Sweet and Wild (34 page)

Maybe it was the dress. Even though it
was a simple, long sleeved gown of antique lace over oyster satin, it weighed a
ton and she found herself wishing it were a pair of jeans and tee shirt. But
that would hardly be appropriate for her own wedding.

Alexis artfully decorated her hair with
sprigs of Baby’s Breath before putting on the delicate veil.

“I’m only going to do this once,” Quinn
declared, but as she said it she knew it had less to do with getting dolled up
and more to do with the lifetime of love wrapped up in the man who would be
waiting for her at the end of the aisle.

“Well, I think Craig would be pleased to
hear that. You look absolutely stunning.”

Alexis turned her toward the mirror and
Quinn’s mouth nearly dropped to the floor. She hadn’t been allowed to watch her
transformation and now she hardly recognized herself.

Her hair had been swept up in a simple,
soft knot at the back of her neck. The little makeup brought out the blue in
her eyes, a soft blush to her cheeks and made her lips look fuller.

“I look like a girl,” she said in soft
disbelief.

Alexis chuckled. “I don’t think there
was any doubt about that.”

“I did. If someone had told me sixteen
years ago I’d be standing here, preparing to become Mrs. Craig Lynch I’d have
fainted dead away. How in the world can I handle this happiness? All I want to
do is dance with joy and then scream a little.”

“Well, there’ll be plenty of time for
dancing later. I think it’s about time to get yourself married.”

Quinn nodded and Alexis went to let
Jacob in. He would walk her down the aisle and give her away.

“Who would’ve guessed you would clean up
like this,” Jacob teased. Thea elbowed him in the side.

“I’m kidding. I always knew. You are
going to knock Craig dead. He’s a good man and you two will be very happy
together. Marisol too. She’s going to love having a rodeo queen for a mom.”

Quinn grinned. Jacob’s full acceptance
of her relationship was a hard fought battle, but in the end, he came around.
The day wouldn’t have been as perfect if he hadn’t. “Well I hope she won’t mind
if I’m retired from the rodeo scene. I’m hoping that she’ll follow in my
footsteps.”

Jacob nodded and offered her his arm.
“Ready?”

“I’ve been ready since I was ten.”

Jacob gazed at her, his blue eyes warm.
All at once Quinn missed her parents with a powerful punch that caught her by
surprise.

“I wish Dad and Mom were here,” she said
and pushed away the tears that flooded her eyes.

Jacob hugged her to him. “I know, but I
bet they’re here just the same.”

“I think you’re right. Damn, I’m going
to ruin my makeup.”

She pulled away from her brother and
grinned up at him. With his thumb he gently brushed her face, just below her
eyelid. “Nope, it’s perfect. Now I think everyone’s waiting for you.”

The bridal party was small. One
bridesmaid and Thea as her matron of honor drifted up the aisle. Quinn took a
deep breath and clung to Jacob’s arm when the wedding march began, but as they
stepped into the doorway and she saw Craig standing there, next to the
minister, all the butterflies in her belly disappeared. Even from a distance,
she could see his clear blue eyes, the small smile on his face, so warm and
comforting.

Next to him stood Marisol, his “best
daughter”. It was fitting, and the girl looked radiant. Even better, she smiled
in a way that left Quinn no doubt things would work out.

Wow I’m going to be a mom.

Halfway down the aisle that seemed to go
on forever, Quinn paused, her attention back on Craig. He furrowed his brows as
she slowly lifted the hem of her gown. When it was up about a foot off the
floor, Craig burst out laughing.

She may have looked all girly on the
outside, but underneath she was still a cowgirl. She wiggled her foot,
displaying her favorite pair of boots, the ones she had to sneak on when Alexis
wasn’t looking.

Jacob pulled her along, but not before
the guests saw the boot clad foot and joined in the laughter.

Not soon enough, Jacob placed Quinn’s
hands into Craig’s.

“Take care of her,” he said in a low
voice before turning to give her a soft kiss on the cheek.

All was right with the world, there with
her hands warm in Craig’s safe, strong hold. A lifetime of hopes and dreams
reflected in his eyes.

His words, the gold band he slipped on her
finger and the kiss they shared after the minister pronounced them man and wife
was the perfect start to their own forever.

The End

Since the age of 12, Cerian has known
what she wanted to be when she grew up. Now, many many years later she still
says it. Its been her dream to be an author. Countless notebooks are filled
with her stories written over the years while she’s worked jobs like cleaning
stalls in New York to booking cruises in Maine. Currently she’s happily settled
in southwestern New Hampshire with her husband and three children working for a
well-known children’s magazine company, but in her spare time she’s busy
weaving stories and continuing to pursue her dreams.

Visit Cerian Hebert's website at
www.cerianhebert.com