She leans over and gives me a kiss. “We should be out there in case Dag arrives. He’s a tad protective of his girls. And now that Davy has a crush…”
I jump out and run around to her side to help her out. “You’re right. But Dag better be nice to my kid.”
“Calm down, cowboy.” She holds my hand as we walk toward the pool. When it comes into view, Bluebonnet grins. “Almost everyone is here. Only a few are missing. Hopefully, they’re on their way.”
“Anderson said that everyone was coming. Look, even Tandy and Matthew are here.”
“They are so stinkin’ cute.” She trails a finger down my arm with her other hand. “I’m going to go find Joji. She’s been asking about breeding horses. I guess goats aren’t entertaining enough for her.”
“Clint doesn’t seem to mind. Look at them, and my kids say that I’m embarrassing. He’s got Joji sitting in his lap.”
“They’re adorable.” After a peck, we part ways, and she heads toward the lawn chairs.
I head toward Grayson but make a stop at the cooler and grab enough drinks for all the guys standing around the grill.
Dag
I’m eager for the gathering. Some of us still work at the ranch and see each other often. But it’s rare that we’re all together in one place like this.
After parking, I turn around and give the girls the same lecture I give when I let them loose anywhere. “Have fun. Your mom and I will be around. But you know the rules. No drugs. No alcohol. And no kissing.”
“We know, Dad,” Carolina says.
She is so much like her mom. I probably don’t even need to give her rules, but Isabella is more like me, and that has me worried.
Isabella giggles and bumps Carolina’s arm. “No kissing, okay?”
Goldie gives Isabella that warning look. She started using it on me, and by the time we had kids, she’d perfected it completely.
“Sorry.” Isabella jumps out of the truck and runs toward the group.
I look back at Carolina and then at Goldie. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
Carolina clears her throat. “Davy asked me to be his date to the wedding.”
“He invited you to a wedding? For a first date?”
Goldie rests a hand on my arm. “You know Davy. He’s like family.”
Carolina grimaces. “Mom, please don’t say it like that.”
I choke back the laugh. “I don’t mind if you go with Davy. But if he’s not respectful?—”
“I know, Dad. If a guy doesn’t treat me right, I should walk away.”
“Good girl.”
“Can I go now?”
Goldie nods. “We’ll be over there in a minute.”
I take Goldie’s hand. “I’m really glad you didn’t follow the advice I give our girls.”
“Except I did. I walked away. Then you figured it out.”
“And I started treating you right.”
She trails a finger through the gray whiskers of my beard. “One day, our girls will meet someone who makes them feel like I felt when you said, ‘She’s mine.’ For Carolina, it might not be Davy. They’re young. But you never know.”
“Having Parker as an in-law wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Don’t marry her off yet. She’s seventeen.”
I laugh. “I know. But sometimes I need a reminder of her age. Do you ever look at her and see that little girl swinging the pinata stick? I do. All the time. How can she be seventeen already? I feel for Anderson. He must be a nervous wreck about the wedding.”
“I think he’s excited. Fred is crazy about Bailey. We’ve all known that for years.”
“Yeah. And all the people falling in love on this ranch is putting crazy ideas in our girls’ heads.” I slide out of the truck and open Goldie’s door. “I’m kidding. Sort of.”
She presses a kiss to my lips.
“You know what makes me really happy?” I lace my fingers with hers.
“What’s that?”
I lean close and make my whisper sound like a growl. “You’re mine.”
Goosebumps erupt on her arms, and her cheeks turn a warm shade of pink. “Oh, Dag, I love you.”
Archer
Mateo and Tillie jump out of the truck as soon as I roll to a stop, and Lettie laughs. “They’re excited.”
“Yeah. I am too. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together like this. I’m glad Anderson had the idea of doing this barbecue. Kent said Mason probably wouldn’t make it today. Something happened and he ended up driving instead of flying.”
“I hope he makes it.” She takes my hand as we walk away from the truck. “It tickles me that Fred and Bailey are getting married because it reminds me of us. They met when they were so young.” Lettie tears up. “It’s sweet.”
“Just like us, they were meant to be.” I give her a kiss.
She smiles. “Following you to Stadtburg was one of the best decisions I ever made. We reconnected, which of course I love, and our kids got to grow up with this massive group of friends.”
“Life has a way of working itself out, I suppose.”
She nods. “True. I’m sure Carson would say the same thing. How old was Fred when they moved here?”
“Like eleven or twelve, I think.”
“They really are a lot like us.” She squeezes my hand. “I’m going to find Lilith and see if she needs any help with last-minute wedding tasks.”
“Alright. I’m going to join the guys by the grill.” I tug her close for a kiss. “Hopefully, we have a few years before we’re hosting a wedding.”
“Agreed. I’m not ready for that yet.” She laughs before walking away.
Anderson
A last-minute run for ice has me late to the barbecue, but a backyard party in summer without ice isn’t a good thing. I smile as the sounds of people enjoying themselves fill the air.
We don’t all work at the ranch anymore, but we all still live in the area. Busy lives make it harder to get everyone together. The upcoming wedding seemed like the perfect reason to gather since all the kids were returning to town.
I carry the cooler full of ice to the mess hall.
“Thank you. Just leave it right there. I’ll have Mad Dog move it for me if I need it somewhere else.” Ava pats my arm. “Primrose is looking for you. I think she’s in one of the guest rooms.”
I’m not sure what has her off by herself, but I wander into the house, looking for her. She’s sitting on the bed in a guest room, wiping her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I rush across the room and kneel in front of her.
She taps the bed beside her, sniffling.
I take a seat and rub her back. “What’s going on?”
Prim shifts into my lap and buries her face in the curve of my neck. “I’m being a ninny. Seeing all the people is making this real, Anderson. Bailey is getting married. I’m so happy for her. Really and truly. But gosh. A wedding seemed so far away until it wasn’t.”
I brush my thumb on her cheek, wiping away tears. “People always cry at weddings. You’re just getting a head start. A two-day head start.”
She laughs. “I don’t know why I’m so emotional about this.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You aren’t pregnant, are you?”
“Oh no. Hopefully not. I am not ready to start over with diapers.” She wipes her face.
“Prim, sweetheart, have you eaten today?”
She looks up at me, her brow pinched. “I had coffee seven hours ago.”
I stand, still holding her. “I know why you’re emotional. I mean, I get all the extra feelings about the wedding. Last night, I woke up in a panic because in my dream it was time to walk down the aisle, and I couldn’t find my pants.”
Prim laughs. “I’ll make sure you show up with pants.”
“I appreciate that.” Carrying Prim, I walk through the house. “When did you know they would end up together?” I’ve replayed memories, trying to figure out when I first noticed a spark between Fred and Bailey.
“That summer he left for college. That’s when things shifted, and I started to wonder. They’d always been friends. Years ago, when he moved onto the ranch, she instantly wanted to be his friend because?—”
“His name was Fred. That part of this story should surprise no one.”
Prim grins. “Right?”
“It started with a cactus and ended with a fiancé.” I stop beside the game room door. “But it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if one day, there is a little Fred Jr. running around.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. But I won’t bet against you.” She grabs my beard and tugs me to her lips. “I love you, Anderson. And I love the life we’ve built.”
“Think anyone would miss us if I snagged you some food and we snuck back into the guest room?”
“Yes, our absence would be noticed. Besides, I think Fred needs you to reassure him that Mason will make it in time for the wedding.”
“Alright. You go eat something, and I’ll try to calm Fred. Or maybe I’ll just find Bailey and have her talk to him.”
Dallas
Rose trails a hand down my arm as I drive. “Lucy is sending me pictures from Tandy’s phone. She’s so excited about the barbecue. She’s taking selfies with anyone who will indulge her. Poor Tandy is going to have a full camera roll.”
“She’s loving every minute.” I’m close to my aunt now. Working together is a big part of why. I think meeting Rose had a hand in it too.
“I love how Tandy and Matthew are grandparents to Lucy.”
For eleven years, Matthew and Tandy have doted on our little girl.
Rose’s dad is around, and Lucy loves having two grandpas.
But it’s clear Lucy has a special place in her heart for Tandy.
“I just pray that Lucy doesn’t start asking boys to take their shirts off.
I am so not ready for that. Honestly, I’ll never be ready for that. ”
Rose laughs. “I’m not either. Not at all. But the barbecue is at Beau’s, and if you recall, he has a pool. The kids will likely all be swimming.”
“And guys will have their shirts off. Dang it.” I pull her fingers to my lips. “Hopefully, my eleven-year-old doesn’t care about stuff like that yet.”
“She’s just happy to see everyone. She’s the baby of the group, and they’ve showered her with attention since she was tiny. Of course she loves these gatherings.”
After I park, Rose shows me a photo of Tandy and Lucy. Their cheeks are pressed together, and they’re smiling for the selfie.
“All these years, and people are still taking pictures of themselves.”
Rose laughs. “I guess some things never change.”
As we walk around the house, she pats my hip. “Am I still the only one who knows about your tattoo?”