Chapter 3
Em
Considering I’m supposed to be getting married in a few hours, I’m sure there are plenty of things I should be doing as a soon-to-be bride.
Instead, I’m wrapped up in a blanket in the barn, sitting on a hay bale outside one of the stalls where Asher’s pet pony, Rodney, is glaring out the window at nothing at all.
Since he’s grumpy and put out, I decided he needed some company.
That’s the excuse I’m running with, anyway.
Rodney thinks he’s a big horse and tries to do ‘big horse’ things and usually he’s busy getting into all sorts of situations that ponies shouldn’t be in, like trying to jump a fence and getting a front and back hoof stuck in the process. Which is why he’s currently confined to his stall for a week.
I don’t even know why I came out here in the first place. No, that’s a lie. I needed to go somewhere so that I could catch my breath and try and process whatever happened this morning between my father, Jude Cooper, and myself.
Because I can tell you right now, I didn’t wake up this morning expecting to end the day being married to a total stranger—albeit, a very handsome, intriguing, calming one.
My mind has been a scrambled, conflicted mess ever since the Coopers left with promises to take care of things and come back this afternoon. Jude didn’t look as shell-shocked as I felt, but he was definitely distracted.
Though that has nothing on the hell that broke loose the minute us Wilsons were all alone around Dad’s hospital bed in the living room.
“What just happened?” I ask the room at large. “Is this some weird dream?”
“She’s not marryin’ a Cooper,” Asher declared.
“Why did you agree?” EJ asked me.
“I’m confused,” BJ announced. “I thought we’re supposed to hate the Coopers.”
Dare was quiet though… concerningly so. While Dad was answering everyone else’s questions as well as he could, Dare stared across the room at me. It was as if he was trying to get inside my head. He looked almost contemplative. Then I realized exactly what it was…he was conflicted.
That’s when I muttered something about having to see a man about a horse, and here I am, watching an almost catatonic pony stare out a window because he misbehaved.
The sound of boots on dirt tell me I’m no longer alone. I don’t even need to look up to know that it’s Dare coming to check up on me.
“Rodney’s still mad, I see,” he says, his deep rumbling voice somehow strong, gentle, and reassuring all at the same time. “Pity. He’s a good listener sometimes.”
Glancing at my hulkingly tall, big brother, noting he still looks like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Then again, our father is dying and though we’ll all take over the ranch once he’s gone, it’s Dare who feels the most responsible.
And yet, he’s here worried about me. “I’m OK, Dare,” I tell him, answering his unasked question.
He sits down next to me, the bale rocking a little at the move. “You know it’s OK if you’re not, Little Em. I’m kind of pissed Dad laid that on you. He should never have put you on the spot like that.”
I grab some hay and hold it out through the wooden slats for Rodney to nibble on, which he does after trying to pretend he’s not interested. “He’s dyin’, Dare. He’s allowed to do whatever the hell he wants,” I reply.
There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for my father.
I’m a daddy’s girl through and through. Ma used to say she thought getting a girl would mean she had a best friend for life.
Instead she got a tomboy who followed her dad around the ranch whenever she could instead of baking, sewing, and doing all the other things society tells you Moms and daughters should do together.
That’s not to say Ma and I weren’t close, I was just all about Dad growing up. And now I might only have days—maybe a week left with him.
“He may be dyin’, but he’s graspin’ at straws to court favor with a mountain spirit we don’t even know exists.
Who believes in fate anyway?” he says, somewhat bitterly.
“I’ve been tryin’ to sway him from doin’ anythin’ drastic for months now, yet even from his sick bed, he’s not ready to give it up. ”
“It’s OK, Dare. Apparently he wants to see me married and believes that it will unite the mountain and bring our families back together.
It’s symbolic and just for Dad, and I’m happy to do this for him if it brings him some peace before he leaves us.
” My voice cracks just at the thought of living in a world without my father.
“As long as Jude and I know it’s just a formality and it’ll never be legal, that’s all that matters.
It’s such a small thing to do for him, Dare. ”
“Then why are you out here communin’ with Rodney instead of in the house gettin’ ready, huh?” Weddin’ days are special, Em. They’re not supposed to be symbolic and just for show.”
“I’m fine with it. I promise.”
Derrick falls quiet for a while after I say that. So much so, that I have to turn my head to check he hasn’t suddenly turned mute.
“I don’t—” He shakes his head and purses his lips together as if biting back what he really wants to say.
“Out with it, big brother. You’ve never minced words with me, so don’t hold back now.”
He nods, turning his body my way and looking me dead in the eye. “You’ve always been pretty clear about what you want out of life and you’ve done what’s needed to get there. You’ve got a life in Palmer. A great job you’re good at. All of it.”
Now I’m the confused one because I can’t see what that has to do with me agreeing to get married today.
Or why looking into Jude Cooper’s beautiful brown eyes had my mind going blank of everything and the word ‘yes’ came out of my mouth of its own volition.
And let’s not mention the fact I’ve felt lost since Jude left the ranch either. That’ll just confuse me even more.
“What are you tryin’ to say, Dare?”
“I’m givin’ you an out, Em. You can still change your mind. I’ll fully support you if you want to go back in there and tell Dad you don’t want to marry a stranger—let alone one from the other side of the mountain that you’ve always been told to hate,” he replies.
I cock my head. “Are they our rivals?”
“Nope,” he says, popping the p. “Far from it. We’re all just tangled up in the sins of generations past. Dad insists that we’ve had our chance at future happiness stolen from us because of a misguided belief that payin’ land taxes for kin until they were of age generations ago means we’re owed somethin’. ”
I sigh. “When you put it like that, it sounds kind of ridiculous.”
He gives me a ‘duh’ look. “That’s because it is, Little Em.”
I can’t stop the wry grin that curves my lips at that. “Do I have your blessin’ to marry Jude today? Even if it’s only for show and for Dad’s benefit?”
“If you’ve already decided to do it, there ain’t no way I’m goin’ to stop you. I learned that lesson long ago.”
There’s no stopping my unladylike snort at that. “You were the one who sent the twins to stop me buyin’ that motorcycle from Kinleyville. It was them who took one look at it and not only encouraged me to buy it, they also suggested I ride it back to Timber Falls.”
“And it was me who had to come rescue you without Mom and Dad findin’ out when it lost a tire on the side of the highway and you almost broke your leg.” He says it with a smile but I remember at the time he was anything but happy about the situation.
I latch onto his arm and bat my lashes, smiling over at him like butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth. “Have I ever told you you’re my favorite big brother?”
He smirks. “Considerin’ there’s only two of us to have that title, I’d hope I was in the runnin’.”
We both laugh but it drifts off when reality creeps back in.
“I want to do this for him,” I say out loud as I feed some more hay to an eager and very nosy Rodney the pony.
“He’s done so much for me—for us—it’s the least I can do.
I was never plannin’ on gettin’ married anyway, so I might as well get this one-and-done out of the way.
” I say the words but all I can see at the forefront of my mind is Jude and those expressive eyes of his…
All I can remember is the warmth of his hand and the sparks that flowed through me when we touched. What was that anyway?
“Em…” Dare says. I don’t miss the warning in his tone. “You’re forgettin’ that you’re not the only one takin’ part in this. You need to make sure you’re both on the same page about this.”
I shoot him an arched brow. “He literally turned up and got guilted into marryin’ me by a dyin’ man that said it’s the only thing he’d ever ask of his family ever again. I think Jude knows exactly what this is.” Even if I’m wavering a little myself on the issue…
Dare’s expression is unreadable, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see a lot working behind his eyes.
When he sighs, I know he’s realized I’m not budging on my decision. “You know you always have my support.” I nod. “I just think you—”
“What? Just say it.”
“Just…OK. You do know that not everyone has the same thoughts as you when it comes to marriage,” he states.
I huff out a laugh. “You mean women, Dare. And yes, I know. Most people want to get married. It’s not like I’m against it. I’ve just never let it rule the direction of my life. I've never deemed it an important milestone I have to achieve. That’s all.”
“I get that. But for most people, it’s a big commitment, one they don’t enter into lightly. For some, it can mean more to them than others. You get what I’m sayin’?”
I roll my eyes this time. “I know, Dare. This is different though. Maybe Dad just wants to see me walk down the aisle. That’s totally a thing.”
He studies me for a good long while before the corner of his mouth quirks up. “Yeah. About that…”
“What?” I ask, brows furrowed.
“Just remember that Dad’s as stubborn as the mules in the field. OK?”
“What’s goin’ on?” I ask, suddenly worried.