Page 70 of The Wedding Ranch
Both children stepped in front of Cody. He placed a gentle hand on each of them as four women began walking down the aisle one at a time. Everyone twisted in their seats waiting for the big moment when the bride would make her appearance.
A vision in white, Kasey stepped out of the tall tobacco barn. The white-washed boards and the tobacco stick star on the front of the building was a nice contrast to the image of femininity seeming to float her way toward him in the white gown.
She paused and squeezed the hand of an older woman as she walked by, and then stopped next to Cody. They exchanged a heartwarming moment. Kasey handed her bouquet to her maid of honor and faced Cody, placing her hands in his.
It was a simple, but lovely ceremony.
Ryder thought about his wedding day. It was in a stuffy church. His rented suit was so tight he could barely breatheand the patent leather shoes pinched his sweating feet until his toes were numb. That preacher had gone on and on longer than any Sunday service. He’d have killed for a bottle of water, but he toughed it out, because the most beautiful girl he’d ever known—not just on the outside, but the inside too—had agreed to marry him. He could still feel Valerie’s tender shaking hand in his as they said their vows.
’Til death do us part.
This ceremony wasn’t long and drawn out like that though. Not scripture after scripture. It was short and sweet. Musical interludes paced it nicely, but it was still done in record time.My kind of wedding.
The pastor announced the couple as husband and wife, and then introduced Mr. and Mrs. Tuggle for the very first time.
The boy ran into the bride’s arms and then Cody grabbed him and lifted him into the air, taking his bride’s hand and leading her down the aisle.
Everyone cheered.
Ryder clucked his teeth and flicked the reins. The carriage rolled forward on cue, stopping right on the mark for his guests.
Ross gave him the okay sign and mouthed “thank you.”
Ryder sat face forward with his hat tipped low, so as not to take any attention from the bride and groom. Across the way though, he spotted two beautifully dressed women talking. One of them almost looked like Lorri.
Girl is in all my thoughts.
Chapter Twenty
With the Tuggle family safely in the carriage, the crowd moved back from the path and Ryder moved his team of horses forward, slowly transporting the couple to the reception while offering picture-worthy moments.
Reece hopped up onto the step at the rear of the carriage and motioned the rest of the bridal party to set the pace. Guests followed on their own. It wasn’t far to the reception. This was all for show really.
Ross waved the bridal party and guests into the tent, and Ryder drove one more lap around the perimeter, letting the newlyweds exit on the far side in preparation for their big entrance. Huge bubble machines were at the ready. An explosion of colorful bubbles would fill the air as soon as the couple walked inside.
Ryder waited until everyone was off the carriage, then he dismounted and tied the horses to the hitch, offering them some water from the trough on the other side while the bride and groom went inside.
Excitement rose. Bubbles cascaded in a swirling frenzy, even drifting outside the tent. Ryder popped one. Thunder lifted his nose from the water, watching a flurry of bubbles float by.
Across the way there was a step and repeat banner with PT FOUNDATIONin the silhouette of a family, and a clear plexiglass donation box. In lieu of gifts, the couple were accepting donations for the cause that was so dear to their hearts, finding missing children and reuniting them with their families. Ryder crossed the room and pulled every last dollar from his wallet. He dropped all of it through the slot—happy to be a part of the solution. It was a good thing they were doing.
His work was done here for the day. He’d drive the carriage back over to the barn and put Buckshot up for the night, then ride Thunder back down to the Rest Stop.
He scanned the room looking for Reece or Ross to make sure they didn’t need anything before he left.
Reece ran up behind him. “Uncle Ryder. We’ve had a security breach. There are pictures all over the internet of the wedding. I need your help.”
Across the way, the woman in the emerald-green dress stood there with another woman, and she was looking right at him. She smiled. He recognized the confident lift of her chin.
His heart dropped. Lorri had promised she wouldn’t tell anyone about this, but there she was.She crashed the wedding? It’s my fault.
“Can you help us try to weed the crasher out?” Reece paled. “Whoever it is is live posting all over social media. I’ve already alerted the sheriff and security so we can keep it contained, but we need to stop it.”
“Don’t worry. I’m on it.” If it got back to them that he was to blame for the security breach, they’d never forgive him. Heck, he’d never forgive himself.I can’t believe I couldn’t keep my big mouth shut.
He stared at Lorri in disbelief. How had he become such a poor judge of character? He wouldn’t have thought this could happen in a million years.
She lifted a hand and waved, her fingers dancing as if playing an invisible trumpet. The playful gesture hit him wrong. He hoped the twins hadn’t noticed the uninvited guest. He stayed close to the outside edge of the tent, working his way over toward her. If he could get her out of here before Reece and Ross got word the unwanted party crasher was his doing, maybe everything would be fine.
