Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 (20 page)

“We will,” Beth pledged solemnly. “Where is she?”

“Downstairs with her daddy. Or Bridger. No telling.”

“Oh, Bwidge,” several of them crooned.

Laughter filled the space, and Veronica was moved to tears, being a part of them.

“Don’t you dare screw up that makeup!” Hayley screeched.

Veronica sniffed. “I wouldn’t on a bet.” Her stomach was a mass of nerves. “I am so ready.”

Just then, a knock on the door. “Mom?”

“Ben.” Veronica smiled. “Come in. How is he? How did it go?”

“It was great. Couldn’t have been better.”

“And he signed.”

Ben shook his head. “He said we should do it as a family.”

“Aww…” More than one voice sounded.

Ben flushed, then glanced around. “Wow, Aunt Penny, Aunt Rissa. You look so pretty.” He looked at Veronica. “Mom, you’re beautiful.”

She smoothed at the dress that held such history. “I feel beautiful. And nervous. How much longer?”

“Look at us, Ben! Don’t we look like princesses?”

He turned toward his sisters. “You sure do.” Then he pivoted back to his mother. “That’s why I’m here. Dad’s downstairs waiting for you.”

“Dad?”

Ben flushed. “He thinks my—Dad David would be okay with it.”

“I agree,” she said. “I bet Jackson’s really happy.”

“So…you ready?”

We’ve waited our whole lives for this moment
. “I am. So very ready.”

“We’ll just head downstairs. Girls?” Maddie held out a hand to each of the twins.

“See you soon, Mommy!”

Veronica bent and hugged them both. “We’re going to be so happy together.” She watched them skip away, David’s girls, and for a moment she had to press her lips together.

Then she and Ben were alone.

“Do you miss him at all, Mom?”

“I do. David was a good man. He loved me well.” She studied her tall son’s face. “Sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yes. And I think he is, too. He always wanted you to be happy. Dad makes you really happy, doesn’t he?”

“He does.” There were no words for how much.

They heard the music start up, Walker Roundtree and Henry playing guitar as they had for Scarlett’s wedding.

A knock at the door. “Veronica?” Her brother’s voice.

“Come in, Tank.”

He walked inside, resplendent in a suit.

“Goodness, you look so handsome.”

Tank shifted awkwardly. “Thanks.” His gaze took her in. “You’re beautiful. You always were.”

She went to him. Touched his arm, though he wasn’t a toucher. “Tank, thank you. For doing this. For welcoming Jackson into our family.”

He nodded, his eyes solemn on hers. “You’re positive this is what you want? Because I’ll take care of you, you know that.”

“I do. You’ve protected me so many times before.” She smiled. “But I’ll never need protecting from Jackson. He’s my heart.”

One more solemn nod. “Ben and I thought we’d do this together. You okay with that?”

Tears rushed in again. “That would be wonderful. Thank you both.”

So she left the room and descended the stairs with each of them at her side, heading for the man she’d waited so very long to marry. Ahead of her she saw her girls forget their flower petals and start running.

To Jackson.

There he stood, tall and handsome and beloved, his gaze stunned and admiring.

She smiled, and he smiled back.

And it was all she could do not to run to be with him, too.

Jackson thought his heart would stop when he saw her. He knew he should wait, but they’d already waited so long for each other.

He stepped into the aisle as she began her way to him, barely noticed Scarlett take the girls to their seats.

He took another step, and Veronica laughed through her tears.

Then he was in motion, and so was she. As they came together, he swept her up and vowed never to let her go. Eyes closed, feeling her slender arms around his neck, he was overcome with a sense that finally, finally everything fit.

He wasn’t sure who was trembling, her or him.

“Dad.” Ben approached, and Jackson opened his eyes.

“Dad, you’re supposed to let us give her to you,” Ben stage-whispered.

The audience laughter spilled in warm waves around them.

But he heard a few sniffles, too.

Her hand stroked down the back of his head. “Jackson…”

He made himself lean back. “Yes?”

A smile filled her eyes, though they glistened with tears. “I love you so much.”

He embraced her again, hard. Then, with a deep exhalation, he set her on her feet. “I don’t want to let go.”

“Then don’t. I don’t want to, either.” She held out her hand for his. “Walk me the rest of the way?”

“Yes.” He didn’t care what anyone else thought of his behavior. He’d loved her and missed her for so very long…

They reached Judge Porter, but Jackson halted a step shy. Turned to her. “You’re the most beautiful bride in the world. You take my breath away.”

“Awww…” More than one voice spoke.

She smoothed his tie. “You do look like a prince, you know.”

He could hardly speak, instead brought her hand to his lips.

“So…let’s be flexible, shall we?” Judge Porter said over their heads. “Ben, Tank, do you have something to say? Since it appears that the bride you were giving away has escaped you?”

A few chuckles, then a clearing of the throat. Tank. “My sister isn’t mine to give away. She’s belonged to you for a long time. But you won’t hurt her again,” he warned.

Jackson turned to face the man who had been a foe when they were younger. He noted the concern, the resolve in Tank’s eyes and understood both. “I won’t hurt her. I’m sorry I ever did. Thank you for protecting her, growing up. I promise I’ll keep her safe from here.”

Tank didn’t soften the warning in his eyes, but at last he nodded.

Veronica slipped from his grasp and went to her brother. Kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I love you.”

More than one sniffle was heard as Veronica turned away, then stopped before Ben and held out her hand. “Walk me the rest of the way?”

“My pleasure.” He closed the short distance and stopped in front of his father. “My sisters and I aren’t giving Mom away, we’re keeping her—but we’re entrusting her to you. She’s the best mom in the world, and we believe you’ll be a great dad.” His young jaw hardened with his own warning.

Jackson nodded his approval. “I will guard her with my life, son, just as I will care for all of you. Thank you for trusting me with the most precious gift in the world.”

Judge Porter cleared his throat. “Well, now.” He cleared it again. “I was going to say a few words about what it means to unite a family, but seems to me you all have learned that lesson well already. So shall we press on?”

Veronica handed her flowers to Penny, and Ben took his place beside his grandfather, who was serving as best man. Jackson’s sisters smiled at him, and Penny blew him a kiss.

Jackson had waited for this day for most of his life.

As Judge Porter readied himself to speak, Jackson made a split-second decision. “May I have a little leeway, Judge?”

“Seems to me that horse is out of the barn,” the older man commented.

Laughter rolled through, but Jackson wasn’t deterred. He looked behind Veronica. “Girls? Would you come here, please?”

“Beebee, we get to get married!” Abby crowed, and more laughter ensued.

Jackson pivoted to Ben. “Son?”

When they were all gathered, he took Veronica’s hands again. “I, James Jackson Gallagher, take you, Veronica Elizabeth Patton Butler, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to honor and to cherish, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live.”

Then he looked at her children. “Elizabeth Anne, Abigail Suzanne and Benjamin Edward Butler, I ask you to be my family from this day forward. I promise to guard you, to guide you to the best of my abilities, to keep you safe until my dying breath.”

Beth leaned into his side, and Abby touched his arm. “I love you, Prince Daddy.”

“I love you, too—all of you.” He looked at Ben.

Ben placed one hand on his back and nodded. “Me, too, Dad.”

“Veronica?” Judge Porter smiled at her.

“I, Veronica Elizabeth Patton Butler, take you, James Jackson Gallagher, to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to honor and to cherish, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live.” She smiled. “I gladly entrust you with my children, their hearts and their safety. I know you will take care of them—you already have.” She squeezed his hands.

He didn’t know how his heart could hold any more than it did at this moment.

Judge Porter asked for the rings.

Jackson held the other half of the gossamer ring he’d given her, his hands not quite steady. He looked into her eyes as he spoke, years of loving her echoing through time. “With this ring, I thee wed and pledge my life, my love and my honor, committing my heart and my soul to you and you alone from this day forward.” He slid the ring onto her finger, then brought it to his lips.

Abby clapped and jumped. Beth patted his arm.

Ben smiled at him, and Jackson smiled back.

Veronica took his ring and repeated her own vows to him in a voice as clear as angel song. She squeezed his fingers and looked into his eyes. “I love you so much,” she whispered. Her eyes shimmered with tears.

His own eyes burned as he looked to each of them in turn and spoke only to them. “Thank you all for the best Christmas of my life.”

Penny watched as her brother made his vows to the woman he’d never stopped loving. In a clear, strong voice, he vowed to love and honor and cherish her, to never leave her, and she knew the words held additional meaning for this bride and groom.

Standing up with them, she wished for Bridger beside her. She’d like to take his hand and tell him she was finally ready.

As if he could hear her, he looked up from where he was sitting.

Golden eyes burned. Promised everything she could ever hope for. He would love her with everything in him. He would keep her safe, not only her body, but her heart.

She only hoped she could do justice to his heart, his generous soul.
I love you
, she wanted to mouth. To say out loud.

But this was Jackson and Veronica’s time, so she only put her love in her gaze and hoped he could see it. Then she dragged her attention back to the couple pledging their lives right in front of her. She gripped Veronica’s bouquet with her own, and she watched her twin slide that astonishing ring on her finger, so much love spilling from his gaze that it swirled in the air around them.

She glanced down at her own ring and knew that though Veronica’s was spectacular, hers meant more.
Mama, let me be half the woman you were—no. Help me be every bit as good, as devoted. Bridger deserves all that and more. Please let me be a good mother because, heaven help me, I want to try
.

When Judge Porter pronounced them man and wife, Jackson cradled Veronica’s face as if she were all that was precious and right in the world, and he kissed her with love that spilled over all of them.

Penny glanced down at her ring, then over to Bridger. He kept his gaze steadily on her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Gallagher and their family?”

There were cheers. There was laughter. There was applause.

And just when Penny was ready to break away and run to the man she loved, another voice cried out—

“Uh-oh, Boone.”

“Maddie?”

“My water just broke.”

“Bridger!” Boone shouted.

“Molly—” Bridger called.

Rissa laughed. “Never a dull moment in Sweetgrass!”

Then everything happened at once.