Page 115 of Daybreak

He’d kissed her countless times before, but never as his wife.

* * *

Then finally it was time. He got in the Mustang, backed out of the garage, and drove to the church, then went in through the back entrance. He walked in on his dad and brothers, who were waiting with the pastor.

“There you are! Good morning, Gunner,” the pastor said. “I’ll go check with the ladies and see how close we are to being ready,” he said and left the room.

“See, I told you he’d be here when he was ready,” Jacob said. “Still our loner.” And then he gave him a big hug and a pat on the back.

“He won’t be a loner anymore,” Dylan added. “Proud of you, Gunner. You and Holly were made for each other.”

Asher hugged him. “I am proud to be your brother.”

“I know this was quite a trip to make with your families, but I sure appreciate that you made it happen,” Gunner said.

“Oh… We had to see this in person, just to make sure we weren’t dreaming,” Dylan said. “Besides, who else would be your groomsmen?”

“All of you, Dad included, got me through a hell of a mess back in Dallas. I don’t know how this would have turned out without your help.”

“That’s what dads and big brothers are for,” Asher said. “Do you have the rings?”

Gunner took the little box out of his pocket and handed it to Asher, who immediately gave it to his dad.

“Take a breath. You’ve got this,” Dylan said.

“I’m more at peace with myself than I have ever been,” Gunner said. “This isn’t nerves. It’s anticipation. She broke down every wall I had between me and the world with nothing but sass and love.”

Asher nodded. “I can see that, but I have a question. What does she mean when she sometimes refers you as ‘that rooster’?”

Gunner grinned. “Oh, that’s the day I knew I had to spend the rest of my life with her or die trying. It was right after my superman moment when I took Beau Whistler off the Harley. I was dripping blood from the cut on my shoulder, and the missing skin on my forearm and my clothes were slick with blood. It hurt to breathe enough that I thought I made have broken a rib or two. The bruise on my jaw was already turning purple, and I knew the right side of my body was going to be the same color. The EMT patched me up enough that I drove myself home. She was sitting in the driveway, waiting. I got out of the car, still dripping blood. She walked to the end of her car and then stopped. I expected shrieks of horror, or tears. Instead, I see this fierce glint in her eyes, and I’m watching her jaw set to keep from crying, when she lit into me. She told me to get in her car, and that she was taking me to the ER, and that I looked like the last rooster standing in a cockfight and not to argue.”

They burst out laughing. “You’re right. She’s a keeper,” Asher said.

“And she followed through,” Gunner said. “Packed an overnight bag and spent the next few days helping me, feeding me, everything…until I could finally do it for myself. She was doing all that and working online at her job without a hint of a complaint, and today I’m going to marry her.”

There was a knock at the door, and then the pastor walked in. “Everyone’s ready. Follow me,” he said and led the way into the nave.

Pastor Reeding took his place at the pulpit.

Gunner was standing below and to the right. Everybody else was in the foyer and out of his sight.

He knew Little Jake and CJ were in the church nursery with a lady from the church, and he knew every smiling face in the congregation.

There were no flower girls. No ring bearer.

They were all waiting for the bride.

When the organist struck the first chord, it was Jacob’s signal. As the music began, he escorted Pearl to the pew and seated her before moving into place beside his son.

Travis and Trudy Dillon appeared next. Escorted by her grandson, Trudy walked down the aisle to take her place as matron of honor, then Travis took a seat in the pew beside Pearl.

Asher and Nora followed, each taking their place as bridesmaid and groomsman.

Dylan and Angie completed the procession and were standing in place when the music suddenly stopped.

The room went silent, waiting.

And then another chord was struck.