Saved By A Texas-Sized Wedding

Suzanne looked at Ryan. He squatted down in front of Josh. “Yeah, Josh, they’re having a boy baby. Another cowboy.”

“Good. My daddy was going to teach me to be a cowboy. But now he can’t.” Josh’s sad eyes almost made Suzanne break into tears.

Ryan, however, took care of the situation. “No, he can’t, but I can. Want me to teach you?”

“Even how to ride?”

“Well, of course. Riding is the first thing to learn.”

“Daddy said it was too dangerous for me to learn now.”

“But you’re older now. You’ll take to it right away. After things have settled down, I’ll show you how.”

“I can ride,” Beth announced, looking triumphantly at Josh. He scowled in return.

“Beth rides with me some. But I’ll teach you together.”

Though Suzanne was concerned about the safety factor, she was grateful for Ryan’s offer to Josh. “That’s very good of you, Ryan,” she whispered before leaving with the children.

“It’s no better than you taking Beth shopping.” He opened his billfold. “Here’s some money.”

“No. I’ll charge it and you can pay me back later. I don’t know how much it will be.” Besides, she would pay for her own wedding. Even if she didn’t want one.

Four hours later, she knew Beth a lot better, including her stubbornness, which Suzanne was sure she got from her father. But overall, she was a sweet little girl who played well with Mandy. In fact, Beth acted like Mandy’s mother, and Josh tried to corral both of them. Suzanne found herself looking forward to spending time with all three children.

She’d found the girls dresses for the wedding, matching pale-blue dresses. And she’d bought them simpler dresses for the shower this evening. When she told Josh he’d be going with Ryan, he hesitated. Then he asked, “Ryan won’t mind?”

“Of course not. Maybe he’ll show you how to throw darts.”

That cheered him up.

She bought fast food for dinner, since she wouldn’t have time to cook, clean up and get dressed for the shower. Not and get three children ready. She suggested Beth stay with them to get ready. Suzanne promised to fix her hair for her. “If we have time, I’ll even paint your nails.”

Beth was awed by that offer and if Beth liked it, Mandy clapped, too. Suzanne made a special note to paint nails.

At last they were all dressed in their new dresses and Josh in nice slacks and a blue dress shirt. At the very moment Suzanne thought she should maybe call Ryan, he knocked on the door.

Beth ran to the door, dying to show off to her father. When she opened the door, she beamed up at him. “Look at me, Daddy! Aren’t I pretty?”

“Beth, a lady should wait until a man compliments her. Then she thanks him,” Suzanne pointed out, but she was smiling.

“Okay, Daddy, tell me.”

Ryan scooped Beth up and obliged. “You are absolutely beautiful. And Mandy is, too.”

“Look at my nails,” Beth said, practically sticking them in her father’s eyes. Mandy, standing on the floor and looking at the man and her new friend, held up her nails for him to see, too.

Ryan dipped down and picked Mandy up with his other arm. He admired her nails as well, telling her she looked beautiful also. Suzanne drew a shaky breath. Damn the man. He always knew what to say to the children. He was a good daddy.

“Hey, Josh, don’t tell me you got your nails painted too?”

“No, sir. That’s girl stuff.”

“Yeah, but you do look nice tonight. So everyone’s ready to go? Even Mom?”

“Susie,” Josh snapped. He always insisted she be called by her name and not Mama or Mom. She hadn’t warned Ryan because it hadn’t occurred to her that he’d call her such a thing.

“Susie? I like that name, Josh. Think she’ll let me call her that, too?” Ryan asked, giving nothing away with his smile.