Rachel's Cowboy (16 page)

“Perfect,” Rachel said, smiling.

“Becca?” Jeff called as he came in the room.

Rebecca rushed over, eager to be enclosed in her husband’s embrace. “Oh, Jeff, I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Sorry it took so long, sweetheart,” he told her, not letting her go.

She nodded over her shoulder to Rachel and J.D. “Oh, honey, have you met J.D.? And Rachel’s back. Doesn’t she look good?”

“Yeah.” Jeff released his wife and led her across the room. Sticking out his right hand, he said, “J.D., I’m Jeff Jacobs. How are you?”

“Jeff, I’m glad to meet you.”

They each had an arm around a twin. Jeff looked at J.D. and Rachel and said, “You’re looking good, Rachel. Do you have an announcement to make?”

J.D. didn’t wait for her to say anything. “We’re getting married,” he answered proudly.

“Welcome to the family,” Jeff said with a grin. “It’s a great one.”

“I agree.”

“When are you marrying?” Vanessa asked.

Rachel and J.D. looked at each other.

She spoke first. “I’d like to share our wedding with Madge and Bluey, just like we planned.”

“You already planned to marry?” Rebecca asked, surprised.

“No. We were planning
their
wedding. I think it would be nice to share it, if they don’t mind.” She looked at J.D. again, a question in her eyes.

“I think they’ll love the idea.”

“So, when will that be?” Rebecca asked, wanting a date.

“We don’t know yet. Madge’s sister broke her hip and we had to postpone the wedding. But it should be soon.”

“It had better be soon,” J.D. growled, pulling her into his arms again. When he kissed her, Rachel could feel his eagerness. It matched her own. She gave herself over to the kiss, ignoring the onlookers in the waiting room.

They stopped being the center of attention when Will Greenfield, Vivian’s husband, burst into the room. He was wearing a pair of scrubs and on the front of his shirt were two tiny, freshly made footprints.

“He’s here! We’ve got our son! He’s perfect. And Vivian is doing great. I’m so proud of her.” Will was practically shouting, he was so excited. All the young women hugged him, but they were careful not to mess up the footprints. The two men shook his hand.

Then Will must have realized J.D. was there. “Did you bring Rachel? If so, we appreciate it.”

J.D. laughed. “No, I didn’t bring Rachel. I followed her. I wasn’t about to let her get away.” As if to underscore his words, he put his arm around her and pulled her against him. “We’re getting married.”

Will shook his hand. “May I tell Vivian? She’ll be so pleased. She’s been worrying about Rachel.”

J.D. looked down at her. “Is that okay with you, honey, if Will tells Vivian?”

Rachel stepped forward and hugged Will again. “Of course you can tell her. I would’ve let her know earlier, but J.D. didn’t mention marriage until we got here.”

Will raised an eyebrow at J.D., who actually blushed.

“I was thinking it all along, but I wasn’t sure of Rachel until…recently,” he finished awkwardly.

Will laughed. “I understand perfectly.”

T
HREE WEEKS LATER
, on a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon, a wedding occurred on J.D.’s ranch.

All of Rachel’s family was in attendance, which now included Daniel William Greenfield, three weeks old and usually the center of attention. Today, he was outranked by two blushing brides.

Madge was dressed in a stylish pale blue suit and a small hat with an attached veil. She carried a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers.

Rachel was wearing Rebecca’s wedding dress and veil. It was a perfect fit and complemented her dark hair. She loved wearing her twin’s gown, feeling as if it connected her to her newfound family. As she walked down the aisle Vanessa leaned over and whispered to
Rebecca, “Save this dress for me, okay, sis? I think it has magic powers.”

“That’s a deal. Do you have an eye on someone?”

“Nope, but it’s nice to know the dress is waiting.”

They shared a smile before Rachel continued to walk toward J.D.

Rachel had decided against having bridesmaids. She’d suggested that she and Madge walk down the “aisle” together, toward a trellis with interwoven ivy and white carnations. When they reached the altar, she and J.D. acted as attendants to Bluey and Madge, and then they changed places, with Bluey and Madge serving as their attendants.

After the beautiful ceremony, the couples led their guests—consisting of the entire neighborhood, Rachel’s family and Madge’s sister, who was moving extremely well—to a table where two majestic cakes awaited them.

Rachel and Madge each cut the first piece of her cake and fed a bite to her new husband, then vice versa. Rebecca and Vanessa continued cutting cake for their guests.

The two couples moved through the crowd, welcoming their friends and family. Little Danny received a lot of attention, which, of course, pleased his doting parents. Joey liked his new family member, but told his aunt Rachel that he wasn’t that great. He couldn’t even play ball yet! Joey was much more interested in the horses he could see in the distance on J.D.’s ranch.

After the cake had been served, Rebecca sat down next to her twin. “I never thought I’d see you living on a ranch, happy to be a cowgirl.”

“But I’m happy, Becca.”

Rebecca grinned. “I can see that. And J.D. seems to be a good man.”

“Yes, I think so.” The smile that had adorned Rachel’s face for weeks suddenly faded as she said, “It’s too bad Jim couldn’t have been here. I told you his leave got canceled, didn’t I?”

“Yeah. And no wonder. Things aren’t going smoothly over there.”

“I know. I’ll be glad when he’s home.”

Vanessa joined them, taking a seat and putting her feet up. “Everything’s going well, isn’t it?”

“I think so,” Rebecca said. “We were just talking about Jim.”

“I know. The news isn’t so good. Will’s still working on finding David. Maybe he’ll turn up soon.”

“I hope so,” Rachel said. “I’d love for us all to be together someday.”

“And speaking of togetherness…” J.D. swooped in and grabbed her. He drew her apart from their guests for a moment of togetherness. “Rachel, you’re so beautiful!”

“You know that’s not what matters,” she chided gently.

He laughed and added, “I meant on the inside, of course.”

They both laughed. Then Rachel gave a sigh of satisfaction. “You asked for some brothers, didn’t you? I’ve managed to give you one, in Jeff, and maybe, if Will finds David and Jim comes home, you’ll have two more.”

“True. Or Vanessa may marry.”

“Have you heard something? She hasn’t mentioned anyone.”

“I’ve just noticed the cowboys circling her. She draws attention, because she looks so much like her big sisters, and they’re beautiful…on the inside.” Then he kissed her before she could say anything.

“Rachel, I’m the luckiest man in the world. I’m sorry we can’t go on our honeymoon at once.”

“It’s all right. It’s like Bluey said. They don’t have as much time as we do. We’ll manage just fine here.”

“I hope we have a century of being together,” he whispered.

She faced him. “However long we have, we’re lucky to have found each other again. Don’t ever let me go, J.D. I’d be lost without you.”

“Never, my love. You’re mine forever. And I’m yours.”