Page 1 of Marrying a Cowboy

Chapter One

Emma

The chapel bells chimedoutside while Emma took in a deep breath as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. The definitely-a-little-too pink bridesmaid dress Shannon had picked out was way over the top. Why Shannon had insisted on making them look like bubble gum mixed with Pepto-Bismol boggled Emma’s mind. Even though this was the fifth wedding in their group, not one of her friends had been able to request a semi-decent colored bridesmaiddress.

Emma sighed as she pulled at the tulle skirt that puffed out around her like a cupcake. Yeesh. The dresses were starting to get ridiculous. If she ever gotmarried—

She shook her head. Nope. There was no way she was going to pull at that thread today. She’d stayed up half the night coming up with excuses as to why all of her friends had been able to find and secure husbands and yet, she hadn’t. Apparently,I’m working on my career,was no longer a viable excuse. All it got her was pity nods and pats on hershoulder.

She reached up and tucked an escaping curl back up into her bun. The weight of her situation bore down on her. Even talking about her job felt like a lie. How could she use her career as an excuse when right now, it was just as abysmal as her love life? Especially when Clarissa, the new editor, had picked a married intern over her even though Emma had been perfect for the promotion. As if someone with roots was more likely to stay with the company. Nothing like adding insult to injury. Why did everything in her life have to revolve around her being married? Why couldn’t being single be goodenough?

She gritted her teeth as she eyed the back door. If she ran fast enough, maybe she could make it out of the church before anyone discovered that she was here. After all, not showing up at all was better than showing up alone. At Natalie’s wedding, she’d been forced to dance with the ten-year-old ring bearer because the groomsman she was assigned to was too drunk. She closed her eyes. There was no way she could do that again. Seizing her moment, she turned but immediately halted when laughter carried from the opendoor.

Too late. The chance to escape had slipped from hergrasp.

The laughter grew louder as Shannon walked into the room with her wedding dress trailing behind her like the strings of a kite. Emma straightened and stepped away from the mirror. In mere moments, Shannon would be married. Married friend number five. Abandoning Emma to a life of solitude. If she didn’t love her friend so much, she just might hateher.

“Oh, Emma. You look amazing,” Shannon said, smiling over ather.

Emma pulled up some of the tulle and let it float back down. “Seriously, Shannon? Are you trying to top Nat’s lime green dressdisaster?”

Natalie, Rosalyn, Cara, and Anne walked into the room. Each was wearing the same hot pink mess that Shannon had picked out—plus a diamond ring. Emma swallowed as her gaze fell to her naked finger. It was hard not to feel sorry for herself. Their group had been inseparable since high-school. Always doing things together. This was the first time Emma ever felt alone. And the last thing she wanted to be was the tag-along single friend. Only getting pity invites that would dwindle down to nothing overtime.

Emma pushed down the feelings that were bubbling up. None of this was her friends’ fault. They’d all found Mr. Wonderful. Too bad that person didn’t seem to exist forher.

Natalie tucked a red curl behind her ear. “Are you talking about me?” She asked as she smoothed out the tulle of herskirt.

“Just the ridiculous color you made us wear last year,” Emma said, smiling over ather.

Natalie lifted her hands in surrender. “Hey, it’s not my fault ya’ll don’t look good in green. It happens to be mycolor.”

“But you wore white,” Anne said as she picked up a flute of champagne and took asip.

Natalie shrugged as she walked over to the mirror and pulled a tube of lipstick from herpurse.

Shannon glanced over at Emma.Change the subject?Shemouthed.

Emma nodded. Not only was she the single friend, she was also the fix-it girl. Always smoothing everyone’s ruffled feathers. Natalie didn’t make things easy since she’d married the mayor’s son and felt that gave her a right to weigh in on everychoice.

Any other day, being the problem solver wouldn’t have been an issue. But today, Emma was having a hard time pushing down her own feelings of frustration. Especially since no one seemed to notice that she was struggling. That she was drowning in her career and her utter lack of guidance. Something her mother reminded her of every chance that shegot.

“Is everyone set?” Emma asked, clapping her hands like a school teacher. It was time to get this over with. All five friends turned to look at her, and she smiled. “Great.”

They began to move around the room, adjusting their dresses or makeup. Shannon leaned over to her. “Thanks for that. I know I can always depend onyou.”

Emma nodded. “Of course. What are friendsfor?”

Shannon patted her arm and then turned her attention back to the mirror. “I forgot to tell you that Dale dropped out. Apparently, he has some family issue and had to fly home thismorning.”

Emma plastered on a fake smile. Oh, no. She couldn’t walk down the aisle alone. Not today. “Really?” shesqueaked.

Shannon leaned toward the mirror and blotted the skin under her eyes. “But don’t worry. Thomas’ old friend was able to step in.” She glanced back at Emma. “The one from Montana, Austin. He came to the retreat a few years ago. Had that girlfriend, Georgia something. I’m just thankful he’s proportional to the other groomsmen. Plus, he was available last minute. You’re okay with that,right?”

Emma swallowed. She remembered Austin alright. He’d been rude and standoffish and the girl he had brought matched him perfectly. But, she couldn’t bring that up now. Not when this was supposed to be Shannon’s day. She’d just take comfort in the fact that she wasn’t going to have to walk down the aisle alone. He could stand and had a pulse and that was all that mattered. So, she plastered on a smile and said, “Soundsgreat.”

The wedding planner stepped into the room and announced that it was time to line up. Emma helped adjust Shannon’s veil and then found her spot behind Natalie. The wedding planner made them prove that they could count to ten before she handed over their bouquets. It was the exact amount of time they needed to wait before they followed the person in front of them down theaisle.

“. . . nine, ten,” Emma said as the wedding planner nodded inunison.

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