AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re right,” Hank said. “That’s Maya Warner. Those men are all Jack’s cousins, Kendall, Boone, and Richard. They own a ranch outside of Divine, and Maya is a registered nurse.”
They spent the next thirty minutes filling her in on the guests. Travis realized how long he’d been gone from Divine because there were so many people he hadn’t recognized at the reception.
“Who was the white-headed minister that married Maizy and her men? He didn’t seem too perturbed a few minutes ago when Heath kissed her while she talked with him.”
“He’s actually a Justice of the Peace. Woody Porter. He’s known Maizy practically her whole life. He knows about Heath and Spencer, but the ceremony he performed was between Cody and Maizy.”
“He doesn’t mind, even though he’s from a different generation?”
“No. Woody is pretty progressive in his beliefs. Lots of people in Divine are.”
“So people like that crazy lady who showed up at the wedding are rare?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but people in Divine are pretty tolerant for the most part.”
Just then Grace joined them, excitement in her twinkling blue eyes. “You’re not going to believe this.”
“What?” Hank asked, seeming to immediately go on alert.
“Don’t reach for your weapon, lawman, it’s good news,” she said and then turned to Veronica. “Grandma Kate made a contribution to the fund the bears set up for the rose garden. The improvements to the Memorial Garden are fully funded. She’s planning to go home and talk to the Lusty Town Trust about starting a rose garden for all of their veterans. Isn’t that exciting?”
Veronica giggled. “That sounds like her. And yes, it’s wonderful news.”
Grace glanced between him and Hank, a big smile on her face, and said, “Y’all planning to go to the Dancing Pony?”
Travis and Hank turned their attention to Veronica, and Hank asked, “Well, Nika? Would you be interested?”
“We could talk some more,” Travis said softly into her ear. “And I could get those dances I wanted from you.”
Veronica blushed and said, “I’d love to talk, but the dancing I’m not so sure about. Grace?”
“Rose Marie is going home with a sitter so we’ll be there, too,” Grace said. “Maizy said she’d be happy to chat with you for a few minutes before they leave, if you’d like?”
“Sure. Would you mind, guys?”
Hank nodded and stood from his chair, “Of course not. It’ll give us a chance to congratulate the grooms. You sure you’ll be okay? I think the wine hit you kind of hard.”
Veronica nodded as she rose from her seat and smiled. “It did but I’m fine now. Give me a few minutes with Maizy and then we can go if you’d like.”
Hank and Travis watched as she walked away with Grace, and Hank groaned. “You let her go eleven years ago?”
“She was a baby, Hank. I would’ve felt like a cradle robber.”
“She sure as hell isn’t a baby now.”
When he’d met her, he’d been at the point in his career where he was making a name for himself and his trajectory pointed straight at Washington, DC. But here he was now, forty-one years old, disillusioned by life in a town that spouted on about change but the only thing changing was money and influence from one set of powerful hands to another.
His family’s house had sat vacant in Divine so long he’d finally sold it and now his life fit in a suitcase and a cold apartment in a town he knew he’d never call home. He was beginning to think that returning permanently to Divine, Texas, might be just what he needed.
Chapter Five
Hank helped Veronica into the tall chair at the Dancing Pony, which had a packed house that night. He flagged down a waitress as several members of their party showed up and took seats at the table, and Veronica was pulled into a conversation with Lydia Carlisle by Grace.
The waitress had just brought their beers and a virgin margarita for Veronica when Jack walked over, seriousness in his eyes. Ethan and Adam flanked him. “Can we chat with you two gentlemen?”
