Page 51 of Love for a Lifetime

The song stopped, and his phone dinged with a text. He peeked at the screen on the nightstand before picking it up.

Anna: I’m so sorry. I can’t go today. We’ll talk soon.

Dawson quirked a brow at the phone. Anna wasn’t going to the wedding? That was a curveball if he ever saw one. She’d been giddy about it for weeks.

Before he could text back, an incoming call from Chicken Tender lit up his phone.

“Hey. What’s up with Anna?”

“She’s sick. Sooo sick,” Olivia said. “She wanted me to tell you how sorry she is that she can’t make it today.”

A traitorous wave of relief seeped from his shoulders. He hadn’t figured out the best way to handle the date with Anna, so getting a free pass was a blessing. “Not a problem. She can’t help it she’s sick. Is she okay?”

“Yes, but it’s a stomach virus, and she’s miserable. I feel terrible about not being able to be there for her, but her mom is helping.”

“Good. Well, I guess that means I’m flying solo tonight. Want me to pick you up on my way to the ranch?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m already here. Lyric’s parents really went all out and got a nice photographer who wanted some shots of the bridal party getting ready together.”

Dawson sat on the bed and settled into the conversation with Olivia. Who knew being dateless could be so freeing? It wasn’t that he’d dreaded the day with Anna, but she definitely wasn’t on the same page as him.

“Will there be photos of you with your hair in curlers? If so, can I get on the list for one?”

“So sorry. I think I avoided all of those. You’ll have to wait another fifty years for a chance at that sight.”

“I’m a patient man. You know, you’d be a cute old lady.”

“You’re ridiculous, but I have to go. You’re supposed to be here in an hour,” Olivia reminded him.

“I’ll do you one better and see you in forty-five minutes.”

“I’m sure the photographer would be happy about that. See you soon.”

As soon as the call ended, he checked the time. He could make it to the ranch in half an hour. Maybe Olivia would delegate a few tasks to him.

Silver Falls Ranch was just outside of town, and he passed fewer and fewer vehicles as he drove. The cattle ranch didn’t normally host weddings, but their rec center hadn’t been used in a while, and the owners, Matthew and Tammie Benson, had offered it to Asa and Lyric at a cheap rate in exchange for some help fixing the place up. Dawson had spent a few weekends painting walls and resealing floors in the last few months.

A sign just before a fork in the road directed him to the bridal suites to the right of the main house. Two small cabins side by side were labeled for bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Dawson parked far enough away so other guests could have the better spots. He walked past a horse pasture and held out his hand to an Appaloosa with dark eyes against a light coat. The horse spooked and ran off in a hurry.

Figured. Apparently, dogs weren’t the only ones wary of him. Why didn’t they like him? Did he smell?

No, he’d showered this morning. He sniffed the collar of his shirt. Maybe it was the cologne. He didn’t always wear it, but the spice was pretty intense.

Inside the groom’s cabin, Jacob sat in a corner playing a video game while Asa, Beau, and Lyric’s dad watched a football game on a tablet propped up on a table.

“Where’s the party?” Dawson asked as he held out a hand to Jacob.

“I don’t know, but waiting is boring,” the kid said, putting his game aside.

Dawson jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Want to go check out the horses?”

Jacob was on his feet in an instant. “Please. I’ve been here for hours.”

“We got here half an hour ago,” Asa corrected.

“It feels like forever,” Jacob muttered.

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