Kirsten Osbourne [Osbourne - The Shy Cowgirl (Bear Creek Rodeo)

Stephanie Kellymember and official song writer of the up and coming singing group the Kelly Sisterswas lonely. Very lonely. Both of her sisters had gotten married in the time since theyd sung at the Bear Creek Rodeo, and she felt like she was the last single person on the planet.

Shed moved into a smaller apartment because she didnt need three bedrooms just for herself.

Now she sat at the computer in her living room, having finished her work for the day, and stared at a phone number on a website. Shed planned to call Matchrimony a dozen times, but shed lost her courage every single time.

She sucked in a deep breath and dialed, scared out of her wits. Who called a matchmaker who would introduce people at the altar? How desperate was she?

This is Dr. Lachele. The voice came on the line, and it was soft and melodious.

Stephanie panicked, not sure what she should say. So, she ended the call. What else could she do?

Her phone immediately rang back. This is Dr. Lachele from Matchrimony. Dont hang up on me again.

Stephanie swallowed hard and found her voice. I wont.

Are you looking for someone to marry? You want to talk about being introduced at the altar? Dr. Lachele asked.

I do... but the idea petrifies me as well as inspires me. What if Im a terrible wife? What if you introduce me to a serial killer?

Dr. Lachele laughed. Ive done this many times. I promise, I will do a full psychological screening on anyone who I might match you with. There will be no serial killer.

Are you sure? Stephanie couldnt imagine trusting someone as much as shed have to trust this woman.

Very. Tell me your name and a little about yourself.

I can still back out even if I do that, right?

Youre a skittish one, arent you? Yes, you can back out even if you give me your name.

Im Stephanie Kelly. I am a singer and songwriter. My sisters and I are the singers of the country and western group the Kelly Sisters. With that little bit of information, she knew that this Dr. Lachele person would be able to look her up and see her dancing. All she had to do was look on YouTube.

Well, Im glad its you and your sisters and not some random strangers who just call yourselves sisters. Dr. Lachele cackled softly at her own joke.

I live in the Houston area, and I need to stay in this area so my sisters and I can continue to perform together. For Stephanie, that was non-negotiable.

I see. Well, I can probably make that happen. Do you need to marry in Houston? Dr. Lachele asked.

I guess I could marry somewhere else if I needed to.

All right. When can I come to you and do a psych profile on you? I have to make sure youre not a serial killer as well.

Um... we have a show this weekend, but we dont next weekend.

Ill come next weekend, then. Give me your address.

Stephanie gave her address. And if I change my mind, I can call you and tell you not to come?

You couldnt even talk to me when you called the first time. I dont expect to hear from you.

With that, the line went dead, and Stephanie sighed. Dr. Lachele was right. She was too shy to even talk to another woman. How was she ever going to be able to talk to a stranger she was married to? What was she thinking?

She walked to the couch and sat down with a notebook, planning to write a song about never finding the right man and when someone did seem right, she couldnt talk to him. She was sure it would be a hit. Many women must feel the same way she did.

* * *

James Nixon followed his father as they rounded up the cattle after the summer feeding frenzy. It was late September, and hed only been home for a month, but already he felt trapped. Hed never had any desire to be a rancher, but his father had made a deal with him that he could ride rodeo for ten years, but at the end of those ten years, he would be home. Hed gotten a concession for nationals in Las Vegas in a few months, but other than that, he was sticking to his word.

What he really wantedif he had to be a rancherwas to have a wife to snuggle up with at night. He was done playing the field. There had been too many years of that as a bull rider. No, he was ready to move on, but he wanted a woman to move on with. Wondering about the girls hed gone to school with and dated back then had only ended up with him learning they were all married. All of them.

He shook his head. Hed been in a small class, but that was ridiculous. He promised himself that if his father ever let him quit working for the day, hed check out dating sites and apps on the computer. There had to be an easier way to just smile at a woman and say, Lets get married, with none of the dating nonsense.

Hed figure it out.

* * *

Six hours later, James finally had some time, and he collapsed into the computer chair in the office he was sharing with his father. He knew his dad planned to move with his mom to a place in town as soon as James was married and capable of running the ranch on his own. His father would be there for questions, but he felt like hed put in the years he needed to put in to move on and retire. It was definitely Jamess turn.

He did a search for dating sites, and the first thing he spotted was an ad for a company called Matchrimony. He followed the link and found that they introduced people at the altar. A slow grin crossed his face. That was exactly what he was looking for. No dating. No extravagant proposal. He just needed to show up at the church, in a tux, on his wedding day. He picked up the phone, knowing it was just what he needed in his life.

* * *

It was early November when Stephanie received the call shed been waiting for. Hello?

Hey, Steph. Its your favorite purple-haired doctor! I found someone for you. How would you feel about marrying in Vegas on the seventh or fourteenth of December?

Stephanie frowned, putting the call on speaker so she could look at the calendar on her phone. It seemed like something was going on around then. Was that when she was going to be in Vegas anyway? You know what? Either of those work. Im singing with my sisters on the fifth to open the rodeo nationals, and Ill be there anyway. She felt so much more comfortable talking to Dr. Lachele now that theyd met. The woman was a little wonky and definitely marched to the beat of her own drum, but Stephanie adored her.

Perfect. Lets say the seventh, because then you can honeymoon while youre there. Ill email you details of the time and place. Get your wedding dress, girl! Youre going to be married in a month! With those words, Dr. Lachele ended the call, and Stephanie looked at her phone for a moment. Dr. Lachele was odd. There was no other word for the purple-haired maniac. But Stephanie adored her.

Well, I guess shes done with me. Stephanie rolled her neck, which was sore from typing all day. She was having to work less and less at her day job, but the singing was happening more and more often. The rehearsals were almost daily. The band had quit the other groups it played for, and now the Kelly Sisters had their very own band.