“Okay, girls. Let’s get this food outside.”
Everyone grabbed a dish and followed Nellie. It was a beautiful day. It was still warm, but the normally high heat in early September had gone out of the air like a slow leaking balloon. It wouldn’t be long until fall.
Another season. Another wedding for the Callahans. Gina’s heart soared. Her wedding. A day she never thought she’d see.
Gina spotted Darin immediately. He was slicing brisket, laughing with his brother Douglas as he chopped links of sausage into small one-inch pieces.
All of the brothers had a job to do.
Max, TJ’s husband, was chasing his son Duncan around the table. “Enough, Dunc. Slow down.”
When Max caught up with him, he lifted his son high in the air. Duncan squealed. “I’m getting too old for this,” Max complained with a smile when he saw the women.
TJ went to him and kissed his mouth. “Never,” she said. Their daughter Dana held out her arms and jumped to her dad, which caused him to drop Duncan. The youngster promptly squealed his disapproval. Max bent down and picked the boy up again. With a child in each arm, he grinned at his wife. She shrugged.
It was obvious to Gina these kids were the lucky ones. Loved and protected, they would never feel the pain she and her sister had. Which was the way life should be—the way it would be with her and Darin’s children.
Friends and neighbors came up and introduced themselves, then added their dishes to the mix. Gina could almost hear the food table groan in protest.
Nellie carried a smile with her as she greeted first one then another. Gina had a feeling she would become a mother to her as she had to all the other in-laws in the family.
Grace and Ed came up to Kate who had just come out of the house. “How’s our baby?” Grace asked.
“He’s wonderful. Thank goodness he’s finally asleep.”
“I’ll take him,” Grace volunteered.
“Wait until he wakes. I’ll be happy to give him to you then.” Kate chuckled. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you, Ed. How did your show go?”
Heʼd had his second art show at a gallery in San Antonio. The first one was highly successful. Ed had been stunned at its success. His concern that it would be pretentious and a dud were unfounded.
“He sold every canvas,” Grace said with pride. “They want to schedule another. He can’t paint fast enough.”
Ed grunted. “I’m taking my time. I want my stuff to be good.”
“Your paintings are always good,” Kate said. “Congratulations. I knew you would be a smash.”
Gina listened to the snippets of conversation, wondering if she would ever get the history of each of them straight. Dossiers had only skimmed the surface. She walked over to stand by Darin. He stopped what he was doing to lean over and catch her lips in a kiss. A kiss that sent a bolt of need right through to her middle. Would she always feel like this? Be this happy?
“How much longer?” he whispered.
“Eighty-six days and counting,” she whispered back.
“Too long.”
“I agree.”
“Should we elope?”
“Your mom, plus every one of your siblings would never forgive you.”
He sighed deeply. “Then we’ll make the most of every day until then.”
“And count our blessings.” She smiled.
A large F-250 pickup roared to a stop next to the other vehicles parked in the field next to the picnic area.
“I thought everyone was here,” Nellie said.
“I invited our new neighbor. Thought it was about time he got acquainted with the family,” Donovan said as a tall, husky man in a Stetson, boots, and freshly creased jeans stepped out of the pickup.
“When Bart Adams got out of jail, the first thing he did was sell the ranch. Then he got the hell out of Dodge,” TJ whispered to Gina. “This is the first time I’ve met the new owner.”
“He’s handsome,” Gina said. Her brow wrinkled. He looked familiar.
“A little older than I expected,” Kate added.
“He seems nice,” Phyl put in. “I met him once at the auction barn.”
“Is he married? I don’t see anyone with him.” Lisa wanted to know.
The man walked over to shake Donovan’s hand.
“I want you all to meet our new neighbor.” He turned to the man who had taken off his Stetson. His white hair gleamed like silver in the sunlight. “Beau Chandler, these are the Callahans and a few of our neighbors. It’ll take a while to get the family sorted out.”
Donovan walked him to each person for an introduction.
When Beau got to Nellie, he bowed to kiss her hand. “You have a beautiful family, Miss Nellie. I’m envious.”
Nellie flushed a pretty pink.
“Oh, my goodness, I think Mom is flustered,” TJ whispered.
“Mom is never flustered,” Lisa said with a frown.
“If that isn’t fluster, I don’t know what is,” Phyl joined in.
“Senator,” Gina said when she was introduced. She’d finally recognized him and was stunned to see him here. “I didn’t know you were in Texas, much less next door to my future in-laws.”
“Not too many people do.” For an old man he gave her a really sexy grin. “Call me Beau. I left my senator hat in Washington where I want it to stay, When it came time for re-election, I decided not to throw my hat in. Family reasons.”
Intrigued, Gina studied his movements and demeanor as he made his way to the other members of the family. When he didn’t seek re-election it had caused a ripple in Washington politics. Right now, the man seemed content to be a Texas rancher.
But the investigator in her thought it might be interesting to find out why he was on a ranch in West Texas.
Darin slipped an arm around Gina. His smile was contagious.
“Happy?” he whispered.
“If I were any happier, I think I would burst.” Gina laughed. “I’m going to love being a member of your family.”
“I knew you would.”
She hit him playfully on the arm. “Sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“No.” He kissed the top of her head. “But I am sure of us.”
A word about the author...
Mitzi Pool Bridges is a former businesswoman who lives in Texas, has a large family, has traveled extensively, and loves to read and write.
Find her at:
http://mitzipoolbridges.com
Other Book You Might Like
Phyllis Leander is running from a killer. Donovan Callahan is running from the truth.
When Donovan Callahan overhears a family secret he was never supposed to know, it changes his life. He doubts his wounded heart will survive the hurt and disillusionment.
Phyl Leander witnessed her husband being shot and ran away to work as a ranch hand in the Texas hill country. She thinks she and her young son are safe. But are they?
When Donovan meets Phyl and her son, he slowly begins to realize that love doesn't have to come in a neatly wrapped package. When danger strikes, he'll do everything he can to protect his beautiful blonde ranch foreman and the child he's come to think of as his own.
Will the love of a woman and child on the run save Donovan Callahan from himself?
Find out in Promise Broken by Mitzi Pool Bridges
http://amzn.com/B00AD4V3WM
Billionaire Jake Ingles is the media's golden boy. The cameras love his fabulous face and form, his high-powered business deals, and daring adventures. On a mountain in France, Jake saves the one incomparable woman he'll love for the rest of his life, but his fame places her beyond his reach.
Siree McConnell, forensic accountant, chooses to live anonymously to avoid the press that caused her father's death. She refuses to tangle with the gorgeous male if it means stepping back into the spotlight, until he needs her help. Once she uncovers the thieves threatening Jake's conglomerate, she gives in to her longing to find ecstasy in his arms. But the cost o
f being with him is exposure to the media and an enemy that tears them apart.
Now she has a new rescue mission: their relationship. For he will do anything to keep her safe, even walk away. It's up to her to show him their love is worth any risk.
Climbing High by Madelon Smid
http://amzn.com/B00GVKMB3M
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
If you enjoyed the story, we would appreciate your letting others know by leaving a review.
For other wonderful stories,
please visit our on-line bookstore at
www.thewildrosepress.com.
For questions or more information
contact us at
[email protected].
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
www.thewildrosepress.com
Stay current with The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheWildRosePress
And Follow us on Twitter
https://twitter.com/WildRosePress
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Praise for Mitzi Pool Bridges
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
A word about the author...
Other Book You Might Like
Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Promise Renewed Page 24