Cowboys & Angels

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  Josie managed to keep her composure, too, as she followed the pair. Elle could see the combination of laughter and tears swimming in her eyes, but she took a deep breath and kept going.

  Morgan Chance appeared next. She obviously was fighting the same battle to keep from both laughing and crying at the antics of her daughter and Josie’s son. This, Elle knew, would be a moment talked about for many years.

  Elle wondered if Dominique Chance, Nick’s wife, would be next down the aisle, but then she noticed a movement at the front of the aisle. There was Dominique crouching down, camera in hand, as little Archie broke away from his cousin and ran to his father.

  Jack scooped him up with a grin. It looked as if Jack would hold on to him during the ceremony, which also meant the rings would be available when needed. Dominique captured it all.

  Elle could imagine how great those pictures would be, considering Dominique’s photography skills. Maybe Dominique would preview them at the reception, or put some up on a website. Elle decided to ask about that later.

  When a soft murmur passed through the group, Elle faced the back of the room again. At last, Pam stood in the doorway wearing a stunning burgundy velvet gown. On her left side was a blonde woman whose bone structure hinted that she might be related to Emmett. Elle guessed she might be his daughter. On Pam’s other side stood a silver-haired woman with a regal bearing who could only be Sarah Chance, matriarch of the Chance family.

  Elle loved it. No man was going to give this woman to her dashing ranch foreman. No, the women of the Last Chance owned this rite of passage. Elle, who was only barely acquainted with them, felt a moment of solidarity as they passed. She resisted the urge to give them a high five.

  Once Pam and her companions had gone by, Elle turned to watch the bride approach her broad-shouldered groom. His eyes shone, and she moved toward him with the steady gait of a woman certain of her path. Elle’s throat tightened and her eyes grew moist. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried, but she was crying now.

  God, it was beautiful, this joining of two lives, this celebration of all things precious between them. Tears slid down her cheeks. Someday...when she was ready...when she’d tired of the freedom to move unfettered about the world....

  But that time had not come, she reminded herself gently. She was viewing an image of what was to be in the future. She shouldn’t get too carried away by the emotional ceremony taking place today.

  She wouldn’t wait until she was in her sixties before she looked for a guy, but she had more to see and do. She’d given herself at least until she was thirty before settling down, which was more than two years away. She didn’t want to jump the gun.

  That was important to remember whenever she interacted with Trey. Most people had a mental timetable, whether they acknowledged it or not. His wasn’t in sync with hers.

  But thanks to him, she had begun examining the patterns she’d been taught as a child. Thanks to him, she’d discovered a capacity for pleasure that she’d never dreamed of having. Thanks to him, she was able to be part of a celebration that showed her that sometimes, pulling out all the stops could be wonderful.

  The ceremony was classy and relatively short. It included one musical interlude when Tyler Keller sang, accompanied by Watkins and Trey. Emmett and Pam promised to love and cherish each other, and when they kissed, everyone in the room cheered.

  Grinning like teenagers, the newly married couple hurried back down the aisle accompanied by lively guitar music. The guests streamed after them, bound for a reception in the ballroom down the hall. Everyone, that was, except Elle and Mary Lou, Watkins’s wife.

  When Elle noticed that Mary Lou was waiting for Watkins, she decided to take her cue and wait for Trey. No one had to know that she and Trey had exchanged sharp words the last time they’d seen each other.

  Mary Lou motioned for Elle to come and stand with her. “Weren’t our guys terrific?”

  “They were.”

  “Tyler and Watkins made a recording last year, and Josie sells the CD at the Spirits and Spurs. I think they should make another one, don’t you?”

  “That’s a great idea.”

  “I’m so glad Emmett invited you. I’m sure Trey was thrilled you could come.”

  “I hope so.” She planned to act as if they had nothing to quarrel about. This wouldn’t be the time to talk about the issues, anyway. But she couldn’t completely ignore their less-than-happy parting. He was too much of a gentleman to reject her in front of Mary Lou and Watkins, but he might after they reached the reception.

  He walked toward her, his guitar case in one hand. “Glad you came.” He still wasn’t smiling.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it. You and Watkins were wonderful.”

  “Thanks. It was fun.”

  She lowered her voice. “Trey, I’m so sor—”

  “Never mind.” He hooked his free arm around her waist and drew her in for a quick kiss. “We’ll talk later.”

  “Good.” She hoped they’d do a whole lot more than talk.

  “You look amazing, Elle.”

  She sighed. “Thank you.” It would be all right. Because he had a big heart, he’d forgiven her for running out on him and saying a few things she wished she could take back. But somehow she had to figure out how to keep from breaking that big heart of his. That would be a challenge.

  11

  WHEN ELLE HAD walked in, Trey had screwed up a chord, but he’d quickly recovered and didn’t think anybody but Watkins had noticed. Then she’d actually waited for him to pack up so she could go over to the reception with him. He wasn’t sure what it all meant, or what exactly she’d been about to apologize for, but at least she was here.

  If she’d planned to tell him she was sorry, but it was over between them, he wasn’t about to give her that opportunity. He couldn’t let her break up with him before he danced with her. Dancing was bound to help his cause, especially if they moved as well together as he expected they would.

  Amy had said Elle was susceptible to his music, so he’d use that during the reception, too. He’d grab every chance to convince her that throwing away something this great was a crime against nature. He’d use sex, too, because she responded well to that.

  She’d admitted that she’d never had it this good. He wondered if she’d asked herself why that was. Sure, people talked about having great sex with a virtual stranger, but how often did that happen? In his view, the best sex took place between two people who were right for each other in many ways. Right for each other like Pam and Emmett were, for example.

  “How did you like the wedding?” he asked as they walked hand-in-hand, following Watkins and Mary Lou down the hall to the reception.

  “Loved it.”

  “Me, too. Everything went off like clockwork. I was worried that Emmett wouldn’t throw himself into the occasion, but he was a stand-up guy in the end. He came through with flying colors.”

  “He did! He looked so proud and handsome at the altar. Maybe he finally realized how special the moment was, and how important it was to experience that moment with family and friends. Vegas would have been so...impersonal.”

  “Vegas would have been a disaster. Besides, Watkins said Pam would never have agreed to Vegas. He thinks she would have called off the wedding before she’d have agreed to get married there.”

  Watkins glanced over his shoulder. “Did I hear my name mentioned?”

  “I was just telling Elle your opinion about how Pam would have reacted if Emmett had insisted on Vegas.”

  “Oh, he’s right.” Mary Lou paused and glanced back at them. “I talked to Sarah, who said that Pam was breathing fire over that suggestion. Good thing Trey changed Emmett’s mind.”

  “Trey?” Elle glanced at him. “I didn’t realize you were the magician who made this come out okay.�
��

  “It wasn’t just me. Watkins said some good things, too.”

  “No, it was you.” Watkins and Mary Lou turned around, and Watkins lowered his voice. “You helped Emmett understand why Mary Lou wasn’t backing him up on the Vegas idea. That was the key.”

  Mary Lou directed her comments to Elle. “Emmett expected my support because Watkins and I got married on a cruise instead of at the ranch.”

  “Oh.” After seeing how much everyone enjoyed this wedding, Elle was surprised.

  “Which was fine.” Watkins obviously wanted to demonstrate his loyalty to Mary Lou.

  “It was fine,” she said. “I didn’t want a fuss, and it wasn’t like we were young folks, like you two, for example.”

  Elle flinched. She hoped Mary Lou wasn’t making assumptions.

  “However...” Mary Lou exchanged a meaningful glance with her husband. “We probably should have gotten married at the ranch, shared the occasion with everyone and then gone on the cruise.”

  “Probably,” Watkins said.

  “It doesn’t matter how old you are.” Mary Lou sighed. “People want to be there, and now I understand why. I would have been devastated if Pam and Emmett had run off somewhere to get married.”

  “We could renew our vows,” Watkins said.

  “Excellent idea,” Trey said. “I volunteer to play for it.”

  Mary Lou brightened. “That does sound like fun. Except aren’t you supposed to do that for a significant anniversary? We haven’t been married that long.”

  “Lou-Lou, every anniversary with you is significant.”

  “Aw. You are so full of it.” But Mary Lou smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “We’ll do it next summer, then.” She turned to Elle. “And you should come.”

  “I’d love to, but I’ll be in Argentina all summer.”

  “Really? All summer?” Mary Lou looked over at Trey. “That’s a long way from Jackson Hole.”

  “Yep.” Trey didn’t need anyone to tell him that. He wasn’t ready to accept the idea that Elle would go to Argentina in April. He wasn’t planning to accept it until he had no choice. “Hey, we’d better get in there and start playing before the natives get restless.”

  Watkins nodded. “Right. We can plan our summer party later. Pam’s expecting music at this shindig, and we’re all she’s got, poor lady.”

  “She’s got the best,” Mary Lou said. “Isn’t that so, Elle?”

  “It certainly is.” Elle gave Trey a big smile. “Go on in there and do your stuff, cowboy. We’ll both be watching.”

  He liked that big ol’ smile of hers. He just wished she hadn’t also reminded him that she intended to leave for Argentina as planned. He’d heard of relationships working out when the two people were separated for months at a time, but he’d never been a fan of the concept.

  Once they entered the reception, Trey had to focus the bulk of his attention on entertaining the wedding guests. Dancing was a big deal at the Last Chance, and most everyone wanted danceable tunes. Trey and Watkins played and sang, joined every so often by Tyler.

  While he was stuck on the makeshift bandstand, Trey had to put up with watching Elle dance with other guys. But he couldn’t expect her to sit on the sidelines and wait for him to take a break. She looked good out there, but he reacted to having anyone holding her besides him.

  Then someone asked him to play the song he’d written for Elle. “I’ll have to ask the lady if it’s okay,” he said. “Don’t want to embarrass her.”

  “Too late!” Elle called out.

  That got a laugh, but he didn’t consider her comment to be permission. Looking at her, he held out his fist, thumb pointed sideways. He hoped she understood what he was asking.

  She must have, because she mimicked his gesture and turned her thumb up. He was more pleased than she could imagine. Although he’d love to serenade her with this song, he wouldn’t have done it if she’d said no.

  Settling down on the stool next to the microphone, he began strumming his guitar. The words had come to him so quickly the night he’d written them. No song had been this easy to write.

  Holding her gaze, he sang to her about being lost and without hope. Then she’d come out of the darkness, his angel. He had to agree with her that the lyrics were sappy, but that was why he loved them. She’d saved his life, and if a guy couldn’t get sentimental because a beautiful woman had come to his rescue, then why write songs at all?

  Even from this distance he could see her cheeks turn pink. She was embarrassed, but she hadn’t looked away. Not once. Instead, her attention had locked onto him as if they were connected by an invisible cord.

  He milked the moment for all it was worth. If Amy was right, and Elle had a soft spot for country singers, then he’d work it. Her love of country music was another dead giveaway that she wasn’t the hard-boiled realist she pretended to be. Country music was full of schmaltz.

  At the end of the song, the crowd seemed to be holding its breath, as if everyone needed a second or two to absorb the last notes. He liked that. It was the sign of a good tune. Standing, he gazed at Elle, who continued to stand as motionless as a carved statue.

  He blew her a kiss, and the room erupted in applause, whistles and stomping feet. Finally, in the midst of the commotion, she broke eye contact with him and ducked her head. But not before he saw her smile.

  He propped his guitar in its stand and glanced at Watkins. “Can you take it for the next number? And make it a waltz?”

  Watkins winked at him and covered his mike. “You got it, Romeo.” Then he uncovered his mike again. “Tyler Keller, would you come on up and sing for us? At the request of my partner, I’m gonna treat you folks to a waltz, and Tyler sings a mighty pretty version of ‘If I Didn’t Have You in My World.’”

  Perfect song, Trey thought as he climbed down from the temporary stage and moved through the crowd in search of Elle. Along the way people shook his hand and slapped him on the back. No doubt they thought he’d made a conquest by performing that tune of his, but he wasn’t taking any bets on that. Elle was a tough nut to crack.

  He didn’t have to go far to find her. She was standing at the edge of the dance floor waiting for him. Her blue eyes sparkled as she stepped toward him. “I assume this is our dance?”

  “If you’ll do me the honor.”

  “I’ve been looking forward to it.”

  “Me, too.” He drew her into his arms as Tyler began to sing. And the world slipped away. There was only Elle, moving with him as he’d known she would.

  He breathed in her scent, a subtle flowery one that he didn’t recognize. Maybe it was something she put on her hair when she fixed it this way. He leaned down and brushed his lips over her exposed neck.

  “You’d better be careful,” she murmured. “I’m a ticking time bomb.”

  “Oh?” He nuzzled her again. He didn’t mind making her crazy. That seemed only fair, because holding her this close was making him crazy, too.

  “I mean it, Trey. You are one sexy dude up on that stage. I keep watching you fingering your guitar strings. It gets me hot.”

  He whirled her around, and she followed him perfectly. “You like the way I finger my strings?”

  She gazed up at him. “You know I do.”

  “Nice to hear. Do you have plans after this shindig is over?”

  “I hope so. Do you?”

  “I hope so.” He looked into her eyes and wondered if she was listening to the lyrics of “If I Didn’t Have You in My World.” “Nice tune.”

  “Did you request it?”

  “No.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past you.”

  “I didn’t think that far ahead. I just asked for a waltz. Watkins decided on that one, but I agree with his choice. It fits.”

  “T
yler sings it well.”

  “Mmm.” He spun her around again. “Argentina, huh?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  He didn’t comment on that, but he nuzzled her neck again, just because he could. Her small whimper made him smile. She might think she was going to Argentina, but that was because he hadn’t pulled out all the stops yet.

  * * *

  ELLE COULDN’T DENY that Trey was one virile cowboy. And she hadn’t even seen him on a horse yet. After their dance, which had added another sexy arrow to the guy’s quiver, he’d returned to the bandstand.

  She’d spent more time than she’d like to admit surreptitiously observing his long fingers moving up and down the slender neck of his guitar. There was no better word for it—he fondled that instrument, using both quick and slow movements that brought back vivid memories of how he’d touched her.

  The wedding guests enthusiastically applauded the guitarists. They loved the added dimension of Tyler’s vocals. They wanted more.

  A buffet was laid out and the liquor flowed. Elle didn’t begrudge anyone this celebration, especially Pam and Emmett, who seemed to be having more fun than anyone. But she wanted to be alone with Trey.

  He and Watkins finished a rousing tune that had everyone line dancing, and then Watkins spoke into his mike. “Folks, we’re going to take a break and get something to eat. Our former professional DJ, Alex Keller, has agreed to keep you company while we do that, and he’s taking requests. We’ll be back shortly.”

  As Elle wondered what constituted “shortly,” Trey appeared by her side.

  “Fill us a couple of plates while I get us something to drink. I’ll meet you out in the hall in five minutes.”

  She didn’t have to be asked twice. Looping the short strap of her clutch purse over her wrist, she crossed to the buffet table. Finger food seemed like the best choice, so she went with that—chilled shrimp, tiny quiches and elaborate petits fours.

  Once she had two plates piled high, she made her way through the crowd and used her hip to open one of the double doors. Trey was already there, leaning against the wall looking gorgeous as he held two flutes of champagne.