Page 34 of Sweet Beginnings

“Thank you for the offer,” Clint took a step in retreat and shoved his hat on his head, “but it’s been a long day.”

Without a word, Alice nodded and watched the door close behind the one man who she was learning to trust even if he wasn’t family.

“Was it something I said?” Carson dropped the basket on the kitchen table.

Staring at the back door, Alice shook her head and turned to smile at her son. “We lost a fence in the south pasture, and a few cows. We’ll deal with it Monday.”

Carson’s brow shot up. Ranch work didn’t take holidays. Even for the Lord’s day, cattle needed to be tended, and problems needed to be handled. Only today, shoving her doubts aside, she was taking a break to celebrate a happy union. Even if it killed everyone.

“You look absolutely ridiculous.” Sarah Sue did her best not to laugh out loud at Preston in a red velvet Mexican sombrero.

“Hey, when you’re thirteen years old and the sales girl has big brown eyes and lashes that cast a shadow across her cheeks, the hat is a bargain.”

“I bet.” The stacks of boxes at the bottom of Preston’s closet were a regular treasure trove. They’d sorted through baseball hats, basketball trophies, team signed footballs and baseballs, and a few things she couldn’t quite figure out. But the sombrero was the most laughable.

“Need more boxes?” Carson stood in the doorway of what until this morning had been his mom’s room.

“Trash bags make more sense.” Preston pointed to the stack of old trophies, then moving to the bed, waved his arm over a multitude of drawers sprawled across the bed. “It’s a safe bet I am never fitting in my sophomore year basketball shirt.”

“Considering you’re about six inches taller than you were then, I’d say that’s an affirmative.” Carson shook his head at the drawers.

The music still playing, though not as loudly, a song Sarah had never heard began and soon she found herself tapping her toes.

“Like Bill Withers?” Preston’s mom came in carrying a large wicker basket.

“Who?” three voices echoed.

From behind his mom, Rachel rolled her eyes. “Don’t let them get to you, Mom. They have no taste.”

A toothy smile on her face that made her eyes twinkle, Alice Sweet bopped—there was no other word for it—over to her son and taking his hand, pulled him out into the middle of the bedroom floor. Without skipping a beat, Carson twirled his mother in place and then fell into a dance step that reminded her of an old Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly movie. Another chorus of “Lovely Day” began and with a shrug, Preston extended his hand to Sarah. “Shall we?”

“I don’t think I know how,” she chuckled.

“Sure you do. It’s like a glorified two step.” As his brother had done, Preston spun Sarah into his arms and then began twirling and swinging her back and forth.

She knew from her prom that the man had rhythm, and the brief spin by the closet a short while ago showed he could still move, but she had no idea he was this good of a dancer. She felt like Ginger Rogers whirling around the room. Every time he twirled her into his arms, she couldn’t help but giggle with delight.

Somewhere she’d missed Jillian arriving and now dancing with her sister. This was some serious fun. Good thing there was plenty of space for everyone. Another tune came on, and she suspected by the beat, it was the same singer. No one showed any signs of stopping or returning to sorting out the two rooms, and Sarah didn’t care, she was enjoying herself too much.

Smiling, Doc Conroy knocked on the doorframe. “I followed the music. Can I join the party?”

As much fun as she was having, Sarah couldn’t help but tense at her father’s arrival.

“It’ll be okay,” Preston pulled her closer and whispered into her ear. “Might as well get it over with.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she took in a deep breath and nodded. He was right. No sense slowly tugging at a Band-Aid—just rip it off and ignore the pain.

The song eased to an end and Preston tucked Sarah into his side. “Doc. We have something we’d like to share with you.”

Her father leveled his gaze with Sarah Sue before shifting his attention back to Preston. “If you’re about to tell me you need help straightening out this mess, you’re on your own.”

Preston chuckled. “No, sir.” Lacing his fingers with hers, Preston smiled at her father. “But, as of yesterday afternoon, Sarah and I are married.”

Brows drawn together, her father repeated, “Married?”

Sarah’s mouth had gone so dry, she couldn’t have opened it to form words if she’d pried it open with a crow bar.

“Isn’t it wonderful news!” Alice Sweet spun in place and opening her arms wide, pulled Sarah’s dad into a tight hug. “We’re all family now.”

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