”

  Jillian inhaled a deep breath. “Yeah, that is true.” Add that to the list of her might-never-have-agains. No man would ever compare to Jack in the lovemaking department. It was a weird thing for a new bride to think about, but then none of this was conventional. “Stay.” She implored Tessa. “Consider it, work. The corporate office is closed for fire damage repairs anyway. And this way, you can help me put the final touches on the shop.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, you can stay in the cottage. I’m sure Jack wouldn’t mind. It’s not as if we’re taking a formal honeymoon or anything. Jack couldn’t get time off.”

  A slight fib. He’d offered to put in for it, and she’d talked him out of it for many reasons. One, the shop was almost ready to open. Two, Jack really shouldn’t be away from Beau at this critical time. And three, going away somewhere remote to be alone with Jack would be incredibly hard, knowing how this would all end.

  “Please, Tessa. I really want you to stay a little longer.”

  “Okay. For a few days.”

  Jillian clapped her hands together. “Yay!”

  Jack glanced over and she met his eyes. Every time she looked at him lately, her silly heart did somersaults.

  “I just hope Jack thinks it’s as wonderful idea as you do, Jillian.”

  “I know he will. I’ve already asked him about it.”

  “Well then, I guess you have a houseguest.”

  Jack walked over a few minutes later, holding Beau in his arms. The little guy’s head rested peacefully on Jack’s chest and Beau gave Jillian a sweetly tired smile.

  “Monty is going to take Beau home now.” Home, meant return him to his foster home and the people who are temporarily caring for him. Jack never wanted Beau to feel displaced by referring to foster care as anything but home. “He wants to say goodnight to you.”

  Jillian’s heart nearly burst. The little guy, the wedding among friends, Jack being attentive and glorious to her, gave her a glimpse of what her life could’ve been. She pined for that life now, in this tender moment, and couldn’t help wonder if maybe they could’ve had a fighting chance at a real marriage. Was it too much to hope?

  “Goodnight, Beau,” she said. “Thank you for coming to our wedding. I’m glad you were here. You did really good on the horse.”

  “Trey said I can come back again.”

  “I think that’s a great idea, don’t you?”

  As tired as he was, Beau bobbed his head up and down enthusiastically. “Tomorrow?”

  Jack chuckled. “Maybe not tomorrow, buddy. But soon. I promise.”

  Jillian kissed Beau on the forehead. “Sleep tight, sweet boy.”

  Unexpectedly, the boy lunged forward, almost out of Jack’s grip to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight, Jillian.”

  The gesture meant so much to her. How could one little boy break down her defenses even as she warned herself not to get too close?

  “The boy’s got good taste,” Monty said, walking up and ruffling Beau’s hair. “Goodnight, Jillian. Tessa, nice meetin’ you.” A genuine smile wrinkled all of Monty’s creases in a very rugged sort of way. There was no doubt where Jack got his good looks. Monty turned to his son, placing a loving hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Congratulations, son. I’m happy for both of you.”

  Monty kissed Jillian too, and then, after Jack transferred Beau into his father’s arms, he fist-bumped Beau goodnight. “Take care, Beau. Thanks for being here.”

  And ten minutes later, after thanking Maddie and Trey a zillion times for going above and beyond, Jillian was in the car with Jack traveling back to town and to the place she now thought of as home. Jack didn’t say, “We did it.” He didn’t say, “I’m one step closer to adopting Beau.” He didn’t say, “Thank you.” Jack caught onto things quickly, and her little request after the ceremony really must’ve sunk in. He knew Jillian didn’t want to hear those things. Not tonight. Not on her wedding night.

  Instead, as he drove off 2 Hope Ranch, he simply reached out to slip her hand in his, covering her with all of his warmth and strength. And once they reached Jack’s house and parked the car, he continued to hold her hand. At the front door and without a word, he lifted her, one arm under her shoulders, the other under her knees and carried her over the threshold.

  He kicked the door shut and was stealth-like as he moved through the rooms of the house to the master bedroom. It was dark, lit only by a sliver of moonlight, and perfect, as Jack kissed her soundly on the lips, set her down until her feet hit the floor, and then proceeded to remove her wedding dress.

  Through soft words and whispers, between heated kisses, Jack divested his clothes too and without much foreplay or delay, laid her down on the bed, covered her with his beautiful body and consummated their marriage.

  *

  The sound of Jack’s whistling rang in her ears this morning, as she drove to work. Earlier today, she’d come out of the bedroom following the scent of freshly brewed coffee to find Jack banging pots and pans in the kitchen, making breakfast. He’d dropped everything the minute he spotted her and kissed her senseless. And shortly after, continued cooking eggs and bacon, whistling some tune she was certain was totally off-key. Now, she couldn’t get it out of her head.

  She was smiling so hard, Tessa noticed the minute she entered the shop. “Boy, I’m sure glad I stayed at Maddie and Trey’s last night,” she said, as the door chimes rang out.

  Jillian chuckled. No matter how hard she’d tried, she couldn’t convince Tessa to come home with them after the wedding. “You could’ve just as easily stayed at the guesthouse.”

  “Judging by your expression, I’m glad I didn’t. You two together, well, you’re downright combustible. Everyone can see it.”

  “Did you just say downright?”

  A sheepish grin crossed her features. “Blame it on Trey and Maddie. Being around them is rubbing off.” Then Tessa took a full look around the store. “Wow, the shop is shaping up great. I like what you’ve done with the small amount of space.”

  “It was a labor of love, I suppose. I guess I want to—”

  “Prove yourself to this town? Jillian, you don’t need to do that. You’ve made a name for yourself already—”

  “A tarnished name.”

  “No way. You had no way of knowing what was going on.”

  “But I should’ve suspected something. I should’ve protected myself and my business better.” When she’d first arrived in Hope Wells, once the newspapers had brought her situation to light, it hurt to see barely hidden scorn and mistrust on people’s faces. To know they were questioning her trustworthiness and integrity. That, above all else, beat her up inside. But now, with this shop, she wanted so desperately to prove all of them wrong.

  “Well, you’ve got a good guy to help protect you now, Jillian. The way he was with Beau yesterday, all I can say is, he’s a special man. I’m glad you found your way back to each other. I know it won’t be easy, running your business from Hope Wells, but you’ll find the balance you need.”

  Jillian hoped so. So many emotions were holding her hostage, but she clung to the positive ones, the ones that made her feel good about what she was doing. Happiness could never be overrated, not even in the short term.

  Jillian and Tessa went over inventory, set out the lingerie, arranged the coffee counter and planned a strategy for the soft grand opening at the end of the week. Just as they were about to close down for lunch the door chimed.

  Jillian looked across the shop to see a chunky older woman, the Aunt Bea replica, stepping tentatively inside.

  Oh no
. Not what she needed today. One of the Barker cousins.

  “Hang on, Tessa,” she said and walked over to the lady. “Hello. We’re not open, but you’re more than welcome to browse around,” she said politely.

  The woman had trouble meeting her eyes. “I know you’re not open,” she said quietly, taking a full moment to peer at her surroundings and astonishingly appear genuinely intrigued, maybe even impressed. “I came to apologize.”

  “Apologize?”

  “I was rude to you the other day. I don’t know if you remember me.”

  Oh yes, she remembered her. “Go on.”

  “It’s my cousin, Joan. She goads me into things all the time. I’m not making excuses for my behavior, but I just came to say I’m sorry for judging you. I was out of line. I hope you can forgive me for being a foolish ninny.”

  Jillian blinked. “Well, yes. Of course, I can forgive you. But, I’m confused. Why the sudden change of mind?”

  “I remember you as a girl. You had a rough upbringing. I knew your mother for a time too. Tried to help her a few times, but she wasn’t having any of it. And, well, Ella, over at the Bluebonnet, was telling me about your shop. She said, I shouldn’t judge you, but to come see for myself. That you had things for seniors that are designed for comfort. I guess, I’m curious about that.”

  “Oh, I see.” It was news to Jillian that the woman had known her mother. She didn’t recall ever meeting either of the Barker cousins, but she did appreciate her apology.

  “I’m Marla Barker, just so you know.”

  “Well, Marla, thank you for coming by. It means a lot to me that you stopped in.”

  “It does?”

  “Yes, and now that you’re here, would you like to see the lingerie I have on hand in my Vintage There Collection?”

  “Alright,” she said, giving Jillian a pinched smile, as if she didn’t know how to react to her graciousness. “Your shop is really nice. Has an elegant feel to it,” she said, gathering another eyeful with a quick scan.

  So it wasn’t the den of immorality she’d originally thought. More baby steps. But Jillian was all about giving second chances. If she hadn’t been granted a few in her life, she didn’t know where she would’ve ended up.