Rocky Mountain Hitched: Contemporary Western Romance (To Love Again Book 6) (12 page)

“Some people never learn,” he said. “You weren’t welcome the last time, and yet, here you are again.”

Chet placed his hands on Barry’s chest to shove him. Barry didn’t budge. “Look buddy, you seem a little drunk. I’m going to have the police escort you out of here.”

“It’s a free country,” he roared. “I’m not hurting anybody.”

“You’re on private property. And I’ll have you removed for creating a disturbance.”

“I just wanna talk to my wife,” he whined.

“Ex-wife,” Jenny said, stepping closer.

“I just wanna …” To Jenny’s horror, he let out a loud sob.

Isabel’s eyes widened and she put her hand on Barry’s arm. “Let me talk to him for a minute.”

“You sure?” Barry lowered his voice and turned toward her. “He seems pretty unstable.”

Tray grabbed her wrist. “You don’t have to talk to him.”

“He’s not violent,” she said. “Maybe I can calm him down.”

Barry shrugged and moved to Tray’s side. He dug out his phone and made a call. Jenny heard him explain the situation, ask for a squad car and ask them to be discreet. “It’s a wedding,” he said. “No sirens.”

Her attention was on Chet and Isabel. They’d walked to the end of the lawn and were deep in conversation. Try as she might, she couldn’t make out what they were saying.

~~~

“This is horrible timing,” she said, crossing her arms. “I’m trying to get married.”

“I see that,” he said, weaving slightly. He braced himself against the back of Tray’s jeep. “I don’t know what I was thinking, I just needed to see you.”

“But why now? It’s been so long --”

His faced flushed deep red and seemed to implode. “I never should have let you go,” he sobbed. “I made such a huge mistake.”

Isabel’s mouth dropped. She heard the words he was saying but couldn’t take them in. “I don’t understand.”

He reached out and grabbed her arm. “I never should have left you and the girls.”

“But you did,” she said.

“And look how well it’s turned out for you,” he said. He waved his arm in the general direction of the house, her fiancé, her friends.

“No thanks to you,” she said, wishing she could summon more grace for this conversation. But dammit, nothing for four years and then in the middle of her wedding, he has to pull this?

“Isabel…” he pleaded. “Do you think the girls will want to see me again?”

She shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. I can talk to them for you,” she said. “But making a scene here today isn’t going to help your case.”

He nodded, mouth set in a grim line. She followed his gaze and saw Karin and Shelly huddled on the lawn with Jenny.

“I’ll talk to them, on the condition that you leave now. And you leave quietly.”

Chet shifted his weight, and looked her in the eye. “You’re pretty tough now, aren’t you?”

“Just clear about what I want,” she said. An unmarked police car pulled up in front of the house. She turned to nod to Barry and he walked down to the car. “Time to go, Chet.”

He let out a low breath, shoulders dropping. “I’ll go quietly, but you talk to the girls.”

Barry returned and took his arm, guiding him toward the curb. He didn’t fight this time. Chet turned toward Isabel again. “One more thing.”

“Yes?” Hard to believe she’d once found this man charming. His face could still be called handsome, in a certain light, but alcohol had ravaged his youth.

“I did love you,” he said. “I loved you and I wish you only happiness.”

She didn’t trust herself to speak. She dropped her head in a brief nod, and watched while Barry opened the back door and guided her ex-husband into the car.

“Everything okay?” Tray’s voice brought her out of the moment. She swiped at her eyes and nodded.

Barry returned as the car pulled away. “They’ll take him downtown until he sobers up,” he said. “I said we didn’t want to press charges.”

Isabel nodded. “Thanks.”

“I think we all need a moment,” Jenny said. “Is there somewhere inside us girls can freshen up?”

Tray nodded and Isabel let Jenny guide her up the stairs and through the front door, Karin and Shelly following behind.

~~~

“Mom.” Shelly started as soon as the door closed behind them. “Why didn’t you tell us you saw Dad?”

Isabel collapsed into a chair. “I didn’t want to upset you.”

“But we have a right to know, Mom,” Karin added.

“I didn’t think he’d come back.” She sought Jenny’s eyes.

“Hey,” Jenny said. “Let’s try to shake this off and get your mother down the aisle.”

“And is he coming back, after this time?” Shelly asked, pushing out her bottom lip.

“That will be up to you and Karin. He said he wants to see you.”

Karin bit her lip and looked at Shelly. “I don’t know ….”

“Well, there’s time to decide,” Isabel said. “We can talk about it later.”

“Yes,” Jenny said, grabbing a box of tissues from a nearby table. “Let’s get your mom fixed up again. We’ve got a backyard full of guests waiting.”

“We can take a few minutes,” Isabel said.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Karin said, shooting a look Shelly’s way. “Let’s get you married.”

“Was he upset that you’re getting married again?” Shelly moved closer to Isabel.

“He was pretty drunk, Shelly. Probably just emotional because of that.”

“That doesn’t make sense—” Shelly’s words were cut off by Karin’s not-so-discreet elbow to the ribs.

“Come on, Mom. Smile on,” Karin said, reflecting a phrase Isabel had often used with them as children. “Tray is waiting and I don’t want to upset Betty. She seems tough.”

Isabel laughed and turned her cheek while Jenny cleaned up her mascara. She rose and gave each of them a hug. “Nothing like a little excitement on your wedding day,” she said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Tray winked at his mother as the guitarist strummed the first bars of the wedding march. Shelly started down the aisle, with Karin following closely behind. Jenny came down the aisle, again, smiling as if the last twenty minutes had never happened.

Finally, Isabel stepped around the corner and everyone stood.

He drew in a breath, stunned by how beautiful she looked. She was positively radiant, as if the unfortunate incident with her conniving ex-husband had never happened. Although he’d seen her outfit when they were out front with Chet, he took in all the details, so he could hold a memory of this moment forever. Her simple ivory dress sat low on her shoulders, and hugged her shapely curves to just above her knees. She wore a hat, with the lightest touch of lace in the front - to give the hint of a veil - and the red curls he loved so much were swept up except for small wisps on her cheeks. Her smile would have lit up the sky. He reached out and she took his hand. Together they turned to the Justice of the Peace, who invited the guests to sit, cleared his throat, and said the traditional opening words. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today ….”

Tray couldn’t take his eyes off Isabel. The JP read on, until Tray felt Barry nudging his elbow. He took the offered ring and focused on the words the JP was saying. Isabel extended her hand and he slipped the ring onto her finger, repeating the vows, until the fateful question “Do you take this woman to be your wife ….” “I do,” Tray responded. He held onto Isabel’s hand. “With all my heart, I do.”

~~~

“And do you, Isabel …” Isabel’s heart pounded against her chest. She peeked out again into the yard. Everything was so beautiful, she couldn’t have asked for better. Jenny passed her the ring and she placed it on Tray’s extended finger. She clasped her hand over his. “I do,” she said. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. His eyes sparkled and she felt her heart would burst through her chest. There was nothing in the world, but this man, this moment, this love.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

She stepped forward into his embrace, into the arms that would hold her forever, and turned her face up to his. He bent down and she kissed him for all she was worth, until, behind her, she heard the guests clapping. Coming up for breath, she grinned sheepishly and he winked at her. Together, they turned to their guests.

~~~

“I can’t wait to stand up again,” she whispered to Tray. They’d been sitting forever. The toasts had made her laugh, cry and then howl with laughter some more, but she needed to stretch.

“Just a few minutes more,” he said. “They’re going to invite us up for the first dance.”

“Did you practice?”

“Minx,” he said. “You know I did. All those hours of you forcing me to practice….”

“I seem to remember the last time we practiced, we ended up on my couch doing the horizontal mambo.” She giggled.

“Please join me in welcoming the bride and groom for their first dance,” she heard. Tray rose, took her hand and led her to the dance floor laid over the grass in the large tent. She was surrounded by applause and good wishes, the first few bars of the music they’d chosen wafted into the air.

He pulled her to him, and she looked up into his eyes. “It’s so beautiful,” she said. “Everything has been perfect. I love this cabin and the way the yard looks.”

“It’s not over yet,” he joked. “We still have the evening to go.”

“We have our whole lifetime,” she agreed.

“I have a gift for you.”

“You do?”

“Something I know you’ll love,” he said, smiling.

“I don’t doubt it,” she said.

“This cabin, babe. It’s my wedding gift to you.”

“You… what?” She looked up into his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I bought it from my friends. They rarely use it anymore and wanted us to have it.”

“Oh, Tray.” She blinked, trying to focus on him through her tears. She looked around the yard, at the large trees wrapped in lights, at their family and friends standing at the edge of the dance floor watching them. “I can’t believe it.”

He hugged her close and whispered in her ear. “A perfect place for us to start a family.”

“What?” She pulled away, the word bursting out of her mouth like a gun shot.

He winked and kissed her forehead. “I’m teasing my love.” He pulled her tight and she nestled into his arms, laughing. She would spend the rest of her life, laughing, in his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Many readers have asked if Jenny will have her own story. She will! Kip invites her to Scotland (you’ll never guess why). Be sure to sign up for the newsletter to be first to know when Jenny’s story is available.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Fargo writes steamy romance - featuring strong, mature women and hunky, outdoor types - set in the Rocky Mountains.

A pilot and outdoors enthusiast, she has hiked, biked, skied and kayaked her way through five continents. She travels extensively and is always ready for the next adventure.

She divides her time between Canada and warmer climes. When she’s sitting still, you’ll find her with either a keyboard or a good book in front of her. She has a special fondness for the Rocky Mountains and the people who live in and near them.

~~~

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