Free Cowboy in My Pocket by Kate Douglas

at a perfect right angle to his body. Lenore stood silently behind them, off to one side, where she could watch the entire proceedings from an angle.
    She looked suspiciously as if she’d been crying.
    But Tag’s focus wasn’t on the old man or his grandmother. It was on the woman at Coop’s side, the most beautiful bride he’d ever seen. His bride. A band of silk roses across her forehead held a sheer lace veil that merely emphasized her sparkling green eyes, full red lips and softly waving auburn hair. The gown fit as if made for her, the yards of ivory satin flowing out from her tiny waist, shimmering with each measured step she took.
    Bright pink toenails peeked out from beneath the hem. He bit his cheek to keep from laughing. His blushing bride was barefoot.
    Tag recognized his grandmother’s gown from the wedding pictures he’d seen. This woman, who smiled at Tag as if she truly loved him, was acting exactly as if this marriage was real.
    It was more than he could have hoped for. So convincing even he believed her. How could his grandmother ever doubt their love?
    He felt like throwing up. But Coop was placing Lee’s hand on Tag’s arm and she was smiling up at him, the tremulous smile of a nervous bride about to marry the man she loves.
    Tag gulped, covered her hand with his, and hoped she didn’t notice how badly his palms were sweating.
    The ceremony passed in a blur. Other than a slight list to the right, Buck handled his duties as preacher impeccably.
    Tag repeated the vows, his voice strong and unwavering, and wondered if the tightening in his gut was the same feeling he’d have if all this were real. With his hands noticeably trembling, Tag placed the ring on Lee’s finger. She stared at it for a long, silent moment, as if unable to believe any of this was actually happening.
    Then she gave his trembling hand a compassionate squeeze, and smiled at him with so much love in her eyes he wanted to sit on the steps and cry.
    Instead, he followed Buck’s instructions and kissed the bride.
     
    LEE KNEW this wasn’t real. She felt as if she’d stepped into a fairy tale, but it was someone else’s, not hers. She couldn’t remember her past, but Lee knew her life had never been this perfect. Obviously, someone had made a big mistake.
    She looked down at the simple gold band on her finger, the metal warm from this man’s touch, and wished it could be true. Then she gazed up into his dark blue eyes just as he lowered his mouth to hers, and she believed.
    It didn’t matter, none of it mattered, not when his lips made her heart sing, not when his touch made her feel whole.
    Sighing, Lee kissed him back.
    She might have stayed lost in his kiss forever, but the hoots and hollers, the ribald cheers and the sound of applause invaded their quiet, private moment. They ended the kiss together.
    Buck spread his arms wide, encompassing the small crowd of well-wishers as well as the bride and groom. “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Taggart Martin,” he said.
    Lee’s heart soared.
    With their arms around each other, linked as if they’d always been a pair, she and Tag turned to greet their guests.
     
    TAG SHADED his eyes with one hand and watched Lee talking to a small child out near the horse barn. Miraculously the rain had stopped just as the ceremony began. Now the sun shone down on his bride as if she were the focus of all of heaven’s attention.
    She was leaning over in earnest conversation with the four-year-old daughter of one of his men. Tag knew the child didn’t speak a word of English, but it was obvious Esmeralda and his new bride were conversing without any problem.
    One more surprise from this surprising woman . . . she clearly spoke Spanish as well as English. He wondered what else he might find out in the coming days.
    Coop stepped up on the porch beside Tag and leaned on the railing. “Seems to get along with the young’ns just fine,” he said. “Lenore thinks she’s perfect for ya, the women