Page 15 of Cameron

They were part of the family and they would die here on this ranch if she had her way.

The couples in the back of the sleigh laughed and talked, not paying them a bit of attention.

“How was town?”

“Good,” he said. “I took care of my business and then headed back here. No signs of Edward.”

This afternoon she’d called him three times trying to reach him.

“Hey, what are we doing after this?” a young woman asked. “I’m getting kind of bored.”

“When we return to the barn, we’ll have hot chocolate and cookies. Then dinner at six. After that, it’s movie night.”

“Did Francesca choose the movie?” one of the guys asked.

“Yes,” Samantha said.

“Oh no,” the guys groaned. “She picks the worst movies.”

Suddenly they heard shouting from the sleigh in front of them. They had to be at least forty yards ahead, but Samantha could hear Bridezilla screaming.

“I told you, I don’t want any more cookies. I’m trying not to gain weight or I won’t fit in my dress. Cancel the cookies,” she shouted.

“Oh dear,” Samantha said.

“How do you do this day after day?” Cameron said low. “We have to deal with parents who want to make sure that little Johnny can shoot a BB gun, but nothing like what I’ve seen so far this week.”

Samantha stared at him and nodded. She didn’t want to say anything for fear the others would repeat it back to Francesca.

With his free hand, he reached over and squeezed her knee. It was meant to be comforting, but all it did was make the tears well in her eyes.

Everything had to be perfect this weekend, and so far, Bridezilla was making it tough. Poor Tara was about ready to pull her hair out.

“I want cookies,” one of the young men in the back said. The other men in the sleigh took up the chant of cookies.

“Cookies. Cookies. Cookie monster wants cookies.”

Samantha and Cameron glanced at one another and laughed.

“Shut up,” Francesca yelled. “You can have your damn cookies.”

Francesca stood in the sleigh in front of them. “This is my wedding. Don’t you guys forget it. We do what I want.”

“How can we forget?” one young man in the back replied softly.

Her fiancé pulled her down into the sleigh.

“I thought a dude ranch was tough, but this is ridiculous,” Cameron said. “Maybe I won’t include weddings in my ideas for my properties.”

Samantha had to ask. She needed to know before she developed any feelings for him.

“You’re here for the wedding, right? You’re not here looking at our property,” she said.

He swallowed and then stared at her. “I’m here for the bridezilla.”

“Good,” she said smiling. “Because I would be so disappointed if you were here for other reasons I don’t know about.”

The kids in the back rattled on about college and how they couldn’t believe that Sterling was really going to marry Bridezilla. Yes, they were friends, but they didn’t believe she was ready to settle down.

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