Page 2 of Waiting for the Rancher
He’d been surprised when Sterling had proposed marriage to her a few months ago, especially since the two hadn’t beencourting all that long. But Maverick had supported Sterling the way any best friend would. In fact, he’d even helped Sterling with his proposal plans, the plans they’d made when they’d been younger and had dreamed up how they’d each propose to the woman they fell in love with.
Sterling had decided he would propose by taking his true love skiing to nearby Devil’s Glen, have a romantic dinner in an old miner’s cabin there, and then ask her to marry him during dessert.
Maverick had been the one to ski out to the cabin ahead of time. He’d set up everything, including table linens, candles, and pine boughs to freshen the scent. He’d even brought the meal the Nobles’ family cook had made. Maverick had ensured that every detail was perfect.
The January day had been beautiful, and the conditions had been just right. Sterling had proposed to Violet the way he’d always planned. The problem was Sterling had taken Violet by surprise, and she’d turned him down. He’d come back from the monumental event crushed.
The next weekend, Violet had apologized to him and accepted the proposal. Course, Sterling loved her enough to put aside his disappointment and had given her the ring again.
Now with the coming of April, the big day had arrived.
Sterling hesitated in the hallway. Was he thinking of stopping and talking with Violet?
Maverick steered him away from the door. “Naw, you don’t get to see her yet.”
Sterling shuffled forward. “Just wanted to talk to her through the door and make sure she’s all right.”
“Everything’s fine.” Maverick gave him a shove. “Now c’mon.”
Sterling nodded, as though trying to convince himself that everything really was fine. Then he started down the stairs, and Maverick trailed him with Hazel on his heels.
Family and friends were milling about in the entryway of the Nobles’ sprawling ranch house. The double doors leading to the front parlor were open, revealing more guests waiting for the start of the ceremony.
In years past, Maverick’s whole family would have been at a gathering like this. His pa and ma and five siblings. But today...
His gaze snagged on his twin sisters, Clementine and Clarabelle, who were seated on a settee just inside the parlor where they were chatting with Mrs. Noble. Besides himself, they were the only Oakleys at the wedding. And Clarabelle had almost stayed home because she hadn’t wanted to leave Ma’s bedside.
Ma’s pale face and listless body flashed to the front of his mind. Not only had his foolishness cost Pa his life, but it was costing Ma hers too. She was dying of a broken heart, and with each passing day, she was only getting worse.
Sterling finished descending amidst warm congratulations, but Maverick paused near the bottom of the stairway and swallowed hard.
What was more, without Pa there, the family was falling apart, and it was all because of him.
Maybe he hadn’t been directly responsible for all that had happened to cause the big rift between Ryder and Tanner, but if Pa had been there, he would have known what to do to make them see reason. In fact, his two younger brothers probably wouldn’t have started fighting at all, not with Pa intervening and bringing about peace.
At a gentle hand on his shoulder, Maverick shifted to find Hazel on the step above him. Her warm gaze seemed to encourage him that everything would be all right.
But he knew the truth deep inside. Nothing would ever be all right again.
He pulled at his tie, loosening it another notch. Even then, his breathing turned shallow, and he couldn’t seem to get enough air.
With franticness rising inside, he glanced around for an escape and locked in on the front door. He needed to step outside... for a few seconds.
He broke away from Hazel’s hold and descended the last couple of steps. “Be right back.” He tossed her what he hoped was a grateful look. “Need a fresh lungful.”
She was peering at her mother, who was motioning at her to hurry. “Don’t take too long. Everyone is waiting for the wedding to start.”
He was already winding his way past the guests to the front door. Although he was tempted to remind Hazel he wasn’t holding things up, that Violet and Sterling were the ones dallying, he bit back his comment and pushed out the door.
He stepped onto the wraparound porch that faced Bald Mountain and the range lining the eastern part of Summit County. The rocky peaks were covered in a thick layer of snow that the high-altitude sun was slowly beginning to melt away.
The pasture spreading out in front of the Nobles’ house was still barren and brown with patches of snow piled in the shade of boulders or brush. Hints of green were beginning to make an appearance, but it would be another month before blue grama grass began to flourish again.
As he crossed the porch and started down the steps, he sucked in a deep breath of the cool air. The dampness of soil and the waft of cattle and manure filled his nostrils.
He wasn’t ready for the wedding, wasn’t ready to be around everyone, wasn’t ready for going on with life as if everything was the same as it had always been when it had all changed.
He followed the flagstone path forward several feet. Then he halted and inhaled again, his sights on the towering range ahead. If only he could be as strong and solid as the mountains, just like his pa. But he was all too often hotheaded and hasty.
