Page 7 of A Triple C Ranch Christmas Wedding
“I don’t either. I was different back then.”
Before Jack.
She didn’t say it, but she thought it. Jack had made sure to let her know when he’d thought she wasn’t being treated right and should stand up for herself with the volatile actress, and he’d done it in quiet ways which had made her feel better about herself, while going unnoticed by Angelica. She supposed that was when she’d first started to fall in love with him.
He was so handsome and masculine and strong, but then so were many of the men in Hollywood. But Jack, he was different than the others.
He noticed things.
And he’d cared about her from the start. From day one, he’d treated her with respect, love, and encouragement. Being around him had made her a stronger woman. A smile curved across her lips as she remembered.
“You’re daydreaming about Jack, aren’t you?” Sadie asked, her tone sly.
“Yes,” Lucy laughed. “I’ve been doing that more, lately.”
“But, of course, you beautiful bride to be,” Sadie said. “That’s what most brides do.”
“It has been so nice, eating where I want to eat for a change,” Lucy steered the subject back. “And planning my weekend with the things I want to do. When I worked for Angelica, I had no time to myself, but then suddenly I had all my time back. It’s been heady. Like the roof blew off, leaving everything wide open.”
“You’ve done great. Look at all the lovely jewelry pieces you’ve had time to make and how quickly they’re selling. Your business should pick up even more, especially with Christmas coming.”
“It has already,” Lucy said. “I’ve had to give everyone a date, after which I can’t take commissions, because I need to finish my dress.”
“Well, we’re going to knock out this wedding planning and delegate who is doing what, so you can get back to finishing your dress. I know that is a labor of love.”
“It is,” Lucy nodded. “I just wish my mother and grandmothers were still alive to see it.”
“Oh, they’ll see it,” Sadie said. “They may not be physically sitting in a seat to watch your wedding where you can see them, but they’ll be there in spirit.”
Lucy blinked back a tear.
Sadie switched the subject. “What do you want to do for your bachelorette party? That’s on me, so I want to know what you’ve always dreamed of.”
“Oh!” Lucy blinked. “Well, I never really dreamed about that part. Just the dress and a handsome husband who loves me.”
“Well, start thinking of what you’d like to do, and I’ll set it up.”
“Okay. I’ll think about it.”
They bent their heads together and continued planning.
Before Lucy drove back to Bozeman that evening, they nearly had the entire wedding planned, except for the bachelorette party,
She had no idea what she wanted to do for her party. Partying in a club was not what she wanted to do. But it was the only kind of bachelorette party she’d ever been to. Telling Sadie she’d get back to her on that, Lucy headed toward her car in the driveway.
On the way there, Lucy ran into several of the Brotherhood Protectors. They each congratulated her on their engagement.
Lucy smiled, knowing Jack must have texted Hank because word of their engagement had spread fast.
She was enjoying the moment until the newest guy, Dan “Crash” Barnes, former USAF, jokingly said, “I can’t wait ’til Gunny’s bachelor party.” He nudged Barret Williams. “Marines have the best bachelor parties. Last one I went to, we had to dunk the groom in the pool several times to wake him enough to get him to the wedding on time.”
“You know Marines,” another man Lucy didn’t know said, and then they all laughed as if they were privy to an inside joke which she was not.
At that moment, Hank came out on the porch and called the guys into his office. They all waved goodbye to her and went inside.
Wild bachelor parties and drunken grooms.
That was not what she needed to hear about before the hour-long drive back to Bozeman.
She frowned as she pulled out of the drive onto the main road.
A drunk groom, who had to be dunked in a swimming pool to make it to his bride’s side on their wedding day, would not fit in with her picture of the wedding she’d dreamed of and was planning for.
Jack wouldn’t do that, would he?
He was the first Marine she had ever known.
For the first time, doubt crept in, nagging at her, as she drove home through the Montana night.
