Inside the house, the kitchen was a flurry of activity. In the dining room, a four-tiered white wedding cake took center stage. Tables and chairs spilled out of the dining room into the great room. The balcony surrounding the huge room was draped in red satin bows and white lace. The scent of red roses sprinkled everywhere wafted throughout the house.
“Your clothes are in your old bedroom,” Chase told his brother.
“Meet you back down here,” Cash nodded and took the stairs two at a time up to his former room.
* * *
As Chase showered,he was glad to know he’d have Jade back in his arms tonight. He’d missed her terribly the previous night, when she’d stayed at Chloe’s, and called her first thing this morning. He toweled off and then shaved. He’d no sooner donned his clothes than Cash knocked on his bedroom door.
Chase opened it and said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so dressed up, little brother.”
Both men wore black jackets, white bowties with new, white Triple C Ranch dress shirts, dark blue jeans, and black boots. Coop, Mean Pete, and Martyman would be dressed the same. Only Chase would sport a red satin vest.
“As the saying goes, you clean up well, big brother,” Cash said.
With that, Cash took off to check on the ranch hands, all of whom had readily volunteered their services. He headed out the front door where Mitch and Thatch were directing guests away from the house to the backyard. There, after signing the guest book, Martyman and Mean Pete were escorting people to their seats. There weren’t specific sides for the groom or the bride; instead, everyone was blending together. In any event, the sound of the doorbell was a first today. Chase opened the door and smiled.
“Derek, come in,” Chase said and shook his hand. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Thanks. Glad to be here,” the detective replied, dressed in a sports jacket and jeans.
Chase led him to the den where they had privacy and asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Derek said. “The Spatafore case was open and shut.”
“Good.”
“Chase, I’m hoping to stay long enough to see you and Jade tie the knot,” Derek said.
“But you might not?” Chase asked as they stood in front of his desk.
“Right. I’m expecting a call today, and if it comes, I’ll have to leave immediately.” Derek rubbed his forehead and said, “I came early to tell you why in confidence.”
“Whatever you have to say won’t leave this room.”
Acknowledging that, Derek inclined his head. “The sheriff’s department has granted me a temporary duty assignment in Denver.”
“I see,” Chase replied, wondering why Derek would tell him this.
“Not that your sister will give a damn,” Derek began with a self-conscious chuckle. He shrugged and continued in a serious tone. “But I could be gone for as long as a year.” Looking Chase in the eye, he said, “I like Chloe, and I hate to disappear before getting to know her better.”
“Pretty sure she’ll be at the wedding,” Chase said, understanding now. “Tell her.”
Derek shook his head. “I’ll be undercover with a task force.” He paused and clenched his jaw. “I can’t say how, but this job is personal. I wouldn’t want Chloe to be in harm’s way.”
With an appreciative nod, Chase smiled. “You have Chloe’s feisty number already. I’m not surprised because you’re a damn good detective. You figure if she’s saving you a dance today, she might try to save you in Denver. More or less.”
“That occurred to me. More or less.” Derek smiled, too, and then sobered again. “I want to be on the record with you because, should Chloe be willing, I’d like to see her if I make it back to Colorado Springs.”
Chase grew serious and frowned. “I don’t know what you’ll be facing in Denver, and I don’t expect you to tell me. But I’ll be in your cornerwhenyou return to the Springs, Derek.”
They spoke for a few more minutes, and when Cash joined them, he said the motorcycle guests were the last to be seated. As Chase made his way through the great room with Cash and Derek, he wasn’t sure if time was flying by or standing still. But the next thing he knew, he had donned his black cowboy hat and was standing in front of a crowd of two hundred people. Family, old and new friends, neighboring ranchers, some former dude ranchers, and bed-and-breakfast guests, along with Triple C Ranch customers—like Vince and the owner of the steakhouse—had been invited to celebrate with them.
The band shifted from the country song they were playing to the one he and Jade had initially danced to at the Memorial Day picnic. Chase watched Mean Pete and Katy link arms and smile at each other. They had become nearly inseparable during the last few weeks, and he wondered if they’d soon be marching down the aisle too. Cash grinned as he held out his arm to Chloe, and they, too, were all smiles as they made their way toward the arbor. Right behind them, dressed just like the groomsmen, came Finn bearing the rings. The wedding march signaled the guests to stand as the arrival of the bride was imminent.
And then…oh and then…there she was.
Jade. All in white.
