Counting On The Cowboy. Shannon Taylor Vannatter

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СКАЧАТЬ And then there was the ceremony that got canceled when Devree discovered her boyfriend of six months was the groom-to-be.

      Just stomach this last wedding.

      A month in Bandera serving as the event planner at the Chasing Eden Dude Ranch would provide Devree the chance to help her brother-in-law. It would help make sure his very pregnant wife stayed on bed rest and brought Devree a healthy niece or nephew into the world.

      If she nailed this nuptial, maybe the bride’s wealthy father, Phillip Brighton would hire her to plan his Brighton Electronics company retreat. And she just might be able to leave her I do planning behind.

      Something caught her eye out the window. The cowboy, feed bucket in hand, walking backward toward the barn. The goat clambered from the top of the pavilion, across the storage shed, onto the old storm shelter and then down to the ground.

      Her gaze bounced back to the couple. Still enthralled with the twinkle lights.

      “Instead of walking off to the side for the unity sand ceremony, what do you think about having a couple of groomsmen move it here in the middle of the aisle?” Devree positioned herself where she thought it should go. “That way all you’d have to do is turn around.”

      It would be difficult enough to maneuver the bride’s mile long train up and down the aisle once without adding the possibility of it getting tangled up in vases of sand.

      “I love it.” Miranda Brighton’s eyes lit up. “That way I won’t have to fight with my dress and our families and friends will be able to see better if we’re up front and center.” She pressed her face into her groom’s shoulder. “I can’t wait to be Mrs. Joel Anderson.”

      “I can’t wait to be Mr. Joel Anderson.”

      The couple’s giggles mingled, ending in a sweet kiss.

      Devree looked away. She used to love weddings. Almost as much as the brides and grooms she’d worked with. Until Randall.

      Just one more ceremony. If the goat didn’t ruin it for her. Then, if she never got another glimpse of tulle and twinkle lights, she’d be a happy woman. And maybe, just maybe, this charming couple would make it.

      “There are a few side rooms along the foyer connecting the fellowship hall in the back. Plenty of room for the wedding party to prepare for the ceremony.”

      “Thank you so much for meeting with us, Devree.” Miranda never took her eyes off her groom-to-be. “I wanted Joel to see the chapel since he’s only seen pictures online.”

      “I don’t care where the ceremony takes place. The married part is all that matters to me.” The requisite sappy response from Joel.

      It would be nice if he kept feeling that way. But odds were—he wouldn’t.

      “Okay, I’ll see you both for a consultation in a week.” Please let the goat be all lassoed and out of sight. She led the way to the exit, praying as she went. Guilt stabbed. She shouldn’t ask God for anything after ignoring Him for so long. Closing her eyes, she hesitated at the double doors, then swung them open and scanned the area. No goat. Her breath rushed out.

      “Thank you.” The giddy bride hugged her and the couple held hands as they strolled to their car.

      “Excuse me.” The cowboy behind her. “You work here?”

      “Yes.” She turned to face him. His Stetson shadowed pale green eyes, dark hair and a cleft chin. Enough to make a girl weak in the knees. Thankfully, she wasn’t a girl anymore. She was a battle-scarred woman. “I’m the new wed—I mean—event planner.” At least she hoped to leave nuptials behind. “Thanks for getting rid of the goat.”

      “I love goats.” His gaze locked on hers, as if he had all day.

      “Do you work here?”

      “Not yet. Don’t s’pose you’d know where I might find the owners? Do the Donovans still own this place?”

      “My sister and her husband, Chase Donovan.” She checked her phone. Chase hadn’t responded to her frantic text.

      “I used to be best buds with Chase.”

      “Really?”

      “I lived here as a kid. You and your sister from around these parts?”

      “No. We’re from Aubrey. I live in Dallas, technically anyway. I’m just here for six weeks.” Why was she telling him all this? Those magnetic eyes held her prisoner, kept her running at the mouth.

      “What about Chase’s little sister, Eden? She still around?”

      “Um...she died three years ago.”

      “No.” His shoulders drooped. “Not sweet little Eden.”

      His genuine sadness got under her skin. “A few years back. Scuba diving accident. She and my sister were friends. That’s how Landry and Chase ended up together.” She shoved her hands in her back pockets. “Speaking of which, he’s leading a trail ride, but Landry’s inside. I’ll take you to her.”

      “I’d appreciate that.”

      She headed for the ranch house. His footfalls trailed behind her.

      Despite her sister’s difficult pregnancy, the yard was still a well-kept green oasis in the middle of yellowed drought-ridden Texas Hill Country. Thanks to a nightly dousing by sprinklers Chase had set up. She hugged herself, staying in the middle of the walkway, keeping as much distance as possible from any lurking poison ivy or rattlesnakes hiding in the suspicious-looking crape myrtle bushes lining each side.

      Would the cowboy disrupt Landry’s calm? She stopped, spun to face him.

      He skidded to a stop.

      “You’re not going to stress her out, are you?”

      The corner of his mouth hitched up. “Not planning on it. Unless applying for a job does that to her.”

      “She usually doesn’t hire the ranch hands. Chase does that.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek. “But he should be back soon.” She turned back toward the house. But what had he done with the goat? She halted again and swung around.

      More space between them this time. He grinned, deepening the cleft in his chin and awakening dimpled cheeks. A dangerous combination. “Learned my lesson. Don’t follow too close.”

      “Where is the goat?”

      “Put him in that pen.” He motioned to the rail fence near the barn out back.

      No goat in sight.

      “Didn’t think it would hold him long.” He adjusted his hat. “Goats are notorious for getting out. Especially if they’re alone. And I didn’t see any others. Unless they all got out.”

      “I don’t have a clue how many there are. I didn’t know they had any until I saw the one on the roof. Thanks again for taking care of that. If my bride had seen him, she may have freaked out and changed venues.”

      “Count СКАЧАТЬ