by SJ McCoy
“He hasn’t said a word to me. It’s what I can see for myself. He likes you, you like him. You’re like a pair of wild animals circling each other right now, but it’s going to happen.”
Autumn shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s enough crazy talk. Come on, let’s get down there and get you to your wedding.”
Summer smiled. “Okay, okay, but if I turn out to be right, can I say I told you so?”
Autumn laughed. “You can, and you know how much I hate hearing those four words, so that should give you some idea how certain I am that you won’t get to say them.”
“We’ll see.” Summer smiled to herself as she made her way down the grand, sweeping staircase. She hoped that Autumn would do the same thing one day soon, that she’d be making her way to marry the man that she loved with all her heart.
“Damn, little girl.” Clay grinned up at her from the hallway. “I don’t think I want to give you away anymore. I think we need to take you back to Nashville and put you back on TV. You look stunning.”
“Ravishing,” said Matt. “Can I ravish you?”
Summer laughed. “You cannot, and I won’t tell Carter you even asked.”
Clay laughed. “You’ll understand what a big favor she’s doing you when you meet Carter.”
Matt puffed out his chest. “I’m not scared of a cowboy. I can hold my own.”
Clay kept on laughing. “I’m not saying you can’t. Just wait till you meet Carter, you’ll understand.”
“And in the meantime, can you get your ass into the car?” asked Autumn. “I need you and the press safely corralled by the barn. The Remingtons have been gracious enough to let us use that area, as long as they’re all gone before the brides arrive, so we need to get going.”
Summer gave her a puzzled look, she wasn’t aware of any of that.
Autumn grinned. “Your big sweet Carter wanted to let me get what I needed, but he isn’t prepared to let the press anywhere near his brothers and their brides.”
Summer smiled. That was just so Carter. He was doing his best to make sure everyone was taken care of, that everyone got what they needed and no one got trampled in the process.
“You’d better get out of here, then,” said Clay. “If the press has to be out before the brides arrive, you’re cutting it close.”
Autumn turned to Matt. “So move it!” She turned back and hugged Summer one more time. “Love you, sis. I’ll see you there.”
Once they’d gone, Clay put a hand on Summer’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I couldn’t be happier. I’m not nervous.”
He nodded. “You’ve found yourself the right one. I wish your folks were here, though. Do you want to call them before we set off?”
“No.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “I know it’s hard for you to understand, but it really doesn’t matter. There’s no hard feelings, but there’s no sadness either. I don’t really even know them. We never have. They’re strangers. Nice strangers. Pleasant people, but strangers. It would have been nice if they’d wanted to come, but it doesn’t surprise me that they didn’t.” She squeezed his hand. “It doesn’t disappoint me either. And if you really want to know I was a little worried that they might come, because even if they had, I still wanted you to give me away.”
He cocked his head to one side.
She nodded vigorously. “You’ve been kinder to Autumn and me, a better father than any daughter could ever have hoped for. We love you, Clay. I might not sing for your label anymore, but you’re still a big part of my life, not just Autumn’s.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded. “I hope I always will be, little girl.”
“So do I; I can’t wait to make you a grandpa.”
He took her arm. “Okay, enough. I promised myself I’m not going to cry today and you’re going to get me started before we even leave the house. Let’s get out of here. You’ve got a good man and a new life waiting for you.”
Summer smiled as she took his arm. She knew she did, and she finally knew in her heart that she didn’t have to leave Clay and her old world behind in order to start her new life.
~ ~ ~
Cassidy stood back and eyed herself critically in the mirror. She’d do. She made a face at herself and laughed. “Okay, so you look fabulous, do you really need to hear it?” She nodded at her reflection. “Thanks, I do.” She shook her head and blew out a sigh, before looking at the mirror again. “We’d better be quiet, if anyone hears us talking to ourselves like this, we’ll get carted off to the crazy house, instead of carriaged off to a wedding.
She sat back down at the little dresser to put the final touches to her makeup. She was glad she’d had this time to herself. The others had all been horrified that she should spend the night before her wedding alone, and even more so that she wanted to get ready by herself. She shrugged. It suited her. She loved them all, but she loved herself, and there was no one she would rather have spent this time with.
Her dad would be here any minute. Number four would be with him. Kirsty. That was her name. Kirsty, Kirsty, Kirsty. Cassidy was going to do her best to remember it and to use it and be nice to her. Kirsty had suggested that she should go straight up to the big house and wait with the other guests while Cassidy and her dad had some time together. That had been enough to soften Cassidy’s heart a little. She’d been thinking of Kirsty as a needy little clinger who would follow her dad around like a puppy. It turned out that wasn’t fair. If Kirsty had the insight to see that Cassidy might want her dad to herself, then she was okay enough to have around.
She pulled her mascara out of her makeup bag and smiled as her mom’s picture came out with it. Her mom would be raising hell if she were here. Hell, if she were still alive she’d have turned the whole valley on its head, making sure everything was just as she believed it should be. But she wasn’t. Cassidy kissed the picture. “Love you, Mom.” She went to put it back into her makeup bag then changed her mind. She chuckled to herself and slipped it inside her bra. “Don’t blame me if you get too warm in there. You told me to always keep you close to my heart.”
She straightened her dress quickly when she heard the knock at the door. “Coming.”
Her dad looked amazing. She couldn’t blame number…Kirsty for finding him attractive. He was one sexy silver fox for sure. Cassidy grinned at him. “Looking good, Papa.”
He kissed her cheek then looked her over with a smile. “You’re the one who’s looking good, Cassie. Fabulous.”
Kirsty nodded and smiled. “You look stunning.”
“Thanks. Come on in. I’m about ready.”
“Do you have everything you need? Is there anything I can do to help?” asked Kirsty.
“No, it’s all good, but thank you.” At least she was making an effort. Cassidy warmed to her a little more. The warmth spread when Kirsty winked at her and rummaged in her purse. She pulled out a half bottle of champagne with a grin. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want this now.”
Cassidy grinned back. “You don’t know me very well then, do you?”
Kirsty held her gaze for a moment. “No, but I’d like to.”
Wow. Cassidy gave her the slightest nod. Maybe there was hope; maybe number four was the final one. Maybe Kirsty and her dad would become part of her and Shane’s life. She smiled as Kirsty popped the champagne and handed her a glass. Maybe.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chance checked over the horses one last time. They were ready, their coats shone, the carriage shone. He and Al had worked hard to make sure everything was perfect. He’d insisted that Al shouldn’t come down to the barn. This was special time for him with Gina. Chance would drive the carriage up to the guest lodge. They’d load up all the girls and would drive them up to the big house. He nodded to himself it was all good.
He still had a little time to kill so he went back inside the barn to check on the other horses. He wanted to stay out of the way of Summer’s sister and the Nashville folk and press peop
le. He stopped at the sight of a man down at the end of the aisle. He looked vaguely familiar, but Chance couldn’t place him. His hackles rose at the thought that maybe he was one of Guy’s thugs. Although everyone else seemed to have forgotten the threat in the heat of all the celebrations, Chance was on high alert. Today was the most dangerous day of all as far as he was concerned.
“What are you doing?” he called as he lengthened his stride. The guy was pretty big, looked strong enough, but Chance had no doubt he could take him down.
He turned and smiled. “Oh, hey. How you doing? I was just hanging out with the horses a minute while I can. It’s been a long time, but I miss this life.”
That caught Chance off guard. The guy was friendly enough. He did seem real familiar though.
He smiled and stepped forward, extending his hand. “Sorry, I’m so used to people knowing who I am these days. Matt McConnell.”
Ah. Chance nodded and shook his hand. This was Autumn’s country singer, the reason the press was here. “Chance Malone.”
Matt smiled and looked a little uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, do you mind if I hang here a little while. They got all the shots of me they need and now Autumn is feeding them appropriate lines to try to salvage my reputation.”
Chance relaxed. “Sure thing. Horses are always better company than people.”
Matt grinned. “I remember it being that way when I was a kid. I was raised on a farm.” He looked around. “It’d be nice to get back to it.”
Chance nodded. “It’s a good life.”
He jerked his head toward the doorway. “Do you think she’ll get rid of them soon? I’m not supposed to get the girls till they’re gone.”
“Yeah, they’re on their best behavior. They know better than to cross her—or Clay.”
“They have got some sense, then?”
Matt laughed. “Yeah, not a lot, but some. It’s probably more just self-preservation instincts kicking in. They’ll push any boundaries they can, but they’re not stupid, they know when to toe the line.”
“Good.”
Chance’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. “Excuse me.”
Matt nodded. Instead of leaving like Chance had hoped, he wandered back down the aisle talking to the horses.
“Hello?”
“Chance, it’s April.”
“What’s up?”
“He’s going to do something today, I know it.”
“What’s happened?”
“Nothing yet. I had a text from him this morning.”
“What did it say?”
“See you in hell.”
Chance shook his head. “And what are you thinking?”
“Chance, he told me the other day that he’s not going to let them take his freedom any more than he’s going to let us take his ranch. He’s not going to let the Remingtons get away with it either. I thought he meant he was going to burn the house down and himself inside it, but now I think he’s going to try something at the weddings. Please be careful. Tell everyone to be careful.”
Chance could feel the anger rising. “If he tries anything today, I’ll fucking kill him.”
Matt’s head jerked around to look at him.
“Please don’t do anything stupid. I called Luke but he said the whole police department is going to be at weddings at some point today.”
“Yeah.”
Chance’s mind was racing. He needed to go pick up the girls. Time was running short, but he hated the thought of being caught up in the weddings when Guy was on the prowl and could be planning just about anything.
“Chance, please be careful?”
“I will. Thanks, April. I’ve got to go.” He hung up.
Matt came back toward him. “Is everything okay?”
“No. I’ve gotta go.” He started to walk away, but Matt caught his arm.
Chance swung back around, trying his hardest to rein his anger in. “What?”
Matt held both hands up. “Sorry. It’s none of my business, I know, but it sounded like you have problems?”
Chance nodded; he wasn’t even really listening.
“Autumn told me there’d been some problems around here with a guy burning down people’s barns. She said he hates your family. She thought he’d be locked up before we got here.”
Chance nodded again, wondering what it had to do with Matt. Was he scared he was going to get hurt? He should take his ass back to Nashville if that was the case. He started walking again; he had no time for this.
“Just come look at this before you go?”
Chance almost ignored him, but he had to check out whatever it was. He followed Matt to the tack room at the end of the aisle. He went over to a pile of blankets in the corner.
“I wasn’t going to admit that I’m a nosey bastard, but now I think this might be important.”
“What?” Chance wanted to know what the fuck he was talking about, and then he needed to get out of here and warn everyone to keep their eyes open.
Matt lifted the corner of one of the blankets to reveal four gas cans.
“What the fuck?”
Matt nodded. “That’s what I thought. I may have been into city living for too many years, but even I know, you don’t keep flammables in or even near a barn. Not unless…He shrugged. I thought I was going all boy detective. I felt stupid. I wasn’t going to say anything…”
Chance blew out his cheeks. “Thank God you did.”
Matt nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
Chance weighed it up. “Stay here. Don’t let anyone come near. I’m going to send a couple of my men down to join you, but till they get there, this whole place, this whole family is dependent on you.”
Matt looked awed. “Wow. Okay.” He straightened up and stood tall. “I won’t let you down.”
“You’d better not. I’ll have some men down here as soon as I can”
“How will I know they’re the good guys and not the bad guy?”
Chance hadn’t thought of that. He took his phone out and flicked to a photo he had of Guy. “This is the bad guy. You see him, you do everything you can to stop him. What’s your number?”
Matt told him and he tapped it into his phone, then sent him a text. “Now you’ve got my number. You see him, you call me immediately. In the meantime, I’ll be sending a guy who’s about five ten and built like a brick shithouse and another one who’s over six feet and wiry. Brad and Travis. You’ll know them. Anyone else comes, you fend ‘em off, you hear?”
Matt nodded solemnly. “I’ve got this. You go do what you need to.”
Chance strode out of the barn and back to the carriage. He needed to go get the girls. He was cutting it close. He called Mason as he climbed up into the driver’s seat.
“What’s up?”
Chance didn’t want to worry him right now, but he needed to know. “Just keep your guard up today, that’s all.”
“Oh, shit. Preston?”
“Yeah. I don’t have anything concrete to go on yet, but make sure everyone keeps their eyes open, okay? I’ll figure it out and I’ll take him down.”
“Be careful, and…”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t do anything stupid.” He hung up. It all depended on how you defined stupid, didn’t it?
~ ~ ~
Gina smiled at the girls all sitting in the carriage. They all looked beautiful. Summer’s dress was like a fairytale princess’s. Corinne’s was understated elegance. Cassidy looked as though she’d stepped out of a fashion magazine in her sleek, sheath dress. Gina’s own dress was the most traditional. It was perfect for her, just as each of theirs was perfect for them. She kissed her dad’s cheek before Chance helped her up to join them.
“It’s time, Gina love. Let’s go do it.”
She nodded. As far as she was concerned it was way past time. She just wanted to get on with it now.
Her dad climbed up into the front and Chance followed, taking a seat beside him. She loved Chance for everything he
did for her dad, but this was truly special. She tapped his shoulder when he was settled and kissed his cheek when he turned around. “You’re the best.”
He nodded, but his smile was barely there. She had to wonder if today was hard for him.
“Let’s go get married,” cried Ruby.
The girls all laughed as her dad flicked the reins and the horses started walking up toward the house.
“Faster!” called Ruby.
Summer smiled at her. “No, sweetie, I want this ride to last, I want to enjoy every moment of it.”
Cassidy rolled her eyes, but said nothing.
Gina grinned at her. “You’re enjoying it, too. Admit it.”
Cassidy’s face broke out into a grin. “Okay. You got me. I’m too embarrassed to admit how much I’m loving all this sappy shit.”
“That’s not a nice word,” said Ruby sternly.
Corinne chuckled. “Thank you, Ruby.”
“Yeah, good girl,” said Cassidy. “I’m going to need you to teach me the nice words and help me watch my mouth with the others.”
Ruby smiled. “I’ll help you with anything you want. You’re going to be my real auntie now.” She hesitated then got down from her seat and climbed up into Cassidy’s lap. “And I love you!” She threw her arms around Cassidy’s neck.
Summer and Corinne laughed, no doubt imagining Cassidy was rolling her eyes again as she submitted to a Ruby hug.
Gina could see her face though, and her heart went out to her friend as she watched her squeeze her eyes shut and hug Ruby tight for a moment. She might be ninety percent tough-nut, but she had a big soft heart hidden away. She caught Gina’s eye when she let go of Ruby and gave the slightest nod. “I love this family.”
“Me too,” said Ruby.
In what seemed like no time at all, her dad drew the horses to a halt in front of the big house. A crowd stood on the front porch to greet them. Dave and Monique were at the front, flanked by Carly and James and Autumn and Clay. Cassidy’s dad stood off to one side a little ways with his wife. Gina scanned the faces and spotted Anna lurking near the back.
“I want to get out last,” she told the others.
