Page 51 of The Rancher

A knock sounded on the door of the room in the church’s basement.

“Come in, as long as you’re not Ray.”

Maddy entered. The smile on her face was a mile wide. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you, maid of honor.”

Maddy was in a dark sapphire-blue sleeveless dress, also with a scalloped hem reaching just below her knees. It matched her eyes…and those of her father. The garment had a high neckline, and she wore a long necklace with a silver chain and alarge opal pendant. The fiery stone had belonged to her mother and flashed with her movements.

She wore her dark hair pulled back on the sides with a few tendrils framing her face and the rest of her long hair waving down to the middle of her back.

Lyris’s hair was the same, with pearl combs holding back the sides and her curls, tamed into ringlets, hanging almost down to her waist. She wore a circlet of white silk roses on her head.

The combs in Maddy’s hair had red roses that looked wonderful against her golden blonde hair. She had her mother’s coloring and though she didn’t realize it, she was a knockout.

Lyris was surprised when a line of boys wanting to ask Maddy out didn’t start at the door to the house and run the length of the driveway.

Glancing at Lyris, Maddy gave her two thumbs up. “Are you ready? Your dad is outside and ready to escort you to the chapel.”

Lyris took one last glance in the mirror and decided she looked the best she ever had. “Let them in, please.”

Maddy opened the door and stood back, holding it for them.

Her parents entered.

Paul Jennings was a very tall, lean man with silver hair. He used to play professional basketball, and he was the reason Lyris was nearly six-feet tall. He wore a gray pinstripe suit with a pale pink shirt and gray silk tie.

Carol Jennings was built like a Dolly Parton lookalike. She had an ample bosom, tiny waist, and full hips. She wore a pale pink dress, tailored to accent her figure without being too tight anywhere. The dress had aVneckline that tastefully ended above her bosom. She also wore a matching silk jacket with standup collar and three-quarter sleeves.

Lyris was proud of her parents. They were not wealthy compared to Ray, but her father had done very well for himself as a basketball player and then as an electrical engineer.

Her mother was a CPA with her own firm in Lakewood. She employed ten other CPAs.

Her father walked over and took both of Lyris’s hands. “You look beautiful. I hope Ray realizes what a treasure he has.”

“He does, Daddy. He’s a good man. The best.”

Paul leaned in and kissed Lyris’s right cheek. “Good. I only want the best for my baby.”

Lyris smiled. “Thank you, Daddy.” Tears threatened, and she fiercely pushed them back. Ruining her makeup on her wedding day was not acceptable.

“Are you ready?” asked Carol. “They’ve started the music.”

“Yes. I’m ready. Maddy, you get into place. Mom, go with her. We’ll be right behind you.” Lyris curled her left hand around her father’s arm and took a deep breath. “I’m ready.” She stopped and picked up her bouquet of tiger lilies, white roses and baby’s breath.

Paul led her out of the room and up the stairs to the sanctuary.

They stood back by the entry doors as the wedding march started. Then Paul walked her up the aisle between the pews which had been decorated with Tiger Lilies and white carnations.

Behind the minister was floor to ceiling windows with an amazing view of the Rocky Mountains. The view was the perfect backdrop for her wedding.

As she walked slowly next to her father, she gazed at Ray, standing with his wrists crossed in front of him. He wore a black tux with single notched lapels. Though he’d wanted to get a haircut, Lyris wouldn’t hear of it. So, his hair was as she liked it,touching his collar with slight curls at the bottom. Long enough for her to run her fingers through.

But what she concentrated on was his face and the wide smile he wore. She answered with a grin of her own.

Standing next to Ray was his brother Adam. As tall as Ray, with the same almost-black hair and blue eyes, they almost looked like twins. Ray was tan from working outside, and he wore a neat scruff of three-day-old stubble. Whereas Adam had a short, full beard.

The music stopped as she reached Ray and the minister.