Bea laughed again and spoke to me. “He’s already experiencing a withdrawal from the horses.”
Tag shook his head in denial. “I am not.”
I shot Bea a knowing look, which she reciprocated.
Money was tight at Meadowbrook, so Tag and Bea’s honeymoon getaway would only be two nights in San Antonio. But Tag’s time off started right now. After he picked up Randi’s family and the first round of Thompsons from the airport, he was under strict orders to visit and have fun, not work. Thursday to Tuesday. The longest he’d had off…maybe ever.
“Tag.” We held eye contact, the years of trust between us strong. “Go. Enjoy your family. Dote over your bride. And stop bossing me around.”
Bea’s eyes softened as she mouthedthank you, and I dipped my chin in response.
The crease on Tag’s forehead spoke volumes—sincerity, worry, nerves. Tag was the closest thing to a brother I’d ever have. Our friendship rescued me—this ranch did.
His voice scraped as he held out his hand. “I owe you one, Jess.”
I shook it. “No such thing as owe between us. You know that.”
He nodded a silentI knowthen turned to grab Bea’s hand. “Alright. We gotta head.”
With that, they were off to the airport.
And Cade and I were off to the storage room with Cooper trailing behind us.
THREE
Jesse
Nine weeks ago
The Barkley family sat across from Cade and I at a long, thin table set up on the porch of the big house for family meals. As of now, all of Bea’s extended family members had made it here, save a couple still on their way. Lunch today was drop-in style, casual and light before the rehearsal dinner at 7 p.m.
Guests filtered in and out of the big house kitchen, piling Glad paper plates with turkey sandwiches, barbeque chips, and fruit. On a corner table near the front door were sweating drink dispensers full of iced tea and lemonade. Meadowbrook Ranch wasn’t a fancy destination by any stretch of the imagination, but Bea had gone out of her way to beautify each corner and make sure everyone’s needs were met. Lynn, her mother, had been doing the same ever since she arrived from Colorado last night.
A gentle breeze moved through the covered porch, scooting my untouched napkin down the table a few inches. I set my cup on top of it as I made small talk with Jack and his wife Miranda—Randi, as Tagcalled her—while their son Kacey yapped Cade’s ear off about the semis and tractors on the property.
My eyes flitted toward the door of the big house when it opened, and Tag and Bea moved down the porch steps into the gravel parking lot. Bea wore a worried look on her face, a phone pressed to her ear. And Tag’s gaze swept over the table until it landed on me. He beckoned with a hand, mouthing the words,“Can I get a sec?”
“If you guys will excuse me a moment.” I pushed my chair back and side stepped my way out from behind the table. Joining Tag and Bea in the driveway, I frowned as Bea paced away, speaking into the phone, “Hollie, it’s going to be okay. No one is mad at you.”
“Everything good?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Tag put his hands on his hips. “I actually might need your help. Could you run into San Antonio for our last pick up?”
“I thought the rest of Bea’s family was getting a rental car.”
Tag nodded. “Her brother Peter is driving from the airport and he was going to give their sister Hollie and her daughters a ride, too. But they were on different flights and their flight suddenly got delayed by two and a half hours. Peter could wait for them, but then?—”
“Ah.” I filled in the blank. “He’d miss the trail ride.” As we spoke, Harlan, our ranch hand was rounding up horses and picking hooves, getting them all ready for Bea’s family to ride.
Tag gave a nod. “Exactly.”
When Bea hung up the phone, she shrugged and said to me, “Maybe you won’t have to get her. She said she’d try to get an Uber.”
“No.” Tag shook his head. “That’s gonna cost her a fortune.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that.” Bea snorted with wide eyes. “Hollie’s loaded.”
“Still,” I added, “that’s a long time in an Uber. Didn’t you say she had kids?”
