This Love (Cowboys & Angels 6)

Wringing me hands together, I looked at her. “I told Cord.”

The sandwich froze at her mouth before she stared at me. “Why would you do that? Maebh! He’s going to tell Trevor, and I’m not ready for that.”

I took her hand in mine. “He won’t. He promised me he wouldn’t.”

Her eyes closed. “I don’t know what to do. I’m so scared, and I feel all alone.”

“Don’t be, I’m here for you. We’re here for you. There are so many people who love you and care for you, Scarlett. What about your parents?”

She shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll be disappointed. My father will be upset, my mother will probably be over the moon. She’s clueless when it comes to Trevor’s bad boy reputation. She’ll have a silly notion we’re going to live happily ever after.” Her voice cracked.

“When the time comes, and you’re ready to tell Trevor, I’m here for you.”

The way her face softened made me chest squeeze. “Thank you, Maebh. I don’t have a lot of friends in town. Most of my friends didn’t live in Oak Springs since I went to a boarding school in a different city.”

“I’m your friend now. And so is Cord.”

A tear slipped from her eye, and I quickly wiped it away.

“Thank you, Maebh. Thank you so much.”

Smiling, I pulled her to me for a hug.

“It’s all going to be okay, I promise.”

For the first time in me life, I was making a promise I knew was most likely going to be broken.

Cord kicked me, causing me to pull me death stare off Trevor. I’d been staring at him since he showed up late for dinner. He sat down and smiled at everyone. When he got to me, I gave him the evil eye, making that pretty boy smile drop instantly.

“Stop looking at my brother like you want to punch him in the face,” Cord whispered.

“But I do want to punch him in the face,” I insisted.

“So, Maebh, Cord, any more thought on the date of the wedding?”

Melanie’s question made both of us look at the other end of the table.

“How are we going to get Patches to Ireland?” Chloe asked, concern on her face.

Me mouth dropped. I’d heard the stories from Amelia about Patches the goat and weddings. I’d been around enough family dinners to know that Patches was a part of this family in Chloe’s eyes, and because of that, he needed to take part in almost every family event. Especially weddings.

“We can’t bring Patches, Chloe,” Cord said, trying to let her down easy. “They don’t allow you to bring animals to other countries.”

“Oh,” Chloe said, her eyes filled with sadness.

“But we have goats in Ireland,” I quickly added. Everyone at the table turned and looked at me with shock and wonder. Waylynn mouthed ‘why’ as Paxton slapped her hand to her forehead.

“Er, um, ah, come to think of it,” I said, trying to think quickly. “I don’t think goats are allowed to be in weddings in Ireland.”

Amelia gave me a thumbs up. “Fast on the feet there.”

“Why not?” Chloe asked.

“Yeah, why not?” Corina asked, giving me a smirk. She was enjoying this a little too much. Here I thought she was the sweet one.

Clearing me throat, I answered. “Well, they tend to eat the flowers.”

“We’ll get the goat a basket just for him to eat so he won’t munch on the wedding flowers!” Chloe said.

“They’ll eat all the grass, and where we’re getting married, the grass is…”

Chloe looked at me with those big blue eyes, waiting to hear what I was going to come up.

“It’s, um, sacred.”

All eyes were on me now. Waylynn actually handed Liberty to Jonathon and placed her chin on her hand and mused, “This ought to be good.”

I could feel Cord’s eyes on me as well. “Sacred?” he asked, a slight chuckle in his voice.

“Yep. It was planted by a king…long ago. He made a…vow that no one would ever be able to destroy the grass and…he put a curse on it for those who tried to eat it!”

Waylynn’s eyes lifted, and I was really wishing she wasn’t sitting directly across from me. Amelia covered her mouth, attempting not to laugh.

“A curse?” Chloe asked, her eyes wide with excitement. “What kind of curse?”

“Yeah, what kind of curse, Maebh?” Waylynn and Amelia asked together.

I rolled me eyes at both of them. Damn Parker sisters.

“What kind of curse?” I repeated, stalling for time. One glance down at Melanie told me I was on my own with this one. Not even she was helping me out.

“Well, the curse was that if anyone were to put an animal on the grass, that animal would disappear for all time.”

Chloe gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. “Disappear!”

Cord leaned down and whispered, “Jesus, Maebh, don’t scare the shit out of my niece. Just tell her goats aren’t allowed on the property where we’re getting married.”