The Cowboy and the Angel | ✓

Chapter Seventeen

The three day's wait for the circuit preacher was nearly unbearable for the Archer family and the Harden's as well. The delay was made tolerable by all the preparations and baking that needed to be done, with Dixie heading it all in the Harden home.

Dixie was in a flurry whipping up icing and decorating the tiered cake for the wedding that evening. She paused just long enough to allow Jason to kiss her before she was at it again.

Jason stood by her, a frown wrinkling his face as he thought about the telegram from his uncle he'd gotten the day before. He had to make his last day in Abilene memorable. "Hey, sugar?"

"Yes dear?" Dixie asked, biting her lip as she peered at the icing on the cake with squinted eyes. She wanted it to be flawless for Annalyn.

"You have somethin' on your face," he stated, slipping his hand around her and dipping his finger into the bowl of creamy icing without her knowing it. "Lemme get it off."

Dixie laughed as she turned to face him. "Where is it?"

"Right--" Jason scrunched his nose up at her. He leaned in close with a smirk, smearing the icing on her cheek-- "there."

"Jason!" she giggled out. "Keep your dirty fingers outta the icing!"

He kissed her cheek, smacking his lips when he stood up. "I can't help it. It's just so good."

"You know what?" Dixie asked, wiping off the remnants of icing.

"What?"

"I'm really gonna miss you."

"Not as much as I'm gonna miss you." Jason sighed as he looked down into her eyes. The urgent telegram ruined his plans, but since his father was still recovering, it was his duty to go. He hoped "I have important news, come at once" meant his uncle had something really good to say. If he didn't, all the supplies and three days of travelling would be wasted. "Dry Gulch is the last place I wanna go."

"You and me both. But God'll take care of you," Dixie gave a short sigh before smiling. "Are you leavin' after the weddin'?"

Jason shook his head. "No way, hunny. I'm leaving tomorrow mornin'."

"Good. At least I'll have a little more time with you," she admitted. She surveyed the cake, looking at it from all angles before deciding it was as good as she could get it. "What do you think, Cowboy?"

He enclosed his arms around her from behind, laying his chin on the top of her head. "I think it looks perfect."

***

"Do you, Leroy Rodriguez, take Annalyn Archer to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part, according to God's holy ordinance?" the greying preacher asked. His friendly blue eyes sparkled and his salt-and-pepper hair ruffled in the light breeze as he stood behind Leroy and Annalyn while Jason and Dixie stood to either side of them.

Leroy gave Annalyn's hands a squeeze. "I do."

The preacher directed his eyes to the bride. "Do you, Annalyn Archer, take Leroy Rodriguez to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part, according to God's holy
ordinance?"

Tears ran down Annalyn's cheeks and splashed onto her simple and elegant ivory gown. She blinked them away and gave her husband-to-be a warm and heartfelt smile. "I do."

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Leroy, you may kiss the bride."

Cheers and applause rang out as Leroy threw his hat, grabbed Annalyn, and kissed her soundly while she threw her arms around his neck.

Dixie couldn't be happier as she watched them slip from a kiss to a tight embrace. Just looking at them tugged on something in her heart and, before she knew it, her gaze strayed to Jason. She found him staring at her. He wasn't smiling, but the slight curve of his lips and the love shining in his eyes made her think they were the ones standing before the preacher instead of Annalyn and Leroy. She looked down at the rose-colored dress she wore, at the shirt Jason had on that was the same shade. Not exactly what she'd dreamed of getting married in, but that didn't matter. It was the dress she wore when he came to eat supper, so why not make it even more special by being wed in it?

"Is this a dream?" Annalyn squealed with joy as she grabbed Dixie up in a hug.

Dixie gave herself a fraction of a second to gather her thoughts before smiling and giving her best friend a squeeze. "No, it's real."

Annalyn giggled, her blonde curls bouncing. She swayed side to side with Dixie in her arms before letting go. The smile on her face and the look in her eyes was as cheerful as a perfect spring morning.

"Hey, now." Leroy walked up, snaking an arm around her waist. His voice was stern, but he couldn't mask the playfulness in his tone. "Don't forget about your husband."

Annalyn turned her face to her man with a wink. "There's no way I can forget you now."

"I don't know about that." Bro. Blackstone chuckled, walking up behind the newlyweds. "My wife forgets me a lot, and we've been married for fourty-two years.

"No disrespect here, sir," Leroy said with a grin, shaking the older man's hand, "but you are gone from home a lot."

A deep booming laugh rumbled from the man's chest. "You got me there, son."

Tavin appeared beside the preacher, a subdued look of curiosity and admiration on his face. He tentatively put his hand on Bro. Blackstone's arm. "May I have a word with you?"

Bro. Blackstone took one look at Tavin and beamed a giant smile. "By all means, you can."

While the two men walked away, Mr. Hugo made his way to Jason. He grabbed Jason's shoulder with his beefy fingers, a smile bursting across his fleshy face. "When will it be you and Dixie standing before the preacher?"

"I don't k-know," Jason stammered. He gripped his hands so tight his knuckles turned white. "Soon I hope."

"Son, it's clear that gal loves you. She can't hide it. Neither can you. I see it in your eyes," Mr. Hugo stated. He turned his gaze to where Dixie stood talking with the young children of the town. "You gotta quit beatin' the devil around the stump and ask that girl to marry you."

Jason nodded solemnly. Mr. Hugo was right, it was high time for him to pop the question. He would do so when the time was right. "Yes sir. Thank you."

Mr. Hugo gave a small smile. "No problem, Jason. I hope to be attendin' your weddin' soon now."

"Yes, sir!" Jason called after him. He blew out a breath. He had a lot to think about, and little time to do it in.

"Are you gonna go eat?" Dixie asked softly, her fingers intertwining in his.

Jason turned to face her. How she came up without him knowing, he didn't care to know. There was only one thing he wanted to know, but he couldn't ask right there. It was Leroy and Annalyn's day, and he didn't want to take the spot light from them. He closed his eyes for a moment. "Angel."

"Cowboy." Dixie smiled such a sweet smile that is was nearly Jason's undoing. She gave his hand a squeeze. "I love you."

"I love you more," Jason whispered. He felt as if his heart quit beating. His breathing hitched as he stared down at her. It seemed like him and her were the only people alive, and in that moment he recognized the answered prayer standing in front of him. When Dixie first showed up in his life, he didn't connect the dots to the heartfelt prayer in his room after supper that night all those days ago. But now, he did. She was God's will and, not only that, she was the love of his life. The only woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He bent to reach her with that thought in mind, pressing his lips against hers with all the passion he could muster.