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 FOUNDATION in 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.
His body tensed. How could she do this? She didn’t look the type to break a promise. When she’d said she had plans all weekend, it never dawned on him it was to crash this party.
“What’s wrong with you?” Diane put her hand on Ryder’s shoulder sending him two steps back. “You look like you’re about to explode.”
“You scared me.”
“That’s not what has you riled up. I saw that from ten feet away. What’s wrong?”
“That woman.” He pointed toward Lorri.
“Is she famous?”
“No.” Although she looked that gorgeous today. “That’s Lorri. She’s the lady I rescued at the fair.”
“Wow. I wouldn’t have recognized her. Of course, she was laying in the dirt with a knot on her head the last time I saw her. She looks beautiful all dressed up.” Diane’s face lit up in approval, which only made him snarl.
He pushed through the crowd. People were having a good time. Milling about, talking about the ceremony. “Pardon me. Excuse me.” He made his way across the room, finally standing right behind Lorri.
In a voice low enough only she could hear he asked, “Lorri? What are you doing here?”
She spun around. “Hey there! Ryder. You’re here.” Lorri flashed him a million-dollar smile, then reached for her friend’s arm. “This is my best friend, Pam.” She gestured between the two. “Pam, this is Ryder.”
Pam extended her hand. “The guy with the horses. I heard. Nice to meet you.”
Wish I could say the same is what he wanted to say but being on his best behavior for his niece and nephew were top of mind. “Thank you.” He gave her a polite nod, then lowered his voice. “May I have a word with you, Lorri?”
She looked utterly confused. “Um. Yeah. Sure.” She shrugged to Pam who gave her an exaggerated wink.
He led Lorri by the elbow outside of the tent and out of earshot. He turned to face her. “So this is what you were busy doing all weekend?” I’ve been such a fool. He clenched his fist. “I told you how important this was.”
“I know, I—”
“Let me finish, please.” He didn’t have the patience right now. “I can’t believe you’d show up like this. This event is important to my niece and nephew. I realize it’s my fault because I was the one who blabbed, but I really didn’t expect this from you.”
Her smile relaxed. “It’s fine, Ryder. It’s not what you think.”
“Then what are you doing here? Why on earth would you crash a wedding? I get it. He’s a celebrity, but it’s his wedding day.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“I’m asking you to leave. I’m not going to make a big deal out of this or tell Reece and Ross, they have enough on their plate today.”
“You seriously think I crashed Cody’s wedding?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’m here, because I was invited.” Her balled fist batted at the air as she leaned in. “I’ll thank you not to go around making assumptions about me in the future.”
“Then why didn’t you say something the other day, when I told you about it, or when I apologized for breaking the confidence to begin with?” He rubbed the sweat from his neck. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“I didn’t tell you that I knew Cody, or that I was invited to his wedding, because I was told not to tell anyone.” She leveled her gaze. “I can keep a secret.”
That comment hung in the back of Ryder’s throat like cold peanut butter.
At that moment, Pam and Cody came toward them, catching them standing toe-to-toe. “I thought I saw you sneak off this way,” Pam called out. “Cody wants us to do something to surprise Kasey.”
Ryder looked at Pam and Cody and then back at Lorri who had one eyebrow arched and her arms folded across her chest.
“Oh man.” He wanted to crawl off and disappear. He caught movement across the way. Reece and a deputy were escorting out a man wearing skinny pants and a black jacket. Lorri wasn’t the crasher.
Lorri’s nostrils flared slightly and he wondered what kind of scene she was about to make, but she didn’t. She laughed and stepped closer to him. “Cody, you have got to meet my new friend, Ryder. He grew up in this town. He’s part of the family business that’s hosting your wedding.”
Cody shook his hand. “Thanks for the excellent transportation. That was awesome. My mom went crazy. She’s a horse lady, you know. You’ll have to talk to her. She’s over the moon about your gray horse.”
“Thunder. He’s a good horse. I’ll look for her.”
“She’ll love that.” Cody clapped his hands together. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to grab my two favorite dance partners for a quick twirl for old time’s sake. We went to high school together. Kasey has heard me tell this story no less than one hundred and fifty times and still doesn’t believe it. She’s going to die!”
“He was like our big brother back then. We knew him before he was famous, when he still hit the wrong chords and la-la-la’d through the verses he hadn’t written yet,” Lorri teased.
“It’s true. They knew me when I was the geeky guitar dude.” He put his hands out to each of them. “Come on, Ryder, you can cut in when we’re done. I know Lorri would love to dance all night.”
“Y’all go on. I was leaving. I was just here to offer transportation.” He felt about two inches tall. If there was ever a time that he could disappear, right about now would be nice timing.
Cody’s deep voice boomed. “Don’t be silly. Any friend of Lorri’s is a friend of mine. You get on in here with us. There’s fun to be had.”
It didn’t look like Cody expected to not get his way, so Ryder followed them inside. Cody clapped him on the shoulder like an old buddy. “Really nice to meet you. Lorri is amazing. I’m glad she’s meeting good people here in Dalton Mill.”
Cody signaled to the guys on the band platform and they started playing his hit song “A Mother’s Love.”
Cody and Kasey danced their first dance. Everyone gathered around the dance floor, swaying to the music. Ryder could almost read the thought bubbles above the dreamy-eyed females in attendance wishing and hoping they’d have a wedding even half as beautiful as this one someday.
When the song ended, Pete announced from the stage, “Mr. and Mrs. Cody Tuggle. One more round of applause.” As the cheers began to die, Pete said, “This next song we’re going to play is a special little something for you, Kasey. I think you’re in for a treat. I know I’m anxious to see it myself. Here’s to seeing is believing.”
Kasey turned and looked at Cody with a questioning look. “Do you know what this is about?”
Pete strummed the first few chords and the band switched into an up-tempo song. Cody walked out to the middle of the dance floor, leaving Kasey watching from the side. He hooked his finger toward Lorri and Pam who rushed out, giggling the whole way.
Ryder felt like a complete jerk as he watched Lorri walk out to join them. Of course she wouldn’t crash a wedding. What has gotten into me?
“Here we go,” Cody’s voice boomed and then the three of them eased into a well-choreographed two-step kind of dance including spins and dips and switches. He’d never seen anything like it. There was no disputing those three had been close friends for years, and this was not their first dance rodeo.
Idiot. He felt the red rush of heat climb his neck again.
The song ended and Lorri walked off the dance floor toward him.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
“I’m honestly not sure if I should be flattered that you’d think I might crash a wedding, or mad that you didn’t think enough of me to just outright ask before jumping to conclusions.”
“I’d love to roll back the clock, but then I might miss that dance and I’m so glad I didn’t.”
“I would have given you the courtesy to have at least asked you about something like that.”
He blinked but didn’t say a word.
“I appreciate how much you care about your niece and nephew and their business,” she went on. “It’s an admirable trait to care that much about your family. But friends are just as special, and I thought we were building a friendship. I’ve enjoyed my time with you, but I don’t think you’re the kind of friend I need.” She turned to walk away.
“Wait. Lorri.”
She stopped but didn’t turn to face him.
“I really am sorry,” he said. “I think you’re great. It hurt my feelings to think you’d break that trust. I overreacted. I’m sorry. Please give me a chance to make it up to you.”
Pam walked over still out of breath, laughing as she put her hand on Lorri’s arm. “Oh my gosh. That was too fun.” She must’ve noticed the tension between him and Lorri because Pam stopped laughing almost immediately. “Is everything okay?”
Lorri didn’t answer, instead she turned and narrowed her gaze on Ryder.
He almost choked on that look.
“I made a mistake,” he said to Pam. He glanced at Lorri; she wasn’t going to bail him out this time though. “I thought your friend here crashed the wedding. I asked her to leave.”
“Bwah!” Pam stepped back and laughed even louder. “Priceless. You really don’t know my best friend at all yet. She’s the rule follower in this group.”
“Well, I hope she’s also the forgiving one. I could use a get out of jail free card right now.”
“You’re handsome.” Pam took a sip of her champagne. “I’m sure she’ll give you another chance, but you better not mess up again, or you’ll have me to deal with. I’ve been known to break rules.” Pam nudged Lorri. “Let it go. Honest mistake. Right?”
Lorri shook her head, but then the line that had thinned her lips relaxed just a smidge.
He jumped at the opportunity. “Think I can talk you into that dance with you that Cody promised?”
Lorri let him lift her hand. “Really? You dance?”
“I’m rusty, but there was a time when I could really impress a gal out there.” He took her soft hand in his and guided her out to the dance floor.
“I’m willing to give it a try, but you better watch your toes.”
Pam let out a whoop, and Ryder lifted his arm, spinning Lorri, then moving her with purpose in a dance he hoped she wouldn’t soon forget.