The Bartender (Sweet Texas Love Book 3)

by Shanna Handel

  Wes' throat closed as he felt the beginning of tears burn behind his eyes. “Let’s get you out of here,” Wes rasped. Wiping tears from his eyes, Garrett nodded. Wes wrapped his arm heavily around Garrett’s shoulders, guiding him away from the barn.

  Rounding the corner to the back of the barn, Wes spotted Gary, leaning against an old barrel and chewing on a piece of hay.

  “Hiding?” Wes asked Gary, already knowing the answer. The only thing Gary hated in this world, was crowds, especially at social gatherings. He would rather deal with an ornery bull than attend this wedding. Wes was going to do them both a favor.

  Gary stood from his slumped position on the barrel, throwing the hay from his mouth, to the ground. “Yes, Boss. Sorry. I love Jessica and all but… say,” Gary stepped forward to get a closer look, “who you got there?”

  Wiping his eyes with the back of his silk suit jacket, Garrett said, “Well, hey there, Gary. I was just dropping in, but it looks like I came at a bad time.”

  A confused look crossed Gary’s face. One of the ranch’s hardest workers, but slowest to solve a problem, Gary scratched his head. “Well, I suppose now’s as good a time as any?”

  “It’s not,” Wes said simply. “Garrett here had a few too many before the celebration. I need you to take him off the ranch and bring him back tomorrow, sober. Gary, would you mind taking Garrett over to the Burger Barn for a couple of hours?” Wes pulled a large bill from his wallet. “You all can hit the steakhouse in Clinton, too.”

  Gary’s eyes went wide. It took a lot of Texas beef to feed his big frame. “Sure, Boss, you got it.” Gary carefully took the bill and folded it, placing it into the back pocket of his Wranglers.

  “Wait right here, Garrett.” Wes leaned in and whispered into Gary’s ear, “Don’t let him leave your sight.” As soon as Gary had taken a few steps closer to Garrett, who was now the one slumped on the barrel, chewing hay, Wes took off jogging towards his red truck. Looking over his shoulder, he was relieved to see that Gary and Garrett were out of sight from the ranch house.

  Wes quickly climbed into his faithful, red truck. Turning the key, he sat back in the driver’s seat for a moment to collect his thoughts, then drove behind the barn. Throwing the truck into park, Wes jumped out of the driver’s side and helped Garrett into the passenger seat of the truck. “Take care, Garrett. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Wes said as he gently shut the door.

  Wes met Gary at the driver’s door of the truck. “Is there any way he can stay at your place tonight, and you can bring him back in the morning? He’s in bad shape and I need you to keep a real close eye on him.”

  “Sure thing, Boss.” With a tip of his hat, Gary climbed into the truck, shut the door, and made his way down the long, dusty drive. Wes watched as the truck passed under The Lonestar Cattle Company sign and headed onto the main road.

  Worrying would have to wait. Wes had a good friend that he needed to walk down the aisle.

  Mud splashed up and over Jessica’s boots. “Shoot.” Investigating the damage, she saw that the bottoms of her jeans were speckled with the mud as well. “Double shoot,” she growled, trying to watch her language, as Ray had recently requested of her.

  A giggle came from her left. “Good thing you weren’t wearing a white dress,” Carrie said.

  Digging through the diaper bag that was slung over her shoulder, Jessica found the half-empty pack of baby wipes she was looking for. Kneeling, Jessica furiously scrubbed at the denim. Giving up, she tossed the wipes back in the bag. “It’s no use,” she said, laughing at her predicament.

  Carrie pulled Jessica up from the ground, linking arms with her. “It’s okay, Bridezilla. You look beautiful. Besides, I have a little something up at the house that will take care of that mud.”

  Jessica looked down at the simple cream-colored linen top she had chosen for the ceremony. Still clean. She had paired it with her nicest jeans and boots for her special day.

  “Let me guess, milk?” Jessica said, smiling as she looked over her matron of honor. The ranch was known for its strange concoctions for stain removal from fabrics. Always leery of the strange recipes, Jessica stuck to using her trusty stain stick on her own laundry.

  Carrie looked adorable in her pink, lace eyelet top and her light blue faded jeans, the outfit complete with the red cowgirl boots. Carrie’s hair had been expertly braided by Wes, Jessica had no doubt. “I’m so glad Ray put up that sign. Wedding dress shopping with you was about to kill me.” Wrinkling up her face, Carrie pretended to faint.

  “Stop it,” Jessica said, nudging her little friend with her elbow.

  “Ouch,” Carrie replied, laughing. “Careful there, or I’ll tell your daddy on you.”

  Jessica stuck her tongue out at Carrie. “Ray is not my daddy. We have been over this before,” she replied, hotly, willing the flush she could feel creeping up her cheeks, to disappear.

  “I think the lady doth protest too much,” Carrie quoted Macbeth with a dramatic flair. “He is so spanking your butt. I just know it.”

  “Carrie, hasn’t your daddy taught you any manners? I swear you are as meddlesome as they come. Some subjects are not up for public discussion.”

  “I bet you five bucks you are calling Ray, daddy, by the end of the month.”

  Groaning, Jessica rolled her eyes. She was relieved to see Mama approaching them, Carrie would have to behave in Mama’s presence.

  “Jessica, what a beautiful bride.” Mama stretched her arms out, embracing Jessica in a warm hug. “Oh, sweetheart. I am so happy for you and Ray. So happy this day has come.”

  “I’m going to go make sure the widowers haven’t broken out in a brawl about their side dishes,” Carrie said, giving Jessica and Mama a kiss on the cheek. “Jess, meet me in my old room in ten minutes.” She pointed at Jessica and threatened, “Do not be late, young lady,” Carrie quipped. Mama and Jessica watched the departing Carrie as she skipped up the ranch house steps. The porch was already brimming with guests.

  Sighing, Jessica asked Mama, “What does that girl have up her sleeve?”

  “Oh, she just wants to help you with those jeans,” Mama said, nonchalantly. “You know the enzymes in milk can take out any stain.”

  “So, I’ve heard,” Jessica said with a laugh.

  “Jessica,” Mama said softly, looking shyly up at Jessica, “you don’t have something blue yet, do you?”

  Jessica had been so busy, the age-old adage; something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, hadn’t even crossed her mind. “Let’s see, something old, that’s my jeans of course,” Jessica said, looking down at the muddy bottoms that were quickly drying into a hard crust. “Something new is my top. I don’t have anything borrowed or blue.”

  “Carrie has the borrowed covered,” Mama said. “And I have something blue.” Her eyes met Jessica’s and together, they shared in the sorrow. There were unshed tears in Mama’s eyes and Jessica knew the tears were for Kevin. Having been Wes’ ranch hand since he was sixteen years old, Kevin had become a part of Mama’s family. “I hate to be the one to make you cry on your wedding day, Jessica, but Kevin had to be here on this special day.”

  From her pocket, Mama pulled out a little blue fabric rosette. Gently, she took Jessica’s hand and placed the beautiful little flower into in.

  Twirling the gift in her hand, Jessica took a closer look at the rosette. There was a silver pin on the back, making it into a broach. The soft, blue fabric was flannel, and upon closer inspection, Jessica saw that there were thin, white stripes running through the blue. Tears stung her eyes and her throat burned. In her hand, she held the very fabric of her brother’s treasured flannel shirt. The one he had worn almost every day. Jessica’s eyes locked onto Mama’s.

  “Thank you,” Jessica whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion.

  “Let me pin it on you.” Mama took the rosette and carefully pinned it to the linen fabric of Jessica’s shirt. The placement was not lost on Jessica, the flower hung right o
ver Jessica’s heart. “I’m sorry to lay something so heavy on you before…” Ma stopped, wiping at her damp eyes.

  Gently placing a reassuring hand on top of Mama’s, Jessica said, “It’s beautiful. Thank you for remembering him.”

  From her other pocket, Mama brought a packet of tissues, handing them to Jessica. “From Carrie,” Mama said, laughing. “Something borrowed. When she saw what I was working on, Carrie knew that you would need the tissues. She said she doesn’t want them back, though.”

  Jessica gave a little laugh. “Of course, she did.” It was so like Carrie to do something thoughtful, and still say something silly.

  “Enough of the waterworks. I’ve got to save some tears for when you walk down the aisle.” Mama took the tissue that Jessica handed her, and together, they dabbed at their eyes. “I still can’t believe Ray Stevenson finally stole your heart. It sure took him long enough. And now, Evan will have the dad he deserves.” Mama gave Jessica a wistful look. No one could have anticipated that Mama’s son, Garrett, would leave Jessica at the end of her pregnancy. Garrett’s name went unspoken on the ranch, and Jessica was glad Mama loved Ray as much as she did. Ray would be the one to be at the baseball games, kissing the scraped knees, helping with homework. The one Evan would run to and tell about his day. To be the father that her little boy needed. Not Garrett.

  “All’s well that ends well, right? I know a very wise woman who always says that,” Jessica said with a wink, throwing one of Mama’s famous lines at her.

  “So true. A wise old woman must have told you that,” Mama said with a laugh, linking arms with Jessica and leading her to the house so she wasn’t late to meet Carrie.

  “You’re only as old as you feel,” Jessica quipped, throwing Mama another line.

  Jessica sat on the bed, taking a deep breath, and calming her nerves. In a matter of minutes, she would become Jessica Stevenson. And it was beginning to look as if she would be doing so dressed like she just got out of a rodeo.

  Picking at the dried mud with her fingernail, Jessica sighed again giving up on trying to salvage the stained material. Ray didn’t care what she wore, he was the one that had picked the jeans in the first place.

  There was a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” Jessica called.

  The door opened to reveal her mother. As soon as they locked eyes, they both began to cry. Jessica stood and met her mom in a warm embrace. “Mom,” she said.

  Tearfully, her mother held her at arm’s length. “Oh, Jessica.” She fingered the little rosette that sat on Jessica’s chest, pointing to her own. There was a matching rose pinned over her mother’s heart. Let the waterworks commence, there was no use holding back. Jessica and her mother laughed at their tears and began crying again.

  “Thank goodness, you don’t have on your mascara, yet!” An alarmed Carrie made her way into the room. In one hand, she held a black garment bag that was as long as Carrie was tall. In the other, she held a pink unicorn makeup bag. “Sit, sit, sit.” Carrie ushered the women to sit down on the bed.

  “Carrie, what is in your hand?” Jessica asked, warily eyeing the black, zippered garment bag.

  Carrie innocently looked down at her hands. “Jessica, haven’t you ever seen a makeup bag?” she asked, sweetly.

  “The other thing,” Jessica said, pointing to Carrie’s other hand.

  “What? This old thing?” she said, holding it up, teasingly. Carrie placed the pink unicorn bag carefully on the dresser. She walked over to the closet and ceremoniously hung the garment bag from the hook that was attached to the top of the door.

  Looking over her shoulder at Jessica, Carrie said, “Just a little wedding gift from Ray.” Before she could pull down the zipper, Mama poked her head in the door.

  “Just a minute, Carrie, I need Jessica’s boots.” Mama held her hands out to Jessica. Jessica quickly pulled her muddy boots off, careful not to let the dry dirt flake off onto Mama’s Navajo rug. “I’ll get these fixed rights up,” Mama said with a wink as she left the room.

  “Are you ready to see your gift, Jessica?” Carrie asked.

  Nervous butterflies filled Jessica’s stomach. It had to be what she thought it was. But that didn’t make sense. Ray had wanted them to be married in denim.

  Slowly unzipping the zipper and dramatically pulling back the fabric of the bag, Carrie revealed a lacy dress the color of buttercream. Walking over to Carrie’s side, Jessica took a closer look. The dress had elbow length sleeves, the lacy top falling into a sweetheart neckline, the fabric cascading from the waist down to what looked to be knee length. Jessica reached out, brushing the material with her fingertips. The dress was so simple, so beautiful, so—Jessica.

  Looking over her shoulder to comment to Carrie and her mother, Jessica found they had quietly snuck out of the room, leaving her alone with the dress and her thoughts. Dabbing at her eyes, Jessica continued to look at the dress, thinking, how can a man know a woman as well as Ray knows me?

  The blue rosette on her chest begged to not be forgotten. Carefully, Jessica unpinned it placing it on the dresser. “You will look even prettier on this dress, trust me,” she promised the little flower.

  Taking off her linen shirt and jeans, Jessica left them in a ball on the floor. She somehow knew the dress would fit perfectly, and she wouldn’t be needing the everyday outfit she had tried to make special for this day.

  With reverence, Jessica removed the garment from the hanger, surprised by its weight. Unable to locate a zipper, Jessica carefully pulled the dress over her head, discovering the material was stretchy, with give. Jessica slipped her arms through the sleeves.

  The dress fell into place, the hem hitting her knees. The fit could not have been more perfect; it was as if the dress had been designed for her body. Jessica turned to the full-length antique mirror that stood in the corner of the room. Her hands covered her mouth as she gave a little, surprised gasp of delight. The dress complemented every inch of her curves. Jessica did a little twirl, watching as the skirt flew out, twisting over itself as she came to a stop, then fell right back into place.

  A little knock rapped at the door, and Carrie called, “Are you decent?” entering the room without waiting for a reply.

  Carrie stopped in mid-stride at the sight of Jessica. “Oh, Jessica.”

  Mama and Jessica’s mother quickly followed Carrie into the room. There was a chorus of “Oh, Jessicas” and a flurry of tears and laughter. Jessica noticed that they had all changed into their own casual, but beautiful dresses.

  “So, you were all in on this?” Jessica asked.

  “Just the wedding party,” Mama said. Ray told us what he was up to but wanted to keep it very casual. The town is still coming in jeans.

  Jessica looked down at the dress again, she could not seem to take her eyes away from the beautiful buttery fabric. “How did he know it would fit?”

  Signaling for Jessica to sit, Carrie made her way over with the make-up bag. “Ray had it made for you. He’s been looking at wedding magazines for weeks. When he found the one he wanted, he took the picture from the magazine and the red dress that he bought you for your first official date, to a dressmaker. He was very specific on the color, buttercream to match your golden hair.”

  “Of course, he did,” Jessica murmured.

  Carefully sorting through her bag, Carrie pulled out a little white jewelry box. “This,” she said, handing the box to Jessica, “is from Wes. Something new.”

  Jessica opened the little box to find a turquoise oval pendant hanging from a silver chain. “It’s beautiful,” she said, examining the precious stone in her hand. Her mother came around by her side taking the necklace from Jessica and clasping it around her daughter’s neck. Reaching over to the dresser top, her mother humbly lifted the little flower, pinning it to the dress. “Perfect,” she said, taking a step back and admiring Jessica.

  Mama handed Jessica the good as new boots. “Something old,” she said with a smile.

  “Very old,”
Jessica laughed, grateful to be pulling on her trusty old kicks that she had bought as a sophomore in high school.

  “Now quit your crying so I can do your make-up,” Carrie fussed, waving a tube of mascara in front of Jessica. The words on the package boasted the lie, ‘waterproof’. Jessica sat perfectly still, allowing Carrie to work her magic. She was about to become the world’s luckiest wife.

  Straightening the sleeves of his navy suit, Ray stood, slightly calmer, at the makeshift altar. Looking out into the crowd, he smiled at the familiar faces. The town widows, all grandmothers to him, were tearing up, seated comfortably in the borrowed church pews. A few of the old bachelors dabbed a handkerchief at their eyes, as well.

  Ray caught Buttercup’s eye and gave her a wink, receiving a sweet smile in return. Trying not to fidget in his new leather shoes, Ray shifted his weight and clasped his hands in front of him. Wes had somehow wrangled an old piano into the barn, and the church pianist began to play. The sweet melody drifted up to the rafters and the barn doors opened. Smiling, Ray watched as Jessica’s mom was seated. He laughed as Mama dragged Evan down the aisle, wearing a little suit with a red bowtie. Evan was the ring bearer, but uninterested in his duties. Instead of walking down the aisle, he was busy saying hello and patting the hand of every townsperson he recognized. Mama laughed and pulled until they finally made their way to their seats. Spotting Ray, Evan gave a delighted wave with his chubby little hand.

  The melody changed, and the familiar notes of the bridal march rose up from the piano. The tears were already starting to form as everyone stood, facing the closed doors at the back of the barn.

  When the doors re-opened, a beam of sunlight surrounded Jessica and Wes. The sight of his fiancée took Ray's breath from him. The cream lace dress fit her beautifully, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders.