Free Bartender's Beauty (Culpepper Cowboys Book 11) by Kirsten Osbourne, Culpepper Cowboys Page A

of her. Not even another woman.
    She got to her room and pulled on her undergarments and then the first dress before realizing there was a reason women had help getting ready for weddings—there was no way to do it yourself. Finally, after trying for longer than she should have, she called out and Felicity was there beside her.
    Felicity quickly buttoned her up, and then walked around her to look, her hand coming over her mouth and tears springing to her eyes. The bodice was intricate lace, but the skirt just flared out. “You’re beautiful. I think that’s the dress. How does it feel? Oh, I can’t believe my best friend is getting married!”
    Dallas didn’t point out that they’d been best friends for only five days. She was certain that little piece of information would matter nothing to Felicity. “It feels good. I like it.”
    “Do you have white shoes?” Felicity asked, her hand going to her mouth. “Why didn’t we think of shoes? We’re going to have to run to a shoe store, and I don’t know of any that will be open in time!”
    “Felicity, get a grip! I have shoes!” Dallas walked to her closet and grabbed a pair of white flats, holding them up in front of her friend. “See?”
    “Oh, good. I was sure your wedding plans were doomed because of my lack of forethought!”
    Dallas sighed. “I thought I’d be getting married in my blue dress with my hair in a ponytail. This wedding will not be doomed.” She stepped closer to Felicity and whispered, “Do you think Patience would mind if Corinne was my flower girl? I never thought about having one, but she’d be cute.”
    Felicity laughed. “That’s fine. She even brought her flower girl basket and some flower petals just in case you wanted her to do it. Be aware, she will dance down the aisle throwing petals every which way, and everyone will laugh.”
    “Everyone? It’s not like people know we’re getting married. There won’t be more than five or ten people there.”
    Felicity’s jaw dropped. “You have no idea who you’re marrying, do you? Austin made a few phone calls last night to get some things ready, and then those people made a few phone calls, and so forth. Your reception has a band coming in from Haskell, and there will be a pot luck lunch. Patience and I will wear bridesmaid dresses from our cousin Hope’s wedding, and Allen and Kolby will be standing up with Austin.”
    Dallas shook her head. “That was awfully fast.” She was sure Felicity was exaggerating. There was no way anyone could have pulled all that off in the twelve hours since Austin had left her house the previous evening.
    “Yeah, but that’s how we do things in Culpepper now.” Felicity opened the door. “She’s dressed. You have to see this!”
    Patience and Corinne came hurrying into the room. “I told you that one was perfect!” Corinne said, twirling a bit.
    “You were right,” Dallas said, grinning at the girl. “Now what?”
    Corinne rolled her eyes. “Now you sit down and let Auntie Felicity do your hair, while Mama does your make-up, silly.” She hurried over after Dallas was sitting on a chair, getting right in her face. “Isn’t there something you want to ask me?”
    Dallas laughed. “Do you want to be my flower girl, Corinne?”
    The little girl nodded regally. “I would like that a lot.” She looked at her mother. “I told you we’d need my flower girl basket. What would we have done if you’d made me leave it at home?”
    Patience patted Corinne on the head. “Of course, you were right, Corinne. Butterfly ballerinas are known for always being right.” Patience pulled out a big box of make-up. “Your eyes are a gorgeous shade of blue. I’m impressed that Austin found a ring to match them.”
    Dallas looked down at the ring, a smile touching her lips. “Until you said that, I didn’t realize he had.”
    An hour later, Dallas’s hair was piled atop her head, a veil affixed to it. Her make-up was perfect, and her shoes were on