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I raise an eyebrow. The MC comes out and hands the microphone to Jennings, smiling our way before backing off.
“Thanks for coming out this afternoon, everyone,” Jennings says to butter up the crowd. “I’m glad you could all make it. Especially all of my family and friends, who I called out for a very special reason. And not just because it’s the Spring Fair, although that’s a very special reason all its own. No, I want everyone to see me ask a very important question to a very important person. I want to share the answer with my family, and the world.”
I watch Jennings talk with anticipation. The gears inside my head are starting to turn and my breath catches in my throat as I realize where he’s going with this.
“Every cowboy needs his cowgirl, and mine has been riding with me for a while without making it official. So I’m thinking we get around to fixing that already. June Jenkins?”
I swallow in a way that it feels loud enough for the entire stadium to hear. Is he really doing this right now, after such a short time together?
“I want you to be my partner. I want you to ride alongside me. I want you to come out and pick me up when I fall over and break my ass, and I want to do the same if it happens to you. You mean the world to me, and there’s nothing I want more than for you to be my wife. Will you marry me, Junebug?”
My lip quivers as he drops a knee in the dirt and produces a ring from one of his deep pockets. It's a beautiful, fine diamond set in a comfortable silver band.
“Of course,” I say as soon as I’ve got words back in my head after the shock. “Of course I’ll marry you, Jennings.”
He slips the ring onto my finger then pulls me close for a powerful embrace, and an even more powerful kiss. I’m covered with goosebumps as I hear the crowd cheer louder than ever before, led by Jennings’ very big family.
Which is soon to be my very big family.
Even Danny is cheering for us from his wheelchair.
Holding me close, we wave to the crowd. We’re side by side now, and we’ll stay that way for the rest of our days.
EPILOGUE ONE - JENNINGS
After she said yes, we had one hell of a year together. The shows had to go on, of course. We had a contract to honor. And as long as we were together, we didn’t really care. Up and down the West Coast, we continued applying our craft, pushing ourselves harder and gaining some national notoriety.
We even considered some way of bringing our act together, but we couldn’t really think of how to combine the grace of her barrel riding with my trying not to get dumped on my head. Oh well, we were just together apart in this case, doing what we both did best.
Danny came around to us too. Still recovering from his nasty spill, he became a backstage helper for the rodeo. He’s up and walking, in a bit of pain still, but he’s determined to one day climb on a bull again. Knowing him, it’s mostly out of spite, not wanting to let the bull think he won.
All the while we planned the wedding, awaiting the day we’d get a break from our touring and have the ceremony.
It all feels like just a way of formalizing it, really. June and I are already committed to one another and fully enjoying our relationship. Every night, even. And when we’re in Burly, she’s in my home way more often than her parents’.
But it’ll be nice to call her Mrs. Junebug Rowdy.
Even if she insists she’ll still be announced as June Jenkins when she rides out. It’s nice alliteration and a branding thing. I completely understand.
The day is finally here, though. We’re at the Rowdy Ranch, and like every wedding we have, it’s a big family get together. The Roughs, the Rowdys, the Jenkinses, the Landons, hell, it’s hard to keep track. It feels like the whole town of Burly is here and a pretty sizable chunk of Home is here as well.
I stand at the altar, dressed up in a tuxedo with cowboy boots. Yeah, we’re getting married, but we aren’t going to deny what we are.
June expresses this by coming down the aisle in a flowing white gown, but instead of the traditional white sandals, she’s wearing the glittery cowboy boots that she wears when she performs. It’s a clash of styles, but it’s undeniably her, so I absolutely love it.
Exchanging our vows, happily saying I do, and kissing the bride, it’s all like a dream.
Everyone gathers for a massive photoshoot afterwards, the two of us at the forefront. I have to take a look back at everyone behind us and see just how many people I can call family now. How far the Rowdy roots have spread.
