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“I’ll see you later,” he said and headed back to his truck.
Nope. Those weren’t the words she’d wished for.
She watched him for a few moments, letting her eyes linger on his confident stride. He really was nice. Her eighteen-year-old self had been stupidly foolish, but she’d had good taste in men.
Best not to think of those things. As soon as Kye was done finding a suit coat, he would be spending time with Lisa. The last thing Elsie needed was to start having ideas about Kye again. A woman should only have to endure so much rejection from a man, and she’d already reached that limit.
7
Elsie went to the church to help with last-minute setup, then got dressed in a long, green taffeta dress, which vaguely reminded her of something a Barbie doll would wear. Pretty, but too poufy to be practical.
She took extra time doing her hair and makeup, but that was only because of the wedding photos, not because she was hoping she looked better than Kye’s date. When she finished, her hair gleamed in gentle brown waves around her shoulders and her eyes looked large and luminous
Kye had been noticeably absent during the setup. Mr. Travers and Olivia’s aunt and uncle didn’t come either. Elsie hadn’t told the rest of her family about her trip to Bozeman. Only her parents knew, and they agreed with Kye that it was best not to say anything until Mr. Travers was actually in the building.
The guests began to arrive, including Olivia’s aunt and uncle. Mr. Travers didn’t come with them. Elsie had to stop herself from gritting her teeth. Where had the man gone off to? Was he out drinking somewhere? How many days of Olivia’s life did he need to mess up? Unkind thoughts, she knew, but they perched in her mind, refusing to leave.
Kye hadn’t come yet either. She called him. No answer.
Twenty minutes before the wedding, Kye still hadn’t shown and Carson was cursing as he tried to get a hold of him.
Her brother Lucas, who at this point in the preparations was wearing his tuxedo’s bow tie in his hair, said, “Maybe Kye got cold feet.”
“As the best man?” Carson shoved his phone back in his pocket. “I don’t think so.”
Lucas slipped his tie around his neck and tightened it. “Some dudes just aren’t into commitment.”
“He’s got the ring,” Carson said.
It wasn’t like Kye to be late for his friend’s wedding. It wasn’t like Kye to be late for anything, actually. What if something bad had happened to him? What if he’d been in a car accident? Or what if he’d had to take care of something on his ranch and been trampled by a bull? The place was so huge—anything could’ve happened, and it would take weeks of searching to find him.
Carson’s phone beeped. He pulled it out of his pocket and read the text out loud. “Sorry, I’m running late. Don’t worry. I’m five minutes away from the church.”
Lucas shook his head and laughed. “He’s cutting it close. Lisa must be really hot.”
Elsie stopped listening after that. She went to the bride’s changing room to see if Olivia needed anything. Elsie found Olivia’s mother there, happily fussing over her daughter. Olivia looked porcelain-doll pretty, standing in a dress of satin, lace, and ruffles cascading over the skirt. Her hair was pinned up in ringlets; her face excited and expectant. “Is everyone ready?” she asked Elsie.
“Just about.” No need to worry her about the missing ring, best man, and father.
Olivia’s mother kept spritzing her daughter with hairspray. “You’re so beautiful,” she murmured. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
“Do you need anything?” Elsie asked Olivia.
“A time machine so I can go back and get more comfortable high heels.”
“Can’t help you there,” Elsie said.
“If Carson wasn’t so tall, I wouldn’t have to wear these stilts.” Olivia moved her skirt to show Elsie her heels. “But he’s eight inches taller, and I worried I’d look like a munchkin standing next to him. Now I’m just worried I’m going to fall on my face going down the aisle.”
Her mother was still wielding the hairspray can like a graffiti artist surveying their work. “You’ll be fine.”
Elsie nodded. “And if you’re not, I’m sure the wedding video can be edited.”
A knock sounded on the door, then the pastor’s voice said, “The last member of the wedding party is here.”
Meaning Kye or Mr. Travers?
“Good,” Olivia’s mother called. “We’re about ready to go.”
