Page 29 of Sweet Surprise

“Under the circumstances, ma’am…” Jess searched for just the right words. “I would feel more comfortable just having a quick ceremony at the courthouse.”

She could see Alice fighting her own objections, then a smile stretched across her face and her eyes lit up. Jess didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” Alice tossed the dish towel aside and placing a moist towel over the dough, grabbed a pad and paper from the kitchen drawer. “We’ll have a small wedding in the park. At the gazebo.” She glanced up at them with a pointed glare. “No church.” Then returned to her pad, scribbling who knew what when she spun around and enthusiastically waved her pen at them. “I’ve got it.”

Carson’s attention shifted from his mother to Jess and then briefly glancing out the window to see what Mason was up to, turned back to his mother. “You’ve got what?”

“The timing is perfect. We’re having that barn dance this Saturday to raise money for the Flannagans after their barn burned down last month.”

“Say again?” Carson didn’t let go of her hand.

“The whole town is planning on coming.”

“Mom. We don’t want to make a big fuss.”

“Nonsense.” She waved him off. “There’s no fuss. All we’re providing is the barn. The committee has everything else all planned and ready to go, wouldn’t have to change a thing. Y’all can get your license, have the small ceremony in the park and then the fundraiser party here at the ranch. We’ll kill two birds with one stone. Besides, with everyone in a good mood, we might raise more money for the Flannagans.”

There was nothing either of them could say. Alice was off calling her sisters, rambling about details, arrangements, flowers and even though Jess hadn’t known the woman long, it was obvious to any idiot that there was no fighting Alice Sweet.

Jess felt Carson’s arm tighten slightly around her waist. The gesture, probably meant for show, offered comfort as well.

“You okay?” he asked softly, not that his mother would hear with her exuberant conversation in the other room.

“I think so.” She blew out a sigh. “The question is, how will Mason be when we tell him?”

“Let’s find out.” Escorting her out the back door, Carson whistled to get their son’s attention.

Immediately Mason leaned over, whispered something to the two dogs and hurried over to the porch.

“Sweetie.” Jess glanced up at Carson, who having let go of her hand when she reached for her son, nodded. “We have something we’d like to share with you.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“How would you like to stay here at the ranch?”

The kid’s eyes grew round like saucers and his head rapidly bobbed up and down.

One question down and one to go. Only this time, Carson squatted down in front of their son. “How would you feel about me marrying your mom?”

Somehow those wide eyes circled even larger and a huge grin to match took over his face. “For real?”

Carson nodded. “For real.”

“Cool!” Without another word, he spun around and ran off shouting for Brady and Samson, yelling that he was going to get to stay and he would have a new daddy.

Stunned at the easy acceptance and lack of questions, Jess turned slack jawed to her sort of fiancé.

“Who knew it would be so easy?” Carson shrugged.

“Do you think he’ll be this happy when he finds out he needs to go shopping for wedding clothes?”

Smiling at their son in the distance, Carson hitched one lazy shoulder. “Only one way to find out.”

She nodded. Her stomach twisted and she swallowed hard. Five more days and she would marry Carson Sweet. Not what she’d expected when she put Mason in the car and started driving west. She couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises might be in store for her.

Chapter Twelve

“Do you, Carson Sweet, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, till death do you part?” Judge Earl stood on the steps of the Sweet Ranch back porch facing the Texas horizon.

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