The Cowboy's Autumn Fall (Grass Valley Cowboys Book 4)

by Shanna Hatfield

  Tess and Travis wanted a small, intimate wedding followed by a bigger reception. Envisioning just a few people watching them exchange vows, the wedding guest list kept growing until there was now a sizable group gathered for their noon nuptials.

  Travis didn’t care if two people or two thousand people watched him declare his love for Tess today. He was much more interested in what would happen after they landed in Las Vegas for their honeymoon. Keeping his hands off his all-too enticing fiancé the past month had stretched both his patience and his resolve, but after today he was free to let loose of the reins and fully enjoy his beautiful bride.

  Thoughts of Tess made the wing tip collar of Travis’ crisp white shirt feel like it was about to choke him on this warm, sunny day. The air was sharp and fresh with the hint of ripening apples, settling earth, and spicy autumn riding the breeze.

  “Dude, I so don’t want to know what completely inappropriate thoughts you’re having about my sister, but pull it together. This thing’s gonna start in a minute and you need your head on straight,” Brice whispered to Travis, trying not to smirk too broadly.

  Travis shot him a glare that turned into a grin as they heard the recorded music begin to play.

  Since the fort was most easily accessible by foot, horseback or four-wheeler, most of the guests walked to it from the ranch house. Mike Morgan brought over his wagon and team of draft horses to give those who didn’t want to walk a ride on straw bales covered with blankets. Tess and the bridal party rode the wagon out to the fort and she stayed hidden just behind a little rise in the hill where her dad would escort her down to her anxious groom.

  The groomsmen all beamed when they saw the bridesmaids approach on a path made of bronze tulle, strewn with fall leaves. The girls wore gowns in a simple yet elegant style reminiscent of the 1950s era. Although the styles matched, they were each attired in a color of autumn, carrying bouquets of burgundy, coral and yellow roses. Bailey, dressed in burgundy, was first to take her place opposite the groomsmen, followed by Lindsay wearing gold, Cady dressed in dark green and Tess’ best friend Jenny attired in coral. They looked like a lovely bouquet of autumn beauties.

  Cass skipped along the pathway, beaming a huge grin in her peach colored dress. Although her title was flower girl, instead of tossing petals, she carried a sign that sent the attendees into bursts of laughter.

  Uncle Travis!

  Here comes your girl!

  While the guests chuckled and smiled, Cass took her place next to Bailey, waving to her daddy and leaning around Bailey and Lindsay to smile at her mother.

  As the processional began, the guests stood and all eyes turned to see Tess escorted down the aisle on the arm of her father, who was having a hard time keeping the moisture in his eyes from escaping.

  Travis thought Tess couldn’t have looked more beautiful if she’d tried. Her rich, dark hair spiraled into curls on top of her head where a short half-veil was held in place with a crown of cream roses. The white satin wedding gown featuring a sweetheart neckline, short sleeves, ruched waist, and full skirt looked like something out of one of the vintage ads Tess was so fond of with its accents of antique lace. She carried a bouquet of white and cream roses and wore a string of pearls around her neck.

  Tess, trying to remember how to walk normally as her dad helped her along the pathway, was enthralled with how handsome her husband-to-be looked in his black cutaway jacket, shiny black boots and black Stetson. The groomsmen all appeared quite dashing, but none looked nearly as handsome or heart-stopping to her as Travis.

  Walking up to Travis, he held his hand out to Tess and kissed her cheek.“You’re gorgeous, honeybee,” he whispered in her ear before stepping back and giving her a dazzling smile.

  Tess’ dad kissed her other cheek then gave Travis a long look. “Be good to my little girl, son.”

  “Always,” Travis whispered, smiling at Mike, who gave him a pat on the back before taking his place next to Michele.

  The ceremony went quickly and smoothly and at the end, Travis lifted Tess’ veil and stared at her beloved face for a moment before meeting her lips in a kiss that left everyone clapping and cheering.

  “Let her come up for air,” Brice said, nudging Travis in the side. Travis straightened, smiling at his bride while Tess tried to ignore her flushed cheeks. They looked so happy and young, so in love.

  Strolling hand in hand down the aisle and back to the wagon, they visited for a few minutes with the guests. The wagon would take everyone back to the ranch house and from there the celebration would move to the Running M.

  Travis hired a vintage stretch limo, circa 1930, to take the bridal party to the reception in style. The photographer spent the next hour taking posed photographs at the fort, in the car, by the barn and anywhere else that looked interesting before the bridal party needed to join the rest of the guests for the reception.

  Trent and Trey left their pickups at the Running M earlier that morning so they could get back home after the celebration. Brice and Ben caught rides with their folks to the Triple T and Tess’ car was waiting to take the honeymooners to Portland to catch their flight later that afternoon while Travis’ pickup was parked at their new-to-them home.

  Brice somehow managed to finagle his way next to Bailey in several of the poses and it didn’t take the photographer long to figure out there was more than one couple in love in the bridal party. She took photos of the Thompson brothers with their brides, of each couple individually, of the Morgans all together and several of the entire bridal party as well as what seemed like hundreds of photos of just the bride and groom.

  Finally, they piled into the limo amid the girls’ full skirts and headed to the Running M.

  A bottle of chilled sparkling cider was opened and poured into flutes then a toast was made by Brice, as best man. “To happily ever after and a lifetime of romance and love.”

  “To love!” the group echoed.

  In high spirits as they arrived at the reception, Tess held Travis’ hand tightly in hers as they stepped into the barn and stared in wonder at the transformation.

  Crystal chandeliers, rented from a bridal shop in Portland, hung throughout the barn. The white lights they’d installed the previous weekend glittered along the edges of the walls and across the ceiling like fairy lights. Round tables, covered in cream linen with pools of bronze chiffon in the centers, held towering topiaries of fall flowers on clear glass pedestals. A table next to the barn door held a guest book, an arrangement of fall colored roses in an old cowboy boot, and a basket made of rope for collecting cards. An old buggy parked near the door held the gifts.

  More tables were set up in the yard around the barn as well as in the barn loft. With more than three hundred expected guests, and most of them already there, the sounds of a joyous celebration filled the air.

  “You make a beautiful bride, Tessie,” Brice said, walking up behind Tess and giving her a hug.

  “Well, you don’t look half bad yourself, BB. I had no idea you could clean up so well,” Tess teased, as she attempted to straighten his already straight collar.

  “Who woulda thunk it?” Brice teased, reverting to the improper grammar that would make Tess laugh.

  “Bailey looks stunning in that gown, don’t you think, BB?” Tess said, smiling at Bailey as she stood off to the side behind Brice.

  “Stunning is a good description,” Brice said, reaching a hand out to Bailey which she hesitantly accepted.

  When he first watched her walk down the aisle in the burgundy gown, his mouth began to water at the thought of spending the rest of the day with her. He nearly got distracted watching the sunbeams highlight her honey-gold curls during the ceremony and had to snap to attention when it was time to hand Travis the ring.

  Burgundy was most definitely her color. It made her lips look like ripe cherries, sweet and ready for the picking, while her cheeks glowed pink and her eyes glittered with aquamarine brilliance.

  Bailey offered him a shy smile,
seeming lost in what she should do as a member of the bridal party. Brice decided action was needed to put everyone at ease.

  “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving. If the bride and groom would shake a leg and go through the buffet, the rest of the bridal party can fall in line behind them,” Brice said, putting his hands on Tess and Travis’ shoulders and turning them toward the tables bearing the food. “Put me out of my misery here, guys. Someone, who shall remain nameless although she is currently wearing a beautiful white gown, had the house in such a state of upheaval this morning, I didn’t even get to finish my bowl of cold cereal.”

  “I’m ready to eat, too, honeybee,” Travis said, walking Tess on the shortest path he could find through the crowd to the food. “Let’s get something to eat. I’m pretty sure I’m going to need all my strength later.”

  Tess blushed and squeezed his arm as they reached the food table. Mike clanged a metal triangle and the crowd quieted while the pastor asked a blessing on the food, on those gathered, and the newly married couple.

  When the bridal party was seated at the head table, Brice made sure Bailey was sitting next to him.

  “Are you feeling better, sugar?” Brice asked, watching Bailey pick at her food. He liked that she normally ate with a healthy appetite and worried she still wasn’t feeling well. With all the wedding hoopla the last week, he’d hardly had time to see her. The few times he did, she still looked pale and tired.

  “I’m quite well, thank you,” she said, keeping her eyes on her plate. It was torture to be here with Brice today. Walking down the aisle, seeing him standing in a tux looking so handsome, all she could think about was how badly she wanted to be the bride, to have him be the groom, to be embarking on a new life together.

  Sitting next to him, picking at the meal she couldn’t get past the huge lump of regret in her throat, she didn’t know how she would endure hours of being close to Brice. Between his delectable scent, tender glances, teasing smiles, and the warmth of his hand searing through her dress right to her skin, she wasn’t convinced she had the inner fortitude to keep him an arms-length away. The worst part was, she didn’t really want to try.

  What she really wanted was to turn around, grab his face between her hands and kiss him with all the passion she dreamed of sharing with him each and every night.

  Instead, she rolled her lips together and stared down at her untouched food.

  “Try a bite of this,” Brice said, holding a fork to her lips. Rather than fuss at him or turn her head away, she obediently opened her mouth and accepted the bite. If her mouth hadn’t been as dry as sawdust she might have appreciated the way the beef practically melted on her tongue with a rich, buttery flavor.

  Smiling, she nodded at Brice. “That’s good.”

  “Want some more?” he asked, holding his fork out to her again.

  “No, thank you. You enjoy it,” Bailey said, picking up her fork and pushing food around on her plate, taking small bites so Brice would think she was eating.

  Bailey turned to talk to Lindsay, who was sitting on her other side. Surprised when Brice stood, he leaned down by Bailey and whispered in her ear.

  “Don’t run off and I’ll bring you back a little something special.” He didn’t wait for her response but wandered off in the direction of the dessert table where an assortment of cookies and cupcakes sat around the impressive wedding cake.

  Brice filled two plates and returned, setting one down in front of Bailey, pushing aside her untouched lunch.

  “I think you’ll like this,” Brice said, pointing his fork at the dessert on her plate.

  Bailey could smell the pumpkin and spice and forced herself to take a bite. It was a pumpkin cheesecake bar and was so delicious, she managed to put aside her self-torment long enough to enjoy every bite.

  “That was really good,” Bailey said, leaning toward Brice as she set her fork on the edge of the empty plate.

  “Knew you’d like it,” Brice said smugly, finishing his own plate of sweets, including a big chocolate cupcake.

  Bailey looked around, wondering what was now expected of her. She was quite surprised and pleased when Tess asked her to be a bridesmaid. Although they didn’t know each other well, she did enjoy Tess’ company and felt a kinship with the younger girl. Not having been in a wedding before, she wasn’t certain what to expect. It was simple enough to participate in the silly girl talk as they got ready, to walk down the aisle and smile for the photographer afterward, but now that the wedding was over she didn’t know what to do.

  “Just relax, sugar. You’re doing fine,” Brice said, as though reading her thoughts. “As soon as everyone gets done eating, Jenny and I will toast the happy couple and then the dancing will begin. You did promise to dance every one with me.”

  “I did no such thing,” Bailey said, snapping to attention. She’d been watching the way Brice’s lips moved all too invitingly as he talked instead of really paying attention to what he said, until that last part about dancing. “You, Brice Morgan, have completely lost what little sense you’ve had.”

  “Nope,” Brice said, leaning toward her. “Whether you know it or not, sugar, you’re my dance partner for this party and I’m not planning to share. I want you and that cute little swing thang you’ve got all to myself.”

  Brice winked at her, got up from the table and joined a group of guys talking to Travis.

  Lindsay leaned over and patted Bailey’s arm as she sat stunned, watching Brice walk away.

  “He’s a little outrageous sometimes, but completely loveable,” Lindsay said quietly. “He reminds me a lot of Travis. That’s probably why they get along so well.”

  “Yes, he is,” Bailey agreed without thinking what she was saying. “I meant… I wasn’t implying…”

  Lindsay laughed.

  “I know what you mean, Bailey. It’s okay,” Lindsay said with a knowing smile. “I actually despised Trent before he romanced his way into my good graces. Once I decided to give him a chance, I just couldn’t stop myself from falling in love with him.”

  Bailey mulled over what Lindsay said as the crowd broke into groups, chatting and visiting until Brice and Jenny toasted the couple. After several dances, Bailey found herself standing with Tess, her aunt Denni and Sierra, admiring Tess’ ring, when Ben Morgan came up and put a hand on Denni’s shoulder.

  “I don’t know who this foxy lady is, but will someone please introduce us?” Ben asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief, so much like his younger brother’s often did.

  Denni turned and smacked at Ben’s arm. “Benjamin Michael Morgan, you know good and well who I am so you just stop with your teasing, although I wouldn’t mind a little more flattery.”

  As a surprise to everyone, Denni arrived at the wedding looking completely different than she had the night before at the rehearsal with a sassy new haircut. It made her look ten years younger, which she said she needed since her baby was married.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Ben said, tugging on Denni’s hand until she followed him to the dance floor. “You can even box my ears if you want to, but how about you dance this one with me. It’ll make all the girls jealous.”

  “You’ve always been a sweet talker,” Denni said, letting Ben lead her in a moderately paced dance.

  Watching them, Bailey realized she didn’t even know Brice’s full name. Or how tall he was. What his favorite foods were. Whenever they were together he managed to ask one or two questions until he had a trove of details about Bailey. She knew practically nothing about Brice except that he was very talented at working with wood, he had a bit of a wild streak, loved to tease, was devoted to his family and friends, and was a genuinely good man.

  “Are you ready for me to dance the shoes right off your feet?” Brice asked, his minty breath brushing like a caress across her face. Bailey knew he was beside her before he said a word. She could smell his spicy scent, feel his warmth, sense his presence.

  Spinning around, she put her hands on h
is arms and looked up into his sparkling brown eyes. “What’s your middle name?”

  “Nathaniel, after my grandpa. Why?” Brice asked, caught off guard by both Bailey’s question and the intense look on her face.

  “I wanted to know. I want to know any number of things about you,” she said, as Brice tipped his head at Sierra and led Bailey out to the dance floor.

  “Like what?” Brice asked as they started a slow dance. He settled one hand on her waist and pulled her respectably close as his other hand held hers in a traditional pose.

  “How tall are you? When is your birthday? What’s your favorite meal? What’s your favorite dessert? Why are your nails always so clean? How do you always smell so good?” Bailey said rattling off the questions as they popped into her head.

  “Whoa, sugar, slow down,” Brice said with a grin, tipping his head to look at her and finding himself lost in her turquoise eyes. This was the first show of real interest Bailey had exhibited in getting to know him on a more personal, intimate level. Brice took it as a very good sign. “I’m six feet tall barefooted, my birthday is the eighth of January, I love Mexican food especially carne asada, and I like chocolate cake and banana cream pie better than about anything. My nails are usually clean because I have a habit of constantly scraping them with my grandpa’s old pocket knife.”

  Brice twirled her around on the floor, then bent to whisper in her ear. “And I’m glad to hear you think I smell good. I wouldn’t want you to think I was just another stinky ol’ boy.”

  The smile Bailey tried to suppress found its way free and lit up her face. “I’d never think you were just another malodorous member of the male species.”

  “I’m happy to hear that, sugar,” Brice said, letting go of her hand so he could put both of his around her waist and draw her a little closer. “What else do you want to know?”

  “What’s your favorite color? Who’s your favorite author? What type of music do you like best? What’s your favorite song? What brings you the most satisfaction?” Bailey asked, oblivious to the fact that a fast song was playing and they were still dancing slow.