Here Comes the Bride (28 page)

Asking Collette to stand up for her was the easiest thing in the world. Convincing one of the Langman men to take them into town, however, proved more of a challenge—especially when they discovered the reason.

Surprisingly, it was Wyatt Langman himself who finally agreed to it. After all, he reasoned, if they all refused to saddle up and take the girls to town themselves, the cussed females would probably head out on their own again anyway, and God knew what trouble they’d find themselves in then.

“I ain’t sayin’ I approve of you marryin’ that cur dog,” he warned Tess. “But I reckon you ain’t my daughter and it don’t matter a lick what I got to say on it. Hear this, though. If’n you come to yer senses and need a place to go, you git yerself back here to us, you hear?”

“Thank you, Mr. Langman.” Tess smiled softly. “I don’t believe I’ll need to impose on you again, but I thank you for your concern.”

Wyatt nodded and went to hitch up the carriage. No bride deserved to ride in an open wagon on her wedding day, he explained.

Gabe was already pacing by the bridge when they rounded the corner near the creek. At the first sound of horse hooves, he and Bart both stopped and turned, the tension in their faces visibly disappearing.

Rosa and Miguel stood off to the side, under the shade of a willow. He with his hat twisting in his hands, and she looking as proud as a mother hen.

Gabe stepped up on the bridge and took the near horse by the bit.

“Wyatt,” he nodded, “I appreciate you bringing her for me.”

“I done told her what I think ’bout her marryin’ a fool like you, Calloway, but she’s got it in her head she loves you and there ain’t no convincin’ her otherwise.”

“I’m sure you tried your best.” Gabe smiled, and to his surprise, Wyatt Langman smiled back.

“Damn right I did.”

Both men walked to the side of the carriage and held out a hand for the women. Collette was the first to step out, her cornflower blue eyes sparkling—more for Bart’s benefit than anyone else’s.

Bart immediately stepped up and took her hand, ignoring the fierce glare of her father.

“You do look lovely,” he murmured to her, causing her face to pink becomingly.

Tess stepped out next, her shimmering white dress flowing around her like a cloud. Collette had secretly dashed off to El Cielo earlier and pinched a handful of coral-colored rosebuds from their bushes, and they were now arranged throughout Tess’s hair like a crown.

Gabe’s smile sent shivers up and down her spine. He was pleased, which, in turn, pleased her. She tucked her hand under his arm and walked with him to the bank of the creek, never taking her eyes off him. He was so beautiful, just looking at him hurt her eyes.

The others joined them, each one offering hugs and words of thanks that the two of them had finally found their way to each other. Reverend Boswell arrived, made his way down to the creek, and smiled warmly at Tess.

“I can’t recall a lovelier bride,” he said.

Tess flushed and Gabe grinned even more.

“Are we ready then?” asked the Reverend.

“Just a moment,” Tess said. She took Miguel by the arm and led him a short distance away, their heads tucked low.

Gabe watched them, Tess speaking softly, Miguel nodding in agreement and then looking past the small group of people to the carriage on the bridge. He spoke a few words, kissed Tess on the cheek, and strode back to stand beside his wife.

Tess, too, walked back toward the group, but then passed them by and hurried back up the slope to the bridge and Wyatt Langman. After a moment, Wyatt removed his hat, swiped his arm across his brow, and nodded briefly. Then the two of them returned to the creek.

“I’ll be givin’ Miss Tess away today,” he announced, proud as could be. “So remember that, Calloway—if anythin’ should happen to upset this little girl, you got me to answer to. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” Gabe answered solemnly. “Thank you, sir.”

“Let us begin then,” the Reverend said, opening his Bible. “Dearly beloved . . .”

Tess looked up into Gabe’s eyes and in that instant the entire world stopped. There was no one else, there was only the two of them, standing by the creek bed pledging their love and commitment to each other for all time. Collette cried and Bart cleared his throat every time he breathed, it seemed, but Tess and Gabe stared into each other’s eyes, each knowing this was how it was meant to be. Be it fate or the good Lord himself that brought them together, it no longer mattered—they were together, bonded forever and forever, certain they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Calloway,” Reverend Boswell said, extending his hand. “May you have a long, happy life together.”

For the first time, Tess pulled her gaze from Gabriel’s and looked down at the shiny gold band on her finger. It was real, she was married; she was Gabriel Calloway’s wife.

“Thank you, Reverend.” She ignored his hand and kissed him on his weathered cheek, making him smile. He nodded to Gabe, shook his hand, and made his good-byes. The Widow Brenner was waiting on him, he explained shyly.

Collette sniffled behind Tess. “I’m so happy for you both,” she cried. “It was a beautiful ceremony.”

“Yes, it was,” Tess agreed, her own eyes beginning to fill. “And from the looks of things, we might be having another wedding sometime soon.”

She nodded her head toward the bridge where Collette’s father was in deep conversation with Bart.

“Oh dear,” Collette sighed.

“Now now,” Tess soothed. “Nobody’s yelling, so let’s take that as a good sign.”

Even as she spoke, Bart smiled at whatever Wyatt said to him and the two men shook hands.

“You see?” Tess laughed. “Everything is going to be fine. Why don’t you go find out what’s going on?”

Collette had already lifted her skirts and was hurrying back up to the bridge.

Gabe wrapped his arm around Tess and pulled her close. She wondered if there would ever come a time when she didn’t marvel at the love she felt for this man, when her heart no longer flipped and twittered every time he touched her. She prayed not.

“Well, Mrs. Calloway,” he murmured into her hair. “Shall we go home?”

“Home,” Tess sighed. “Yes, let’s go home.”

Miguel had already brought the buggy around and now stood near Wyatt’s carriage, holding the reins.

“He insisted on bringing the wagon,” Gabe explained, “even though I told him it wasn’t necessary.”

Heat flooded Tess’s face. With lowered lashes, she smiled shyly.

“I would prefer riding home with you.” She spoke so softly Gabe had to strain to hear her.

“That’s my girl.” He laughed, hoisted her into the air, and marched off to the stand of willows to fetch Zeus. “I knew you’d see things my way.”

Rosa clicked her tongue at them but still couldn’t hide the smile that spread across her face. Gabe Calloway had found his
corazon
.

Tess waved to Collette, blowing kisses as they rode by.

“Save those for me,” Gabe groaned softly in her ear. “Any kisses you’re looking to give away belong to me now and no one else.”

“Yes, my love.” She snuggled back against him, basking in his strength and his tenderness.

A soft quiet fell between them as Zeus carried them toward El Cielo.

“Have I mentioned lately how much I love you?”

“No,” he answered. “As a matter of fact you haven’t.”

“I do, Gabriel. I love you more with every breath I take. Sometimes I’m almost certain my heart is going to burst right out of my body.”

“Go on,” he said, smiling against her hair.

“You make me feel safe and warm and loved and cherished and . . . I don’t think I could love you any more if I tried.”

“Try.” He reined in Zeus at the barn door and lifted Tess down. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”

With the speed of a man in love, he tended to Zeus and had Tess back in his arms before she could think. As they walked back toward the house, hand in hand, she noticed the addition on the side of the house, just off the kitchen.

“What on earth?”

“My gift to you,” Gabe beamed. “Come have a look.”

He led her in through the kitchen, past the pantry, and through an oak door that hadn’t been there the last time Tess was. He pushed opened the door and stood back, giving her room to walk through.

“Oh my!” Tess breathed. “A real bathtub? Oh, Gabriel, you shouldn’t have done this! It’s too much!”

“No, it’s not,” he said, taking her by the hand. “And look, Bart piped it through to the kitchen so the water in the pump’ll be hot when it gets here.”

“How on earth did he manage that?”

“Who knows?” Gabe laughed. “But leave it to Bart to come up with it.”

Tess walked around the tub slowly, running her fingers along the edge. It was huge, absolutely huge. In fact, it was big enough for two! Her cheeks burned crimson at her wicked thoughts, horrifying her more when she realized Gabe was watching her.

“Had the same thought myself,” he murmured, taking her in his arms. “But the tub can wait. Right now, I’ve got a much . . . softer . . . surprise I want to show you.”

Taking her hand again, he led her back through the kitchen and up the stairs, past the room she had occupied not so very long ago, and into his bedroom at the end of the hall. Tess’s heart careened out of control, pounding so loud she was certain it would shake the house down around them.

The room had been completely transformed. Gabe’s huge four-poster bed, once the only piece of furniture in the room, was now joined by a beautiful ornate vanity and a huge wardrobe carved from the same oak as the new door downstairs. White lace curtains hung in the window, and a beautiful blue and yellow patchwork quilt covered the bed.

A new white porcelain chamber set sat on the vanity beside a vase of heavenly smelling wild flowers. She took it all in, marveling at the changes, yet humbled by the knowledge Gabe loved her enough to do it in the first place.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, exhaling softly. A tiny shiver raced up her spine as Gabe came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, inhaling the sweet scent that lingered all around her.

Tess turned in his arms and gazed up lovingly. There was an eagerness in his eyes, a patient, loving eagerness she, herself, felt in her own blood.

“Are you nervous?” he asked, brushing her hair back from her cheek.

Tess shook her head. She’d heard plenty of horror stories about . . . this part of marriage . . . mostly from her mother’s lady friends who thought Tess wasn’t listening. To hear them tell, laying with a man was quite possibly the most horrible thing in the world, yet for some reason, Tess knew it would be just the opposite with Gabriel; theirs would be true love making, not anything like what the ladies spoke of.

Her hands trembled as they reached for his, but it was not nerves that caused them to do so, it was the sheer anticipation of what was to come, of knowing once and for all she and Gabriel would be joined in the most intimate and primal way possible.

Gabriel’s lips whispered against hers, pulling a soft moan from deep within her. Her knees weakened, her heart expanded, and suddenly she was lifted as though carried on the wings of an angel. Her angel.

He lowered her to the bed and pulled back, brushing his trembling knuckles against her cheek.

“Gabriel?” Tess’s whisper echoed back. “What is it?”

Gabe’s clouded gray eyes searched her face. He swallowed hard—twice.

“Is there something wrong?” Tess sat bolt up.

“Yeah,” he said, then cleared his throat. “There is.”

“What?” She fought back the tightness that crept around her heart.

Gabe rubbed his palm across his mouth. “I, uh . . .” He paused, ducking his head, but not before color crept up his neck and across his face. “I don’t know what to do.”

Tess gaped. “But I thought you had . . . I mean, you’ve never . . . ?”

He chuckled quietly and lifted his gaze back to Tess who had inched her way closer. “I mean I don’t know what to do
with you.
You’re different, Tess. You’ve got this hold on me somehow, and I don’t have the first clue what to do about it.”

“Then don’t do anything,” she murmured. “Let me do it.”

With deft fingers, she loosened his string tie and slid it from around his neck. Gabriel’s Adam’s apple bobbed, bringing a smile to Tess’s lips. She released each of his shirt buttons leisurely, gaining more confidence with every hitch of his breath. With deliberate movements, she eased the shirt from his shoulders, then ran her hands delicately over the broad expanse of muscle before her.

Gabe sucked in a breath, fighting to release his wrists from the constraints of his shirt.

“Tess . . .”

“Shhh,” she breathed, pressing her lips against the hollow at the base of his throat. Her hands reached to her own neck, to the top of a long row of tiny pearl buttons, and began the arduous task of releasing them one by one.

Gabe’s eyes followed her fingers, button by button, until she sat in front of him, her dress open from neck to waist.

“Oh God, Tess.”

She smiled cheekily. “Are you getting any ideas about what you should do with . . .”

Gabe’s mouth swallowed her words, devouring her senses right along with them. Someone shuddered, but she couldn’t begin to guess which one of them it was. His lips trailed over her cheeks, her nose, and her eyes. Tingling warmth washed over her. And through her. In one lightning fast motion, Tess’s dress fell to the floor in a puddle of silk. Gabe knelt beside the bed, easing the satin slippers from Tess’s feet. His eyes never left hers, even as his hands reached for her stockings.

The touch of his huge hand against her thigh pulled a sharp gasp from her throat. Inch by slow inch, he lowered each stocking and tossed it over his shoulder. Tess reached for him, urging him toward her, until she felt his lips on hers again. She filled her hands with him, pulling him closer yet, but Gabe resisted, moving his mouth down her neck to the swell of her breast above the chemise. She arched toward him, aching, desperate for his touch. And he didn’t disappoint her. Tess gulped for air, but found none. She spiraled toward something she’d never known, never even imagined, and Gabriel was not about to stop until she burst through.