Page 38 of Soldier Cowboy
“We’ve both grown up a lot and aren’t insanely jealous like we used to be. But in answer to your question, she doesn’t love it. The show begged, and she finally relented. They’re not going to be part of the wedding and we won’t see much of them. Think of them as the audience. It’s likely the crew will take photos of them at the reception so they can do their thing.”
“So, you don’t see yourself talking to any of them?”
“No time. I think I’ll be pretty busy with my wife that day.”
Colton swallowed the last of his beer. “Can you imagine what it would have been like if I’d brought Jennifer here, as mygirlfriend?”
“Ha! You were wise. It would have been open season until you put a ring on it. That’s what I had to deal with when the show took a break, and I wasn’t supposed to see any of the women until we resumed filming. Bonnie Lee had a line out the door of men coming to court, just in case I didn’t pick her.”
“That must have been fun for you.”
He scowled. “Before that, I’d had a taste of what it was like to have women chase after me for a change. Got to say, I didn’t hate it.”
Even though he’d had every intention, this didn’t seem like a good time for Colton to bring up that he’d lied about his engagement. He had more than one reason now. He had wanted everyone to believe he was fine. But he’d never realized what an impact it would have in demonstrating he was perfectly capable of having a solid relationship. Perfectly willing to make a lifetime commitment. And even if it annoyed him to no end that a wife was what it took everyone to convince them he was sticking around, he was not going to back down now that he’d won Riggs’s approval for a change.
“What’s it going to be like around here on your wedding day? I expect a crew, but how many? Will they all be vetted?”
Sean looked at him quizzically but if he thought it a weird question to ask, he didn’t say so. “No one gets on this property that doesn’t have a press pass. Don’t worry, both Riggs and I have been adamant about that. And it should be a small crew. None of the former contestants were even allowed to bring a plus one.”
“What about at the chapel?”
Everyone in Stone Ridge was married at Trinity right in town.
“The ceremony is assured to be only family and close friends. We insisted on it.”
Hours later, when Colton got back from chores around the ranch and visiting with Freya once more, he was hot and sweaty.
On the way back to the cabin, Delores waved until she got his attention.
She jogged to close the distance between them. “I have something for you.”
“What now? You did enough by stocking the kitchen.”
“That’s not enough! After Bonnie and Sean’s wedding, we’ll have to celebrate yours and Jennifer’s engagement.”
“We don’t need that. Or expect it.” He dragged a hand through his hair, wishing he could somehow get her to drop it.
“Well, darling boy, you may not need any fanfare, but I assure you your fiancée does. You can’t just get married at one of those drive-through chapels in Reno and be done with it. We’re your family and we’d like to celebrate with you. You’ll be married at Trinity like everyone else. And what about a ring?”
“Yeah, we’ll go shopping for one soon.”
“Or…you don’t have to.” She took his hand, opened it up, and deposited a ring box. “It was my wedding ring and I always hoped I could give it to someone. Winona and Bonnie Lee already had their rings, so this one has just been waiting for you. I like Jennifer, or I wouldn’t let you have this ring. But it would mean a lot if you would take it.”
“Delores, I can’t—”
“I realize it’s not a big fancy diamond but it’s a classic. You might say it’s practically an antique. My husband bought it for me, and Marge helped him pick it out. She knew what I liked, and what he could afford.”
Colton opened the box and stared at the ring inside. It was a plain gold band with etching on the sides and looked both old, understated, and classic. Like Delores. The connection to his mother and Delores was like a band stretching across the years, binding them together.
“It’s really beautiful.”
Refusing the ring would hurt her feelings, but accepting it was…he didn’t know what, other than deception pure and simple. For a brief second, he considered taking her into his confidence. Then he saw the shimmering happiness in her eyes.
“I’m so happy for you. After what happened with that…thatwoman, well, let’s just say that loyalty is a scarce commodity for some of the women of Stone Ridge.”
“Delores, that was a long time ago.”
Sooner or later, he should have known that Delores would bring this up. He didn’t know how else to spell it out for everyone: he was over it. Over Cherisse, and had been for some time. Sure, it was a little embarrassing, and now that he considered it carefully, word getting back to Cherisse about his upcoming marriage was going to be nice. Very nice. She’d married Taylor, after all, and that kind of thing was tough to forget. But Colton was angrier with Taylor than he was with Cherisse. In one short email, he lost both his first girlfriend and his oldest friend. It wasn’t exactly the best news a soldier could get from home. Followed shortly after the death of his father, it had been particularly heinous timing.
