Mail-Order Christmas Brides: Her Christmas Family\Christmas Stars for Dry Creek by Jillian Hart

Author:Jillian Hart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Epilogue

Christmas Eve

Tate Winters tipped the brim of his Stetson to get a better look at the vestibule door. He couldn’t wait for his bride to come down that aisle. The church echoed around him with anticipation, and the flicker of candlelight fell like grace, a grace he could feel. He braced his shoulders, preparing for the best.

A commotion rose up in the vestibule, out of his sight, but the faint rush of the outside wind announced Felicity’s presence. A door whispered shut and light footfalls padded closer. With his heart whole, he turned toward the doorway, at peace. For a while there, hopelessness had gotten the best of him, but no more. Never again.

“Pa, do you see her?” Gertie clutched his hand, her fingers small and slight within his own. “That’s my new ma.”

“Yes, she is.” His precious bride. Pure happiness filled him, the greatest he’d ever known. He drank in the sight of the cheerful woman in a light blue dress breezing his way. Slender, graceful, lovely. Perfection. Nothing on earth had ever been so beautiful.

Hard to believe such a lady would marry him. But he knew exactly how he’d gotten so lucky—God had been watching over him and Gertie all along. He just hadn’t been able to feel it. He could now. He no longer felt alone as he watched Felicity hurry down the aisle toward them.

“She’s like a princess.” Gertie looked captivated, blue eyes wide, button face hopeful, new dress swishing as she turned. “This is just like one of the stories in my books, Pa.”

“It surely is.” He knew what it was like, that tingly feeling of realizing what you were about to get in life was far greater than anything you could imagine. He was grateful his daughter was about to get her dream.

And so was he.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Ingrid wouldn’t stop fussing but she assures me it was worth it. Whew. I couldn’t make the horse get here fast enough.” Felicity’s melodious alto lifted into the air, sweet as church music. “I feel as if I’ve been waiting for the two of you all my life.”

“All my life,” he agreed. Captivated, he could not look away. Snowflakes clung to her golden hair, fairy-tale diamonds for the storybook princess. He could see their future stretching out before him. A happy marriage, more children, a life lived full and loving and well. He intended to spend the rest of his days cherishing his wife. She was his heart, his soul, his everything. He would be nothing if she had not stepped off that train.

“Aunt Ingrid, do you see my new dress?” Gertie gave a little swirl to show off the creation of ruffles and lace.

“I see. It’s lovely. The best dress ever.” Ingrid slipped into the front pew next to Devin. Both beamed with happiness and approval.

The groom held out his hand to take the bride’s. Anyone observing would be touched by the powerful and poignant looks of affection they gave to each other. It was a blessed moment as the bride swished to face the pulpit.

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