Hatcher - I hope you dance: a July wedding story

ZONDERVAN

I Hope You Dance

Copyright 2015 by Robin Lee Hatcher

ePub Edition May 2015: ISBN 978-0-3103-9603-1

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Publishers Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

Interior Design: James Phinney

Contents

To the One who causes His children to take up their tambourines and go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.

JEREMIAH 31:4

I have enjoyed reading each one of the Year of Weddings novellas as they have released, and I was delighted to be invited to participate in the second year, especially since it allowed me to return to Kings Meadow once again.

And a special thanks to Ami McConnell, who championed all of the stories set in Kings Meadow.

Summers were made for weddings. Skye Foster had believed that for the past twenty yearsever since she was six and a guest at a distant cousins wedding. This July she would have a small part to play in the wedding of Charity Anderson and Buck Malone. A wedding Skye knew would be the most beautiful and romantic ever held in Kings Meadow.

When she closed her eyes, she could imagine it perfectly. The couple, standing in the gazebo with pastor, bridesmaids, and groomsmen, repeating their vows in the golden glow of an Idaho summer morning. The bride in white satin and lace, and the groom in a coat and tails. White folding chairs set up in the park, filled with friends and family. Women dabbing their eyes with tissues. The cutting of the many-layered cake. The music. The dancing.

Ah, yes. As far as she was concerned, no wedding was complete without dancing.

She imagined the band playing a romantic country waltz. She imagined herself stepping into the arms of a tall, lanky cowboy, feeling the warmth of his hand as it closed around hers. She imagined moving around the dance floor, the fluttering of her heart in time with their steps.

It was all so romantic.

Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head back and mentally tried to see the face of the cowboy who turned her around the floor with such expertise. But here, at last, her imagination failed her. In her daydream, there was nothing but shadows beneath the brim of his Stetson.

She released a sigh and opened her eyes again. It was hard to envision a romance when she didnt even have a boyfriend. At the rate she was going, she would never get to plan a wedding of her own. But that didnt stop her from wishing for it. Only now was not the time.

With another sigh, she set aside the latest issue of Brides magazine that had come in the mail, grabbed the keys to her truck, and left the house.

First stop on her agenda was the Clippity Do-Da Hair Salon. It was time for a trim. Her mother, Midgethe owner of the salonwould plead with Skye, as usual, to let her try something different. And Skye would, as usual, refuse her. Long and straight was her style. She liked it and wasnt about to change it.

Next up she had an appointment to meet the vet at the pasture where she kept her two horses, Snickers and Milky Way. Snickers had started limping a few days ago and didnt seem to be improving, even with rest and the use of liniment. Skye hoped it wasnt serious. The gelding was the best barrel-racing horse shed ever ownedthered been five over the years. Hed made her the queen of more than one rodeo by the time she turned twenty. Snickers had more heart than stamina these days, but that didnt matter to Skye. She loved him to pieces.

It took only minutes to drive to the east edge of town. On a Wednesday afternoon Skye was able to park on the street right in front of the salon. As she got out of the pickup, high-pitched voices called her name. She looked toward the corner and saw two teenage girls, books in their arms, apparently headed for the library. She knew them, of course, just as she knew almost everyone else in Kings Meadow. Krista and Sharon Malone, daughters of the high school principal.

Hey! she called back with a wave of her hand.

The girls moved on out of sight, and Skye pushed open the door to the salon, a tiny bell ringing above her head. The main roomsmelling of perm solution and fruity shampoowas completely empty. No stylists. No customers.

Her mom looked out from the stockroom. Skye! Is it that time already? Gracious. I thought I would have my inventory done before you got here.

Where is everybody?

Slow day. Lori doesnt work most Wednesdays, and Becca finished with her last client an hour ago, so she went home. When Im done with you, Im doing the same thing. She took a cape from a drawer and snapped it in the air, draping it around Skye as soon as she was in the chair. What are we doing today?

Just trim the ends and shape my bangs.

How much off? Her mom lifted a segment of hair.

Skye swallowed a smile, knowing what was about to come. An inch. No more.

Are you sure? Her mom placed her fingers, like a pair of scissors, up a good six inches from the ends. Because I think if we

I dont want short hair, Mom, and you arent going to change my mind.

Her mom met her gaze in the mirror. Dont you get tired of it always looking the same? Youve had the same look since you were twelve, when you wouldnt let me braid it anymore.

I havent always had bangs.

Her mom groaned in frustration. I give up.

Skye laughed. I wish I believed that.

Can I at least wash it for you?

Im kinda in a hurry. Ive got to meet Dr. Parry at the pasture. Hes taking a look at Snickerss leg, and then I have to get home to shower and change and have a bite to eat before its time for my adult class. Im teaching them the two-step tonight.

How many couples have you got coming? Her mom picked up the scissors and began trimming away the split ends.

Four couples. Theyve been a great group. Im having a lot of fun with them. She drew in a deep breath. And next week I begin giving private lessons to the Anderson-Malone wedding-party members.

Already? Her moms eyes widened as she met Skyes gaze in the mirror again.

Its less than two months until the wedding. Thats hardly any time at all.

Seems like yesterday when you wondered if Buck Malone might be interested in you.

Skye almost shook her head, but remembered in time to stay still. That was last summer. Almost a year. Besides, hed already fallen hard for Charity, so I was way wrong.

You never minded, did you?

Not even a little. And when you see Charity and Buck together, you know they were meant for each other.

Her mom gave her a smile of encouragement. Youll meet somebody too. Youre still young, honey. Youve got lots of time.

Skye didnt say so, but shed begun to feel her biological clock ticking. If she only wanted one or two kids, it wouldnt matter so much, but she had her heart set on a half dozen babies. Minimum. Shed always wanted to be part of a big family. Since her parents had chosen not to give her lots of siblingsonly an older brother and sistershe intended to create that large family for herself. With the help of that still-elusive husband.