“Look at that hawk!” Ozzie was practically pressing his face to the window. He seemed so excited over something as small as a hawk. At least he seemed to have forgotten about my faux pas.
I turned down the radio. “Guess ya don’t see hawks too much in the city, do you?”
“Try never.” He sat back and flashed me a smile, which dimpled his cheeks. Just like I remembered from last Christmas. Pascal had kept him entertained, making him laugh, and I’d been just as fascinated by those dimples. “This is so cool.”
“Cool? It’s an endless stretch of barren land.”
“Is that a bad thing? Because after all the lights, buildings, cars, and people, this seems so peaceful. I love it!”
“You do?” I would never have expected that from him. Carter had grown up in Bristlecone Springs, but he couldn’t stand how far it was from bigger towns.
“Yes. When Carter and I drove here last Christmas, it was so late I didn’t get to appreciate it much. I’m glad I get to see it in the day again.”
“You don’t blame me for insisting you hold the wedding at the ranch, then?”
He sat back in the seat and picked up the book in his lap. “To be honest, I found it odd you wanted us to have the wedding here, but I’m not mad about it. You’re paying for it after all.”
“It’s not me wanting to control the wedding because I’m paying for it,” I said gently. “Everything is up to you, and I promise not to interfere.”
Silence stretched between us. He inclined his head. “May I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you insist on us having the ceremony in Bristlecone Springs? You must know Carter isn’t too fond of the town.”
“Since you asked so plainly, I’ll be honest. I rarely see my son. Now that he’s getting married, I can’t help but think I’ll never see him anymore.”
“Ah, so you wanted the wedding here to get closer to him?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s not turning out well, is it? Carter isn’t here, nor is he coming tomorrow like he said he would. Will he even make it for the wedding?”
Alarm speared through me, and I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. “You think there’s a possibility the wedding won’t happen?”
“It’s just…” He slapped his hands to his cheeks. “God, what am I saying? I just have butterflies, is all. The Wedding Whisperer says it’s normal.”
“Wedding Whisperer?” I shot him a glance, then switched my attention back to the road.
“Yeah. They’re a genius with weddings. They have a podcast and a blog, talking about all things regarding engagements, weddings, honeymoons, and making relationships last. I’ve been listening to them since I was sixteen.”
“You’ve been listening to them that long?”
“Hmm. It all started when my moms got remarried. I helped them put together their wedding, and since, I’ve become a huge fan.”
“Interesting.” I didn’t know any man who thought about weddings that much. Hell, if Emma hadn’t pressured me into it, I likely wouldn’t have made the step, but she’d given me an ultimatum. I didn’t want to lose her, and the rest was history. We should have spent more time getting to know each other before we made the enormous leap, though. By the time I realized she longed for the city and detested everything about the ranch, it had been too late. We’d tried for so long to make it work untilone day we just stopped trying. It was better this way, her enjoying her life in the city and me having my ranch.
“The ranch is huge,” I said. “You can look around and decide where the best spot is for you.”
“That sounds great. I’ve always wanted a beach wedding, but I’m sure this will be just as nice.”
A beach wedding. When was the last time I’d gone to the beach? Too many people, and it all seemed so superficial. The hot spring and the river on the ranch were perfect for me.
“Now I feel I should apologize for taking that dream away from you.”
“Oh no! Please don’t think that way, especially since you have a good reason. Though your plan hasn’t started very well, but I’m sure Carter will be here soon. After all, the wedding is in three weeks .”
“Three weeks is a long time to spend in Bristlecone Springs if you’re not used to small-town life. Even our guests who love staying on the ranch eventually want to return to the city.”
