Page 31 of Bailey

“Just something simple and small,” she said. “That’s why I moved back to Coral Canyon.”

Reeves nodded, and though God hadn’t provided a way for him to tell her about his online celebrity, He was kind enough to help Reeves say, “That sounds like a great life, wildflower.”

“Right?” She took another bite of her salad, seemingly unaware of the turmoil now boiling through Reeves.

Reeves knew he had to tell her about his video channel, and soon. He sent up one more plea to heaven, asking God to please, please, please provide the right time and all the right words.

Very, very soon.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

Cole Young woke slowly, the scent of coffee and crisping bacon luring him out of bed. He left the bedroom of the vacation rental house his parents had secured for his marriage to Rachel Walker, and padded down the hall. Sure enough, Daddy stood in front of the stove where the snapping, crackling sound of fatty breakfast meats sizzled.

Daddy swore, jumped back, and yanked his arm away from the stove.

“I got it,” Sunny said, and Cole paused to watch them interact from several feet away. His step-mom practically pushed Daddy out of the way, though he fell back without her actually touching him. “You focus on the parfaits.”

“I don’t know why—” His voice silenced as his eyes hooked on Cole. “You’re finally up.”

“It’s seven-fifteen,” Cole said, and he followed that with a yawn for extra emphasis. “The wedding isn’t until five o’clock tonight.” He glanced over to his younger sister, and of course, Rosie was already up and she’d eaten a bowl of cereal if the dish with an inch of leftover milk said anything.

He certainly couldn’t be compared to her, as he swore Rosie only had to sleep for a couple of hours each night, and she still had a reserve of energy during the day. He was actually surprised she hadn’t climbed into bed with him that morning, as she’d always done that before she left for work or school in Coral Canyon.

His life had burst from that mold, though, and Rosie’s had too. She’d been training for the rodeo for years now, and as soon as she received her high school diploma, she’d be on her way to the amateur rodeo circuit. She hadn’t wanted to go pro immediately, though everyone knew—except her, apparently—she’d sweep the amateurs.

Daddy was going to travel with her this summer, and they’d scour for a manager, as his father and Sunny had an eight-year-old and a three-year-old at home still. He couldn’t manage and train and travel with Rosie long-term.

Cole’s soon-to-be brothers-in-law both rode the pro rodeo circuit, but their manager only trained men in roping and bull riding, and Rosie wasn’t doing either of those events. She wanted to prove herself on the amateur circuit, which she hoped would then allow her to have her pick of managers.

She finally looked up from her phone, and her face bloomed into a smile. “Hey, you’re up.”

“Why does everyone act like it’s noon?”

“The Walkers are going to be here in forty minutes,” Daddy said as he arrived at the table and set down a stack of plates. “Did you forget we’re hosting them for a wedding day breakfast?”

“No,” Cole said. “But I thought you catered those French toast casseroles.”

“We did,” Daddy said, nudging the plates closer to Cole. “Start setting these out, please—and be sure to get the tables outside. Rosie-babe, get rid of that bowl.”

She got to her feet to do what he asked, and Cole started to set the tables as Daddy added, “But we’re doing the bacon, sausage, and fruit to go with it.”

“When you’re done there,” Sunny said. “You guys can set up the juice bar too.”

“And the juice bar,” Daddy said. “I’m going to get Skye out of bed.” He walked out of the kitchen, and while Cole still needed to get dressed, he stayed to help get the tables ready, the juice bar set up, and the fruit arranged on the platter.

Then he left Rosie and Sunny to finish up the breakfast meats, and he pulled on a pair of fresh jeans and a clean black button-up shirt just as the doorbell rang. His eyes flew to his phone, but breakfast shouldn’t begin for another ten minutes.

Voices filtered down the hall, and his father spoke in his PR voice, which meant he was probably receiving the catering. Back in the kitchen, Cole found everything set out and ready to go, but he still asked, “What else?”

“Nothing,” Sunny said. “Uncle Tex just got here, so all we need to do now is prepare ourselves for the crowd.” She smiled as she said it, but Cole knew what she meant on a deep level.

He turned toward the front door as it opened and his uncle’s booming laugh filled the house. Cole couldn’t help smiling, because Uncle Tex only elicited such a response.

“There he is,” Uncle Tex said, and he practically steamrolled into Cole and wrapped him in a hug. “Are you ready for this?”

“Yes, sir,” Cole said, because he was almost desperate to be married to Rachel Walker. He’d fallen for her fast and hard, and he couldn’t wait to move onto the ranch where she lived and managed the rodeo animals her brothers trained and then sold.