Page 83 of River Strong

Oakley hadn’t heard what the preacher was saying. It appeared her sister hadn’t, either. Tilly was now staring at their mother as if afraid that Charlotte had come to cause trouble—at worst, try to stop the wedding. Cooper had tensed the moment he saw Charlotte at the back of the church. Oakley knew he would do anything to make this wedding the best day of Tilly’s life—including escorting her mother out.

Ryder and Brand were on their feet. Both turned to look at Oakley as if waiting to be told what to do. She had told them that if their mother showed up to try to get her out of the church before she could make a scene.

They now looked from their mother to Oakley again.

It all happened within seconds. Oakley saw the way she was dressed—as if going to a wedding. But still, she wasn’t sure what to do until her mother’s gaze met hers. She could see how hard this was for her, coming at the last minute as if losing the battle to stay away.

Oakley nodded to her brothers and said, “Could you show our guest to a seat please?”

Everyone turned back around as Charlotte Stafford was led to a seat. Tilly reached over and squeezed Oakley’s hand before returning her attention to the pastor. Smiling, her sister said, “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” and reached for Cooper’s hand as if to assure him. He looked worried, Oakley thought, glancing at her as if to say, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

She’d made the only choice she could have, she told herself. This didn’t mean that her mother approved or would ever accept the marriage, but she’d come, which to Oakley was huge. She knew her sister would feel the same way. She’d seen the change in her mother since CJ’s arrest and the remains having been found in an old well close to the Stafford Ranch.

But still, she was glad when the pastor didn’t ask if anyone objected to the marriage of these two people. She felt as if she was holding her breath and couldn’t help the sigh of relief when the pastor declared Tilly and Cooper as husband and wife. “You may kiss your bride.”

As they kissed, Oakley sneaked a look and saw her mother rise and quietly leave the church.

Little steps,she thought as the pastor introduced the couple as Mr. and Mrs. Cooper McKenna to those gathered. Tilly had married the man of her dreams. Oakley had never seen her look happier.

Her gaze went to Pickett as she felt his eyes on her. She smiled, close to tears, wanting to pinch herself, half-afraid something would happen to spoil not just this moment, but also this cloud she’d been floating on for weeks with Pickett.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

DUFFYFELTLOST. Just as he’d known would happen, Pickett and Oakley were now a duo. Not that he didn’t see Pickett on the ranch. Not that they weren’t still best friends. But the three of them were spending less and less time together.

Dirty Business had suspended meetings—at least for a while. After what had happened with Oakley, the gas company had moved their operations out of the area—at least temporarily. Even the big news about Charlotte Stafford attending Tilly and Cooper’s wedding had died down.

Most everyone was waiting to hear if forensics had found a match for the human remains found in the old abandoned well close to the Stafford Ranch. Rumors had run wild at first, but even those had died down. At loose ends, Duffy had been working with Holly Jo on her trick riding. He admired the way she continually pushed herself to get better.

“She’s a natural,” his father liked to say. “She’s really taken to horses and the ranch.” He’d seen his father’s pride in her, which only made him wonder again about Holden’s connection to her and her deceased mother. Not that he suspected his father would ever be forthcoming on that subject.

Just the thought of Holly Jo reminded him of the trouble she’d been having with that boy at school. He decided to drive by the school, which was about to let out for the day, and meet this Gus.

As he pulled up, the bell rang and moments later students began to file out like bees from a hive. Duffy climbed out of the pickup and walked toward the school, looking for Holly Jo. He liked the idea of surprising her with a ride home—and maybe a pit stop for ice cream at the store.

He spotted her about the same time that he noticed a boy standing off to the side as if waiting for someone. The moment Holly Jo cleared the schoolhouse door, the boy headed for her. Gus?

Duffy watched as the stocky blond boy stopped Holly Jo even as she tried to sidestep him. Moving quickly in their direction through the students still pouring out, he heard just enough of the conversation to know the boy was giving her a hard time.

“Excuse me,” he said. “Is this boy bothering you?”

Holly Jo’s face flamed red. “Duffy, what are you doing here?”

The boy started to walk away, but Duffy called to him. “Are you harassing my little sister?”

“N-no.” The boy looked as if he was about to lose his lunch.

“What’s your name?”

“Gus.”

“Gus, what?”

“Gardner.”

Duffy recognized the name. A ranch hand by the name of Joe Gardner worked on the Montgomery Ranch. “I know who your old man is.”

“Duffy!” Holly Jo cried as she looked around. A few of the students had stopped to watch. “You’re embarrassing me!”

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