Patty's Homecoming, page 27
part #1 of Montana Wranglers Series
She had told her father small for her wedding, but seemed that he had his verbiage mixed up and confused small for every single person in Mission. Freaking wonderful.
“I think you may be onto something there, baby girl,” he agreed. He was watching his sons and that sneaky little smile, the one that usually made her so damned nervous, was curving his lips. “I may just have to insist as well, as it would only be good, old-fashioned common courtesy. You will be on your honeymoon and I’m just an old man…” He trailed off. She didn’t really need more, she knew where that one was heading and it spelled doom for her brothers. About damned time, too.
Patty laughed, loudly. She was snickering when the wedding march began. A second time. “Shit. I mean, sorry Daddy.” She felt her cheeks pinken. “I think that’s our second call with the wedding march and Blake is looking like he’s ready to come back here and make sure that I’m walking down the aisle.” She couldn’t help but smile as she looked in once more and saw Blake moving to come to her, but Corbin’s hand staying him.
“That boy is showing a certain impatience all of a sudden,” he snorted. “Nice to know he’s got some emotions buried under that face he puts on for the world. You do right by him, Patricia, and make sure he shows more of them from now on. Now,”—he patted her hand—“let’s get this show on the road, shall we?”
“Sounds good to me, Daddy,” she whispered and took another deep breath. “And how could I not do right by him? I love that man like crazy, Daddy,” she whispered and stepped out with her father at her side. She smiled at Blake, watched as he gave her a nod and stepped back to his place on the platform, and felt her heart melting. He might be in a tux, but he still had his boots on. Damn, she loved that about him.
Her father paused them at the start of the aisle as everyone turned around to see what was going on. As the crowd stood, he began to walk her forward, shoulders back and chest puffed out. He was nodding to people here and there as they walked. If she didn’t know better she’d swear he was doing a campaign walk for mayor or something instead of escorting her.
Patty squeezed her father’s hand in hers and smiled, her eyes moving from Corbin to Blake and back again. When the priest asked who gave her away she heard her father proudly claiming that right and passing her off to Blake before muttering, “No returns,” which caused a riot of laughter. Shaking her head, she stepped in closer to Blake and whispered, “You look really good. I love that you wore your boots.” They were all grinning, and waited while the church settled. “How about we finish this quickly?” She had never really liked being center of attention at all, and he knew that.
“Already told that to the priest,” he said in a low tone. “He’s promised to make it the skimpy version,” he added with a grin. Then he looked down at his feet and shrugged. “Come on. Would it be me if I didn’t do things a little out of the ordinary?”
“Dearly beloved,” the priest said, in a very loud tone while shooting them both warning looks.
Blake snickered and Corbin seemed to have a small problem, given he sounded like he was trying to cough up a hairball.
Patty sighed and looked at him. Nodding, she said the I do when she was supposed to and then, licking her lips, heard Blake giving the same. Lifting her hand, she let him put the ring on her finger, and then put the one on his. The rings were two of the three they had specially crafted for them, and when Patty wore her ring set—the ring from Blake, the ring from Corbin, and her engagement ring—they fit as well. It was as it should be.
Turning to her, he smiled and tapped his boot as the priest drew out the last part. Then the magic words. “You may kiss your bride.” He cupped her face and leaned in for a slow, leisurely kiss that had everyone hooting and hollering. Lifting his head, he brushed a thumb to her lips. Winking, he turned to face the crowd and took her hand in his.
She was seeing stars with that kiss, and not in a bad way either. She let him lead her out and there on the steps she was moved from his arms into Corbin’s and with a grin she asked, “So are you ready to marry me too?” This ceremony was being done by her father, of all people. It was a commitment ceremony between the three of them. It wasn’t legal, but she had refused to hide her relationship with both men so she had demanded it.
“Absolutely.” He grinned, hugging her to him. “Let’s get set up so your dad can stand in the spotlight and milk this for absolutely everything he can. And you know he will. Unlike the priest, he won’t be bribed into hurrying up anything.”
“This is so very true,” she whispered. “He seems as if he is milking this wedding for a run at senate or something,” she grumbled, but hugged Corbin as she spoke. She listened to her father when he shot them a look to shush it. She couldn’t help but smile as her father droned on about love and life, about soul mates and the joy of finding one. It was amazing actually. Who knew her father had such a way with words? She did, however, turn into Corbin and smile when her father fixed her brothers with a look and talked about the loss of love and how you should grab it while you can. She should feel guilty, too bad she didn’t.
Corbin looked like he was trying to be serious, if only his lips weren’t twitching. Of course the devilish look he had in his eyes, as well as the little eyebrow dance he had going, wasn’t helping with the image at all. It did earn him a smack upside the head from her father as he got to the bit in his speech about always being the man that his daughter needed. Poor Cor, he really needed to take lessons from Blake on how to hide the facial expressions around her father.
Patty smiled and accepted the vows when her father asked her to give them and then to Corbin, listening to his vows as well. Finally her father said those magic words as well, “You may kiss your bride,” and she was swept into Corbin’s arms for a kiss that shook her very foundation.
“Let’s party!” her father yelled, much too close to her ear. That announcement was greeted with a very loud round of cheers. The party, as her father had called it, would be held at his ranch. Which was a good thing. That way, when she and her men felt like slipping away, they could. They all knew the ins and outs of that place better than most and could easily disappear without anyone being the wiser. Well, not right away.
With that, Patty and her husbands were swept away, with the crowd of well-wishers, friends that came to give them all their words of wisdom along with other things. She looked up at her guys and winked, “After we eat and cut the cake and my dance with Daddy, how about we start our honeymoon early? Dad will keep everyone occupied.”
“Excellent plan.” He nodded.
They looked over to Blake, who shrugged and grinned. “Like I’m going to argue with our wife. I may be crazy but I’m not that far gone. Besides, I don’t think I could handle more than this many townsfolk at once. Hell, I didn’t realize your dad planned to invite everyone and their dog to this event.”
Patty then burst into laughter because sure enough, a dog crossed their paths at that moment. She snickered, giggled, and shook her head. “Oh God. That’s bloody damn priceless,” she murmured and leaned into her husbands. “Okay boys. Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?”
The trio turned to their guests, spread their happiness, and then enjoyed the time they had with their family and loved ones. They were seen sneaking out of the wedding venue just after the father-daughter dance.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in the mid-seventies Honor has always had a love for the written word. Whether she is reading a book from another author or writing a story of her own, she is always letting her mind expand and delve into possibilities. It all started off as scribbles for her, then a phase of poetry before she found her true calling in the erotic paranormal genre where her imagination is the only limit.
Since beginning her journey as a published author in 2011 Honor says she has learned a great deal about herself and writing. She believes that it’s a never-ending journey, the mind always wanting to learn and to grow. With that comes a better skill and smoothness to her writing she’s discovered and begun to enjoy more with each story she creates.
Thankfully, as she puts it, she has a job that gives her plenty of opportunity to write whatever comes to mind with very few interruptions. Her biggest supporters are, as always, her family. Her two children and her husband are continuously providing her with laughter and joy, making the time she takes to write a little bit easier. Without them and their support she knows she wouldn’t be half the author she is today.
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Honor James, Patty's Homecoming
