Page 51 of A Cowboy's Trust
Jake untangled his brain long enough to ask, “You guys want us to head out?”
Aiden shook his head. “I know we planned the whole family not being here thing, but I think you guys sticking around is right.”
Which was how Jake and Tansy ended up tucked into the shadows at the side of the room as his brother and Petra exchanged vows.
Tansy stood ramrod straight beside him. For a minute Jake couldn’t breathe until he realized she stood like that becausehehad his shoulders back, the tumbling thoughts in his brain making him every bit the unapproachable uptight jackass she probably thought he was.
He’d learned something new and unexpected about her today. She’d trusted him, and while he wasn’t sure how the information fit into the Tansy he’d grown connected to, he still wanted to be there beside her.
He still wantedher.
As Malachi stepped into position between Petra and Aiden, Jake slid his arm around Tansy’s back and tucked her to his side.
For a second she remained stiff, then she sighed and softened against him. She slid her arm under his jacket and rested her head against his chest until she was tucked into position, nice and close.
Malachi kept talking in the background, but Jake was more focused on his own revelation. It wasn’t what he’d expected, but when had anything with Tansy been predictable? It was worthwhile taking the time to find out more.
He had High Water to thank for that, he supposed. A place for new starts and new ways of thinking, even for him.
The wedding should have taken much longer,but maybe that was because Tansy was comparing it to all the church weddings she’d attended.
Or maybe it was wishful thinking on her part because the longer the wedding took, the longer she had before she had to explain to Jake what he had just witnessed.
But the vows were happening, short and sweet.
Petra lifted her chin. “The first time I saw you I knew I wanted you in my life. The second time reaffirmed that same thing. Attraction, yes, but the bigger tug I felt toward you was deep inside. That tug gets deeper every day, and I’m so excited to be able to spend the rest of our lives getting to know each other better.”
Aiden grinned. He glanced at the camera for a moment then back at Petra. “You know why I wanted to get married here?”
Petra raised a brow. “Good acoustics?”
Malachi guffawed, instantly schooling his features. “Sorry.”
Both Aiden and Petra snickered before Petra offered more seriously, “Good memories?”
“The best. Because the first time I saw you I knew I wanted you in my life.”
A small laugh escaped Petra at the repetition of her words.
Aiden continued. “And the second time I saw you I was so damn glad to be back here in Heart Falls at a point in my life that it was time to settle down, because you are it for me. Always and forever.”
Then they stood there grinning at each other.
Malachi started the formal part of pronouncing them husband and wife, but Tansy was more aware of Jake, who had rearranged them so that he was leaning on the wall and she was leaning against him, cradled in his arms. Surrounded by him, protected.
Jake pressed a kiss to the top of her head as Malachi made the final proclamation. Tansy held back a cheer so it wouldn’t end up on the audio.
As soon as the camera had been turned off, though, Jake let off a loud whoop of congratulations, hurrying Tansy forward so they could share hugs with Aiden and Petra.
Her father paused once again, his gaze lingering for a moment where Jake stood talking to his brother. “So.”
Tansy pushed Malachi’s arm gently. “Don’t go getting your hopes up too soon. But yeah. I like him, Papa.”
“You trust him,” her father added. “That’s a good thing, sweetie. But yes, I’ll hold my horses until otherwise told.”
Which was a load of nonsense. “You’re already planning some event so you can invite him over and interrogate him on the sly, aren’t you?”
Her father peeked at her over the top of his glasses. “Wherever do you think you learned your best tricks?”
