and agreed to write about the charity Sydney Davies McKnight chaired in the column about the wedding when it ran.
Trent linked his hand with his wife’s as Reverend Winston announced them. People stood and cheered as they walked by all their friends and family. Trent had never been prouder nor had he ever been happier than he was in that moment.
Tinsley watched as the couples filled the dance floor behind Skye and Trent’s house. Karri and Peter took to the floor followed by Gavin and a very pregnant, due-at-any-moment Ellery. Then Wade and Darcy, Harper and Dare, and Ridge and Savannah. Kord and Maggie Bell were followed by Gage Bell and Cassidy Davies, one of Tinsley’s cousins from Kentucky, then they made their way to the dance floor.
“And then there were two.” Tinsley nodded as Ryker joined her. “Here.”
“Thank you,” Tinsley said as she took the glass of champagne. “Looks like Mitzy’s having a blast.”
“So, she and the butler?” Ryker silently saluted her and then took a drink.
“They look happy. They all look happy.”
“You’ll be happy too, Tins.”
“Aw, Ryker. You’re nothing but a big sweetie pie.”
Ryker growled at her.
“Goodness, is that you or the cake?” her cousin Greer Parker from Keeneston asked.
Tinsley laughed as they all looked at the groomsmen’s cake in the shape of a large alligator.
After talking with Greer for a bit, Ryker headed for the group of men. Tinsley had always liked Greer. She was the complete opposite of Tinsley, but she had a good heart and that was what mattered most.
“I hear there’s going to be a new FBI agent in Charleston and his transfer is controversial,” Greer told her after Ryker left.
“I think I’m the wrong person to tell,” Tinsley said. “I know your whole family is FBI, but I don’t think painting has anything to do with the them.”
“Oh, but it does. Peter told me all about it. Agent Kendry was big in the violent gang task force down in Atlanta. He was shot three times and managed to survive. He wanted to take over the task force, but politics came into play and he was transferred to Charleston under Peter to run the new art crimes division.”
Tinsley did a double take. “He went from violent gangs to art crimes? Do they understand the complexity of art crimes?”
“That’s why it’s controversial. See, he’s the most experienced to take over the task force, but the higher ups claim he’s injured and on desk duty until he’s cleared. They moved him here because I guess art crime is on the rise with the tourists and such. He happens to have an art degree along with a criminal justice degree. Don’t think it’s a big team or anything, apparently Agent Kendry is the entire art crimes division.”
“Poor guy. I guess he won’t be around long.”
Greer shrugged. “I don’t know, but I know he’s not happy here and Peter doesn’t know what to do with him. He was hoping to foist him off on Ellery to show him around the art world here, but much to my Grandma Marcy’s delight, Ellery looks like she could deliver any second.”
Tinsley looked as Great Aunt Marcy plied Ellery with pie. “She’ll be a great-great-aunt. Right?”
Greer shrugged her shoulders. “I lose count. Heck, I lose count of my own cousins. Hey, is Gator here? I was hoping he’d take me out gator wrestling tomorrow. I think I’m getting the hang of it. I tried on a pig, but it’s not the same.”
“You’re an adrenaline junkie. No wonder you’re in the FBI, Miss Sharpshooter.” Greer smiled at that but it wasn’t a full smile, and Tinsley began to wonder if something was going on with her cousin. “There’s Gator. And you know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
Greer smiled at her. “Of course I know that. That’s what cousins are for.”
Greer walked off to join Gator and Tinsley knew she wouldn’t be asking for help any time soon. It wasn’t her style.
“Come on, cuz! Let’s show them how to do this dance.”
Tinsley laughed as her cousin Porter took her hand as the music turned into one of the trendy pop songs that had its own dance. One she couldn’t imagine her rough rodeo cousin Porter knowing.
Tinsley was proven wrong moments later when he put his hands on his hips and made a slow circle with them before doing a version of hip gyrations that had Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie fanning themselves.
Tinsley laughed out loud and soon found herself in a