He turned, but he wasn’t laughing. In fact, his bluish-gray eyes were serious as he pulled her into arms. “I don’t think so. I think Dreams Do Come True Ranch is a damn good name.” He smiled, and in his face, she saw all the love she would ever need. “Set the date, Maze. Whatever day you pick—today or four years from today—this cowboy will be waiting at the altar for his cowgirl to make all her dreams come true.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“What do you say, boy? You ready for the big day?”
Angel tossed his head as if he understood what Sawyer was saying, then continued to munch the carrot Sawyer held out.
“You can’t come live with me and Maisy just yet,” Sawyer continued. “But since you’ve become a little more mannerly, we’re gonna leave you right here on the Double Diamond with Chester and Lucas. And every chance we get, Maisy and I will be coming back to see you. One day, we’ll have a ranch of our own.” He reached out and patted the horse on the withers. “You’re going to be just fine, Angel. We’re going to be just fine.”
A hand on his shoulder had Sawyer turning around to see Mattie. His brother signed.
I might own half that horse. But by the look in his eyes, I’d say he’s all yours.
Sawyer gave Angel the rest of the carrot and then signed back. Horses and women love me.
Mattie laughed. I know one woman who sure does. He studied Sawyer. You always want to be around animals when you’re nervous. You feeling wedding day jitters, Bro?
Sawyer should be. Especially when he had avoided marriage for so long. But he wasn’t feeling nervous at all. He knew why. He signed back to Mattie.
There’s no reason to be nervous when you know you’re marrying the right girl.
Mattie smiled, and Sawyer smiled back before he pulled his brother into his arms. They had been through a lot, but they had survived and their relationship was much stronger for it. Sawyer would always be protective of his brother, but he no longer felt like he had to be the bad boy so Mattie could be the good. Mattie had found his place in the world. And so had Sawyer. They hugged for a long time before Mattie pulled back and signed.
I’m going to go tell your cute cowgirl that you’re still planning on marrying her.
Sawyer stared at him with surprise. Maisy was the one who sent you to check on me?
Mattie grinned. Her exact words were ‘Go find that man of mine and make sure he hasn’t hopped on Angel and ridden off into the sunset.’
It sounded just like Maisy. Sawyer signed back. Tell my woman that I’m not riding into the sunset without her by my side.
Mattie nodded and headed around the barn toward the house where Maisy and her attendants were getting ready. Sawyer was happy Maisy was as ready to tie the knot as he was. In fact, she’d wanted to get married at the justice of the peace the day he’d proposed. But when they went to get Lincoln and Dixie to stand up with them, Dixie had convinced Maisy to wait because her wedding day should be a day to remember.
It was certainly going to be that. Most of the town had shown up to the Double Diamond ranch for a big country wedding. The barn had been turned into a reception hall complete with twinkle lights and tables covered in yellow-gingham tablecloths. Being that it was early November, baby pumpkins and mason jars of sunflowers served as centerpieces. A dance floor had been set up in front of the barn for dancing later and a local country band had already started tuning up.
Amid all the excitement, Sawyer had ducked behind the barn for a few minutes with Angel. But he figured his time was up when Emma Johansen came marching around the corner of the barn.
Since neither Sawyer nor Maisy knew anything about planning a wedding, Emma had volunteered as wedding planner. She’d done a great job of organizing things, especially on such short notice, but she was also a little bossy.
“What in the world are you doing back here? I’ve been looking all over for you.” She charged toward him like a roping calf let out of a chute. Before he could back up, she’d straightened his hat and smoothed down his collar. “You should’ve worn tuxes like I suggested. They would’ve looked much better in photos than jeans, western shirts, and jackets.”
Sawyer flashed her a smile. “Like I told you. I’m just not a tux kinda guy, Emma.”
She rolled her eyes and brushed something off his shoulder. “Well, it is what it is. At least you haven’t gotten horse crap on your new boots.”
Sawyer glanced down at the boots Cord Evans had sent him. They were hand-tooled leather and damn nice. Still, he missed his old boots and would be wearing them if Cord’s boot company wasn’t sponsoring Maisy—and if Cord and his family hadn’t driven all the way from Bliss for the wedding. Christie Evans had sent Maisy a pair of white boots with inlaid red hearts. He’d thought Maisy would think they were too girlie, but he was learning that beneath his bride-to-be’s tough exterior was a woman who liked lace and frills. And that was more than okay with him. There was nothing sexier than Maisy’s black lacy underwear.
“You remember what you’re supposed to do?” Emma cut into his thoughts.
“Get married to the woman I love,” he answered.
Emma’s shoulders relaxed and she smiled softly. “Yes. That’s exactly what you’re going to do.” She straightened his collar again. “All right. Let’s go collect those bad boy friends of yours and get you married.” But before they even made it to the corner of the barn, his bad boy friends arrived.
“Good. You’re here,” Emma said. “But where’s Sawyer’s brother, the best man?”
“I think I saw him making out with his wife on the porch,” Val said.
Emma sighed and pointed a finger at all the boys. “Nobody move from here. I’ll be right back.” She hurried off.
“That’s one uptight woman,” Cru said. “If I was Boone Murphy, owning half of a hardware store wouldn’t be worth dealing with her.”
“I get the feeling that Boone doesn’t mind it so much,” Lincoln said before he glanced at Sawyer. “You ready, buddy?”
“More than ready.”
Lincoln smiled. “It’s funny how this place can change a diehard bachelor into a man in a hurry to say I do.”
All the boys laughed before Logan spoke. “There’s definitely a magic to this place. I think we all felt it when we arrived sixteen years ago. And again when we came back. Do y’all remember the oath we made?”
Sawyer fielded the question. “We made an oath not to forget what Chester and Lucas had taught us. We made an oath that the bad boys would become good men.”
Logan nodded. “We might’ve had our fair share of troubles getting here. But I’m damn proud of the men we’ve become. And we’re not done yet.” He held up his hands and formed two sign language d’s. “To the Double Diamond boys,” he said. “And to Chester and Lucas and the women who helped us become good men.”
The boys held up their hands and copied the sign as they chorused him. “To the Double Diamond bad boys. To Chester and Lucas and the women who helped us become good men.”
After they lowered their hands, they moved in for a tight group hug. When they pulled back, not one bad boy had a dry eye. Sawyer knew they were all thinking about everything they had been through. The good times and the bad times. There would be more good times. And bad times. But as long as they had each other and their strong Texas women, they’d survive whatever came their way.