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“Did you tell him?” Knox asked.
“Knox knew too?” Jack groaned. “I can’t believe how little you all think of me.”
“Not my place to interfere,” Knox said. “But, in my defense, I did say you’d be happy to have a man like Grant in Luci’s life.”
“He did say that,” Jack said.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Beck said. “I had no idea.”
“Rhett?” Jack asked.
Rhett shook his head. “To be perfectly honest, I’ve been too self-involved to notice much of anything. Except Holly, that is.”
“We all know that to be true,” Beck said. “I’ve been a little preoccupied myself.”
“What is it with Montana?” Knox asked. “This ranch is like some kind of love island snow globe. No one can break through the glass to run from love even if they wanted to. I certainly couldn’t.”
“I’m happy for you guys,” Rhett said. “Which is hard, because I’m miserable.”
“Let’s get Jack married and then we’ll deal with whatever this is with you and Holly,” Beck said.
“Who wants a shot?” Knox asked.
“Not me,” I said. “I need a clear head to talk to Luci. She’s so much smarter than me, it’s hard to keep up.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Knox said. “Kind of like me and Maddie.”
“Happy Knox is annoying,” Jack said.
“Totally,” Beck said.
“Takes one to know one, Jack Wilder.” Knox reached into his jacket for his flask. “Let’s have a toast to love. And then let’s get our favorite singer hitched.”
Not much later, I stood with Carol as we waited for our moment to walk down the aisle. There were chairs in two short rows, with the mountain behind, everything lit up, with lanterns dug into snowdrifts and about a million twinkling lights on bare branches. It was spectacular.
I tucked her hand into my elbow.
“You’re looking beautiful tonight,” I said to Carol.
“You clean up pretty good yourself.”
Up front, Knox started picking “Beneath Your Beautiful” on his guitar, our cue to start walking. But first I wanted to tell Carol my news.
“I told him,” I said.
“And?”
“He took it very well,” I said. “He was hurt I kept it from him, but he got over it quick. He said we’ll be real brothers now.”
“I suppose you’re going to be my son-in-law then?”
“If she’ll have me. And if you’ll give your blessing, of course.”
She smiled up at me. “I’m sure I’ll grow fond of you at some point, after I get over how totally dumb you’ve been.”
“Ouch,” I said. “But understood.”
“Now, young man, walk me down this aisle, and don’t forget to smile.”
