Tory clasped her shoulders, wanting to drag the child against her and hold on to her forever. “You’ve done enough. I don’t want to tire my best worker out.”
“Besides, honey, it’s time for you and I to get home. The next few days are gonna be plenty busy.”
“Dad-dy—do we—have to?” Mindy straightened her slumped shoulders. “I’m—not—tired.”
Tory brushed her finger under the child’s eye, following the line of a dark circle beginning to form. “Is that so?”
“Well—may-be—a little.” Mindy held up her fingers to indicate less than an inch.
“I need you rested. We have to go for our last fitting for our dresses tomorrow.”
“Oh—” the child’s eyes grew round “—yes!” She grabbed her father’s hand and began to tug him toward the door. “We—better—go.”
Slade hung back and said over his shoulder, “Judy, now you see why I think Tory is perfect for Mindy. She works miracles with my daughter. See you tomorrow bright and early.”
When the sound of the front door closing drifted to Tory, she stiffened, curling her hands into tight balls at her sides. The silence of the house eroded her composure. The seconds ticked into a full minute. She knew her sister behind her was trying to decide how best to pursue their earlier topic of conversation.
Tory whirled about. “I’m through discussing my past, Judy. If you want to stay and enjoy my wedding, then I expect you to respect my decision to put my past behind me and not talk about it. Understood?”
“You’ve made yourself very clear, but—”
“Don’t, Judy. I want you to stay, but I’ll ask you to leave if you continue.”
Judy blew out a huff of air, a frown marring her pleasant features. “Okay, but that won’t stop me from worrying about you.”
“I didn’t think it would. But I’m a big girl now. I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?”
No! But with God’s help I’ll figure it out. Because I have to. For Mindy’s sake. For Slade’s sake. And most of all, for my own sake.
His wedding ring gleamed in the sunlight. Slade spread his fingers wide and stared at the simple gold band. Married for an hour. He’d never thought he would ever marry again—not after the way his life had fallen apart with Carol’s death.
On the light breeze his child’s laughter floated to him. He glimpsed his daughter playing with Judy’s children, such joy on his child’s face. He’d done it for Mindy. He wanted her to have as normal a life as possible. He wanted a mother for her.
Searching the small crowd who’d gathered for his wedding reception, he found Tory talking with her parents and his brother, the only member of his immediate family able to make his wedding since his mother was unable to travel due to poor health. Like flames of a fire, her long, straight auburn hair fell about her shoulders, catching the rays of the sun. The soft folds of her white dress swirled about her knees as she moved with her parents toward her sister and brother-in-law. The tailored bodice and delicate beadwork along the scooped neckline emphasized Tory’s petite frame.
She caught him looking at her and smiled. Even across the lawn he saw the sparkle in her gaze as though golden honey mingled with the chocolate of her eyes. Behind that smile there lay a vulnerability that he suspected went deep. It was that very vulnerability that spoke to him and touched his own wounded soul. For a fleeting moment he wondered if it was possible to heal each other’s hurts.
He looked away, his gaze dropping to his left hand again. The wedding ring felt heavy and tight. He twisted the band around, a momentary sense of panic attacking. What had he done? He wasn’t a whole man. All he could offer Tory was loyalty and friendship. There wasn’t anything else left inside.
“It’s a little late to be having second thoughts,” Paul, his friend, said.
“I’m not. This was a good decision. Tory is right for Mindy and me.”
“I have to admit I was surprised by this sudden move. Frankly, I wasn’t even aware you were dating.” Paul peered toward Tory. “Sandy and I want to have you all over for dinner sometime soon. Maybe after the honeymoon.”
“We aren’t going on a honeymoon.”
“Don’t let work keep you from going away.”
“You know I’m in the middle of my plant’s expansion. I’m putting in a new assembly line to make plastic containers for Wellco. Besides that, I’ve got several new contracts starting that I need to oversee.” Slade wouldn’t even tell his friend that the real reason he wasn’t going on a honeymoon was his marriage wasn’t a normal one. Maybe one day, but not now. Paul had already worried enough about him.
“And how does your new wife feel about all this work?”
“She understands.”
“Then you have a special woman because Sandy certainly wouldn’t.”
“We’ll have a honeymoon later.”
“When that happens, we’d love for Mindy to stay with us. Laurie misses her and all she talks about is that picnic at the pond you all invited her to. She thinks Mindy is one lucky girl to live on a horse ranch.”
“Laurie is welcome to visit anytime,” Slade said, realizing he was already beginning to feel the ranch was his home.
That took him by surprise, but as he let his gaze travel over the backyard, the feeling of having come home grew. Already Mindy’s toys were evident with a new swing set near the freshly painted white fence separating the yard from the horse pasture. On the deck sat his grill from his house and several blue-and-green pieces of his patio furniture, including a round glass table shaded by an umbrella with big blue flowers on it.
He was selling his house in town even though it was bigger. He had made a commitment to Tory and that involved making her riding stable a success. His home was here now.
“Mom, you should sit down. You’ve been on your feet too long.” Tory took a hold of her mother’s arm to guide her to the nearest chair. The pale cast to her mother’s features worried her. Eleanor Alexander’s weak heart had curtailed her activities in the past few years, and today she had overdone it. “Are you taking your medicine?”
“Yes, dear. I’m just fine.” Eleanor patted her daughter’s arm. “You worry too much.” She eased onto the folding chair and indicated Tory sit next to her. “We haven’t had much time to talk these past few days. I never thought you’d be able to put together a wedding so fast, but you did. I wish I could have helped more.”
“You being here is all I need.”
“Well, of course, I’d come to my daughter’s wedding, dear.” A tiny frown furrowed her brow. “Are you sure, Tory?”
“Now look who’s worrying. I’m sure. Slade
