Wild West Wedding (River's End Ranch Book 9)

by Caroline Lee

  That’s when she realized Jace wasn’t participating in her brainstorming session, and glanced up at him. He sat, fiddling with his fork, a big grin on his face as he watched her. “What?”

  “Nothing.” He shrugged. “I just think you’re cute when you do that.”

  “I’m…” Her eyes widened. “You think I’m cute?”

  “No, I think you’re beautiful. But I think you’re cute when you start making lists.”

  He’d had plenty of chances to see her making lists over the last few days, as they handled wedding prep. But this was the first time he’d called her beautiful.

  “You think I’m...?” She couldn’t even make her mouth say the words, afraid she’d misheard him.

  “I like it when you start making lists. It makes you look organized. On top of things.”

  Dink blinked. And then burst into laughter. “Like you, huh?” Of course he wasn’t going to dwell on that completely off-hand compliment he’d given her. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”

  “Maybe we’re rubbing off on each other?”

  They stared at one another for a heartbeat, and then both of their eyes went wide as they realized the double entendre. Dink started giggling again when she saw him blush, but he just scowled and attacked his chicken with a vengeance.

  “You know what I meant,” he muttered under his breath as he shoved a forkful into his mouth.

  She did know what he’d meant, but also knew she wouldn’t mind any other kind of ‘rubbing’ he had in mind. Which was interesting; she’d known him such a short amount of time, but couldn’t deny the attraction there. This morning’s kiss had proven it wasn’t just circumstances that had forced them together…she genuinely was attracted to him, and he seemed to like her well enough. I think you’re beautiful.

  Wow.

  “You know, I think we should try the kissing experiment again.” Judging from the way he blinked at her, she’d managed to shock him. “You know. For science.”

  There was no telling how he’d react, but a slow smile crossed his face. “For science? Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

  Sitting there in the middle of a tiny Chinese restaurant in Riston, Idaho—Idaho, for gosh sakes!—Dink felt a feeling of contentment seep through her. His smile, the list in between them, a plan and a future stretching out in front of them… She felt like maybe, just maybe…

  She was home?

  His second meeting with Wade was much more informal than the first, but Jace could concentrate better, thanks to Dink being beside him this time. She’d texted the eldest Weston brother and set up a meeting Saturday morning, and as soon as they’d walked into his office and Wade glanced down at their clasped hands, he’d smiled.

  “Good to see you again,” he’d said as he’d come around the edge of the desk to greet them warmly. Like they were part of the family. “How’s the wedding planning coming?”

  “Great,” Dink had chirped. “So far, so good. We’ve still got to decorate Wild West Town, but I think Kelsi recruited all of the Westons to help with that on Monday, right?” At Wade’s nod, she continued, “We’re meeting with Pastor Roberts one last time tomorrow, and our family arrives today. It sounds like your parents aren’t coming, after all?”

  With that, Wade had seemed to deflate and propped his hip against his desk as he crossed his arms. “No. Dad doesn’t fly, and they’re still down in Florida. But, as Mom pointed out, they didn’t come home for Kelsi’s wedding, or Jess’s or Wyatt’s. Only difference is that Will’s is a publicity stunt, so they heartily approve.”

  Jace, who’d grown up without parents, couldn’t imagine the stress revolving around families and weddings, but Dink had done her best to explain it over the last few days. So he’d just kept his mouth shut in response to Wade’s obvious frustration.

  Dink knew just what to say though. “Well, we’re going to do our best to make sure that the ranch comes off looking awesome.”

  Wade had smiled and gestured for them to sit. “So, are you here to talk about the wedding?”

  “Nope.” Dink had pulled Jace forward to sit in the same leather chair he’d sat in the day before, and he didn’t miss the way his soon-to-be-boss’s eyes flicked down to their clasped hands once more. Maybe Jace should’ve untangled himself from Dink, but he couldn’t force himself to. She felt too good.

  So he’d just sat there and listened to her describe their—her?—idea for the summer camp and watched her. He loved how animated she was, how enthusiastic. She’d been that way for him too, and it was a new feeling. A feeling that made his chest tight and his stomach uneven and his pulse loud in his ears.

  He was falling hard for his unintentional roommate.

  It wasn’t until Wade had turned to him that Jace realized she’d finished explaining. He didn’t know what the general manager was asking him, so he just tried to look as serious and supportive as possible.

  “You think this would be profitable for the ranch, Jace?”

  Well, shoot. He was River’s End Ranch’s new accountant, wasn’t he? Jace had sighed, and run his hand over his hair. “It might take a year or two, but I think we could make a small profit. Frankly though, I think the benefits will come from the goodwill those camps will foster in the community.”

  He’d sat up a little straighter, remembering what the summer camp had meant to him as a kid. “You’re going to get a lot of new guests, once people start hearing what a great time their kids are having. And I’m guessing Lily—the event planner, or whoever is in charge of PR—could swing a lot of great publicity out of the program. People all over will hear about the ranch if we’re reaching a segment of the population we haven’t catered to before. Parents spend a lot on their kids, don’t they?”

  Wade stared at him a moment longer, then looked down at the notes Dink had handed him. “You’ve got a good point. I’ll call and talk to Dad about it. Do you have anyone in mind to run the camp?” The eldest Weston’s smile was barely contained as he’d glanced between Jace and Dink.

  But she’d held up her hands and shook her head. “No! I’ll help out, but I don’t want to be in charge.”

  “Fair enough.” Wade put the notes down. “I have a guy—Shawn McAllister—in mind who’s staying at the ranch. He’s a teacher, but asked if I had any extra work for him...”

  After that, it was pretty obvious Wade was already deep in thought about the possibilities, so Dink had grabbed Jace’s hand and jerked her head towards the door. They’d said their goodbyes, and Wade had barely acknowledged them.

  And now they stood on the porch of the Main House, blinking in the noon sun and trying to decide what to tackle first on their wedding to-do list. Dink wanted to drive to Post Falls to pick up the suits, but Jace thought they should spend the afternoon going over the guest list one more time, to give the final numbers to the kitchen on Sunday.

  “Hey, shorty.” It was an unfamiliar voice attached to an unfamiliar man. He was walking up the path from the parking lot, swaggering more than a little. “You seen my baby sister around anywhere?”

  Jace bristled, wondering if this giant was talking to them, when Dink screamed—actually screamed—and launched herself off the porch and into the stranger’s arms. He spun her around, and she wrapped her legs around him to hug him harder.

  Jace’s jaw dropped. Had she really just climbed into this man’s arms? Of all the rash, reckless things to do!

  But the stranger was now sizing Jace up and took a step closer, with Dink still wrapped around him. He was as tall as Jace himself, but about twice as wide at the shoulders. His forearms alone were the size of Jace’s calves. But Jace had the advantage, being up on the porch. He nodded at the stranger, not exactly welcoming, but not warily either. Years-old memories of schoolyard scrapes for dominance told him how to hold himself.

  But then Dink had to go and ruin the budding stand-off. “Jace, this is Elvis, my brother.”

  As his shoulders relaxed, Jace allowed himself to see the similarit
ies. The stranger’s hair was much darker, but he had Dink’s blue eyes and easy smile, which he flashed now as he untangled himself from his sister. “Aww, come on, Lloyd. You know I hate that name.”

  “That’s why we use it, silly!”

  Her brother took the first two steps up to the porch, and stuck out his hand for a shake. His grip was just as crushing as Jace had expected. “Elf Redfern, which I’ll admit isn’t much better than Elvis. I’m Ellie’s big brother, and Dink’s even bigger brother.”

  Jace had to smile at the man’s self-deprecating humor. “Jason Cunningham. I’m Will’s Best Man.”

  “Good to meet you.”

  Dink was positively vibrating with excitement. “Where’re Muz and Dad? Did you all come to the ranch together?”

  “Well,” Elf drawled. “The flight was fine, thanks for asking. Had some trouble in Spokane finding a rental car big enough for me and Dad to both fit, but…”

  “Are they here?” Dink asked exasperatedly.

  Her brother smiled, and looked so much like his sister for a moment—if Dink’d had a big dark beard, that is—that Jace blinked. “They’re over at the Bunk House with Ellie. We’re headed over to her house to see Will again in about a half-hour.”

  Dink squealed and took off running for the hotel building attached to the old ranch house, leaving the two men to size each other up once more.

  “So, Jason, huh?” Elf shoved his hands in his pockets, and Jace saw he shared his youngest sister’s taste in clothing. His jeans were well-worn, his work boots were scuffed, and his t-shirt was splattered in what might’ve been paint. “Dink hasn’t mentioned you.”

  Forcing himself to shrug nonchalantly, Jace stepped down and around the larger man, heading towards the Bunk House. “We just met recently.”

  The other man hummed noncommittally, and followed. “It’s just that you seem awfully protective of her.”

  Jace bristled again, and his stride lengthened. “Is this where you warn me not to hurt her? A show of big-brother-ship?”

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Elf shrug. “Nah. She can handle herself. Just curious.”

  He sounded serious, so Jace slowed and forced himself to take a deep breath. “She can. She’s a pretty amazing woman.”

  “Glad you see that.” Elf was one of those people who had the ability to smile at anything, like his sister did. “I’m looking forward to catching up with her while I’m here.”

  “Is your family planning on staying long?”

  “Dunno.” The other man shrugged, and their strides matched as they made their way towards the Bunk House’s parking lot. “Muz and Dad have plane tickets back next week, but are looking forward to relaxing a little here. I don’t have any pressing reason to get back to Charleston.”

  “What do you do?” Jace remembered Dink mentioned her brother worked with metal and sold his creations online. Was he an artist too?

  “Lots of different things. Mechanic, I guess. I quit my job to go to school last year, but they’re not teaching me anything I don’t already know.”

  Jace thought the eldest Redfern sibling sounded just as blasé about school as Will did. Maybe that’s why Ellie and Will got along so well. But Elf’s words reminded Jace of something Wade had said during the interview…

  “Well, if you decide to stick around awhile, the ranch’s general manager just told me yesterday they need to hire a part-time mechanic. Apparently, the fleet of four-wheelers and utility trucks is getting too large to expect the mechanic from Riston to keep coming out here all the time.”

  Elf nodded. “I’ll think about it, thanks. I—”

  Jace never got to hear the remainder of the other man’s words, because the rest of the Redfern family came barreling out the door then and enveloped them both. Mr. Redfern was as big and burly as his son, although his hair was going gray and his face was well-lined. But it was obvious that Dink had gotten her diminutive height from Mrs. Redfern—who insisted Jace call her Muz, because “Everyone else does, pumpkin!”

  Muz told him that while hugging him, and Jace had no choice but to hug her back. Truthfully, he didn’t mind. It was kind of nice to be welcomed like family. Obviously the Redferns were as welcoming as the Westons, and it wasn’t until later, when he found himself sitting with Muz and Will and Elf on the front porch of Will’s home, that he understood what that meant.

  These people had accepted him immediately, without knowing a thing about him, just because he was Dink’s friend. And watching Muz flutter around Will—“Pumpkin, weddings are as easy as falling off a piece of cake!”—Jace realized that he wanted this too. He liked being part of this family, just as much as he liked being part of Will’s family. As much as he liked being part of the ranch.

  As much as he liked being part of Dink’s life.

  Watching her laugh with her mother, Jace realized something unequivocal—he might’ve told her brother they’d only met recently, which was true, but it didn’t matter. Somewhere along the way he’d fallen in love with her enthusiasm, her utter disregard for the rules Jace had lived his life by, and her welcoming, caring manner, which she obviously got from her mother. He’d fallen in love with her kisses, and her smiles, and her stupid little jokes.

  Somewhere over the last few days—had he only known her a few days?—Jace had fallen in love with her.

  Uh-oh.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Sunday afternoon found them sitting in the otherwise empty Sadie’s Soda Saloon, the ice cream parlor that stood next door to the chapel in the Wild West Town. They’d both agreed that the church service had been pretty cool. Even though the chapel was fairly new, it had been built to look old-timey—down to the unpadded pews—and they’d both felt like they’d been sitting through a nineteenth-century church service.

  Afterwards, they’d stuck around while Pastor Roberts had mingled with the congregation, then sat down to discuss wedding-day logistics with him. Jace liked him; he was a younger preacher, just out of seminary, and seemed happy to be settling down near where he’d grown up. He’d insisted they call him “Pastor Kevin” and he wore blue jeans to preach. Not only did he seem enthusiastic about doing a Wild-West-themed wedding, he even offered some suggestions.

  Jace had been happy to sit back and let Dink take the lead when it came to discussing “antiquing”—as she’d called it—the wedding ceremony. It seemed to really call to her artistic side, and Jace had just watched in admiration as her eyes sparkled and cheeks glowed and she waved her notes around excitedly. She sure was a sight when she was discussing something she was passionate about.

  After they’d turned the wedding license over to Pastor Kevin, it had just felt natural to take her hand as they’d walked out of the chapel. She hadn’t pulled away, but had gone right for the front door of the Soda Saloon and held it open for him. When he’d raised a brow, she just smiled. “Ellie tells me they’ve got really good root beer floats here, and I’m in the mood for a banana split!”

  So now they were sitting across from one another in what Jace had to admit was a well-done old-timey saloon…that sold ice cream and coffee. His float was pretty good—Sadie had said she made all the ice cream herself—and Dink appeared to be enjoying her ‘split’ while they pointed out various decorations.

  The place was decorated to look like something out of an old spaghetti-western, complete with green “baize” poker tables for patrons and a big mirror behind the “bar” where the ice cream was stored. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bartender back there in one of those old aprons, cleaning glasses or something.”

  Dink snorted and used her spoon to point to the fake balcony that circled the room. “I think that’s my favorite—the way it’s decorated to look like there’s a second story. I keep waiting for a scantily-clad saloon girl to come out one of those doors.”

  “This whole place is right out of a movie.” He nodded towards the upright piano along the front wall. “I can’t believe that thing really works!”

&n
bsp; “Of course it does!” The proprietress, a busty brunette who wasn’t much taller than Dink, came bustling out of the back room, lugging a container of ice cream. “Who do you think is going to be playing it at the wedding? Me, silly!” Sadie womanhandled the tub into the refrigerated spot under the counter. “Ellie arranged it a few weeks ago. I play for festivals and parties and stuff that need a western setting. I’ve even got a set of ridiculous-looking barmaid costumes I make us all wear.”

  Dink giggled, “Oh, I would love to see that!”

  “You will.” Sadie wiped her hands on a rag and came around the “bar” to prop a hip against the table nearest to them. “We’ll be wearing them on Tuesday. Wade sent ‘round a memo that the wedding’s full western dress, right?” At Jace’s reluctant nod, the brunette smiled. “Well, anything we can do to rustle up a little business around here is a good thing.”

  Looking around at the empty soda shop, Jace had to agree. Sadie noticed and understood his look. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s not always like this. But there’s always a Sunday afternoon slump, and you caught us right at the tail-end of ice cream season.” She pointed to Dink, who had just shoveled a big bite of strawberry ice cream into her mouth. “By next week, we’ll only offer chocolate and vanilla regularly—although I like to experiment!—and we’ll start churning out coffee at a much higher rate. There’s just something about October that brings out the pumpkin spice in people. Coffee—and tea, and hot chocolate—are what get us through the winter.”

  “Well, then,” Dink’s voice sounded muffled until she audibly swallowed, “I’m sure glad I caught y’all this week. But I wouldn’t mind some spiced coffee! I’ll have to try some before I—”