Framed Shadows: Shadows Landing #6

by Kathleen Brooks

  The young woman appeared to be in her early twenties. She wore flowing linen pants and a bright yellow tunic. Her reddish-brown hair was straight and cut into a shoulder-length bob. Tinsley gestured toward her and she slowly entered the room.

  “Elek, Sandor, this is Julianna Balogh, the great-granddaughter of Gellert Balogh.”

  “Hello, sirs. I’ve heard much about you from my grandfather.”

  Tinsley stepped back into Paxton’s arms. Her job was done. The wrongs of the past could and should never be forgotten, but she could help make them right.

  Epilogue

  “You may kiss the bride,” Reverend Winston said as the church full of people suddenly erupted into cheers.

  Paxton lowered his lips and covered Tinsley’s for a sweet kiss with all his love for her poured into it. When he pulled back, he was looking at his wife. Paxton smiled as Tinsley laughed with pure happiness. Paxton clasped her hand and together they ran down the aisle toward their future.

  “Husband,” Tinsley said with a huge smile as they got into the horse-drawn carriage that would take them to the Bell Plantation for their reception.

  “Yes?” Paxton asked as he kissed her once again. He just couldn’t stop, and to be honest, he never wanted to stop kissing her.

  “Let’s make a little detour on our way to the reception.”

  “Whatever you say, dear. I’ve heard that phrase is the best phrase a husband can learn.” Paxton didn’t tell her he’d been told that while being cornered by the knitting club last night with their knitting needles pointed at him as they gave him decades of marriage advice.

  Tinsley snorted with laughter. “Yeah, we’ll see how often you remember that. Even if you forget, I’ll still love you.”

  “Where are they?” Ridge asked impatiently as they waited for the bride and groom to arrive at the reception.

  Savannah rolled her eyes at him and Ryker tried not to laugh. His cousin still had a blind spot in terms of his sister.

  “Ryker, a word?” Olivia was dressed in an evening gown but was never off duty. Ryker followed her off to the side of the tent being used for the reception.

  “What is it?” he asked her once they were alone.

  “The shared business venture is a go. The terms need to be negotiated, though,” Olivia told him.

  Ryker nodded. It was a long time coming. He normally didn’t like to share ownership with other people, but he was going to make an exception this one time. “Set up a meeting. We’ll hash it all out and sign the papers right then and there.”

  “Will do,” Olivia said, already walking away with the phone to her ear.

  “Do you ever stop working?”

  Ryker turned around to see his Great-Aunt Marcy Davies standing there. He hurried over and offered her his arm to escort her to her table. “No. It’s my only flaw, though.”

  Marcy rolled her eyes at him and Ryker chuckled. Only his family would dare tease him. He’d scared everyone else off. That’s why he was taking a risk with this business venture. His Kentucky cousin had suggested it. When he looked into it, it was a solid plan.

  “You need a good woman in your life and then you won’t think about work so much,” Great-Aunt Marcy said. Memories of the one woman he’d loved flashed into his head. The laughter, the passion, the fights . . .

  “Sorry. I’m married to my work. Besides, you have plenty of grandkids to see married off.” Ryker might love his family, but he’d totally throw them under the marriage bus if it meant he was able to get out of the line of fire.

  “Don’t you worry about them. I have that covered. Mark my words. Your time is here.”

  Ryker felt a shiver run down his spine. Marcy didn’t need to know what had happened to him and the vow he made to never fall in love again. He didn’t deserve love.

  “Ryker,” Olivia said, interrupting at exactly the right moment. Ryker helped Marcy sit down and then turned to his lawyer. The normally composed young woman looked uncharacteristically flustered. Her eyes were going this way and that while she shifted from side to side on the balls of her feet.

  “Did the deal fall through?” Ryker asked, taking her elbow and stepping away.

  “The what? Oh, no. The deal is all set up. The meeting is next week.”

  “Then what is the matter? I’ve seen you face down the most intimidating people imaginable in court and didn’t bat an eye. Now you’re shaking like a leaf.” Ryker glanced around to see who did this to her and how he could hurt them for it. Olivia was an independent young woman, and as much as people said they would make a powerful couple, in truth, she was his best friend.

  “My brothers are moving back.” Olivia managed in a strangled whisper.

  Ryker blinked. “I didn’t know you had brothers.”

  Olivia nodded as her face began to flush red with anger. “I have them all right. Big, meddling, think-they-know-everything brothers.”

  Ryker didn’t know what to say. Olivia was as quiet about her past as he was about his. It’s one of the reasons they got along so well. They didn’t meddle in each other’s lives. “How many?”

  “Lots. Too many. Damn it. I know what they’re up to!” Olivia said after looking up from her phone. “They’re moving to Shadows Landing because they think you and I are a couple.”

  Ryker laughed, then immediately stopped. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at the idea of you as a girlfriend, just as my girlfriend. Why would they think we’re a couple?”

  “Because I bought Savannah’s house last week. It’s right on the river and I want to use it as a place to decompress. I didn’t mention it to you because it’s not a big deal. I like it here. I know it’s hard to believe, but I don’t have many friends. What friends I have all seem to be your family.”

  Ryker nodded. He knew it took a lot to admit. He didn’t have friends either besides Olivia and his family. “It’s hard when you’re us. We go after what we want come hell or high water. That tends to burn some bridges. Then you put yourself out there and learn they’re only with you for the power or money.”

  Olivia sighed and then nodded. “Men don’t like that I’m smarter than they are. They don’t like that I put my career ahead of them. Screw them. I have a vibrator and it doesn’t whine about how hard it is to date a woman who makes more money than they do.” Olivia looked up at him as he fought a smile. “By the way, thanks for making me rich.”

  Ryker shrugged. “You’re the best lawyer I know.”

  “And I’m proud of that. But now my brothers are going to come, and they’re going to be the biggest pains in the ass and probably ruin the great working relationship we have all because they think I’m dating you.”

  “Just tell them we’re not dating.”

  Olivia made a very agitated noise, nearly a growl, which surprised Ryker. “I did! They didn’t understand why I’d buy a house down the road from you. Now they’re all coming here. They’ve each bought a house in Shadows Landing and they’re going to drive me crazy. They still think I’m a little girl who needs protecting.”

  Ryker looked over at Ridge lecturing Tinsley for being late to the reception. He also saw Jackson and Ryan staring daggers at Gage Bell for dancing with their little sister, Greer. Although, with her closing in on thirty, little was about as relevant to Greer as it was to Olivia or Tinsley.

  “I don’t think that will ever change,” Ryker said, gesturing with his chin to the older brothers around them.

  “Ugh! Your cousin Parker is with the US Marshals right? Maybe he can put me in witness protection.” Olivia started to look around for Parker, and Ryker shook his head.

  “You never back down from a fight. I can’t imagine your brothers causing this type of reaction.”

  “Oh, I can beat them up. But it doesn’t stop my brothers from completely interfering with my life and treating me like a ten-year-old girl in pigtails. I know they love me. Heck, they’re moving here just to be with me. But, Ryker, it’s going to be too much. They’ll want to be involved wit
h everything. My brothers are slightly overprotective.”

  “Did I hear something of overprotective brothers?” Greer asked as she joined them.

  “Yes, my brothers are moving to Shadows Landing,” Olivia groaned.

  “Don’t worry,” Greer said, giving Olivia a hug. “I’ll show you how to erase their tracking software on your phone. Oh, I have all kinds of tricks to teach you. Between our fathers and brothers, we Keeneston girls have you covered in how to deal with overprotective men. Come on, let’s tell the girls, and we’ll give you some tips.”

  Greer grinned back at Ryker and he mouthed his thanks as Ridge came over to join him. “I can’t believe they stopped at home before coming here. Tinsley said it was to check on their Manet. How dumb does she think I am? Then Savannah got mad at me for getting mad at them.”

  Ryker silently handed his bourbon over to his cousin who downed it. Thank goodness he’d never fall in love and have to go through this.

  Tinsley danced with her husband as other couples began to join them on the dance floor. There was a little commotion as the crowd parted and suddenly Paxton yelped and jumped five feet in the air.

  When Tinsley looked to see what had caused it, she didn’t just laugh. She bent over with big belly laughs. She looked up at Gator, Skeeter, and Turtle and swiped at her tears from laughing so hard.

  “That is not funny,” Paxton said, shaking his head at them, but the smile on his lips told them all it was very funny.

  Tinsley looked down at Bubba, all decked out for the wedding in a bow tie and shook her head. “How did you get him to walk on a leash?”

  “We’ve been working on it since you two got engaged,” Gator said proudly. “He loves it. He tries to eat us until we get it on, but then he parades around with it.”

  “Then he tries to eat us again when we take it off,” Turtle said, causing Paxton to hide a laugh under a cough.

  “We took pictures. It’s our wedding gift,” Skeeter said, holding out a large print.

  Paxton took it and looked down at it. She could see him struggling not to laugh. “I love it.”

  He turned it around and Tinsley felt her mouth open. “How on earth did you get Bertha to wear a veil?” There was a picture of Bubba and Bertha as a groom and bride. Sketched out in front of them on the sandy bank was Tinsley and Paxton’s wedding date.

  “That was a little trickier and bloodier. But we got it,” Gator said proudly.

  Paxton held out his hand and shook each of the men’s hands. “It’s the best wedding present I could ever imagine. Thank you all.”

  “Shucks. We’re just glad you like it. We’re still going to give you crap for screaming like a girl, though,” Gator said as Skeeter and Turtle nodded.

  “That’s fine with me,” Paxton smiled.

  Tinsley wrapped her arm around her husband and looked up at him. The ghosts of his past had been left behind as soon as he’d woken up from his surgery. Now they were both filled with the happiness for their future together.

  “Come on, Mrs. Kendry. Let’s show them how to dance,” Paxton said as he spun her around the dance floor and toward their happily ever after.

  THE END

  Bluegrass Series

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  About the Author

  Kathleen Brooks is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author. Kathleen’s stories are romantic suspense featuring strong female heroines, humor, and happily-ever-afters. Her Bluegrass Series and follow-up Bluegrass Brothers Series feature small town charm with quirky characters that have captured the hearts of readers around the world.

  Kathleen is an animal lover who supports rescue organizations and other non-profit organizations such as Friends and Vets Helping Pets whose goals are to protect and save our four-legged family members.

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