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The cowboy who had been sitting in the dark corner by the stage finally got to his feet and pushed back his cowboy hat.Everyone gasped when they saw Jace’s smiling face.Decker was a little surprised too.He thought his cousin had left for Galveston that morning.
“Now, Coach,” Jace said.“What Sweetie and I had together ended a long time ago.She knew exactly what she was doing when she broke up with me.I was so wrapped up in getting a scholarship to a top ten school that I was a horrible boyfriend ...and a lousy quarterback.I’d like to apologize to the town right now for getting so stressed out about those college scouts that I lost us a chance for another state football trophy.”He sent them a puppy dog look that beat out Dixie Chick’s when she was begging for a piece of bacon.“Can y’all forgive me?”
Coach Denny headed over and gave Jace a big hug, followed with a hard thump on the back.“Of course we can forgive you, son.”He turned to the crowd.“Ain’t that right?”
Everyone nodded and voiced their agreement as they followed Coach Denny’s lead and welcomed Jace home with hugs and backslaps.When they were finished, Jace was grinning from ear to ear.“Then I guess there’s nothing left to do but congratulate Decker and Sweetie.”With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he held up a bottle of beer.“To Decker and Sweetie.May they have a long marriage ...hopefully, right here in Wilder.”
Decker wanted to throttle his cousin.All Decker had planned for tonight was to get Sweetie to forgive him and the townsfolk to forgive her.Talk of marriage would only make her feel trapped.
He quickly put a stop to the toast.“Now hold up, everyone.Sweetie and I aren’t at the marrying stage yet.”
“Just what stage are we at?”
He turned to find Sweetie standing there with her arms crossed looking as mad as Mrs.Stokes.“You think you can just come with me to Nashville and move into my apartment without putting a ring on my finger, Decker Carson?My daddy would have a fit.And Mimi and Mama would never forgive you.And just what do you intend to do when you get to Nashville?Do you actually think you can find a job you love as much as you love being the sheriff of this town?Of course you can’t.And I’m not about to let you give up a career you love for me.Just like you aren’t about to let me give up a career I love for you.”
Frustration filled him.“So that’s it?We’re just going to love each other and say goodbye?Sometimes love takes sacrifice, Sweets.If you want me, I’m willing to sacrifice whatever I need to be with you.”He patted his chest.“I’m your right boy and I want to give you your country dream.”
A soft smile lit her face.“I know you’re the right boy for me.So it’s a good thing that my country dream is staying right here in Wilder.”
He stared at her.“What?But what about being the next Dolly Parton?”
“There’s only one Dolly,” Mrs.Stokes said, and a chorus of “amen” broke out.
Sweetie laughed.“I wish I’d realized that twelve years ago.I also wish I’d realized I love writing songs, but I don’t enjoy singing them.”She cupped Decker’s face in her hands.“Except to my right boy.”She looked out at the crowd.“And the folks of my hometown.”
Decker couldn’t believe what he was hearing.“Are you sure, Sweets?”
“I’ve never been more sure in my life.”
Decker pulled her into his arms as the bar erupted in whistles and whoops again.Then someone yelled out from the back.
“Well, don’t just stand there hugging.Ask her to marry you so you can win that ranch!”
Sweetie drew back and he figured she’d look as frustrated with the townsfolk as he was.But she didn’t look frustrated.Her eyes twinkled with love and happiness.“What do you say, Deckster?You won’t get a ranch.All you’ll get is the girl.”
His heart filled with joy as he dropped to one knee.“The girl is more than enough for me.”
ChapterTwenty-Three
“Ithink you’ve lost your mind marrying Decker only weeks after you two hooked up.”Hallie tugged at the hem of the short dress she wore.“But if you’re dead set on marrying the lawman, why did you force me to wear a dress that shows my panties every time I bend over?”
Liberty fielded the question as she continued arranging Sweetie’s hair into an upsweep of curls.“Because long bridesmaid’s dresses are rarely worn again.These dresses can be worn to church, on dates, and clubbing.”
Belle, who was zipping Noelle’s dress, turned to her twin.“And when do we ever go to church, on dates, or clubbing, Libby?All we do is work.”
Liberty lifted her chin.“Well, we’ll have the perfect dress if we do decide to do those things.”
Hallie snorted.“Pink dresses aren’t what I would call perfect.And Mama would have a heart attack if we wore a dress this short to church.”She glanced at Cloe, who was fluffing Sweetie’s veil.“Except for Cloe’s.How did she get a longer dress?”
“I took down the hem.”Cloe stopped fluffing and glanced down at her breasts that spilled over the low neckline of her red maid of honor’s dress.“Although I would take a shorter hem if I could have more material on top.I told you not to order mine so low cut, Libby.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”Liberty took the veil from Cloe.“That dress shows off your big boobs.And I always say that if you got it, flaunt it.It’s too bad Brandon won’t be here to see you walk down the aisle in it.”She attached the veil to Sweetie’s head and jabbed in a hairpin so hard Sweetie’s eyes watered.“Has he called you to let you know how his grandmother is doing?”
Cloe turned away.“Umm ...yes, she’s much better.”She walked over to Mama’s dresser where she opened a drawer and started looking through the scarfs.
“So why isn’t he coming?”Hallie flopped down on the bed.“College Station is only a couple hours away.He might miss the wedding, but he could make the reception.You’d think he’d want to party with his soon-to-be family.”
Noelle pushed Hallie’s pink boots off the bed.“And he’d get to see the ranch before we sell it.”
