Promise Made (The Callahan Series)

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  Jonathan happily escorted him to the tent. Jon had been so excited when Dugan asked him to be part of the wedding party that he’d donned black jeans and white shirt instead of his uniform. And he hadn’t stopped smiling.

  “I think the whole town is here,” Donovan said over his shoulder. “I saw Doc Pullman and his family. I hear Molly closed the diner so she could attend. Said everyone would be here anyway so it made no sense to stay open.”

  “Are they here for the wedding? Or here to see if Kate shows up?” Dugan asked.

  Donovan chuckled. “Maybe both.”

  “Is there enough food? Maybe you should check.” Too nervous for company, Dugan wanted to be alone.

  “I’ll check, but believe me, there’s enough food down there to feed everyone twice.”

  Dugan stood at the window and watched. He wanted to see Kate’s familiar Camry so bad it was an ache inside him.

  A few minutes later, Dugan watched as Donovan shook hands with some of the newcomers. There was Douglas and Lisa, TJ and Max with their children. Still no Kate. No Grace or Ed either. But there was Darin. Alone as usual. And not the least bit unhappy about it.

  Mom walked out of the house, Phyl beside her, as they carried more food to the tables. As usual, the family worked together to make the day perfect.

  Jan Hooper was all dressed up, her daughter Honey holding her arm, as they smiled their way into the tent. He recognized several kids from high school, including the guy Kate had gone out with back then. What was his name? Scott Bishop, with his wife Wanda.

  Why was Kate so late? Dugan looked at his watch. Only an hour to go and she'd told him last night she’d be here early.

  What if she got cold feet again? What if she didn’t come at all? He couldn’t go through that again.

  His hands trembled as he put on his white western shirt and snapped the buttons. Once more he looked out the window. The family was in high gear to get everything ready.

  Douglas, with Lisa beside him, brought out large containers of tea. They made a handsome couple, just as he and Kate would. If she ever got here.

  Dugan’s stomach curled into knots.

  Another look. Mom was down there greeting everyone. Jon would then show them to the tent where they could get in the shade. Her smile told him she couldn’t be happier.

  Neither could he. But Kate still wasn’t here.

  It was a warm and cloudless day. A perfect day for a wedding.

  Dugan slipped on his jeans. All the guys wore black jeans, white shirts, black bow tie, with black boots and Stetsons. It was sort of a tradition on the male side of the family.

  Dugan would slip on a black western jacket for the ceremony.

  If it happened.

  For the first time since Kate said yes, misgivings ate at his insides.

  He wouldn’t go there.

  Between the butterflies in his stomach and his heart beating a hundred times a minute, he might not make it himself.

  He looked at his watch again. Thirty minutes to go.

  He called their house again. Still no answer. He called Kate’s cell phone, same thing. Nothing at Grace and Ed’s number either.

  Surely, they hadn’t whisked Kate out of town.

  Dugan would give them another five minutes. If they weren’t here by then, he’d go to town and find them. With sirens blazing if necessary. He was the sheriff, after all.

  Dressed now, he once more looked out the window. He’d never seen everyone in town in one place before. Sybil was probably the only person not in attendance. The yard was full of SUVs, cars, and more pickups than he could count. His deputies were here, too. Their cruisers sat on the far side, away from the other vehicles, just in case they were called out on an emergency.

  If need be, he’d use one of their cars to look for Kate. There’d be no way he could get to his.

  Okay. Five minutes were up. He grabbed his jacket and bolted for the door.

  He practically ran downstairs and out to one of the cruisers. Dozens of people held out a hand to stop him. But Dugan wouldn’t be stopped. He’d made a promise, and he planned to keep it.

  ****

  Kate wiped her face with a cold cloth.

  “Better?” Gram asked.

  “You can’t be sick this morning,” Jenna wailed. “It’s your wedding day.”

  All three women were in the master bath in Kate and Dugan’s beautifully remodeled house. Jenna was wringing her hands. Gram smiled serenely, dipped the cloth in cold water to wipe Kate’s face again.

  Gram was dressed in a long, sky-blue dress. She looked beautiful. And happy. Marrying Ed had been good for her. There was contentment about her Kate hadn’t seen before.

  “We’re late,” Ed yelled from the other room.

  Yogi barked his agreement.

  “He’s right.” Jenna nodded when she looked at her watch.

  “Are you feeling better, Katie-Girl?” Gram asked.

  “I’m fine. We’d better go. Dugan will be worried.”

  “He’ll understand.”

  “Do I look all right?”

  “I’ve never seen you more beautiful,” Gram said.

  “She’s right, you know. You make a gorgeous bride,” Jenna agreed.

  Gram had picked up a dress for Kate in San Antonio. “You don’t have to use this for your wedding,” she’d said then. “But it’s so lovely I couldn’t pass it by.”

  Kate couldn’t believe how perfect it was. Potter’s Mercantile had some organza that matched. A bit of it, with some fresh white flowers from her bridal bouquet, made the crown of her short veil.

  Kate gave one last look in the mirror, patted on a little powder and color for her pale cheeks and turned to go. She stuffed the kit into the garbage can before she left the bathroom.

  Ed hurried them to Kate’s car. “We’re late,” he grumbled.

  Gram patted his hand. “It can’t be helped.”

  “I don’t know why the hell not.”

  Kate smiled at Gram, who smiled back. Jenna rolled her eyes.

  On the highway, Kate urged Ed to kick it up a notch.

  “And get a ticket? I don’t think so.”

  Kate laughed. “Everyone is at the ranch, including the deputies. I think you can risk it.”

  A feeling of peace washed over her. Over the last weeks she’d wondered if those old uncertainties would return.

  They hadn’t. They never would.

  Excitement sizzled through her. She was happy beyond belief.

  The thought of her dad didn’t bring on the usual sense of loss. Ironically, she’d heard from him a few weeks ago. As usual, he was his jovial, happy-go-lucky self. She didn’t tell him about the wedding. She didn’t want him there. The spot he could have had in her heart was filled.

  She looked over at Ed, his face intense as he hurried to the ranch. “Thanks for agreeing to walk me down the aisle, Ed.”

  “Since I never had kids, I didn’t think I’d ever have that pleasure.” He smiled. “I owe you a garden full of thanks.”

  She chuckled, content. Dugan was going to be her husband, the father of their child. The one he didn’t know she carried.

  With a satisfied smile, she wrapped her hands around her flat belly.

  Just as they pulled into the gate to the ranch, a cruiser was headed out.

  Seeing them, the driver slammed on his brakes, bailed out of the car and headed their way.

  “It’s Dugan,” Ed said. “Probably figured we weren’t coming.”

  Kate was sure of it. “I’ll ride back with Dugan, you go on ahead.”

  “What about not seeing the groom before the wedding?” Gram asked.

  “Old wives’ tale.” She twisted around to the back seat, kissed Gram on the cheek. “I’ll see you inside.”

  Gram squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy for you, Katie-Girl.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?” Jenna asked, ready to jump out in her long, pale green gown and go with her.

  Kate laughed. �
�I have to talk to Dugan. I’ll see you at the altar.”

  Dugan took her arm. “You are breathtakingly beautiful. And you’re late.”

  Kate chuckled as he helped her into the passenger seat of the cruiser. “I had a good reason.”

  He leaned across the seat, kissed her firmly. “I told you I’d come after you, Kate. I was on my way.”

  “I had no intention to leave you stranded again, Dugan.”

  He looked at his watch. “Then why are you so late?”

  “You look pretty darned good yourself,” she said, ignoring the question.

  He was so handsome he took her breath away. All the Callahans were good-looking, but Dugan was exceptionally so.

  He turned the cruiser around. “I think the entire town is here,” he said.

  They’d had a buffet dinner last night at the ranch. Every member of the family was there, including Gram, Ed, and Jenna. Laughter, stories, children playing. Kate couldn’t wait to be a permanent part of it.

  She kept a hand on her tummy.

  “Dugan? I want to tell you why I was late.”

  He slowed the cruiser.

  “I think you’d better stop the car.”

  “Will this be a bad thing?”

  “You tell me,” she said, as she took his hand and put it on her stomach. “I’ve been sick to my stomach for the last week or so. Nerves, I thought. This morning I took a pregnancy test. It was positive. I’m sorry, but I was sick to my stomach and throwing up. That’s why I’m late.”

  His expression turned from surprise to wonder.

  “You’re sure.”

  “Oh, yeah. I’m sure.”

  Dugan let out a howl their guests could hear all the way to the tent.

  “Does that mean you’re happy?”

  “Happy? I’m ecstatic.”

  He kissed her again. “Can we tell everyone?”

  Kate laughed. “Don’t you think we should wait until after the ceremony?”

  Dugan looked at his watch. “Five minutes. Then I’m telling the world.”

  Kate sat back as Dugan drove up the drive, his hand splayed across her middle, a wide smile on his face.

  When he pulled up as close as he could get, he helped her out, being so careful she had to laugh.

  He kissed her again. For the rest of her life this man would be there for her.

  For them.

  She would be there as well.

  For Dugan and their children.

  It was a promise she’d never break.

  A word about the author...

  Mitzi Pool Bridges is a former businesswoman who lives in Texas, has a large family, has traveled extensively, and loves to read and write.

  Promise Made is the fourth book in her Callahan Ranch series. While each book can stand alone, Promise Made follows Promise Kept, Promise Broken, and Promise Me.

  For more information, go to:

  www.mitzipoolbridges.com

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