The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride (The Watson Brothers #2)(46)
“You’re a good man, Rory, and you’ll make a great father to the wee lad. Tell your brother Chance I’d like a word with him sometime soon too, will you? Seems like I missed his wedding and that saddens me greatly.”
Rory swallowed a grin and stood up, shaking the father’s hand. He put his hat on once he strode out of the little church and headed across the park and back to work. When he walked into the office, he called the ranch to tell Gina the news.
“Thank goodness. I’ve been so worried.” He could hear Fisher chatting in the background.
“Told you we’d fix it somehow or other. Once you’ve met him, you can start organizing the wedding. I have to leave it up to you and Callie to arrange, I’m afraid. I have my work cut out for me with the house renovations and things here at the office.”
“I don’t need a flashy wedding, Rory. Just family will be fine.” He heard her sigh over the line. “And I’m more than happy to move to the cottage now. I can deal with builders working around us. Besides, I’ll be on hand to do some of the work myself and that garden needs a lot of hours in it.”
“Gina, we’ve talked about this. If we keep out of their way, the renovations will go faster than having to work around us. And you don’t have to keep proving yourself to me, we talked about this.”
“I know but I’m not used to someone looking after me. It goes against the grain.”
“Get used to it and it works both ways. I’m not used to having someone there for me, either. Regardless, it makes sense to let the builders get on with the job.”
“I know but I want to be in our home, just the three of us.”
“That’s how I feel too.”
“I feel like I’m being lazy here at Chance’s place. It’s like I’ve been handed a new life on a plate.”
“And that grates on you, doesn’t it?”
“Yes it does. If Tyson can think I’ve ripped you off, he won’t be the only one in town to come to that conclusion and with the court case looming, well, I’m on edge. Plus, Callie is doing her best to organize me. Wants to take me dress shopping tomorrow since I don’t have anything at all suitable.”
“Now that sounds good. You can go in and see Reverend Davis, then drop Fisher off to me. What do you say? I can use my little sidekick to bust the local criminals and stop littering.”
“It’ll work out great. Can’t wait to see you tonight.”
*
The following day she was a bundle of nerves on the trip into town.
“Stop fretting. You’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll come to the church with you and then we can drop off Fisher with Rory while we shop up a storm at Married in Marietta.”
Gina’s nerves were on a knife’s edge by the time Callie parked the car in front of the little white church. But this was what she wanted when she answered Rory’s ad so why was she scared now? Probably because you love him and have so much to lose now whereas before you were still fighting for what you needed.
“Oh my goodness, it’s so pretty.” Her future sister-in-law climbed out of the car and stood looking at St James Church, her mouth open wide as she took in the beautiful old restored building.
“Regretting the Las Vegas wedding?” Gina watched her as she reached in to take Fisher from his seat.
Her head whipped around and she frowned at Gina. “What? No, no way. It’s just not what I would have chosen if it was left up to me, that’s all. And I love old places and this is beautiful. Really quaint and pretty.”
Gina hitched her boy up onto her hip and shut the car door. “It is lovely, isn’t it?”
Callie turned and frowned at her. “Would you rather get married here than at the cottage?”
“If I had the time to do it the way we wanted to, yes I would. It has a nice feel to it, you know?” She walked over and stood next to Callie. “The house is lovely and all, don’t get me wrong, having to rush things like this seems so damned unfair. I always imagined I would get married in a pretty little church just like this one with a big fluffy white dress like a princess and have my father to give me away.” She gave a strained laugh. “Well, that’s not going to happen now, is it?”
Callie leaned over and slipped her arm around Gina. “Aw, honey, so long as you get married to the man of your dreams, who cares. I know what you’re thinking and lots of girls want the traditional wedding. I thought I would too, although I wouldn’t change what I got for the world.” She squeezed Gina tight. “It’ll be fine on the day, you’ll see.”
Gina gave wobbly smile. She didn’t want to correct Callie. It was not having her father here to give her away that hurt the most, not the church although that had a part in it too. “Let’s go and meet Reverend Davis shall we, then we can give this young man to Rory and go shopping.”
Together they walked to the door and peeked inside. The sun shone through into the vestry and down the aisle of the small building. Gina led the way, her shoes tapping out a pattern on the polished wooded floors.
“Hello.”
She looked into the shadows of the pulpit and blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the rainbow of color from the stained-glass windows inside the church.
A door closed and they looked up to see an older gentleman with grey hair walking toward them. “You must be Gina. I’m Reverend Davis.” He hurried down to meet them, holding out his hand in greeting. “And this must be young Fisher, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”