Page 131 of Bailey

Graham took one of the leashes, a pink studded thing that connected to Bailey’s little fluffy white dog, Hydrangea, and faced the crowd. Bailey linked her arm through her daddy’s, and instead of carrying a bouquet, she bent and picked up the two other leashes, one for Pansy and one for Sir.

Perhaps the canines had added some extra trouble to the preparation, and that had taken them a few extra minutes to get ready. Either way, Bailey glided across the deck, then paused at the top as the photographer flitted around and took pictures.

She looked at her father. Graham nodded, and together they descended the steps. Bailey radiated goodness and pure happiness, and as she and Graham passed, Abby sighed and leaned to Tex. “I’m so glad we’re here,” she said. “What a blessing it’s been to watch her get to this point.”

Tex had never thought of heartache and difficult trials as much of a blessing, but as Graham and Bailey paused at the end of the first row so she could hug her momma, Tex realized how right his wife was.

“I’m so glad they found each other,” he whispered. Then he busied himself with sitting down with the rest of the crowd to bask in the glorious covenant about to be made.

Reeves could hardly believe the goddess being passed to him by a man he admired beyond measure. He also couldn’t believe he found himself standing at the corner of an altar, tucking his arm around a woman and leaning down to whisper, “I love you,” in her ear.

But he did all of those things, and they felt natural and right, and exactly what he should be doing with his life.

Her daddy took Hydrangea with him, and Bailey passed the leashes of Sir and Pansy to her uncle Beau. The no-nonsense cowboy got the dogs to lay down without a problem, and together they faced the pastor—the same Pastor Michaels whose sermons Reeves had enjoyed and been learning from for almost a year now.

“Brothers and sisters. My friends,” he said. “We’re gathered here to witness this glorious couple start their lives together. Isn’t it awesome to be in the company of two people who love each other so completely that it oozes from their very souls?”

Reeves grinned, because he’d always enjoyed Pastor Michaels’s sermons.

“I think so,” he said. “And we’re here today to unite Reeves Durham with Bailey McAllister. I’ve met with them about what this covenant of marriage means, and I’ve found them ready and willing to make it with one another, and with God.”

He looked at Reeves, his big personality flying out in the form of a smile. “Now I believe our couple has written their vows for one another.”

He nodded to Reeves, who turned slightly away from the altar to face the crowd. Bailey did the same, and he held both of her hands in his.

“Bailey, the first time I met you, I thought you were an angel in the snow. I didn’t know then how completely you would change my life.” He smiled at her, noticing the way her chin scrunched and wobbled slightly as she fought her emotions.

“I fell in love with you quickly, and I promise myself to you today. I’ll help you with any vegetable gardens you want to plant, and allow you to bring home any dogs, cats, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, or cows that you want.”

That caused a few twitters to move through the crowd, and Reeves grinned even wider as she scoffed and then smiled. “I promise to take care of you,” he said, sobering slightly. “And protect you, not only from physical things, but from the prying eyes of the world that we don’t want. I’ll do my best every day to make you smile and laugh, and whatever comes our way, I’ll be at your side to handle it.” He nodded and looked at the pastor quickly.

“Bailey,” Pastor Michaels said, his voice so much louder than Reeves’s.

She nodded and took a moment to gather herself. She stood in front of him, the angel he’d spoken of, with a plunging V-neck dress and tiny straps over her shoulders. She wore a diamond-studded belt around her waist that matched the crown in her hair. She was his queen, and Reeves couldn’t wait to worship at her feet.

“I love you, Reeves,” she said, and Reeves cleared his thoughts so he could focus on her words. “For a while there, I thought everything you did was flawless. You knew exactly what to do in a rainstorm, or how to plant a garden, and how to take care of brand-new baby goats. Your dogs love you, and millions online do too. I love the way you take care of me, always put me first, and have made plenty of space for me inside your world.”

Reeves ducked his head, because he’d done his best to clear plenty of space around Bailey and still be able to do his camping videos.

“I promise myself to you today,” Bailey said. “I promise to be your wife, and your best friend, your companion, and a helper with whatever you need, because I know you’ll do the same for me.”

She looked away from him for a moment, her eyes migrating out to the first row. “I never thought I’d be here,” she said. “With so many opportunities in front of me that I thought had come and gone, that I’d wasted and ruined.” She swallowed and looked back at him again.

Reeves let go of one of her hands and slid it up her bare arm to the back of her neck. As she closed her eyes, he brought her closer and touched the brim of his cowboy hat to her hairline, hoping to give her his reassurance that she had not wasted or ruined anything in her life, certainly not with him.

“I love you,” she said again, her voice pitching up. “And I will do my best to be at your side as we build a life and a family, and to face whatever comes our way.” She opened her eyes, and Reeves turned back toward the pastor.

“What beautiful promises!” Pastor Michaels bellowed into the yard. “And now it’s time to get this wedding done. Reeves Holden Durham, do you take unto you Bailey Anne McAllister to be your legally and lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to pledge yourself to, and to be true, honorable, and faithful to for the rest of your days?”

“I do,” Reeves said, the words painting joy through his body.

Pastor Michaels nodded. “Bailey Anne McAllister, do you give yourself unto Reeves Holden Durham to be your legally and lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to pledge yourself to, and to be true, honorable, and faithful to for the rest of your days?”

“I do,” Bailey said, her voice louder than it had been during her vows.

“Then, by the power vested in me by the state of Wyoming and the Good Lord Above, I now declare you husband and wife.” Cheering started, but Pastor Michaels bellowed over the top of it, “You may kiss the bride!”

Laughing, Reeves pulled Bailey into his chest and held her tight. Then he slipped his hands up her shoulders and cradled her face in his hands as he kissed her—his angel, his best friend, his wildflower, his wife.