Mountain of Fire: Sweet, Small Town Romance (Heart Lake Book 10) by Jo Grafford

Author:Jo Grafford [Grafford, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JG PRESS
Published: 2023-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9: BOUQUETS AND BODYGUARDS

ELLA

One month later

Ella smoothed a hand down the intricately beaded bodice of her borrowed wedding dress. The lovely strapless gown of ivory tapa cloth flowed to the floor and swept behind her in a fringed train. What made the gown even more beautiful in her eyes was the fact that it had been made by the women in their tribe for Dyoni’s wedding. Afterward, it had been worn by the police chief’s bride, Tiva, making Ella the third bride to exchange her wedding vows in it.

“I can’t believe how well it fits you.” Dyoni danced across the room to join her in front of the mirror. She was in a gauzy teal dress that made Ella think of ocean water. She’d never been to the coast, but it was on her bucket list of things to do with Jacob someday.

And Wayne.

The guy who was about to become her husband. A shiver of anticipation worked its way through her. Not once in the past month had she regretted saying yes to his marriage proposal. She was genuinely looking forward to being his bride — to putting her widowed status behind her and being a married woman again.

“Sorry about sticking you in a strapless gown in March.” Dyoni cocked her head critically at the dress. “With only a month to pull off a wedding, though…” Her voice dwindled as she tweaked Ella’s veil, settling it more firmly into place. “If it’s any comfort, I don’t see any goosebumps on your arms.”

“I’m not cold,” Ella assured quickly. “Just…” She wasn’t sure how to adequately describe how she felt. All her emotions were intensified today. If she had to pull a single word out of the air, the only one she could think of was more. She was simply feeling more.

“Mother says she’s bringing a beaded jacket for you to wear to the car later.”

“Oh. Thanks!” It was the first Ella was hearing about the jacket. She’d worn her own coat to the church and didn’t see why a second coat was necessary. In the short time she’d known Claire Whitaker, however, she’d learned to nod and accept whatever help the woman offered. Wayne’s mother had some very strong opinions about his image as a tribal chief. Her southern belle mind contained a very long list of unwritten protocols that Ella despaired of ever living up to.

A knock sounded on the door. Seconds later, the very woman Ella was fretting about swept into the room. Her blue gown matched her daughter’s, and her glossy brunette hair was piled high — also like her daughter’s. She moved toward them, fluttering her hands expressively. “You look positively scrumptious in that dress, Ella!”

“Thank you,” Ella murmured.

Claire Whitaker joined them at the mirror, smelling like sunflowers. “Bless your heart! You must be freezing!”

Ella hastened to assure her. “No, I—”

“No worries.” Claire waved away her protest. “I have a beaded jacked back at the lake house I already sent someone after. We were halfway to

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