Chapter 41
Trent was flying on instruments, trusting that even though he couldn’t see what was going on in Brittany’s head, eventually her heart would take the controls and they’d land safely.
He didn’t know that for sure, but how could this turn out any other way? They hadn’t served gummies at the meeting but he’d come out with a whole new perspective on his life. He was officially part of this incredible family and its exciting future. Brittany should be, too.
He shaved before showering to give the water time to warm up. It wasn’t icy when he got in but it wasn’t warm, either. He didn’t linger.
But she shouldn’t have been able to use up the hot water, even with washing her hair. Cheyenne hadn’t cut corners on anything in this cabin, including the hot water tank.
One conclusion troubled him — that she’d stood in the shower crying until the water turned cold. Living with sisters had taught him that a woman who wanted to hide her tears might use the shower to disguise them. Guys would just go pound on something and pretend the tears were sweat.
By the time he finished dressing and came out of the bedroom, she was ready to go. And wearing her silverbelly, which went great with her sparkly jeans and denim jacket. “You look terrific.”
“Thank you.” Her voice softened. “You, too.”
“Thank you.” He’d take any crumb while he waited for her to offer the whole cake. “I was afraid you wouldn’t wear the hat since you’re kind of mad at me.”
“That would be cutting off my nose to spite my face. This is the most beautiful hat I’ve ever seen and I plan to wear it every chance I get, except when it might get dirty.”
“I’m glad you like it. I was meant to buy it for you. That’s why you never got it for yourself. It was supposed to be a present from me.”
“If you say so.” She picked up her phone. “Ready?”
“Let’s do it.” He ushered her out to the porch.
“I never asked how they’re planning to feed all those people.”
He paused before closing the door. “Uh-oh.”
“What?”
“Potluck.”
“Oh, geez. It was on the invitation. No gifts, but please bring a dish to share. I didn’t shop for a gift but then I forgot all about the dish.”
“It’s been a busy week.”
“Really? I didn’t notice.”
“Let me see what’s in the cupboard.” He headed back into the cabin.
She walked in right behind him. “You can’t just take a bag of chips. This is a wedding.”
“A super casual one. We’ll be eating on those benches, so chips are way better than some sloppy casserole you’ll spill all over yourself.” He reached up and pulled down two bags. “Take your pick — tortilla or potato.”
“Tortilla.” She took the bag and held out her other hand. “But give me both. You’re driving.”
“That I am, and we’d better get a move on.”
She looked at her phone as she hurried out the door. “Yeah, it’s later than I thought. Weren’t they going to block off the road about now and direct the people from town to the overflow lot?”
“We should just make it before they do that.” He helped her into the truck, jogged to the driver’s side and climbed behind the wheel. Once he had the engine running, he tapped the button for the radio.
“Are you trying to soften me up?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grimaced as Deana Carter belted out Did I Shave My Legs for This. “But never mind.” He turned it off. Not the picture he wanted her to have of married life.
“For the record, I’m not worried you’d turn into a beer-drinking, TV-watching slob of a husband.”
“But you might be worried I’d leave.” He held his breath. Saying that could be a huge mistake.
She was quiet for a couple seconds. Seemed like an eternity. “You’ve been talking to Ella. Or Marsh.”
“Marsh.” He hesitated. “Also for the record, I can’t imagine leaving you.”
“Could you imagine leaving Cheryl when you married her?”
“No, but she?—”
“Cheated, lied, was mean to you.”
“Yes.”
“I wouldn’t do those things, but I could do other things that would get on your nerves.”
“And I guarantee I’ll do things that would get on yours. I’m not perfect.”
“Yeah, you are, except for your sudden and annoying fixation on love and marriage.”
“I’ve got plenty of flaws. Like everybody does. But I’ll do my best to make you happy and all I ask is that you give back the love I give to you. I know you’re good at that, Casey Cougar.”
“What the heck has Casey got to do with us?”
“Rance told me you hold a special place in the hearts of Wagon Train folks. They loved you as Casey and you loved them back, game after game through your entire high school career. I wish I’d been there to see it.”
She went quiet again, for longer this time. “But it wasn’t me,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “I was someone else.”
“Oh, but it was you twirling on that barstool. It was you making love to me. It was you singing Brown Eyed Girl. It’s no wonder you were the best Casey they ever had because your spirit was shining through that costume. If there’s a video out there I want to see it, but even if there isn’t I have no trouble picturing you as?—”
“You just missed the turnoff.” Her voice sounded funny, like her throat was clogged.
He pulled over so he could make a U-turn, but first he needed to find out what was going on with her. “Brittany?”
She kept her face toward the window. “Just turn around and go back. They’ll put up that barricade any minute.”
“Are you crying?”
“Just turn around and go back!”
She was crying. He was sure of it. And she had no purse, no tissues. Dallas had started carrying a bandana, but he hadn’t picked up that habit yet. He opened the console, found a napkin from a Buffalo takeout meal and handed it over her shoulder. “Here.”
“Thanks. Now drive, please.”
He did, and the short delay had cost them. There was a line reaching back down the road and he was coming in from the other direction. Evidently he’d been just a little ahead of that caravan, but he’d been so focused on winning her over he hadn’t noticed.
Now he had to wait for a kind soul to let him in. Because it was Wagon Train, someone did. But he was stuck in a slow-moving line. Down the road, before the curve, stood the barricade. “We’ll have to park in the overflow.”
“I know.”
He glanced at her. “How’re you doing?”
“Let’s see.” Dragging in a breath, she pulled down the visor and flipped up the cover on the mirror. “I look like I’ve been crying.” She crumpled up the napkin in her fist. “Got ice?”
“Fresh out.”
“Since we’ll need to walk for a couple of minutes, I’ll look better by the time we get there.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said?—”
“Don’t apologize for saying nice things.” She took another ragged breath as she stared out the windshield. “You were right about what you said when we were on the swing. I picked you, so this is all on me.”
“Thank God you picked me, and it’s not all on you. Not anymore. That’s my point. It’s on us and we?—”
“My plan to live separately while we raise Montana was designed to keep you from discovering I’m not as great as you think I am.”
His heart stalled. There it was. A big scary stumbling block of fear. “I’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. I’m convinced you’re ten times greater.”
“And that’s what scares me! You think I can live up to that?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that makes one of us.”