Page 17 of Soldier Cowboy
Sean chuckled and waved them inside. “C’mon in before the rest of them get here.”
“The rest? You’re expecting more company?” Jennifer asked as she followed Bonnie inside.
“Just family.”
Just familyturned out to be the oldest brother, Riggs, and his wife Winona. They had three small children, two of them twins. The famous Delores was here, too, herding the twin boys who seemed to love to chase poor Beer’s tail. The little girl was adorable and riding high on her dad’s broad shoulders. The moment their family unit arrived the decibel level went up by at least fifty percent. Less than twenty minutes later, everyone had arrived, and hugs were exchanged.
“This is my mother, Maybelle Wheeler, and my aunt, Beulah Hayes.” Bonnie placed a hand on Jennifer’s shoulder. “Ladies, prepare to be shocked. This is Colton’s fiancée,Jennifer.”
“Hisfiancée?”
Beulah Hayes wore an outfit that could best be described as country chic. The dark blue jeans looked like they’d been pressed, and she wore a pink-and-yellow scarf matching her pink-and-white gingham blouse. Her sister Maybelle dressed in a similar fashion but without the scarf and pressed jeans.
“Well, now isn’t that something. Congratulations,” said Maybelle.
“Um, thank you.” Jennifer didn’t know what to do with her hands, so they fluttered in front of her like birds. “I love him, of course.”
Both Maybelle and Beulah cocked their heads, observing her like she was a strange oddity. Not entirely unpleasant, but out of place. A Los Angeles pigeon among all these bluebirds.
“Of course, you love him,” said Maybelle as though speaking to a five-year-old.
“People don’t usually get engaged unless they’re in love.” Beulah’s twang was thicker than Maybelle’s.
Something about this woman said “lady in charge” and “queen bee.” Jennifer should stay on her good side or this ruse of theirs wouldn’t last the day.
She caught Beulah staring at Jennifer’s empty ring finger and quirking a brow. “Did the ring need to be sized?”
Yes, that would have been a better idea.
She held up her naked finger. “Colton wanted me to pick out something I’d like.”
“Nothing worse than a piece of jewelry you hate,” Bonnie said. “And have to wear for the rest of your life.”
“Then how did he propose?” Maybelle asked.
Fortunately, as a journalist, Jennifer thought fast on her feet. “It was…romantic. Um, he had a box, wrapped very prettily and he dropped to one knee and everything.”
“That does sound like a man of Stone Ridge. But what was in thebox?” Beulah cocked her head.
“It was empty.”
“Empty,” Maybelle repeated, as if dumbfounded.
“And in it, there was a little note that said I should pick whatever I wanted since I would be wearing it for the rest of my life.”
“Aw,” Bonnie said, hand on her heart. “Sweet,sweetColton.”
“Ours was a quick courtship,” Jennifer said, trying to remember all the particulars. “We met through my father, who knew Colton. He introduced us.”
Best of all none of this was a lie. The two ladies clucked their approval and nodded.
“Wheredid you meet?” Bonnie said.
This they hadnotdiscussed, or if they had, she could not recall.
Jennifer swallowed and pulled on her pinky finger, a nervous habit. “Well, it was…we met in—”
“Los Angeles.” Colton appeared at her side, draping his arm around her waist. “That was thefirsttime we met.”
