Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides Book #3): A Novel by Maggie Brendan

him. She returned his kiss with one of her own. “My sweet wife . . . I don’t deserve you.”
    Anna lifted her head, now in the crook of his arm, and reached up to push a lock of hair from his forehead. “I’m ready to become your wife in truth, Edward. Hold me close,” she murmured.
    In the living room, the grandfather clock chimed seven thirty, but the couple bound together in God’s covenant neither heard it nor cared that the sun cast its morning light across a cloudless sky while the streets of Denver bustled with activity.

14
    There was no mistaking the air of excitement among the block-long line of people buying tickets for the rodeo. Anna marveled that people from every walk of life were represented today, laughing and talking until their turn at the ticket window.
    “I can tell you’re surprised at the turnout,” Edward said to her. “Just wait until you’re in the arena and you see ’em all in one place. Why, the crowd alone is worth seeing. It’s always a great show between broncos, steers, and cowboys. The cowboys do their best trying to wrestle the bulls with their rope in the shortest time, and the bucking broncos and longhorn steers do their best to get away.” He chuckled. “The lucky ones walk away with a nice purse if they win, so they take it seriously.”
    “I can hardly wait,” Anna said. He slipped his arm about her waist and gave her a quick squeeze just as Ella and Ernie walked up to wait in line with them.
    Edward’s sister was stylishly dressed. She wore a shade hat of straw that sported a wide embroidered velvet band encircling the crown, from which hung an array of flowers and foliage that fell toward the front of the brim. Anna’ssimple hat of leghorn straw with a narrow crown of black-eyed Susans paled in comparison to her sister-in-law’s.
    Ernie stood with his thumbs in his pants pocket, coat open and hat pushed back, greeting half the people around him. Anna smiled. He must know everyone in Denver, and she could see why. Both he and Ella were good-natured, and she was glad they were her in-laws, though she hadn’t been around them for any length of time yet. She was looking forward to a fun day in her favorite place—the outdoors. And she had the added bonus of Edward and his family. Her list of chores for next week was the furthest thing from her mind.
    “Line seems to be moving now. We’ll be able to get our seats soon before the show starts,” Edward said. He gave Anna’s hand a squeeze, and she gazed up at her husband—she could really say that now—and saw the love reflected in his eyes. His look made her blush, and she remembered how they’d spent that first wonderful time, skipping lunch until Edward reluctantly said he must go open the shop. After the evening meal, Edward had hurried her through doing the dishes, clearly anxious to turn out the lights and gently point her in the direction of the bedroom. He was tender and sweet with her and made her feel like the woman she had longed to be. There was no hiding the smile on her face this morning.
    “Is a rodeo always so well attended? I haven’t seen this many people since I came through Union Station in Denver,” she commented.
    “Once a year, cowboys come from all over the West to compete,” Edward said proudly. “Denver is making quite a name in the rodeo circuit.”
    Ernie nodded in agreement. “It’s the best entertainment you can get in these parts, separate from the theater, which Ella really doesn’t enjoy attending.”
    Ella poked her lip out in a cute pout and Ernie winked at his wife.
    “Now, darling, you know I go with you at least once a year,” she reminded him. “Whether I want to or not.” She shook her head, then just rolled her eyes at Anna. The flowers hanging down from her hat seemed to nod in agreement. “Come on, Anna. Let’s walk over to the arena and wait for the men there since they’re next in line for tickets. We can walk past the exhibits.”
    Anna pulled her