Joanna Sims - The Maverick's Wedding Wager

Sonny closed his bible and added his own thoughts to the occasion. “The commitment you made here today will be the foundation upon which your marriage will be built. Don’t ever go to bed mad. Forgive each other and move on. Say I love you every day and never get too old to hold each other’s hands.”

Sonny smiled at his wife for a brief moment before he continued. “You’ve got to give each other room to grow because, in the end, it will be the two of you, standing together, facing the challenges of everyday life. If you always remember this moment and the love you have for each other right now, this sacred union will last you a lifetime and beyond.”

Cora stepped quietly forward and took the bouquet of flowers from Genevieve as Sonny prepared for the ring exchange. Knox took her hand in his and it flashed in her mind that she liked how strong, large and rough this man’s hand was. It was the hand of a working man.

“With this ring, I thee wed.” He slid the simple white gold band onto her ring finger. She detected the slightest tremble when he did so, and realized that, beneath the seemingly calm exterior he was presenting, Knox was feeling as uncertain, off balanced and flustered as she was. A split second later, it was her turn. She didn’t look up at him as she slipped his wedding band over his knuckle until it was snugly seated on his ring finger. Then Knox squeezed her hand and when she looked up into his face, he was smiling at her kindly with his eyes.

“Knox and Genevieve, you have come to this beautiful place to vow to love each other for the rest of your lives. You have exchanged rings as a symbol of this commitment.”

“Genevieve, do you take this man to be your husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health—and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”

It took Genevieve several seconds to make the words “I do” come out of her mouth. The moment the words finally did come out, Cora snapped a close-up photograph of her face and she hoped only that her internal turmoil wasn’t captured for everyone to see.

“I do.” When she said those words, there was a waver in her voice that she didn’t recognize. It wasn’t her way to be uncertain about anything in her life; she lived her life as she raced off-road vehicles—pedal to the metal and full steam ahead.

“Knox, do you take this beautiful woman to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health—and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”

Knox lowered his head so she could see his eyes—eyes that were so steady and intent on her face. “I do.”

“Well, then,” Sonny said as he rolled back on his heels a bit, “by the power vested in me by the glorious State of Montana, I am tickled pink to pronounce you husband and wife. Knox, my boy, you may kiss your lovely bride.”

She couldn’t get her heart to stop beating so fast. Her chest was rising and falling in the most annoying way as Knox, still holding on to her hands, with a question in his eyes that only she understood, leaned down and lightly kissed her on the lips.

It was their first kiss; it was their only kiss.

It occurred to her in that moment, as she stood there with her eyes closed, focusing her attention on the first feel of her husband’s lips pressed gently upon hers, that she didn’t want that kiss to end.

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