For His Daughter's Sake

by Stella Bagwell

  “This isn’t necessary, Van,” she insisted as her friend hustled her past the dining area and into another lounge that was packed with guests. On the opposite side of the room, the beautiful notes of a piano drifted through an open doorway. “I’ll sit at the back somewhere.” Where Tyler might not see her. And she might not see him sitting with the huge Abernathy family. Yes, that would be better, she thought desperately.

  “Don’t give me problems. Just enjoy the moment.”

  By the time they reached the spot where Jameson was waiting, the guests were being ushered into a cavernous room where the ceremony would take place.

  Callie tried not to gape in wonder at the fairy-tale sight. Huge baskets of white roses, pink and coral peonies and baby’s breath lined the aisle between the endless rows of folding chairs. A trellis covered with the same flowers arched above a wooden altar. Bronze floor candelabras with intricately scrolled holders flanked the altar and lined the outer edges of the seating. The tall candles had already been lit and now the tiny flames gently flickered.

  To one side of the room, not far from the altar, a young man dressed in a dark tuxedo was playing a baby grand. Atop the piano sat another huge basket of roses and peonies. Beyond, the massive window exposed a breathtaking view of green and blue mountains in the distance.

  The delicate scent of the flowers drifted through the room, along with the poignant notes of a familiar love song. Callie, suddenly struck by the incredibly romantic atmosphere, was forced to blink back tears before she took her seat next to Vanessa.

  When she pulled a tissue from her clutch and dabbed at her eyes, Vanessa patted her hand and whispered in her ear. “You’re going to be okay, sweetie.”

  Sure, she’d be okay, Callie thought wryly. Why wouldn’t she be? This wasn’t the first time a man had broken up with her. Surely she’d survive this one.

  But oh, just the thought of one day standing at an altar with Tyler, with flowers and music and their friends and family looking on, was so bittersweet, she could hardly bear it.

  She directed a wobbly smile at Vanessa and whispered, “I’m fine. Every woman gets emotional at a wedding, don’t they?”

  Vanessa answered with another pat on her hand and Callie managed to stem her tears and scan the crowd still filing into the room. There were the Daltons, Taylors, Sanchezes, Brandts, and the Johns. And last, the Abernathys. Not only were they the groom’s family, but also the largest in the Bronco area.

  When Tyler appeared, he was flanked by a pair of brothers. Since she’d never met them formally, she wasn’t exactly certain if she was attaching the correct name to each face. But she thought the man on Tyler’s left was Dean and the one to his right was Garrett. As they took their seats, none of the family paused to look back at the guests sitting behind them. Therefore removing the chance of them making incidental eye contact with anyone. But what was she going to do during the reception? Turn her head and behave as though he was a stranger? Rather than the man she loved?

  She pushed the painful questions aside as she watched a very young flower girl strewing petals of roses and peonies, along with an equally young boy bearing the rings on a brocade-covered pillow move slowly down the aisle. When they reached the altar, a woman with long black hair and wearing a yellow flounced dress walked up to a standing microphone and began to sing in a beautiful soprano voice. Callie blanked her mind as the lyrics about love and forever filled the room. But when the music suddenly changed to the “Wedding March,” she, like everyone else in the room, turned to watch Melanie float down the aisle, escorted by Winona Cobbs.

  With her blond hair fashioned in an intricate updo and her face glowing, she was a vision dressed in white lace and silk. Her bridal gown, fashioned in a mermaid style, had a deep V neckline in both the front and back. A line of tiny lace-covered buttons ran the short length of the bodice in the back and stopped just as the silk flared out at her hips. The train, which flowed from the back of her veil, was of tulle and lace and fastened to a tiara. A page boy, no older than ten and wearing a dark suit, faithfully carried the long train as Melanie and Winona made their way down the white-carpeted aisle.

  Callie couldn’t ever remember seeing a more beautiful bride or a wider smile than the one on Gabe’s face when Winona placed Melanie’s hand in his.

  After the minister said a prayer, another song was sung by the soprano, and then Gabe and Melanie held hands and exchanged vows to love and honor each other for the rest of their lives.

  By the time the minister prayed again and pronounced the couple husband and wife, Callie had to pull another tissue from her purse and dab her eyes.

  Sniffing, she said to Vanessa, “I’ve never seen a lovelier wedding. Until I see yours and Jameson’s, that is. But I’m sure yours and Jameson’s will be just as beautiful.”

  Vanessa leveled a pointed look at her. “Callie, when we get to the reception, I want you to drink three glasses of champagne in rapid succession.”

  Callie’s mouth fell open. “Do you want to carry me out of here?”

  “No. I want you to relax and enjoy yourself.”

  Enjoy herself and forget the fact that Tyler had ended their relationship. That’s what Vanessa had really been telling Callie, she thought, as a few minutes later she stood at the edge of the reception crowd and slowly sipped from a fluted champagne glass.

  But all the champagne in the world couldn’t push Tyler from her mind. In fact, she was beginning to think now would be a perfect time to approach him. He might rebuff her, but with this many people around, he couldn’t run away completely.

  After finishing the first glass of champagne, she felt relaxed enough to move around the ballroom, where at one end, elaborately decorated tables had been set up for cutting the five-tiered cake and showcasing the drinks to accompany the sweet concoction. Across a wide expanse of parquet dance floor, a six-piece band was already playing an assortment of new and old songs.

  Callie was talking to Brittany and Amanda—Melanie’s friends and former next-door neighbors at her Bronco Heights’ apartment—when, from the corner of her eye, she spotted Tyler standing next to one of his brothers and another man she didn’t know. Perhaps it was his father, she thought. He appeared to be the right age and his dark looks were similar to those of the Abernathy brothers.

  If things were different, Tyler might have been escorting her around the crowd to meet his immediate family. As it was, he barely darted a glance in her direction.

  While she contemplated that sad notion, Brittany’s husband, Daniel, invited his wife to dance, then moments later Amanda’s husband, Holt, suggested they follow the couple onto the dance floor. Callie was watching the two women leave on the arms of their spouses when someone tapped her on the back of the shoulder.

  Turning, she was more than surprised to see one of Tyler’s brothers. There was a faint smile on his face.

  “Ms. Sheldrick, would you care to dance?”

  “Thanks, but I’m not much of a dancer.”

  “That’s okay. I’m not, either,” he said.

  He reached for her hand and Callie didn’t have the heart to pull away from him. But what would Tyler think?

  He won’t think a thing, Callie. Because he doesn’t give a damn.

  Ignoring the taunting voice in her head, she allowed him to lead her onto the crowded dance floor. As he curled an arm around her waist and guided her into a slow two-step, he said, “By the way, in case you don’t know, I’m Dean Abernathy. Tyler’s brother.”

  “I guessed that you were his brother,” she admitted. “I just didn’t know which one. Uh, how did you know my name?”

  A wry twist touched his lips and Callie could only think how very much he resembled his younger brother. Tall, with the same dark hair and blue eyes.

  “Tyler told me.”

  “Oh.” What else could she say? Other than I don’t want to talk about
your brother. I don’t want to hear anything about him, either. “So are you enjoying the wedding?”

  He grunted with amusement. “Does any man really enjoy a wedding?”

  “Gabe appears to be enjoying himself,” she said crisply. “As for the rest of you men, I couldn’t say.”

  He chuckled. “I now see why Tyler has fallen in love with you.”

  That brought her up short and she very nearly stumbled over his booted feet. “Pardon me?”

  “It’s true,” he replied in a nonchalant manner. “Although, I have to admit, I was surprised by it all. What with everything he’s been through. But I’m sure you know all about that. No need for me to bring it up.”

  There was every need, Callie thought. But she wasn’t going to admit to this man that Tyler had kept her in the dark about his private life.

  “Listen, Mr. Abernathy, I—”

  “Call me Dean, please,” he interjected.

  “All right, Dean. I’ll just tell you straight-out. I don’t want to talk about Tyler. In fact, if I had known he was your motive for dancing with me, I never would’ve agreed.”

  He arched a brow at her. “Forgive me. I guess I got confused. I thought you cared for my brother.”

  “I do. I did! I mean that’s all over with now,” she said morosely. “Surely, Tyler has already made that clear to you. If he hasn’t, I can repeat it.”

  “Hear me out, Callie. Tyler is in a terrible state and has been ever since he walked away from you. The only thing that will fix him is for you to go to him and let him know that you care.”

  She struggled to keep her jaw from dropping. “Look, we both know that Tyler has far more issues to deal with than me.”

  Dean shook his head. “I know my brother better than anyone in our family. And I believe you can make all those issues go away. That is, if you care enough to try.”

  She swallowed hard as a ball of emotion filled her throat. “All he has to do is come to me.”

  “True. But he’s already given up a lot in his young life, Callie. He shouldn’t have to give up his pride, too.”

  Fearing that her tears were going to resurface, she bit down on her bottom lip. “Okay, Dean. I’ll try to say hello to him.”

  Smiling, he squeezed her hand and, with sudden surprise, Callie realized that this man didn’t just want his brother to be happy, he wanted her to be happy, too.

  * * *

  “Would you like another drink, sir? Champagne? Punch?”

  “No, thank you,” Tyler told the young waiter who already looked exhausted from catering to the massive crowd. “You can take this empty glass, though.”

  “Certainly.” The waiter placed the empty glass on the round tray he was carrying and moved on to another group of people who’d drifted away from the ballroom and into an adjoining lounge.

  Tyler had no inclination to dance. Nor did he want to stand around and watch Dean waltz Callie across the room as if he owned her.

  Why shouldn’t your brother dance with Callie if he wants to? He’s unattached and so is she. You saw to that.

  Disgusted with the mocking voice in his head, Tyler changed his mind about having another drink and turned in the direction of the bar. But his intentions were suddenly halted as he found himself standing face to face with Callie.

  “Hello, Tyler.”

  As soon as the wedding guests had begun to file into the ballroom, he’d spotted her coming through the door with Vanessa and Jameson. She’d looked so achingly beautiful; he’d wanted to go straight to her and gather her into his arms. But fears and doubts had held him back. And now he was very much afraid that he was losing the battle to keep his distance.

  “Hi, Callie.”

  She continued to look at him with those warm brown eyes until his surroundings faded into nothing but swirling colors, the muted sounds of clanking glasses, music and laughter.

  “I think we should talk,” she said without preamble.

  Damn it, he was shaking inside. “Not now. This isn’t the time or place.”

  Her nostrils flared. “You really have a hang-up about time, Tyler. You need more, but more isn’t enough. It’s not the right time, or later would be a better time. Well, I happen to think we need to talk now.”

  She reached for his hand and Tyler couldn’t resist as she led him through the crowd. When they finally reached a cleared area of the room, he realized they were standing near a pair of French doors that led out to a patio.

  “Let’s go out here,” he suggested. “It’ll be quieter.”

  She nodded in agreement and, with a hand at her back, he guided her through the door and onto an expanse of rock floor that looked out at a wooded area of evergreens and hardwoods. Two other couples were milling around the opposite end of the patio, but neither bothered to look in their direction.

  Chaise lounges and armchairs made of dark polished wood and white cushions were grouped at both ends of the patio. Callie took a seat on the end of one of the lounge chairs and Tyler sat in an armchair directly across from her.

  She looked at him and smiled just like she had whenever they’d made love, and his heart ached just a little more.

  “It looks strange to see you without Maeve,” she said.

  “Mom offered to keep her today. She said a wedding wasn’t the easiest of events to take a baby and I agreed.”

  “Oh. I thought your mother would be here to see her nephew get married.”

  Tyler said, “Mom was planning on coming, but right now she’s hobbling around on a cane. She dropped a fifty-pound sack of feed on her foot.”

  Clearly puzzled, Callie asked, “What was she doing with a fifty-pound sack of feed? Isn’t that a job for you men?”

  He wasn’t going to let her question irk him because he realized she wasn’t all that informed about ranching life. Not any more than she was about the demons that had driven him from her bed two weeks ago.

  “She’s a ranch woman, Callie. She loves to help with the outdoor chores. Especially when things are super busy and we need extra hands. But sometimes she attempts to do things she shouldn’t.”

  “I see. Well, I hope she gets well soon. And little Maeve—is she doing okay?”

  She was making small talk while all he wanted was to snatch her up and kiss her over and over. He wanted to taste the sweetness of her lips, to let the warmth of her body melt away the icy pain inside him.

  Clearing his throat, he said, “Maeve is walking now. Her steps are still a bit shaky, and she takes some spills, but she’s getting the hang of it.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Maeve is walking? That’s wonderful! You must’ve been thrilled...”

  Her words trailed away and Tyler was struck hard as he watched a veil of moisture build in her eyes.

  “I thought about you, Callie,” he said huskily. “I wanted to call you—”

  Without allowing him to finish, she jumped to her feet and walked over to the edge of the patio. A carpet of perfectly manicured green grass stretched to the edge of the woods and, for a brief moment, he feared she might step off the patio and simply keep walking until she was completely out of sight and away from him.

  He couldn’t let that happen.

  As he walked up behind her, a gentle breeze ruffled the hem of her dress and teased the dark waves of her hair. The closer he drew to her, the more he picked up her delicate scent and, when he finally reached her, he couldn’t stop his hands from resting on her bare shoulders.

  Dipping his head to her ear, he spoke in a choked voice. “I’ve missed you so much, Callie. All I’ve wanted this past couple of weeks is to be with you again.”

  She turned to face him and Tyler didn’t miss the anguish in her brown eyes.

  “Then why didn’t you come to me? Let me know that you hadn’t put me out of your life?”

  Regret pushed a groan past
his tight throat. “Because I’m no good for you. Because you deserve much better than me, Callie.”

  Her hands came up to gently rest against his chest and Tyler wondered if she could feel his heart hammering for her and her alone.

  “I should be the one to decide that, Tyler. And you didn’t give me that chance. You ran out—”

  To Tyler’s horror, he felt tears burning the backs of his eyes and he knew with sudden certainty that he would never want to give her up, or the generous love she’d tried so hard to give him.

  “I’m sorry about that, Callie. Truly sorry. I took the coward’s way out because that’s what I am. What I’ve been for a long time.”

  Perplexed, she shook her head. “How could you say something like that, Tyler? I can’t understand this self-loathing attitude you have.”

  He inhaled a bracing breath. “You can’t understand it without knowing the truth. And there’s so much I need to tell you.” With a hand on her upper arm, he led her over to one of the lounge chairs. “Let’s sit here together.”

  Once they were seated close together on the cushion, Tyler reached for her hand and held it tightly as he summoned the courage to meet her gaze head-on and answer the questions swirling in her eyes.

  “Do you mean about your marriage? And Luanne?” she asked.

  He nodded and began to explain how he’d met Luanne while on a cattle-buying excursion to Cheyenne with his brothers. She’d been on her way to Jackson Hole on a skiing trip, but because of bad weather, her flight had been delayed. The attraction between them had been instant and he’d ended up flying back to Chicago with her. After two short weeks there, they’d married before either had ever really thought things through.

  “Only a few months passed before our marriage was in turmoil,” he told Callie. “She hated Montana and wanted us to live in Chicago. I couldn’t do that. Everything I have—my work and livelihood, my family and home—is here.”

  “Surely, Luanne knew that before you married,” Callie reasoned.