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“Carter Elliott, you must be the handsomest groom I’ve ever seen,” Celia Elliott said as she entered Carter’s childhood bedroom and came to straighten his tie. She wore a rose-colored dress and a string of pearls she’d inherited from her mother.
“Don’t you think you’re biased?”
“It’s still true.” She dusted an imaginary piece of lint off the shoulder of his jacket. “I’m so happy for you. Still can’t believe I’m really here.” She looked around the room. “Nothing’s changed.”
“Some things have,” he reminded her. He’d taken her on a tour of number twenty-three when his parents arrived yesterday, and she’d oohed and aahed over every renovation.
“I suppose that’s true. I can’t believe Carolyn is back in her old house. Makes me wish I was settled in mine.”
“I look forward to that day.” He was doubly determined to transform Elliott Ridge into the bustling little community it once had been now that he was settling here with his wife. It had lifted all their spirits when Carolyn moved into her old house two days ago. Carter and his brothers had rushed to repaint it inside and out to her specifications. They’d done whatever else they could to spiff it up given the limited time frame, but it was like stepping back in time whenever he visited number thirty-one.
“I can’t believe there was a shootout here.” His mother grew serious. “Nothing like that ever happened at Elliott Ridge before.”
“Not even in the Calamity Year?” Carter laughed at her expression. “Dennis told us about it. He says it’s happening again. Claims troubled women will be flocking here because I allowed Amanda to stay.”
“I hope not. That’s just an old story, anyhow.”
“I’m sure he’s wrong.” Carter turned to give himself a once-over in the mirror. He wasn’t much of a clotheshorse, but he looked good, he decided.
“Amanda is one lucky lady to get you,” his mother said. “Carter, I’m so proud of you. For everything.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Here’s your dad. He’ll want a word with you. I’m going to find my seat. Love you, Carter.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
He watched his parents exchange a few words before his father entered the room and closed the door behind him, leaning heavily on his cane. He looked Carter up and down.
“Well,” he began. “Never thought the youngest would marry first.”
“Neither did I,” Carter admitted warily.
“You found a good woman, seems like. Amanda likes it here. Says she wants to stay.”
Carter nodded, not knowing how to answer that. His father’s hip replacement was coming up at the end of the month. Carter hoped it went smoothly. He could tell his dad was in pain.
“You do right by her.”
“I will.”
“Keep your eyes on the goal. Don’t make her leave the home she loves—” His voice grew gruff. Carter’s throat grew thick as he felt his father’s pain. Did his dad think that’s what he’d done?
“I’m trying—” he began but his father waved him off.
“Be a man she can be proud of,” he finished. “Do your best.”
“Always, Dad.” Carter wished he could say everything he wanted to say. That Mom didn’t regret leaving Elliott Ridge. That all she wanted was for her husband to be healthy and safe. That’s what they all wanted.
They’d never been good at putting their feelings into words, though, so he clapped his father on the back. “Means a lot to me that the two of you are here today.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“I’m sorry—that I was part of the reason you had to leave here to begin with.”
There. He’d finally got that out. He’d wanted to say it for years.
“Wasn’t your fault.” His dad shook his head when Carter began to protest. “No sense talking about the past. You’re here now. That’s what counts. You came back.”
Carter knew he’d have to be content with that.
After his father left to take his seat, his brothers filed into the room to round him up, all of them in dark suits, ready to stand with him at the altar.
“Better get going. Don’t want to be late to your own wedding,” Nate said.
“Why is Warrington here?” Lincoln asked from the window.
“Warrington?” Carter came to see, then hurried downstairs, his brothers following at his heels. Outside, he slowed as the man’s flashy truck idled in front of the house.
“Did you invite him?” Hudson asked.
“No.” Carter went down the steps to meet the intruder as Warrington parked and got out.
“Came to offer my congratulations.” He came around his truck, his hand extended, but he didn’t look like he was in a celebratory mood. In fact, Carter thought he might have been drinking.
“Cut the crap,” Hudson said, pushing past Carter. “What are you really here for? You tried to kill our subdivision application.”
“You got what you wanted, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, we did,” Gage said quietly, coming up on Carter’s other side.
Warrington lowered his hand. “I’m here to tell you that you may have won this time, but I still want this land, and I intend to do whatever it takes to get it. Am I making myself clear? I offered you a very fair price for it. I’m not going to let you carve up the place and make it harder for me to develop. It’s time for you to sell. Now. My offer still stands.”
“You can take your offer and shove it up your ass,” Carter said.
“Is that your position?” Warrington demanded of Gage.
“Damn straight,” Gage said. “Rod found out what happens when you cross an Elliott. Be careful, or next time it’ll be you.”
Warrington spun away. Walked a few paces, then turned back. “You are now my enemies. All of you. I’m going to get this land. When I do, you’re going to wish like hell you’d taken the money when you had the chance.” He stalked back to his truck, got in, slammed the door, revved the engine and took off with a spray of gravel. A few latecomers had to dodge away from him as he drove around the Circle and down the hill.
“Hell of a way to treat a man on his wedding day,” Hudson said.
“Not very neighborly,” Carter agreed.
“He can’t touch us,” Lincoln said.
“He’s going to try,” Gage said.
“But there’s nothing he can do today,” Nate pointed out. “And today Carter is getting married, so let’s focus on that for now. Tomorrow we’ll figure out what to do about Warrington. Deal?”
“Deal,” Carter said.
“Thank you for asking me to be your bridesmaid,” Megan said, coming to stand by Amanda to look in the floor-length mirror she’d installed in the master bedroom of number twenty-three. “We haven’t known each other that long. I feel honored you’d choose me.”
“I hope we’ll be good friends,” Amanda said. “I don’t know a lot of people in Chance Creek yet.” And it wasn’t like she’d ask her sister to take on that role. She hadn’t spoken to Melissa again after their last call. She didn’t want people in her life who’d gamble with her safety for their own financial gain. She was going to focus on the people who had her best interests at heart. Her mother was downstairs, and that was good enough. Lately they’d talked almost every day.
“I’m glad you’re staying,” Megan said. “I’d miss you if you left now.”
“I’d miss you, too.” They’d gotten together for coffee several times lately and found out that they had lots in common, like their desire to give back to their community, to have work that kept them engaged, their love of the outdoors—and their struggles with crafty things like knitting. They’d gone kayaking once on Elliott Lake together. Had planned a couple of hikes for the future.
Meanwhile, Amanda had stepped into the role of town manager. She had a credit card linked to the Elliotts’ joint bank account and was learning to handle affairs that affected the town as a whole, in addition to her other duties. Her days were full and varied. Her nights with Carter wonderful.
“Your house has turned out so well. I love that hutch Nate built for you. Someday I’d like one like that.”
“You should talk to him. I bet you could commission one.” The lovingly crafted piece of furniture was beautiful, and she was proud to have it in her dining room.
Megan’s smile faltered. “I don’t think I’ll buy any new furniture for my house right now. I need to get my career on better footing first.”
Amanda leaned forward. “Are you doing all right?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Megan assured her. “Really. Things will turn around soon, I’m sure. Selling Gage’s house helped me buy some time. Hopefully, I’ll be able to help you guys sell some houses up here soon.”
“You should have taken the commission on Carolyn Snyder’s sale.”
“I couldn’t do that—take a cut when someone was buying a house they lived in before,” Megan asked. “Don’t worry; I’m not upset about that at all. Let’s just hope the rest of the old-timers who used to live here don’t all come back to claim their homes, or I’ll be in trouble.”
“I’m sure you’ll get some real sales,” Amanda said. “I want you to be as happy as I am.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.”
The door opened, and Amanda’s mother came in. She fluttered around her, straightening her veil. When she was satisfied, she leaned in. “There’s a strange man downstairs asking to see you. Lincoln said his name was Dennis?”
Amanda bit her lip, holding back laughter. She could only imagine what her mother would make of the rough old codger.
“Send him up.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Dennis helped save my life. He’s the one who noticed my dad’s campsite on the Ridge and told Carter.”
“I thought Gage found the truck you took that day and he was the one who sounded the alert.”
“He did, but Dennis was the one who gave Carter his gun. If he hadn’t, I could be dead.”
“Don’t even say that.” Her mother took her hands. “I couldn’t stand it if that were true. I can’t believe your father could do such a thing. And Melissa. I knew she worshipped your dad, but to put you in danger…”
“That’s all over now. Go get Dennis and send him up, okay, Mom?”
Her mother nodded and left the room. Amanda knew they’d have long talks in their future as the two of them tried to come to grips with what her father and Melissa had done. Her mother had told her she was back in counseling. Amanda had spoken with a counselor several times, too.
She wasn’t sure if she’d need to continue with that. The life she was creating here with Carter had shored her up, and she felt stronger than she ever had before. Melissa and her father were gone, but she had more people around her than she’d had in years. People who cared. In a few weeks, she was going to Houston to help her mom prepare to sell her house. She was grateful her mother was building a community for herself, as well.
“I’m going to go freshen up,” Megan said. “Be back in a minute.” She disappeared into the hall.
Heavy footsteps sounded outside her room a few moments later. Amanda moved to the door. “Come in,” she told Dennis.
The old man did so, fidgeting with his clothes, which were obviously new and uncomfortable.
“You look very handsome,” Amanda told him. He was part of her community now. She was grateful to him for helping to save her life. She’d never doubt him again.
“Never you mind about that,” Dennis said gruffly. “Came to give you my congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“I wasn’t very welcoming—at first.”
“You were right. I did bring trouble.”
“Wasn’t your fault.”
“Do you still think it’s going to be a Calamity Year?” She softened her words with a smile.
He nodded gravely. “Lots of weddings last time, too. Still, I want to wish you good luck on your day. Hope I didn’t offend you.”
“You were worried for the Elliotts,” she said. “I love you for your loyalty to them. Besides, I owe you my life.”
“Carter saved your life.”
“Because you gave him the information and weapon he needed to do it with.” She touched his arm. “I’m glad you came to talk to me, because I have a favor to ask you.” The idea had only just popped into her head, but she knew it was the right thing to do.
“What’s that?” he asked suspiciously.
“Will you walk me down the aisle? My father isn’t going to—obviously. And my mom—well, it hurts her to have to stand in for him all the time.”
Dennis looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “Don’t want to mess it up.”
“You won’t mess it up. You’ll take my arm and walk beside me. At the end of the aisle, you’ll give my hand to Carter and then you’ll go take your seat. You can do that, right?”
“Suppose so.” His gaze was darting around the room, as if he was searching for a way out of a trap.
“You’ll do great,” she assured him. “I’m relying on you.”
Her mother came back into the room, followed by Megan. “It’s time,” her mother told them and took a deep breath. “Amanda, would you like me to walk you down the aisle since your father is… not here?”
“Dennis is going to do the honors if you don’t mind,” Amanda said.
Her mother looked relieved, then perplexed. “You sure?” she asked.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, then. Let’s get going, ladies—and gentleman.” She nodded to Dennis. “Time to get to the altar.”
“Is she coming?” Carter asked Nate, who stood beside him on the beach where the wedding planner, Mia Matheson, had constructed a flower-bedecked archway. In front of him, rows of guests sat on folding chairs. Behind him lay the lake itself. Reverend Halpern, from the Chance Creek Reformed Church, was presiding. They had considered holding the ceremony in the chapel, but neither he nor Amanda could resist celebrating their wedding outdoors. They’d been rewarded with a beautiful day.
“I don’t see her yet. Wait—there.” Nate jutted his chin in the direction of their parents’ house. Megan Lawrence, in a peach-colored bridesmaid gown, had rounded the side of the house and was walking down the steps toward them.
“Megan’s looking mighty pretty today, right, Gage?” Hudson asked.
“Stow it,” Gage said.
“There’s Amanda,” Lincoln said.
Carter didn’t hear anything after that. He was too busy looking at the woman he was about to marry. Dennis was walking her toward them. Carter wondered how that had come about, but he was happy she had someone to support her on this journey, especially since she was working hard to keep the voluminous skirts of her gown out of the sand.
They reached the top of the aisle between the rows of chairs, where Mia had laid a runner across the beach. Amanda let her gown fall straight, squared her shoulders, took a breath and nodded.
The music changed as their procession down the aisle began. Carter couldn’t keep his gaze off the woman he’d grown to love so dearly. He’d almost lost her, something he was aware of every day. He woke in the mornings and reached beside him to make sure she was still there—still safe and alive. Every time she reached back for him, his heart filled to the brim until he wondered how there could be so much happiness in the world.
They had a lot of work to do, but Amanda seemed as excited to get to it as he was. It was nearly the summer solstice, and while the long, light-filled days would soon begin to wane again, his love for her—and for the Ridge—increased every day.
When Amanda lifted her eyes to him, he saw so much love shining in them, he knew he’d done the right thing in asking her to marry him, even if they’d known each other such a short time. Number twenty-three was almost finished. So far they’d managed to meet their deadlines for the lumber contract, and he’d drummed up several more so they could increase their earnings. Soon they could place ads for permanent workers to replace the temporary ones.
Even Gage seemed happier these days, especially since their folks had been in town. He’d taken it upon himself to stick close to their father, helping him to negotiate the stairs to the house and keeping him from climbing a ladder to check out the roof. Lincoln had finally purchased two horses, and Nate had bought one, as well. Carter, Hudson and Gage were looking for mounts of their own.
More importantly, their internet provider had finally set a date for running fiber optic cable to the Ridge—although that wouldn’t happen until mid-July. Many of the subdivision houses had been gutted, cleaned and given a fresh coat of primer on the interior walls. It was time to sell them. As soon as the wedding was over, he’d get it done, he promised himself.
He didn’t have to worry about it today, though.
Megan made it down the aisle and took her place to the side. Now Carter could see Amanda clearly. She was a sight to behold in her beautiful gown, a fancy affair that hugged her curves in all the right places, but then he thought she was beautiful in his bed with nothing on.
By the time Dennis put Amanda’s hand in his, Carter’s heart was beating hard.
“Thank you,” he said to Dennis, hoping the man knew how much he meant it.
Dennis nodded and slipped away, skirting the rows of chairs to take a position standing in back.
Carter squeezed Amanda’s fingers. Did she know how happy he was?
She tilted her head to look up at him.
He blew her a kiss and she smiled.
“Dearly beloved,” the minister began. Amanda’s heart was beating so rapidly she could barely make out his words. She was getting everything she ever dreamed of. A man she loved. The possibility of a family. A growing community. Work that was varied—and fun.
As the minister spoke, she couldn’t help looking up at Carter. His firm grip on her hand gave her strength. His shoulder so close beside hers made her think of comfort and security—things she’d always craved but never thought she deserved.
Over the past weeks, Carter had taught her she was worth paying attention to. Worth being protected. Worthy of true love that had no ulterior motives. Carter was part of the foundation on which she could build the rest of her life. No matter what happened with Elliott Ridge, he’d be there for her.
She meant to be there for him, too. And to give everything she could to this tiny town she’d grown to love so much. She was taking her position of librarian seriously and was learning everything she could about town governance. She knew she wouldn’t be head cook forever, so she’d decided to enjoy it while she could, taking pride in feeding her big, new extended family. The possibilities for the future were endless here at Elliott Ridge.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
No sooner had the minister said the words than Carter turned to her, gathered her close and kissed her so thoroughly, Amanda felt they’d never come up for air. When they finally did, it was to find their guests standing and cheering. Amanda was sure she was blushing, but she was also so happy she thought her heart might burst.
“I love you,” she told Carter.
“I love you, too,” he said. “Ready to start the rest of our lives?”
“So ready.”
Read on for an excerpt of House for Sale Soldier Included.
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