Free Never Marry a Cowboy by Lorraine Heath

out.
    Suddenly at her side, Kit bussed a quick kiss across her cheek and whispered, “Until this evening. Remember, hair loose.”
    He unfolded his body, walked rapidly across the room, and climbed out the window. He looked over his shoulder and blew her a kiss before disappearing. All her doubts dissipated like fog warmed by the sun.
    She touched the cameo. For tonight, she would be a cherished bride.
    Â 
    Ashton studied her reflection in the cheval glass. Her mother’s dress fit her perfectly. The straight tall collar fit snugly around her neck. The string of pearls circled it and the cameo lay nestled against the lace just below her throat. Something old. Something new.
    â€œKit’s gonna be right pleased when he sees you,” Jessye said.
    Ashton felt her stomach quiver at the mention of her soon-to-be husband. She met Jessye’s gaze in the mirror. “Do you really think so?”
    â€œWouldn’t have said it if I didn’t think so.”
    Ashton smiled at the no-nonsense tone of Jessye’s voice. She’d forgotten how forthright Jessye was, so unlike most of the women she’d ever met. “I do want to please him.”
    â€œCourse you do,” Jessye said as she straightened the veil held in place with a circle of flowers. “Getting to the church on time would be a good way to begin. Come on, let’s go.”
    Ashton took a deep breath to calm her jitters and again looked at herself in the mirror. If her smile remained that large, her jaws would ache by the end of the evening. But she couldn’t stop smiling. She was going to get married, be a bride…and only she and David knew she was marrying the one man she’d ever dreamed of having as a husband.
    Jessye opened the door. “I’ll see you at the church.”
    â€œJessye?”
    Jessye stopped and turned toward her.
    Ashton took another shuddering breath, grateful she was wearing gloves to absorb the moisture coating her hands. “Jessye, I know it’s the last minute, but would you stand at the front of the church with me?”
    Smiling brightly, Jessye walked back into the room and gave Ashton a hug. “Be happy to. You just hurry along, now. These Englishmen don’t like to be kept waiting.”
    After Jessye left the room, Ashton took one last glance in the mirror and smiled at her reflection, knowing that for this night, at least, her happiness would overshadow her illness.
    She stepped into the hallway, her face warming as David gazed at her with appreciation reflected in the brown depths of his eyes.
    â€œYou look beautiful, Ashton,” he said as he took her hand, lifted her arm, and slowly twirled her around.
    Anticipation shimmied through her, and amazingly she wasn’t the least bit tired. She was beginning to understand why Mrs. Gurney had recommended marriage. David extended a bouquet of delicate white roses and late-blooming bluebonnets bound togetherby what she recognized as her silk lavender hair ribbon. Kit had taken it with him earlier. “Are these from Kit?” she asked, almost certain she knew the answer.
    â€œYes,” David admitted. “He seems to have thought of almost everything.”
    Something borrowed, something blue.
    She was almost giddy with delight at Kit’s thoughtfulness. David crooked his elbow. “Shall we go?”
    She entwined her arm around his. She brought the flowers to her nose and inhaled their sweet fragrance. “Is he here?”
    David escorted her down the stairs. “No, he’s waiting at the church.”
    They walked outside, where a buggy and two dappled gray horses waited.
    â€œThe church isn’t that far away, but Kit didn’t want you to get dusty walking along the street,” David explained as he helped her clamber into the buggy.
    The vehicle rocked as he climbed in beside her. He lifted the reins, and she placed her hand over his. He stilled and looked at her.
    â€œThank