Orchard Valley Brides Read Free

sometime tomorrow afternoon—if then.”
    â€œThen I suggest we let sleeping dogs lie,” Steffie said. “It’s not like a visit from Valerie would do him any good—at least, not now.”
    â€œAre you sure we’re doing the right thing?” Norah wasn’t nearly as confident as her sister. Valerie had a right to know about her friend’s accident.
    â€œNo,” Steffie admitted after a moment. “I’m not at all sure. But I just can’t see upsetting Valerie now, so close to the wedding. Especially when Cassidy isn’t likely to know if she goes to see him, anyway.”
    Norah had no idea what to do. Apparently Rowdy Cassidy cared enough for her sister to call her and even come to Orchard Valley. Perhaps he loved her. If that was the case, though, his love was too late.
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    Just before noon the next day, Norah was standing in the vestibule of the church with the other members of the bride’s party. Everyone—except Valerie—was giggling and jittery with nerves. Valerie no longer seemed nervous; now that the day she’d worried over and waited for had finally arrived, she was completely calm. Serene.
    But Norah’s head was spinning. This wasn’t her first wedding by any means. She’d been a bridesmaid three times before. Yet she’d never been more…excited. That was the word for it. Excited and truly happy for these two people she loved so much.
    Although she’d never said anything to Valerie and certainly never to Colby, she’d been interested in the good doctor herself. Who wouldn’t be? He was compassionate and gentle, but he also possessed a rugged appeal. He wasn’t one to walk away from a challenge. Loving Valerie had proved as much.
    Norah’s oldest sister had worked hard on her wedding preparations, and all her careful planning had paid off. The church was lovely. Large bunches of white gardeniasdecorated the end of each pew. The sanctuary was filled with arrangements of white candles and a profusion of flowers—more gardenias, white and yellow roses, pink apple blossoms.
    The bridesmaids’ dresses were in different pastels and they carried flowers that complemented their color. Norah’s own pale rose gown was set off by a small bouquet of apple blossoms while Steffie, wearing a soft green gown, carried lemony rosebuds.
    The fragrance of the flowers mingled and wafted through the crowded church, carried by a warm breeze that drifted through the open doors.
    It was all so beautiful. The flowers, the ceremony, the love between Valerie and Colby as they exchanged their vows. Several times, Norah felt the tears gather in her eyes. She hated being so sentimental, so maudlin, but she couldn’t help herself. It was the most touching, most beautiful, wedding she’d ever attended.
    Valerie was radiant. No other word could describe the kind of beauty that shone from her sister’s face as she smiled up at her husband.
    The reception, dinner and dance were to follow immediately afterward at the Orchard Valley Country Club. But first they were subjected to a series of photographs that seemed to take forever. Norah didn’t know why she felt so impatient, why she seemed to be in such a hurry. It wasn’t like her.
    After that was finally over, her father took her by the arm as they headed for the limousines, which were lined up outside the church, ready to drive them to the club.
    â€œI heard about Cassidy,” he said in a low voice. “How is he?”
    â€œI phoned the hospital this morning,” Norah told him. The man had been on her mind most of the night. She hadn’t gotten much sleep, which left her with plenty of time to think about Rowdy Cassidy. She’d attributed her restlessness to night-before-the-wedding jitters. She hadn’t intended to call the hospital until much later; there was plenty to occupy her before the wedding. Valerie had regimented their