CHAPTER NINE #3
There’s a knock on the door, and it opens. Jackson sticks his head in. “You look beautiful, sweetheart. You ready to get this thing started?” I nod at him and ask the question that no one’s answered for me yet.
“Are you the one walking me down the aisle?” He stands in front of me and gives me a warm smile. “Kind of. I’m going to ask that you trust me and trust Max. This was his doing.”
I nod. “I trust you both.” Jackson leans down and kisses my cheek ever so briefly.
“I want you to know I’m honored that I even crossed your mind when you were deciding who to walk you down the aisle.
I want you to know that if you ever need anything-anything at all, you can come to me.
Anna, Wyatt, and I see you as family and want you to know you can count on us.
Maybe not the family of your birth, but the family you chose? You can count on us.”
I only nod because if I try speaking, I know I’ll start crying. Jackson clears his throat just as there’s another knock on the door. It opens, and Nicky sticks his head in and smiles. “It’s time. Let’s get you married, darlin’.”
I smile. “I’m ready.” The door opens, and we step out together. We make it to the door to outside. When it opens, I hear the music that we picked out. Train’s song “Marry Me” fills the air.
We walk maybe five or six steps when Jackson stops, and Wyatt’s there. He gives me a smile and takes my arm from Jackson. We walk together for another ten steps or so, and Wyatt stops. Rory is standing there to take my arm. “Let’s get you hitched, little sis.”
We take another ten steps, and I can’t help the tears that threaten to fall when Juan takes over for Rory. Juan squeezes my hand and leads me to the edge of the grass where Pa stands, waiting for me.
Pa takes his spot by my side. He leans over and kisses my cheek. “I’m honored to be gaining a daughter today. You gotta save a dance for me later.” I nod, and for the first time, I look down the aisle and see Max waiting for me.
Pa brings me to the start of the chairs where people are sitting.
I briefly look away from Max to see Asher standing, waiting for me.
Pa hands me off to Asher, who leans down and kisses my cheek.
“We’re all here for you. We’ll all be here for both of you anytime and anywhere.
” I only nod because the tears are flowing freely, and I’m not sure how I’m going to manage my vows in a couple of minutes.
We get up to the front and stop right before I reach Max. Jon looks at the guests and speaks for the first time. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
A chorus of voices ring out. “We do!” I look back, and Jackson, Wyatt, Rory, Juan, and Pa are standing behind Asher and me. I turn my head back to Max instantly, and he’s smiling at me. He blows me a kiss and mouths, Love you. I really am the luckiest girl in the world. Let’s do this thing.
**********
Today’s been the best day of my life. Not because I’m wearing a beautiful dress and we are having a great reception with everyone important to us, but because I’m now married to the man sitting next to me.
He married ME. Me, the girl who thought she’d never make it down the mountain.
Me, the klutz who has managed not to trip once today.
Me, the one who hadn’t experienced…anything really before meeting Max.
I really do feel like I’m the luckiest woman in the world.
Max squeezes my hand to get my attention.
I look over at my husband, and he’s got a grin on his face, telling me he’s plotting something.
“We’ve done the first dance, we’ve greeted the guests, let’s go do the cake thing Nicky was talking about so we can get out of here, and I can have you all to myself.
” I eagerly agree because I’m ready for it to be just the two of us.
He wasn’t the only one who didn’t like sleeping alone last night.
We both stand up, and Max takes my hand, leading me across the dance floor over to where the cake is set up. We’re almost there when my name is shouted by a voice I thought, no, I hoped I’d never hear again.
“Christy! Christy!” I turn toward the front where my father’s voice is coming from.
He’s in the parking lot, moving right toward me.
Max squeezes my hand and pulls me behind him.
I can see a few brothers getting up and moving around.
Father doesn’t seem to notice that Jason and a couple of guys are walking up behind him.
His eyes don’t leave me, even when I’m behind Max. He looks frantic and lost. “The land is gone! We have nowhere to go! How can you let your family lose their home?” Yeah, because it’s my fault. I try to move around Max, but he’s blocking me. I look at Father again and have to say something.
“What do you expect me to do? You didn’t bother to make sure Joseph really owned it. You just blindly believed everything he said. I’m not responsible for your lack of planning or your situation. You made it perfectly clear to me every day that I was up there that I wasn’t wanted.”
Father lets out a roar and reaches for something, but I can’t see what it is till I hear someone yell, “Gun!” There’s a commotion, and suddenly not only is Max blocking my way, but Ry and Tyson are there.
There’s more shouting, and a shot rings out.
I’m able to see around the guys and see that Father’s been tackled by Jason, Emmett, and Jeremy.
He’s not going anywhere. Someone runs to the clubhouse yelling that they’ll get the guys some zip ties.
I look Max over to make sure he’s not hurt, but there’s a small amount of blood on his upper arm. He looks at it and shrugs. “It’s not me, I didn’t get hit.” Tyson shakes his head when I look over.
Nicky’s patting Ry down and gets to his right side and lets out a cry.
Ry looks down, and there’s a small amount of blood coming from his upper arm.
He has the balls to smile over at Max. “Couldn’t let you and Jon be the only ones with a scar.
” He looks over at Jon, who’s glaring at him.
Ry gets a big shit-eating grin. “I’m gonna even forgo the fucking band-aid. ”
From Nicky’s cries, I don’t see that actually happening, but I'm so glad it seems to be just a graze. Not sure what it is about the Weston boys, but bullets seem to skip off them.
Max looks at me and smiles. “We just had to have a memorable reception. Good thing is I don’t think he’s gonna be bothering us again any time soon.
I have it on good authority that the sheriff doesn’t like his off-time events interrupted by work.
He’s here with Millie, so he’s gonna be really pissed off that he’s gotta take him in.
Means he’s gonna push the district attorney to find some charges that stick. ”
Max pulls me back into his arms and gives me a kiss. “No take-backs now, Mrs. Weston.” I smile at him and shake my head. I may not be the smartest woman in the world, but nothing would make me not want to be his wife.
I lean in close to him and whisper. “Let’s get this cake thing back on track so we can make a quick getaway.” Max smiles even bigger and kisses me again. “As usual, my wife is the wisest woman I know.”
He looks around and calls out to everyone. “The missus and I would like to cut the cake and bid you all a good night. The sooner the better.” Laughter fills the air, and I let him pull me again toward the cake. I reach up and touch my locket. See, Mama? I’m right where I’m supposed to be.