Page 10 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

“Fortification first.” He pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine. “It’s going to be a hard couple of days for you.”

Cadence pushed the car door open and climbed out as he did the same. “How much further to the ranch?” she asked him overtop the car.

Graham laughed. “It’s about a twenty-four-hour drive, total. And we’re less than six in. We’ll be a while.”

Her eyes bugged. “That far?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh. My. Goodness. I didn’t realize.”

“It’s a big country. Let me remind you — you said you wanted to get far, far away.”

“I did, but wow.” She shook her head lightly as she straightened. “Okay. Breakfast. I’m starving.”

“Me, too.”

* * *

It was quite a while later before her group text with her ten would-be bridesmaids finally quieted enough for Cadence to set her phone down. She glanced over at Graham. “Sorry I’ve been such lousy company.”

He flashed her a grin. “No problem. We’re now in North Dakota.”

She peered out the window. “It doesn’t look any different from Minnesota.”

Graham chuckled.

Cadence angled a look at him, but he seemed focused out the windshield. Which gave her a chance to take a closer look. After all, she owed him a lot and, besides twenty-four hours in a car together, she’d be working with him. Or, at least, his family.

Hopefully him.

What was that reaction about? She narrowed her gaze and took in his profile. She’d never truly noticed him before. He was the quiet, unassuming cousin trapped between the Bradley side of his family — Paul was definitely not inconspicuous — and the Sullivans with their four outgoing sons.

He was cute. She could get used to seeing his face, even in the glasses he sported today. His dark hair was shorter on the sides than on the top. It looked like he’d gotten a fresh cut for the wedding.

Graham glanced over and caught her staring. His cheeks pinked.

Oh, boy. She was honestly scrutinizing him in that way. Cadence cleared her throat. “So, tell me more about our destination and what I’ll be doing.”

“I haven’t called anyone yet.” He frowned as though he were nervous. “As far as I know, the social media manager job is still open. We also need a photographer—”

She did a mental fist-pump. “You definitely do. I looked up the website.”

“And if, by some chance, Tate hired someone in the past three days and forgot to tell me, there are plenty of other openings. The gift shop. Housekeepers. Horse… people.”

“Stable hands? Muck shovelers?”

“Whatever they do.”

Cadence couldn’t help laughing at him. “Have you been riding since you moved out there? I bet the trails are beautiful.”

“Once.” Graham grimaced. “There were mosquitoes. Also, Tate brought his girlfriend — now his wife — so I was a total third wheel.”

“Poor you. Wait! Did you say Tate is married? When did that happen?” And how had her social contacts failed to inform her? Not that she knew the family well, but they did run in the same general circles. Surely, someone should have informed her.

“It was a bit of a surprise.” Graham let out a long breath. “Okay, we have time for a story. Have you met my grandfather?”

Cadence blinked. If they were starting with the Sullivan patriarch, the tale could be long. “Walter Sullivan? I’ve met him, but I doubt he’d remember me.”

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