kind, maybe the kind that went on a computer, and noticed the cable connecting that to a speaker. “They’re going to broadcast it.”
“To her family and friends,” Mister said. “She’s a pro at getting things online.”
“I’ve heard.” Cactus marveled at the technology in the world. They could literally be cut off from the rest of civilization and still participate in important events. He had to admit he liked that, but he probably never would out loud to anyone except Willa.
“Have you seen my wife?” he asked Mister, turning back toward the doorway he’d entered through. To the right down the hall sat the prep rooms, and she was likely in one of those with the other women.
He scanned the crowd as Mister said, “There are no women here, Cactus.”
He was right. Not a single female could be found in the hall, and Cactus wasn’t that surprised. Willa had gotten the same text he had, and she’d come bustling out of the house a moment later.
“I’m going to Holly Ann’s,” she’d declared. Cactus had still been trying to figure out if Preacher was pranking the lot of them or not. When he’d looked up, all he’d caught was the dust behind Willa’s tires as she drove away from the Edge Cabin.
She’d been gone all day, and when she’d returned home that night, she’d gushed and gushed about how “wonderful” and “romantic” this wedding was going to be.
To Cactus, a general sense of awkwardness hung in the air. Loud voices to his left drew his attention, and he and Mister turned toward the front entrance of the barn. They had a receiving foyer, but someone was bringing in something big.
“Careful,” Preacher said, and he too wasn’t wearing anything fancy yet. “It’s caught on the rug.”
Ace bent to free the rug, and then he, Preacher, Judge, and Ward continued to push in the baby grand piano that usually sat in the formal living room at the Ranch House.
Judge positioned it just-so at the front of the hall, and he nodded to Preacher before he sat down. Lilting, romantic music filled the air, chasing away all of the tension and awkwardness that had been there.
Ward placed a stool next to the piano, and after perching on it, Preacher handed him his guitar. The man could’ve been country star famous, but he’d chosen a different path for himself. Cactus smiled as Ward tuned his instrument and then came right in with Judge.
He couldn’t play the piano or the guitar all that well, though Mother had tried to get him to learn both. He could read music, but his true talent lay in his voice.
Preacher approached, and Cactus took a couple of steps sideways to intercept him. “Hey, brother,” he said, drawing Preacher into a hug. “Are you doin’ okay?”
“Okay sounds about right,” Preacher said, gripping Cactus tightly too. He stepped back, his smile nervous. “I just have to get dressed. We’re on time to start, don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried,” Cactus said. “It’s the Grizzly you’ve got to please.” They laughed together, and Preacher hurried off to get dressed.
Five minutes later, Bear looked up from his phone. “Glovers to the groom’s room,” he said in his roaring voice.
If all the blood relatives of Preacher went to the groom’s room, the only people left here would be Donald, Duke, Mitch and Lincoln. Bear put his arm around his oldest son and Cactus assumed he could bring in Mitch too.
“We’ll hold down the fort,” Don said with a big smile, and Cactus fell into line with the others moving toward the back hall.
“Nope, everyone is included,” Ward said, clapping Duke on the back. “Y’all are comin’. Let’s go.”
At the corner, Cactus looked back toward the front of the room, where the piano sat silent now, with Ward’s guitar resting against it.
There was no altar. Nowhere for Charlie to march toward and arrive. Cactus frowned. Was this really happening?
He continued on, arriving almost last because of his pause.
“Thank you,” Preacher said as Judge closed the door behind him. “Thanks for coming, everyone, really.” He now wore the same suit he’d worn to Cactus’s wedding, and surprise filled him. The navy blue did look nice, and though Preacher didn’t have the fancy silk trim, or Daddy’s string tie, or the fancy cowboy hat, he definitely looked good enough to get married.
Cactus edged his way toward Preacher, who said, “I know this is kind of crazy, but we’re stuck up here, and it turns out that it’s kind of torture to