Western Ties: Compass Brothers, Book 4 (20 page)

“Jesus. You and Colby are fucking killing me today. Damn wedding is making everybody act like pansy-asses.”

“Sorry. I’ll try to limit the rest of my interactions with you today to belching and off-color jokes.”

Si punched him lightly on the shoulder. “That’s all I ask.”

“There you guys are.” Lucy rushed into the room. “Colby, Si, do you guys mind touching base with the bartender Vicky hired? Apparently he’s having trouble with the keg and that doo-hickey that goes on top of it.”

“Some bartender,” Silas grumbled, rising slowly. “Can’t even tap a damn keg.”

Sawyer hated seeing his brother struggling to get around, but he was grateful to have his brother here when he considered how close Si had come to losing his life in the oil-rig accident. Silas’s friend, Red, hadn’t been so lucky.

Colby and Silas followed Lucy out, leaving Sawyer alone again. He leaned on the railing and sighed. It was peaceful on this side of the house. For a moment, he could pretend there weren’t nearly a hundred folks—friends and family—gathering in the backyard.

Sawyer turned when he heard a wolf whistle coming from the door. He grinned when he spotted Leah checking him out. She’d come to find him. That fact gave him hope.
 

She was smiling at him, though her eyes betrayed her nervousness. “Dayum. You clean up real good, cowboy.”

His gaze took in her pastel-green sundress. “I don’t hold a candle to you. You look incredible.”

She propped her guitar against a wall. “You ready for your big walk down the aisle?”

Sawyer shook his head. “Jesus. I can’t believe I let Cindi and Jody talk me into this.”

“Viral wedding marches are all the rage these days. Don’t you watch YouTube?”

“I like to limit my Internet usage to porn and fantasy football.”

“Ah,” she said. “Nice to know you’re focused on the really important things.”

He shrugged. “It’s a talent.” She stepped closer and he couldn’t resist touching her. He ran his fingers through her hair, glad she’d opted to leave it down. “You ready for your song?”

“Yep. Been practicing for days. I’m pretty sure if I never hear it again, it’ll be too soon.”

“Can’t wait to hear you sing. Listen, Leah. Can we talk?”

She adjusted the bowtie on his tuxedo and gave him an anxious smile. “Yeah. I think we should. I was wrong to run off last night without giving you a chance to respond. I let my fear get the better of me.”

He fought to keep his cock from responding to her hands on him. The wedding march was going to be painful enough without trying to hide a hard-on at the same time. “What were you afraid of?”

“Rejection. I figured you couldn’t tell me to get lost if I wasn’t there to hear it. JD yanked me aside just now and gave me an earful for it.”

“He did?”

“He told me the Leah he knew didn’t run from anything, and he fully expected me to stand my ground and hear you out before this day was through. He really gave it to me.” She smiled. His father’s chastisement hadn’t truly upset her. “For the first time in my life, I sort of felt what it’s like to have a father.”

Her voice broke slightly.
 

Sawyer’s heart twinged at her admission. “You called him JD.”

She laughed, though there was a definite sheen of tears in her eyes. “He made me say it to his face again. Three times.”

Sawyer cupped her cheek. “I’m glad the old man is reverting to character and interfering. Used to drive me nuts in high school, but today—”

“Sawyer? Leah?” Vicky peeked her head out of the house. “You ready? We’re about to start.”

Sawyer sighed. He’d been a fool to try to have this conversation now. “Guess so.”

Leah gave him a tense glance, then a quick kiss on the cheek. “Finish this after the wedding?”

He nodded.

She looked like she had more to say, but couldn’t with Vicky watching them. She wrung her hands nervously. Clearly she was expecting the worse. She turned to leave.

“Hey, wait.” To heck with his mom. He took Leah’s hand and drew her toward him. He kissed her, trying hard to infuse it with as much passion as possible. “This isn’t going to be a bad talk,” he whispered. “Promise.”

Sawyer caught a glimpse of his mother’s beaming face. Vicky obviously didn’t object to her son’s public show of affection. He would be subjected to the third degree from her later. He figured the only thing holding her back the last few days had been the wedding plans.
 

Leah’s smile returned, her face clearing. “Okay. See you at the altar.”

She picked up her guitar and followed Vicky into the house. Sawyer stared after her, feeling like a lovesick fool, wishing they were meeting at the altar for a different reason, a much more romantic one.

Sam appeared at the door. “There you are. You ready?”

Sawyer nodded.
 

“You have the ring?”

He pulled Cindi’s wedding band out of his pocket. “I’ve got it covered, bro. No worries.”

“Great. Thanks.” Sam walked out on the porch and tugged at the shirtsleeves beneath his Brioni tuxedo. His brother may be back in the country, but something told Sawyer they’d never break Sam of all his citified ways and expensive tastes. “I can’t believe how fast all of this is happening. Three months ago I was in New York, working my ass off for a promotion and trying to hook up with a woman in the office. Didn’t even know Cindi.”

“And now you’re about to pledge your life to her.” Sawyer jerked his thumb toward the driveway. “You know, that Maserati Granturismo of yours would make a pretty good get-away car. Nobody would catch us in that thing. Hell, I’d even be willing to take one for the team and drive.”

Sam laughed. “Yeah. Why do I get the feeling your suggestion isn’t to save me as much as to get behind the wheel of my baby?”

Sawyer faked a disappointed face. “That hurts, man. Here I am offering to save you and you accuse me of car envy. Besides, we’d look pretty ridiculous huddling together on Jenn’s back.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Sam spoke with conviction.

“I know. Cindi’s perfect for you. I’m glad you found someone to make you happy.”

Sam smiled. “I’ve been pretty preoccupied with the wedding and shit, but as soon as Cindi and I come home from the honeymoon I think you and I should have a talk about Leah. I’m not sure you’re seeing the big picture with her.”

Sawyer grinned. “Actually, I had my eyes opened for me last night.”

“Who do I have to thank for that?”

“JD
and
Leah. I’ve been acting like a fool.”

Sam placed a hand on his shoulder. “You can say that again. Although, the idea of you hooking up with a kindergarten teacher strikes me as pretty funny. You think she can do anything about your inability to spell? Better yet, she can tie your shoes for you.”

Sawyer reached up and mussed Sam’s hair.

“Dammit, Saw.” Sam tried to finger comb it in place. “Have a little respect for the groom.”

“Hey.” Seth came into the room. “Leah took her seat by the altar. Think the music’s getting ready to start.” He patted Sam on the shoulder. “How you holding up, man?”

“Fucking nervous. Why the hell did we let those women talk us into dancing down the aisle? I’m going to fall flat on my face. I know it.”

“You weren’t thinking with your brains on that one. That was definitely a cock call.” Silas laughed as he rejoined them.

Sawyer agreed. “You’re not kidding. You were the smart brother. Hooking up with a married couple to avoid all this wedding shit.”
 

Silas grinned. “Never thought of that, but now that you mention it, guess I was pretty fucking clever. I left Colby to tap the keg. Figured you jokers would be hiding out. Found something at the bar to help.” He pulled out a bottle of Crown Royal. Twisting off the cap, he passed it straight to Seth. Silas had quit drinking after his accident.
 

Sawyer looked at Si. “Don’t know why you’re laughing about the dancing. You have to do it too, you know?”

 
“Nobody’s gonna laugh at a cripple trying to boogie.”

Seth took a drink of the whiskey and handed it to Sam. “Jody’s going to kill me when she smells that on my breath.”

Sam tipped up the bottle. “If they insist on us doing that damn silly wedding march, they’re going to have to make some allowances for nerves.” Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he handed the bottle to Sawyer.

Sawyer took his turn, enjoying the heat of the liquor as it slid down his throat. “Damn. That’s good stuff.”

“Hell’s bells, boys. You gonna stand around yammering all day or you gonna get married?” JD shuffled into the room, leaning heavily on his walker. Sawyer heard Vicky say his father was determined not to use it for the wedding march and they were all a bit worried about him falling.
 

Sawyer tried to hide the liquor behind his back, but he wasn’t quick enough.

“What do you have there? Crown Royal? Thank God. I knew I raised you boys right. Pass that over.”

Sawyer grinned as his father lifted the whiskey to them. “To the Compass brothers. Long may they reign.”

JD took a drink before handing it to Silas. “Better cap that up before your mother catches us. Look sharp. It’s time.”

They all followed JD to the backyard.

Once they were in place at the back of the crowd, Sawyer caught Leah’s eye and winked. She was seated near the arbor that would serve as an altar. She smiled, and then played the opening chords of the song Jody and Cindi had selected for their wedding march. The bouncy rhythm of Colbie Callait’s
I Do
started. Leah’s singing was as sweet as the song.
 

Colby stepped forward first. To the delight of everyone in the crowd he danced Vicky down the aisle, twirling her twice before he led her to her seat in the front row. The ranch hands clapped, hooted and hollered when Lucy and Silas followed, Lucy doing some fancy footwork, while Silas added a bit more bounce to his limp and spun his cane like a baton.
 

Sawyer stood next to Paul, Jody’s unusual choice for her maid of honor. Sawyer tipped his hat at Leah before making his way to the altar. He was pretty proud of his fancy Texas two-step until the New Yorker, Paul, dropped down on the ground and break-danced. The crowd went wild when Sawyer helped Paul to his feet and they took their places.
 

Sawyer laughed as Seth and Sam did a crazy do-si-do together. They stood together by the altar as the crowd strained for a glimpse of Thomas jitterbugging his daughter Jody to the front.

Sawyer glanced at Seth and grinned at the look of pure joy on his brother’s face. Seth met them at the altar as Thomas spun Jody into his brother’s arms. Everyone cheered, then turned around for the last pairing.

Leah slowed the song down when JD stepped forward with Cindi on his arm, looking prouder than Sawyer had ever seen him. Cindi had come to Compass ranch, a lonely young woman looking for a home. JD and Vicky had taken her into their fold and loved her as much as they would have had she been their true daughter.

Sawyer caught Vicky wiping her eyes as JD waltzed with Cindi. JD made it with grace and for the first time in his life, Sawyer knew what true strength was.

When they reached the front, JD put her hand in Sam’s, covering their grasp with his own. “Be good to each other,” he said loud enough for all of them standing by the altar to hear. Sawyer suspected JD meant his encouragement for the entire wedding party.

Sawyer tried to swallow the lump in his throat as he memorized his father’s face at that moment—certain he’d never seen JD look happier.

JD took his seat next to Vicky and the vows were exchanged. When the minister told his brothers to kiss their brides, Sawyer snuck a peek at Leah.
 

She was smiling, though there were tears streaming down her face. He caught her gaze and held it.
 

“I love you,” Sawyer mouthed.

She blinked and twisted her head. He’d shocked her. Her forehead crinkled as she tried to figure out if he’d really said what she thought.

Unfortunately, the minister stopped him from repeating the sentiment, announcing the two new Mr. and Mrs. Comptons. Leah quickly repositioned her guitar on her lap and began playing the recessional music. Sawyer was quickly shanghaied by his mother for pictures.

It was nearly an hour before he managed to catch up to Leah again. Jody and Cindi—bless their souls—had seated them next to each other at one of the front tables.
 

“Hey,” she said as he took his chair. “That wedding was amazing.”

He agreed. “You nailed the song. Perfect.”

She smiled. “Yeah, well, it was pretty easy to sing considering no one was looking at me. You should have seen your face when Paul started spinning on his head. Priceless.”

Sawyer laughed. “Didn’t realize the guy was so damn competitive. We made a little wager over dinner last night. I mentioned the fact I did a pretty mean Texas two-step. He said my country-bumpkin moves would pale in comparison to the skills he had. Next thing you know, we’re trash-talking and making a damn bet on who’d be the best.”