Sky Cowboy (17 page)

“Ava, where are you?” Jules shouts.

“Bathroom,” I shout back.

It’s mayhem.  It’s Wedding Day.
  The girls are getting ready at Jeremy’s and my place, while the boys get ready at Jackson and Edie’s.

Edie is having her hair and makeup done
in the kitchen– mine’s already finished.  Jules is running around like a headless chook trying to finalize last minute details and make sure everyone is ready. 

“Can you come and help me when you’re done.”

I walk out and find her trying to zip her dress.  Her arms are bent in a different angle to the rest of her body as she tries to reach the zipper.  I laugh.  I can’t help it.  Her face is red from stress and frustration and she’s squirming this way and that, trying the get to the darn thing.  It’s hilarious.

“Don’t fucking laugh.  Just help me out here.”

“Okay, okay.”  I walk over and do her up.  “All done.”

“Thank you,” she snaps indignantly.

“You’re welcome,” I smile sweetly.

“Bitch.  Lucky it’s your wedding day or I’d put you on your ass.”

I look her up and down and then grin.

“Shut up.” She says, smiling as she walks away.

I walk back into the bathroom and dab my perfume on my wrists and behind my ears.  Then I take a deep breath and look at myself in the full length mirror for the first time.

Tears fills my eyes.  For the first time in my life, I believe I look beau
tiful.  The hairdresser put extensions in for me this morning, so instead of being a short, sharp bob, my hair is actually flowing loosely down my back in waves.  It looks amazing.  Small diamond earrings adorn my lobes, and the matching necklace sits below my collarbone.  My makeup is natural and light and my skin is perfectly tanned, thanks to the Northern Territory sun.  I look down at my dress and wonder what everyone will think.  It’s white and comes to my knees.It has an empire waist and a flowing skirt.  It’s similar to a sundress, I guess, and some people might not think it’s appropriate for a wedding dress, but it’s so
me
.  Plus, in this heat, you don’t have a lot of choices.  My brown high top cowgirl boots have been polished to perfection and I think I look pretty damn good.

“Ready,” I hear Edie yell.

I walk out of my bedroom and into the kitchen.  I stop dead and look her over with a huge smile on my face.  Her long dark hair is wavy and half is pinned on the top of her head in little curls, while the rest is falling down her back.  Her ivory silk dress has thin straps on the shoulder and then it falls to the floor, skimming her body the whole way.  The dress meets in a
V between her breasts, and her entire back is exposed until just above her ass.  A small train flows behind her.  She lifts the hem of her dress to expose her matching ivory stilettos with diamond buckles.

“You look absolutely stunning.” I give her a hug.

“So do you.  Wow, Ava.  So gorgeous,” she gushes.

“What about me?” Jules mock sulks.

“You look pretty spunky too,” I tell her.

“Beautiful,” Edie agrees.

Jules is wearing a sky blue knee length, strapless dress that she and Edie chose while I was in hospital.  A thin band of diamantes trails just underneath the ruffled fabric of the empire waistline.  It’s a beautiful dress, and I’m glad they picked it.

Olive coo
s and I look down at her in her highchair.  She is dressed in a pretty pale-rose coloured dress, with matching crotched headband.  She looks absolutely adorable. 

“Hey, pretty girl.  You look so gorgeous,” I baby talk to her, earning me an ear to ear, gummy grin.

“We better go, or we’ll be late.”  Jules hurries us all out the door, just as my parents pull up out the front.  My mother steps out looking lovely.  She’s donned a light peach coloured skirt with matching silk blouse.  I can’t help but think she’ll be sweating her ass off later.  My dad looks as handsome as ever in his Wrangler jeans and peach coloured button up shirt.  His boots have been freshly polished and he’s got his WFC (weddings, funerals, christenings) belt wrapped around his waist.

“
Darlin’,” he looks at me and gives a shake of his head.  “You look so beautiful, Ava.”

“Thanks, daddy,” I try not to sob.

We all pile into the Utes and drive to the secluded spot on the property where we’ve set up for the service. We stop behind a large screen that’s been put in place to hide us from the guests and I step out and stand with dad.  Mum gestures to someone and music starts to play.  I watch from behind the screen as Jules leads Edie down the makeshift aisle to Jackson.  Instead of carrying a bouquet, she’s carrying Olive.  I watch Jackson as he watches Edie.  Then I move my eyes slightly to the right to focus on Jeremy.  He’s standing there looking past Edie, to the opening of the screen.  He looks nervous.  I smile a little to myself and I can’t wait to get down there beside him.

“I remember seeing you runn
ing around the yard when you were about sixteen.” Dad startles me.  “You were playing about with the dog and the hose.  Blonde hair flying all over the place, eyes lit up and a huge smile on your face.  I watched you for a long time and I remember thinking, if you married Jeremy, what would your babies look like?  You’re so blonde and he’s so dark.  I knew you’d marry him, sweetheart.  He’s loved you since the day you were born.  This is the proudest day of my life.”

“Dad,” I whisper, as I wipe a tear away before it reaches my cheek.

“Proudest day of my life,” he repeats on a choked whisper.

I sniffle and before I can say anything – not that I really know what to say – he speaks again.  “Time to walk my baby girl down the aisle.”

The music changes to Shania Twain’s
You’re Still The One
and I loop my arm through my dad’s and we walk towards the man of my dreams.

He’s wearing dark wash RM Williams jeans, a white button up shirt, a thick brown leather belt with a long horn bull buckle, brown high top
cowboy boots and on top of his head sits a brand new cowboy hat.  Standing at his side and looking equally as handsome in a matching outfit, is our boy, Oscar.  I smile at him and he smiles back.

“Ladies and gentleman, we are here today to witness the marriages of two very special couples; Eden Cross to Jackson Henley, and Ava
Crawley to Jeremy Henley.  Before we start on that, however, we have an extra special treat.  Miss Olive Rose Henley will be christened before you all this afternoon.” The celebrant addresses everyone and I take a moment to look out at our guests.  Sitting on hired white chairs are our one hundred guests.  Most of them are locals; people Jackson, Jeremy and I have known our entire life – like Doreen, Skip and his wife, Rhonda.  There’s a couple I don’t recognize – I’m assuming they’re Jules’ parents, and the rest are family members.

The celebrant christens Olive, and Jules and Jeremy take o
n the responsibility of being godparents in front of the witnesses.  Then it’s time to say our vows.  Jackson and Edie go first.  I listen as they promise to love and cherish each other for the rest of their lives.  Then,
finally,
the celebrant turns to Jeremy and me.  We had elected to write our own vows, and the celebrant invites Jeremy to go first.

“Ava, I remember the first time I saw you.  I thought you were the prettiest girl I’d ever seen.  I think I fell in love that day and I’ve loved you every day since.  Today, in
front of all the people we care about, I promise to continue to love you and be faithful to you, for the rest of our lives.”

Tears runs freely down my face as I listen to Jeremy’s heartfelt words.  Then it’s my turn.

“Jeremy, I love you.  I always have and I always will.  There has never been anyone else for me, but you.  You’re everything I ever dreamed of,” I sniffle.  “When I was a little girl, I dreamt of growing up and marrying you.  I thought it would never happen, I thought my dream would never come true.  But now it has.  I promise to love you, in sickness and in health, for better and for worse, for the rest of our lives.”  Tears spill over Jeremy eyes as he squeezes my hands.  Then, turning to Oscar, I crouch down so I am at his eye level.  I take his hands in mine and I say, “Oscar, I promise to always love and adore you.  I promise to always support and protect you.  When you are sick, I’ll be there to help you get better.  Most of all, I promise to be the best mummy that I can be.”

I can hear the sniffle
s of our guests as I stand back up.

“I now pronounce you, husbands and wives,” the celebrant laughs as the crowd erupts in cheers.  Jeremy cups my jaw and I look into his reddened eyes.  “I love you,” he says, reverently.

“I love you, too,” I reply with just as much passion.  Then he takes my mouth in a long, sweet, utterly delicious, Signature Kiss.

I smile to myself, knowing I’m going to be getting those kisses for the rest of my life.

At what point do you stop wanting someone you know you can never have?

Never.

Never
stop.

Look out for Jules & Clay’s story, coming soon in Cowboy Dreams.  You’ll get to see more of Jackson & Eden, and Ava & Jeremy in Cowboy Dreams, as well!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Troy – God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you... 

To my children: Zach, Jovi,
Demi & Cruz – thank you for being you.   I never knew true love until I had each of you.  You are my reason, my happiness, my everything.  Every breath I take is for you.

To Mel and
Wurry, I think “
I II III IV III II
” says it all. Mwah.

Thanks to
Meri for listening to me rant and rave and for letting me bounce ideas of you.

Thanks to my mum and dad, the best parents,
ever.
  And an extra special thanks to my mum who implanted a deep love of reading in me at a young age by reading The Adventures of Blinky Bill & Nutsy to me every night when I was a little girl. 

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

Stephen King

Special thanks to my baby brother, Ty, who
is a Sky Cowboy in the Northern Territory and who helped me with research.

Thank you to Emily, again, you’ve gone above and beyond for me.  Never underestimate the depth of my appreciation for you and everything you do for me.

Kylie at Give Me Books blog – You. Are. Amazing!  You’ve become a great friend and I can’t wait to work with you more. Your dedication, hard work, professionalism and honesty is an inspiration.  You are one of the most devoted and enthusiastic bloggers I’ve ever met and I’m so glad I found you.

Lisa
Watmough at Rock Wat Designs – you are unbelievably talented and creative.  Thanks for keeping me stocked with unique swag.

Thank you to the super talented Ari at Cover It! Designs for creating such a beautiful cover.

A big thanks to my Beta Readers and my Street Team, who do a wonderful job promoting me and helping me to be the best that I can be.

Lastly, thank you to each and every one of you that reads this book.  You are making my dreams come true.