AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A man cleared his throat at the door. “Knock knock?”
“Pops,” Charlotte said, her lip quivering as she ran into his arms.
“You sure are beautiful! As beautiful as your spirit, my girl.” He blinked back tears, and Chasity felt her own eyes sting seeing the loving man who was soon to be Charlotte’s father-in-law. “I know you asked me if I would step in…and it was my honor, but I… well, I thought it might mean a lot for you to have your dad…so…” He stepped back and motioned.
A stately gentleman came down the hall, in full tux, smiling in pride. “You think I’d miss my daughter’s wedding?”
Charlotte ran into his arms, and Chasity was sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Chasity looked over at Pops. “How’d you do it?”
He winked. “I’ve got my ways, but there was no way I’d let Charly miss out on having her dad walk her down the aisle. It’s high time that man stepped up before he missed all the highlights of his daughter’s life.”
“You’re a gem, Pops,” Josie said from next to them.
“Hey, girls, you trying to steal my man?” Mama asked, a humorous gleam in her eyes.
“It would be for not.” Pops held out his arm for Mama to take. “I only have eyes for you.”
“Aww,” Chasity and the other ladies said in unison.
“Alright, time to get into your places.” Josie took the reins before they all melted into mush from the beautiful moments. “Our guests are ready, and there’s a nervous cowboy out there waiting for his bride!”
They cheered, and Chasity glanced once more back at Charlotte as Emilia fixed the little smudges in her makeup from tears that still cascaded down her pretty cheeks. Together, they gathered near the door, ready to walk down the aisle.
Chasity smiled at the cowboy escorting her. Jake was his name, one of Cody’s rodeo friends. As they followed Megan with another rodeo friend, Cam, Jake smiled and waved at his wife and little boy.
The wedding was beautiful and perfect. Of course, Chasity was biased about weddings at Hope Lake. What better place to get married?
As she listened to the bride and groom say their vows, she thought about what Charlotte had said before. She scanned the crowd and found her hubby, Derrick, holding their young son and sitting next to their daughter, his eyes intent on hers. He had taken off his sheriff’s hat for the day and worn his felt cowboy hat, and her heart leaped at seeing him all fancied up in his suit and tie.
He had saved her life…in more ways than one, and all she had had to do was hope on forever.
