A Pipestone Creek Wedding: The Pipestone Creek Romance Series, #6

By Diane Ziomek

The planning.

The dress shopping.

The wedding ceremony.

When Rachel and Joe decide on a winter wedding, the planning gets underway. They pick their officiant, they have the place, and they make their guest list.

Rachel, Kathy, Abby and Marilyn make it a girl's night away and go shopping for dresses in the city. As fate would have it, the very bridal shop where Rachel finds her dream dress is owned by Joe's biological mother, who he hasn't seen in years. Tempers flare between sisters during the visit to the shop, resulting in old wounds being opened. Even with the argument, an invitation is still sent her way.

The ceremony is one to behold. Their own vows. A small gathering. Simple, yet moving.

Scroll up to find out if Joe's biological mother accepts the invitation to attend.

If you haven't read Books 1-5, it is highly recommended you do so. The Hired Hand, Down The Gravel Mile, Lives Entangled, Fixing Fences and Built To Last are all available.

This book contains mature content, but is not sexually explicit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diane Ziomek
• Release date: Feb 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386855439

Diane Ziomek

Diane grew up on fairytales such as Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White, and always believed in the happily-ever-after. As life happened she learned that isn't always the case, but in a story anything is possible. After years of writing content for others and publishing her own nonfiction, she began writing contemporary romance in 2018. With her first series finished and the second underway, she has no intentions of switching her focus to another genre. Diane calls rural East Central Alberta home, and currently works part time at the local library. When not working or writing, she can be found spending time with her children (now young adults) and other family members or enjoying her fiber arts. The summer months lend themselves to enjoying her garden, being outdoors and camping with her significant other.

Book preview

For my fellow authors, who show me there’s more than one way to get to the finish line.

Chapter One

JANUARY ON THE PRAIRIES could be quite unpredictable. Some years the weather was fairly stable, while others it wreaked havoc. If New Year’s Day was nice, chances were that by the beginning of the second week there would be a blizzard moving in. Or, the temperatures would drop to minus forty.

Christmas and the first few days of January had been nice. Mid-week the weather reports began warning of a winter storm moving from the mountains into the prairies. As Joe listened to the report, he made a mental note to be sure his generator was full of fuel and in working order. If the electricity was knocked out for any reason, it could be hours or days before it was restored, depending on the cause. Having an alternate source of power was almost essential. There hadn’t been any lengthy outages for quite some time, but it never hurt to be prepared.

When the weather report was over, he ventured outside to check his fuel tanks. Having them full hadn’t been a priority  the previous several winters, but with his cattle investment he knew he had to change his ways a little. He would need electricity to run the well, and having the fuel for his generators was a priority.

After making the phone call to the bulk fuel station, he sent Rachel a text. How are you doing for fuel? There’s a storm on the way. While he waited for her reply, he started his generator just to be sure it worked. It usually sat outside his house near the power inlet. It was just a matter of flipping a switch on the outdoor panel if he needed to use the generator.

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket. I know. I just watched the weather and made a call to get topped up.

Same here. How are your generators?

He knew she had one for her house and one for the barn. It was something he had suggested her and Sam invest in their first winter. Sam had hesitated, until Joe had asked if he wanted to come home to find his wife frozen to death. Since he was gone for weeks on end, and there was never a guarantee the problem would be fixed quickly, he finally gave in and bought two.

They’re good. I start them once a month just to be sure they’re working right.

Joe was impressed. There wasn’t anything that woman didn’t think of. Just knowing he was marrying someone so self-reliant and intelligent made him miss her more. He longed for the day they became husband and wife, and they no longer would have to live apart.

Do you have enough wood handy? There was nothing quite as good as wood heat, but the wood stove only worked if it had logs to fill it.

The woodshed is full. She added a smiley face emoticon. Joe, you worry too much. I got it covered.

He knew he underestimated her, but it made him feel better knowing she was prepared. He was thankful she didn’t tell him to piss-off, and that she was used to doing things for herself. He was also thankful she chose to be with him, because she clearly didn’t need a man in her life to provide for and protect her. She had managed just fine while Sam was away for weeks at a time; and since his death.

His heart had never felt so full. She completed him, with all she could do and handle. He knew her as a friend, and was getting to know her as a lover. Soon he would get to know her as his wife.

Rach, one more thing.

What’s that?

We have a wedding to plan. I was thinking early March. What do you think?

She hadn’t anticipated a wedding question, but was quick to reply. Are you sure? We have so much to do already, especially with the cabin repairs.

I’m positive Babe. The sooner I get to spend every night with you, the better.

Rachel was genuinely surprised he wanted to get married so soon. The renovations were going to take so much time, and money.  And March weather was so unpredictable.

She had been through the process before, but she knew she would have more say the second time around. She needed to know if he wanted big or small, and whether they’d go on a honeymoon. Oh, and her dress! So many things to think about.

Let’s each make a list of what we want Joe. We’ll compare and compromise if need be.

She had had a big wedding, which was so different than what she wanted. Sam’s family had insisted on big. She wanted a more intimate gathering, but to them it was all about showing off. She didn’t know why they made such a fuss, because they didn’t even like her all that much. She also learned the more people, the higher the chances of someone not being able to hold their liquor. There were certain moments of her wedding day she’d just as soon forget.

Sounds good Rach. When do you want to compare notes?

How about after supper tonight? I’m making lasagna.

Deal! See you later. He added hearts and lips to the end of the text.

She couldn’t help but smile at his use of the emoticons. He was more creative with them than she was. How could she have almost let him slip away? The more she thought about it, the more she realized he wasn’t far off in wanting the wedding to be in early March. It would be over before calving season started, which would take up a lot of their time. Not knowing what his bred cows were like was worrisome as well. She knew her animals, but his were new to both of them.

There was so much to do; so much to consider. But in the end she knew it would all work out. She sat down with her notepad and began to make notes on the wedding she wanted.

Joe smiled to himself and thought, That’s so her. Wanting a list. He hadn’t really given the actual ceremony and reception much thought, simply because he hadn’t found the right person before. He wasn’t one much for crowds and their Christmas party had reinforced that. He wanted a small wedding; nothing extravagant and no more than one hundred people. Even that was too many.

He filled and started his second generator, checked on his cows then went inside to make his list.

Chapter Two

RACHEL WORKED ON HER list while the lasagna was in the oven. She thought about the things she didn’t want more than what she did, but doing so helped her.

When Joe walked through her door at just after six, she was putting the garlic toast in the oven. He waited until she had closed the oven door, then wrapped his arms around her. He hadn’t even given her time to turn around, and pressed himself against her and kissed her head.

Oh Rach, it smells so good in here. He released his grip on her just enough so she could turn to face him. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. I’ve missed you.

I’ve missed you too Joe. She smiled, then kissed him again before pulling away. Wine?

Please. Anything I can do to help? He wanted to stay close to her; to hold her, but she was busy with getting supper ready.

Yes, you can sit down so I don’t keep running into you.

You can run into me anytime you want. He caught her by the waist as she tried to walk past him. As he tightened his grip on her, the oven timer went off. Damn, just when things were getting good.

Just for that, you get to pour the wine. She opened the oven and took out the garlic bread. The kitchen filled with the smell of garlic.

He sniffed the air. "I don’t think