Page 47 of The Maverick

He nodded. “It will. It’s been too long, though I’ve seen your family more than you have.”

Her smile faltered. “Yes, well that will change. I’m so glad to be back home.” She gazed up at Nick. “For more reasons than one.” Then she winked.

CHAPTER12

Two weeks later

The October daywas exceptionally warm for Colorado. The high temperature was supposed to be in the 70s. They couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to be married.

Rachel was nervous, though she wasn’t sure why. She was marrying Nick, her best friend and the person she’d loved since they were five. She took a deep breath to calm herself.

The judge, a man in his early fifties, with a shock of black hair, stood with his back to the fireplace in the family room.

Cole, who was Nick’s double, with nearly black hair and deep blue eyes, stood on the judge’s left, with Nick on Cole’s left.

Megan, with her dark blonde hair and the deep blue eyes, like her brothers and father, was on the judge’s right.

The family room furniture had been removed and folding chairs set up with an aisle down the middle.

Music from a trio of musicians on the back patio drifted in through the open doors.

Both of their families and the cowboys at the ranch were seated.

The music changed to the bridal march, and Bailey began walking, throwing rose petals out in front of her.

Jake walked beside her carrying the pillow with the rings attached so they didn’t get lost if he accidently dropped the pillow.

Rachel followed the children holding a bouquet of red and pink roses.

When she got to the front, she saw Jake hold the pillow up and she handed her bouquet to Megan. Then she untied the rings from the pillow, handing hers to Cole and his to Megan.

His job finished, Jake smiled at his mother and Nick, then walked back to sit next to his grandmother, Ruby Foster. She had cotton white hair and emerald-green eyes she’d passed on to both Rachel and Jake.

Rachel admired her mother more than anything. She was her hero. She’d raised four successful children on her own and still managed to have a smile on her face whenever Rachel gazed at her.

Bailey grinned at her father and then Rachel before she went to sit with her grandparents, Rocky and Madelyn Kincaid.

Rocky was a large man and still quite muscular from working the ranch every day. He’s the one who passed on sapphire-blue eyes to his children.

Madelyn was tiny. At just over five-feet tall, with blonde hair, she ruled the family. She still cooked for all the ranch hands everyday and cleaned her house like she’d always done.

The judge nodded. “Are you ready?”

Rachel gazed at Nick and smiled. “We are.”

“Yes,” said Nick, as he smiled back. “We’re more than ready.”

The judge cleared his throat. “We are gathered here to join this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony. Nicholas Robert Kincaid, do you take this woman, Rachel Lynn Foster-Bennett, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

Nick gazed down, his gaze roaming over her face. “I do.”

The judge turned toward Rachel. “Rachel Lynn Foster-Bennett, do you take this man, Nicholas Robert Kincaid, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

She grinned at Nick. “I do.”

Turning back toward Nick, the judge said, “I know that you have rings to exchange. Nick, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Nick took the ring from Cole. “With this ring, I thee wed.” He slid the ring, a circle of diamonds in a platinum setting, onto her ring finger.