Son of Texas (Count on a Cop) Read online

  “Yes, you have,” Josie said, remembering the wedding well. Katie was an absolute doll. “But you’re still very pretty.”

  “You are, too,” Katie said. “I like your dress.”

  “My mother wore this dress at her wedding. She actually made it.”

  “I helped sew all those baby pearls on it.” Lencha joined the conversation. “Maria was a beautiful bride, just like Josie.” Lencha grabbed a tissue out of her purse.

  “I can’t wait to get married. Mommy, will you make my dress?”

  Elise appeared shocked. “Sweetie, that’s a long, long, long time away and I might have to take up sewing lessons since I can barely sew on a button.”

  The women laughed.

  The door suddenly flew open and Boone stood there puffing on a cigar. “C’mon, girlie, it’s time to get you married. The ranger’s chomping at the bit.”

  Gertie walked over and plucked the cigar out of his mouth and dropped it into a glass of water. “Have some manners, Boone. No smoking in here or anywhere else on the planet.”

  “You always were a bossy bitch, Gertie.”

  Gertie straightened her flamboyant hat of lace, flowers, feathers and chiffon. “And don’t you forget it.”

  Boone just shook his head. “Mason’s waiting to walk you down the aisle to your seat by Lorna.” Gertie swept by him out the door. “Don’t put his eye out with that damn hat. Women,” he scoffed. “Never understood ’em. Never will.”

  “For women everywhere—” Ashley placed her hands on her hips “—we’d appreciate it if you’d try a little harder.”

  “Good manners would be an improvement,” Lencha muttered under her breath.

  “Don’t start, Lencha,” Boone warned. “Caddo’s waiting to walk you to your seat.”

  “I’m not saying another word. I’m going to be as quiet as a little mouse.” As she moved past Boone, she quipped, “Just be careful I don’t run up your leg.”

  Boone ignored her and Josie had to give everyone credit. They were trying to get along.

  Boone clapped his hands. “C’mon, girls, its showtime.”

  Ashley began to pull the veil over Josie’s face when Boone stopped her. “Wait.” He walked over and kissed her cheek. He didn’t say anything and Josie realized he couldn’t speak. That had to be a first. She swallowed back emotions and stood.

  Josie slipped her arm through her grandfather’s.

  Boone cleared his throat. “Wish Brett was here to give you away.”

  “Me, too.” She squeezed his arm. “But you’ll do.”

  Today was early December, the perfect time for a wedding. The perfect time to put all the pain behind them. Forgiveness did not come easily, but love did. In a little while she would become Josie Belle McCain and she would dance the night away in her husband’s arms. She would never leave those arms again.

  CALEB FIDDLED with his tie and still couldn’t tie the damn thing. He was too nervous. Jake finally came to his rescue.

  “I’ve never seen you so nervous.” Jake tied it without a problem.

  Before Caleb could respond, a knock sounded at the door. Beau went to answer it.

  Macy walked in. “Reverend Carpenter wants you guys at the altar. Jake, Aunt Vin is waiting for you to walk her down the aisle and Elise is waiting for Ben. “

  “Be right there,” Jake replied.

  “Caleb, it’s almost time to walk your parents down the aisle, too.”

  “Thanks, Macy. I’ll be right there.”

  Macy straightened Beau’s tie. “You’re looking mighty spiffy, Beau McCain. Save a dance for me.”

  “You bet.”

  When Macy walked out, Eli straightened Beau’s tie and said in a high-pitched voice, “Mighty spiffy, Beau McCain.”

  “Don’t start.”

  Caleb saw the look in Beau’s eyes, they all did—that look of unrequited love. Eli gave him a hug.

  “I don’t know why I get paired with Grace at all these functions.” Tuck broke the silence.

  “Because you’re such a nice guy,” Eli told him.

  “I like Grace,” Beau said. “She has a sophistication and poise that makes a man wonder what she’s like when she lets down her hair.”

  “It’s like the sound of a chain saw cutting you into little bitty pieces,” Tuck muttered.

  Everyone laughed.

  “Daddy, isn’t it time to go?” Ben asked. He’d been sitting patiently staring at his reflection in his shiny new shoes.

  “Yes, son, it’s time to go,” Jake answered.

  “I’m gonna dance with all the pretty ladies tonight,” Ben declared. “And I like Grace. She’s pretty and she smells good.”

  “Yeah, she’s pretty.” Tuck got to his feet, relenting a little.

  Caleb slapped him on the back. Tuck and Grace just never seemed to get along and Caleb never understood why. But he knew Tuck would be a perfect gentleman tonight because he was that kind of man.

  “See you guys at the altar,” Caleb said, hurrying out to meet his parents.

  Althea brushed away a tear when she saw him.

  “Mom, you said you weren’t going to cry.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Me, too, son.” Andrew hugged him.

  Althea looped her arm through his and he walked his parents to their seats in the front row and he never felt more loved or wanted than he did at that moment.

  He took his spot at the altar with his brothers. As best man, Beau was next to him. He heard the music and saw the bridesmaids as they came down the aisle, but nothing registered. He was waiting for one woman.

  For a moment his attention was diverted as Ben and Katie strolled toward them. Katie was very carefully dropping rose petals. Then his throat closed up as he saw her on Boone’s arm at the back of the church.

  As “Here Comes the Bride” filled the church, Josie moved slowly down the aisle. She was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen and he knew he’d remember this moment for the rest of his life. He’d thought she’d been lost to him forever. Now all he had to do was walk forward to accept this unbelievable gift he’d been given.

  Emotions swelled inside him and his knees buckled for a brief second.

  Beau grabbed his arm. “You okay?”

  He nodded. He was better than he’d been in a very long time. He strolled forward with a smile on his face to meet his bride, the love of his life.

  And nothing would ever get any better than this day.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-8197-8

  SON OF TEXAS

  Copyright © 2006 by Linda Warren.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

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  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRT
EEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  EPILOGUE