I’m on my way to Blaze’s side of the ranch when I get a phone call from the private investigator I hired to check out Seth.
“Tell me you have news,” I answer.
“Well, hello to you too. Yes, I was able to lift his prints which linked him as Salvatorio Barak. He spent time in juvie growing up, and his records before he was eighteen are sealed tight. It looks like he was on a good path for a year, started school had good grades, then nothing.”
“What do you mean and nothing?”
“There’s nothing on him since then. He’s a ghost. I’m guessing this is where he started using a new name. I’ve pulled some contacts, and I have three other identities for him so far in Chicago, Jacksonville, and Boston. Whatever he’s into, it’s not good if he’s jumping around so much. I’m still digging. I just wanted to update you.”
I rub my hand down my face and fill him in on how he got Ella’s number and tried to call her.
“This guy is great with the nice guy act. My sister was even impressed with how convincing it is. Don’t let your guard down around him.”
“Okay, just hurry.”
“Trust me, I am. This guy doesn’t sit well with me. The Sooner I can nail him the better.”
We hang up, and I can’t help but feel unsettled. I don’t like having to send Ella back there, but I don’t think I can convince her family to let her stay here either. I have her for a few more days; I have to focus on that.
I spend a few hours in the barn with Blaze and Colt doing inventory. We’re getting ready to winter prep the ranch in a few months, and that includes cattle checks.
Nick is running the bar while Ella is in town, so I can get the most time with her. It’s just natural to spend time helping my brothers. I love the land even if ranching was never my dream.
Just before lunch, I hear my phone go off and see a text from Ella.
Ella: I found my dress!!
Me: Can I see it?
I know she won’t let me, but a man can try, right?
Ella: No, silly, but I’ve good news!
Me: Hit me with it.
Ella: How would you like to get married in four weeks?
I just walked into Mom and Dad’s house for lunch, and the news knocks me over. I have to sit down.
“Jason, you okay?” Dad asks with concern on his face.
“Yeah, just talking to Ella.”
Me: Can you and the girls have everything done by then? I’d marry you tomorrow, but I want this wedding to be everything you dreamed of.
Ella: Yep. Just got my dress, and Sage ordered the bridesmaid dresses this morning. Mom is going to do the cake. Your mom is going to do flowers from her garden, and we can reuse a lot of decorations from your sisters’ weddings.
Me: You tell me the date, and I’ll be there.
She gives me the date, and I send a text with it out to the guys.
Me: Can you plan everything from Tennessee?
Ella: I have a plan I’ll share when I see you tonight.
Me: I can’t wait, sweetheart. I love you.
Ella: Love you too.
I take a deep breath and look at Dad, who has a smile on his face.
“So, four weeks,” I say.
“Four weeks sounds pretty good to me,” Dad agrees.
***We’re on our way home from Dallas, and I’m on cloud nine! Not only do I have my wedding dress but in just twenty-four hours, we have half the wedding planned!
Wedding dress shopping was fun, and the girls were right. That place has such a huge selection that it makes finding a dress easy. Of course, the dress I fell in love with wasn’t modest enough; it was strapless. I got lucky though. They had another of that same dress they were going to trash because it got ruined in the shop. The sales lady gave it to us, so Mom can use the matching lace to make sleeves for me.
After wedding dress shopping, we went to several stores in Dallas and bought materials to make our own wedding invitations, tons of twinkle lights for the idea I had for the reception, and some of the hair supplies Megan asked us to get.
Don’t tell the girls, but I liked the part of shopping for Megan’s list the most. It was fun to get hands-on with all the stuff I’ll be learning about soon.
Now, we’re on our way home, and I’ve tried to direct the conversation off wedding talk several times. Jason’s mom just laughs and winks at me; she knows what I’m doing.
We pull into the ranch, and Jason is just getting out of his truck. He leans against the side and waits for us. My mouth goes dry; he looks so good in his work clothes. He has on Wrangles and a simple gray t-shirt. You can see his brown belt and his belt buckle. Paired with his cowboy boots and cowboy hat, it’s a simple outfit, but he wears it well.
“Hey sweetheart, need help carrying anything in?”
“The dress is in a black bag. You can’t see it, Jason, and it’s going to straight to my room,” Sage jokes, and Jason chuckles.
“Well, dinner isn’t anything fancy, but we men tried. Maybe after dinner, we can go for a walk?”
“I’d like that.”
The guys made simple spaghetti. Noodles and sauce and garlic bread. I love sitting around the table with them. To think, in just four weeks, this will be my everyday routine. It makes me giddy.
“You sure have a big smile on your face,” Jason whispers to me.
“Four weeks and this will be my new normal,” I whisper back, and a huge smile covers his face as well.
After dinner, Mom and Dad decide to join us on our walk, and we head out.
We walk in silence for a bit, taking in the ranch before Jason speaks.
“So, I was talking to your dad. With the wedding so close and all, we were wondering if you can tie up any loose ends back home in the next two weeks?”
“What do you mean?”
“Can you be ready to move here in two weeks?”
Whoa. I didn’t see that coming. I thought we’d come down a few days before the wedding and move my stuff to the house, so it would be ready when we get back from the honeymoon.
“Yeah, I don’t have a lot of stuff to pack. That would only take maybe a day. Dad is okay with this?”
“Well, we need you here for wedding planning and your mom. I guess with things going on at church, she has more time than normal. She and Maggie would come with you, bring your stuff, and plan the wedding. Your dad and Royce would join us a few days before the wedding.”
“Plus, it gives you time to decorate our room.”
“Our room?”
“Well, I thought we’d stay at the main house until we had kids like the others are planning. My room is decorated for me. But it needs your touch. You can unpack your stuff there and redecorate it and get it ready for us when we move in after the honeymoon. I can stay in Colt’s old room until then.”
“I love decorating! Also, where are we going for our honeymoon?”
“Well, this is the time of year we normally do a family trip to the lake house. I was thinking of taking a page out of Blaze’s book and heading up there for a week then inviting everyone up for a week to give you the full family experience. What do you think?”
“I love it!”
“Okay, it’s settled. I’ll make the plans. I think Nick is excited to have a bit more time to run the place himself. Then the TV special will air two weeks after we get home, so the timing will be great. We should also look at getting you enrolled in classes. I think Megan said the next round starts in two months? If you want to start that soon?”
“This is a lot to plan.”
“It is but thankfully, my sisters rock at this, and Mom lives for this. Your soon-to-be husband is a good event planner since he owns an event space in town, you know.”
I get those silly butterflies again when he says, ‘my soon-to-be husband.’ This man is going to be my husband, my first kiss, my first everything. I get to be his wife, and there’s nothing that compares to that feeling.