Jeremiah (Stud Ranch 5)

She scoffed. “I expected a usual itinerary. Spa treatments. Hair appointments. Not— Not this.” She waved her phone at me.

Out of patience, I reached for the phone but she yanked it back and I shrugged helplessly, looking at Charlie. “I listed out the dates and times for the wedding events. You want spa appointments or hair or whatever… I guess we can find time for those if you want—”

Her mother scoffed in outrage. “I thought I was hiring a competent wedding planner, that’s what I want.”

“Mom,” Charlie said, her voice warning, but her mother was on a roll now.

“Not that anyone consulted me on what I wanted for my own child’s wedding that I am paying for. But no, my one and only daughter couldn’t have the wedding in civilization where friends and family could attend. She has to be exotic! And have her wedding out in the middle of nowhere, where I’m frankly surprised there’s even central plumbing!”

“Well, I guess it’s lucky you got here this week and not last one,” Reece said as he came in, busting the tension with a big, jovial laugh. “We’d only barely got the main line running and hauled out the construction Port-a-potty over the weekend.”

Mrs. Winston’s mouth dropped open, clearly appalled, but Reece either didn’t notice or played as if he didn’t.

“We just caught sight of Xavier’s trailer coming up the road,” Reece said. “Y’all wanna come out and say hi?” he said, smile still all-American bright.

Yeah, there was definitely no mixing up the two twins. Jeremiah was perpetually stormy and Reece was generally a laid-back guy given to sunshine. He was exactly what Charlie deserved. She’d had enough stormy in her life.

“Absolutely,” I said, hooking my arm through Charlie’s. “We’ve always been so curious to meet the great Xavier.”

Charlie’s mom just waved at us. “I’m feeling a little overheated.” She waved at herself rapidly. “I think a hot flash might be coming on. Bernie,” she turned and snapped at her husband. “Go get my mini-fan. It’s by the bed.”

He didn’t even nod or voice assent, he just robotically got up from the chair where he’d seated himself and hurried to obey her.

“Fair enough,” Reece said. “I’m sure you’ll have a chance to meet them later. Just for whenever you do, please remember that Xavier is a vet who was injured overseas. His face was disfigured and people weren’t too kind to him at first, so if you please, try not to treat him any different.”

Mrs. Winston just huffed. “I would never look down on a former member of the armed forces. How could you ever insinuate that I would?”

“Of course not, ma’am,” Reece hurried to say. “I just like to prepare people so they aren’t shocked by his face, that’s all.”

His mother sniffed, obviously not mollified.

I tugged on Charlie’s arm to get her away from the toxic drama queen. After meeting her mother it was a wonder she’d turned out as normal and down to earth as she had. Then again, it had taken her a helluva long time to find any kind of healthy in her life.

And I certainly wasn’t gonna let her mama rain on her parade now that she had.

We stepped outside just as a huge RV parked and another truck hauling a horse trailer pulled in behind it.

A giant of a man got out from the driver’s seat. A woman stepped out of the passenger side, and a passel of kids poured out from the back.

The woman leaned in the back seat and brought out a smaller child, a little older than a toddler, with a pink bow on her head, and held the little girl on her hip as she pulled back out.

Jeremiah intercepted them, coming from the barn, before we could make it out of the house.

I was still too far away to hear what was said, but I could see the little girl bucking to get out of her mom’s arms. While Jeremiah shook the man’s hand, the little girl rocketed toward us where we were stepping down from the house.

She sprinted toward Reece and leapt at him. He hefted her midair up into his arms. It looked almost choreographed, obviously something they’d done many times before, and her delighted squeals of, “Uncle Weece!” warmed even my cynical heart.

I glanced over at Charlie and just shook my head at the misty-eyed look on her face. “Girl, you are such a goner.” I laughed at her.

Then she linked her arm in mine and pulled me forward out of the rest of the group.

Jeremiah looked at us over the man’s shoulder. “Here’s Ruth, who you bought the property from. And this is Charlie, the woman of the hour who managed to enchant my brother. Ruth, Charlie, this is Xavier.”

I was glad for Reece’s little reminder inside about Xavier’s face. Reece had mentioned his boss had a scarred face before, but I guess I hadn’t imagined it was quite as dramatic as it was. The whole left half was quite badly damaged. By fire? I had no idea, but there was obviously some story there.