Page 4 of A Triple C Ranch Christmas Wedding
He cupped her cool cheeks with his warm hands, and said, “Let’s go back inside my apartment and get warm.”
“Okay,” she said.
He kissed her nose and then her forehead, his lips warm upon her skin, and then taking her by the hand, he led her back to his apartment where they took up kissing again, this time on his couch.
She was so caught up in being with him, she didn’t text or call anyone to tell them about their engagement or her new engagement ring. Instead, she focused entirely on Jack, as they talked about their future together.
They both agreed that marrying sooner suited them better than marrying later.
Lucy had always wanted to make her own wedding gown and had designed the dress a long time ago. She was sure she could have the gown done in time for a December wedding. They could be married before the year was over.
Jack was fine with whatever she wanted to do.
“Guys aren’t as into all the details of weddings, like women are,” he said with a smile and a wink. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“Jack…” She placed her hand on his chest and looked up into his eyes. “I’d love to be married at The Rise and Shine Ranch, where we met—if we can rent it, and if it’s not too expensive.”
“We can try,” he said. “But the ranch closed, and the owner has it up for sale. I’ll check on it though.”
She gave him a smile. “Thank you.”
“I want you to have the wedding of your dreams,” he said. “Whatever you want, sweetheart, just tell me and I’ll try to make it happen.”
Her smile deepened, and he bent and gave her a kiss, which lengthened into another long make out session.
She loved their make out sessions, and she loved the way he kissed her, as much as she loved kissing him. That they would be able to do this for the rest of their lives thrilled her more than she could show him. She could have stayed there all evening kissing him, but she also had questions, especially now that he’d brought up the sale of the ranch.
After they came up for air, she asked the first one. “What happened to Cayenne and Fanny?”
The horses they’d ridden on their first date were important to her, and she would always remember them fondly.
Cayenne was a sorrel, a big, tall, red horse who had looked intimidating to Lucy at first but who had turned out to be well trained and good natured as Jack handled him.
Freckled Fanny, Lucy’s mount, was a smaller Appaloosa with black and white hindquarters and black dots on her fanny. Though Lucy had never been on a horse before, and knew nothing about riding, the sweet and gentle mare had made her first ride easy.
Her first horse ride, their first date, and their first kiss, that trifecta of happiness, had happened at the Rise and Shine Ranch. She would always remember it. And she’d hoped they could be married at the ranch where they had first met and come together creating that trifecta.
“Branch Masters retired and moved to San Francisco to be near his son,” Jack said. “But before he moved, he took the horses to auction. Buck Harris at The Triple C Ranch bought them. So, they’re still in Eagle Rock, being well taken care of. I saw them last week, when I pulled that night guard shift at the Triple C.”
“Oh, I’m so glad they found a good home,” she said. “They are wonderful horses.”
“They are,” he nodded. “I’m glad they found a good home, too.”
“Where did Katie Wells go? And Ben?”
“Ben would be a senior in high school now. I’m not sure where. He might have moved away. But Katie is still in Eagle Rock, working at the local diner. I’m not sure if she still goes by Wells since she remarried.”
“I bet they’re selling her pies at the diner,” she said.
“That wouldn’t surprise me,” Jack said. “We could go to the diner and ask.”
“I’d love that,” Lucy said. “Especially if we can have some of Katie’s chocolate pie.”
“If we can’t get the Rise and Shine Ranch for our wedding, I could see about getting the Triple C.”
“Would they allow us to get married there? I thought you said it was a women’s shelter.”
“Not a shelter, it’s a center the women come to, after they leave the shelter, to learn skills for their new life. Then they graduate and move on.”
