Page 6 of A Triple C Ranch Christmas Wedding
He answered.That’s great. Text me when you get home.
She smiled as she looked at the phone and was tempted to say, ‘yes sir,’ to her new Marine veteran fiancé. Instead, she texted a happy face and an,Okay.
He always liked to know she got home safe, so this had become a new habit with them. It wasn’t that he had to know where she was twenty-four seven, like some guys who were insecure and controlling, he just wanted to know she’d arrived home safe and wasn’t broken down on the highway or on a deserted road.
There were long stretches of quiet roads in Montana and spots where cell phones didn’t work so well.
She placed her phone on the coffee table with her To Do list back up so she would see it and waited for Sadie.
When Sadie came back with the tea and cookies and placed them on the coffee table, Lucy said. “I really should have called you first.”
“Stop that,” Sadie said, with a wave. “This is a very special day. You had a lovely surprise, and I’m glad you’re here. Now, have a cookie and tell me more about the wedding!”
“Thank you.” Lucy took a cookie and placed it beside her teacup. “The wedding is going to be at the Triple C Ranch. I thought about inviting some of the Hollywood people,” she said, “but I really want us to be married at The Triple C, and we can’t shine a light on them.”
“The wedding should be about you and Jack, not about the guests,” Sadie agreed.
“They have rules we have to follow,” Lucy continued. “If we have the wedding there, all the guests have to go through a background check before I can even invite them. I can’t put the address on the invitations and can only tell them exactly where it is, after they say they are coming out here. They have to sign nondisclosure statement saying they won’t give away the location or take any pictures.”
“No pictures allowed at all?” Sadie asked, her eyebrows rising.
“Only the official wedding photographer can take them,” Lucy said. “One of the best photographers in L.A. is offering to shoot the wedding photos as a wedding gift, but I’m going to turn her down and go with the one the center recommended because we don’t know that the L.A. photographer won’t leak the photos. There was an accusation once that she had leaked a photo of a wedding that was on a secluded island. And you know how it is with Hollywood people.”
“Yes, I do,” Sadie agreed. “I think you’re making a wise choice.”
Lucy smiled at Sadie, glad her friend approved. “So,” she continued on, “We are just inviting family and close friends, keeping everything small.” Lucy wrinkled her nose. “Honestly, no one from L.A. has even tried to keep in touch with me since I moved out here. Not a one.”
“It happens,” Sadie said, shrugging. “It’s a different lifestyle out there, and most people in Hollywood are caught up in themselves, not really thinking about anyone who isn’t in their vicinity. It’s nothing against you personally, so don’t take it that way.”
Sadie, who had been an actress in Hollywood, had experience with moving from the big city to a sprawling ranch in Montana when she’d married Hank Patterson.
Lucy was glad to have Sadie as her friend. She really understood what Lucy was going through and was a true friend, not a ‘let’s do lunch’ kind of friend. “There’s so much to plan.”
“Then let’s get started,” Sadie said. “Tell me what you have so far.”
Lucy pulled out her cell phone and checked her To Do list. “Okay, so, on my list is a great big tree, decorated for Christmas. Then red and white poinsettias and some pretty Christmas bows and bulbs.”
“That sounds lovely,” Sadie said.
“I originally wanted to be married at The Rise and Shine Ranch, but it’s vacant right now and for sale. The owner is a real grouch and won’t consider renting it, even for a day. So, I’m real happy Jack got the Triple C Ranch to say yes, with conditions.”
“I’m glad, too,” Sadie said. “The Triple C is the newest ranch in the area and a beautiful setting for your wedding. Okay, let’s tackle your list, one thing at a time. The tree will be easy. We have plenty of trees out here.” Sadie swept her arm in a wide circle and laughed. “Great big Montana trees.”
Lucy laughed, too. “True. We do!” Then she stopped laughing. “Of course, we’d have to cut one.”
“One of our Brotherhood Protectors, Tim Watson, worked as a lumber jack up in Canada. His nickname is ‘Timbers’.” Sadie winked at her. “He’d be the perfect guy to cut you a tree. You and Jack could pick out the tree, and then Timbers could cut it down and haul it back. I’m sure he’d be happy to help. Eventually, you’ll meet all the members of the team. I’ll ask him for you.”
“That’s perfect,” Lucy said. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.”
“Let’s make an appointment to pick out dresses,” Lucy said. “I’ll need to pick one for my cousin, in case she decides to come out after all. So, there’s just the two of you. My side of the wedding party is small. Jack has more close friends than I do, but he says we can keep the wedding party small.”
“You didn’t have time for friends, while Angelica kept you running all over town for her. You had no private time at all.”
Lucy shuddered. “She was exhausting and rarely pleased about anything.”
“I know,” Sadie said. “She’s like that on set, too, from what I hear. I don’t know how you stayed with her as long as you did.”
