Page 38 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“The studio is still being built here.”

“And the part about you staying here... is that real or not?”

“Real. Why are you acting like you’re mad?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I take exception to people lying to me and treating family like we’re untrustworthy. Sammi Jo probably gave you a hug and took it on the chin. But I should have known better. I knew something wasn’t right, but I kept giving you the benefit of the doubt. Well, I hope you have a great party and lots of laughs about how you managed to pull the wool over the country bumpkins’ eyes.” He turned and opened the door of his truck. She moved to the open window beside him, and he brought the engine to life.

“We’re not laughing, and no one thinks that. We didn’t set out to hurt anyone. I don’t know why you’re behaving like this.”

He gave her a long look, his glass lens reflecting her confusion. “That’s the truest thing you’ve said—and the saddest.” Jaxson left her staring at the empty driveway.

*

“I’m sorry thatJaxson reacted the way he did when you told him,” Sammi Jo said. “But I’m not all that surprised. Perhaps it’s good that he did take this trip. It could give him some distance and time to settle things in his mind. Once he has time to think it through, I’m sure he’ll better understand,” Sammi Jo finished. “There’s a wedding and a party, and you haven’t done all of this to not see it through.” She turned to Sean and CeeCee. “We’re happy to have you both have your special day right here on Aces High. We’ll all do our best to make it perfect. And any pesky reporters dare to show their faces around here will find that this place can become quite a fortress, armed to boot.”

Everyone laughed. Laurel nodded. “And you all thought I was the spunky one of us. She hides her other side very well.”

Laurel felt a great burden had lifted from her. Everyone was smiling, and it was a beautiful day for a wedding with blue skies above. Even Lucky was outfitted in a lavender bow and greeted guests as they arrived until the pup began yawning and found a spot under one of the skirted tables to take a nap.

Yet, all the while she smiled and played the hostess, and then walked down the aisle to stand beside Sean as his best person and witness her two dear friends recite their vows to each other, there was something missing.Someone.

It was silly, but she kept looking around, hoping to see a tall cowboy with jade-green eyes that would make the day and evening absolutely perfect by his managing to show up at the wedding after all. It was crazy, her brain told her, but she couldn’t stop the hope that hid out in her heart.

The party went on for hours. The food was a hit with the people from the West Coast. Texas barbeque was a major success. The well-known country-western trio wowed the guests, and a dance band took over and, from salsa to rock to jazz, there was something to bring everyone out on the dance floor. Laurel danced until she finally had to abandon her high heels, glad her long, full, black taffeta skirt allowed her to hide the fact she danced barefoot part of the evening, even though she wasn’t the only female doing the same thing.

Lacy was dancing with Beaudry and then with a nice young man her same age. Laurel found a perch on a porch swing next to her sister for a break from the partying crowd.

“They make a cute pair,” Laurel observed with a grin as the two young ones were hitting the dance floor again.

Sammi Jo nodded. “Well, you and I can appreciate that, but if you look across the floor at Beaudry, you’ll see that he is watching that poor boy with the look of a hawk sharpening his talons, waiting for one wrong move on his prey’s part.”

Laurel laughed as she eyed Beaudry eyeing his daughter and her partner. “Lacy has a good head on her shoulders. I don’t think either of you have anything to worry about.”

“You always start off with a good head on your shoulders until that one special guy comes along, and then all common sense is tossed out the window.” Sammi Jo looked at her sister. “For me, it was a Hawkes by the name of Beaudry. For you, a Hawkes named Jaxson. Or are you still trying to deny that, even though everyone else knows better except for you?”

“I didn’t sit down here for one of your lectures. As you recall, I am the older one.”

“Not even five minutes—that doesn’t fly any longer. Seems like you still have some explaining to do to a certain cowboy when he shows up. Hopefully, he’ll be more apt to listening now. So, keep your temper under control and tone down the sarcastic wit. Try just being open and honest and let the chips fall where they may.”

Laurel would have made a comeback except for the fact that it made sense. She did need to make things right with Jaxson if he would hear her out. She needed to apologize for a few things. But would he listen? Would he understand? Had he calmed down? Things were usually black or white in his book. And this would definitely fall into the gray area.

As the clock ticked on, the guests began their trek back to the airstrip for the flight back to the West Coast, and the bridal couple prepared to take off in the ranch’s private jet for their honeymoon. Laurel was feeling more restless, and that brought on her need to grab another slab of the wedding cake, a glass of milk instead of champagne, and a pair of her fuzzy neon-green house shoes on her tired feet. She said goodbye to the couple and then snuck out a side door and headed down to the stables, Lucky in her arms. As she used to do when she had a lot on her mind, she found a perch on a bale of hay in a corner across from the horses. She could talk to them, and they always understood her. They never judged. And they eased her soul. Lucky snuggled down in the soft mound of hay in a corner and drifted off.

As she was halfway through her cake, she heard the jangle of spurs on the concrete walkway. Someone had entered the stables. They couldn’t see her perch, so they would do whatever they needed and be on their way.

She saw the boots first, then the chaps on long legs, and the belt buckle she recognized. Her gaze flew upward and met that familiar jade one—a tired and a surprised one.

“The plane took off.”

His words weren’t the ones she expected.

“Yes, it did.” Wherever he was going with his train of thought, it was buying her time to gather her wits about her.

“I saw two people getting on the plane. One I could tell was Sean. The other was female. But you aren’t there—you’re here. So, it really was CeeCee starring as the bride.”

“Can’t put anything by you.”Watch the temper and the sarcasm.It had been good advice she should have followed. His gaze had taken on a glint at her response.

“Was there a wedding today?”

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