A/N: sorry for the wait I have been so busy lately working on my novels, yes I am writing two novels, that I haven't had time to work on anything. Hopefully I can work on my fanfics again. Most of my time will be spent on here until it is done.

Chapter 24

The Wednesday before the wedding.

Sam's PoV

Jen and me were working the final touches of the wedding out on the range where we had met by the lake. We had the caterer down, the hall (AKA: the ranch yard), the dresses, the decorations, and places for the bachelor and bachelorette parties. All we were missing was a band and a restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.

"Why don't we talk to Clair about going to Clair's for the rehearsal dinner? That way all those big macho men in our lives wont feel like they have to escape as soon as possible." I said thinking of my poor fathering a place like Olive Garden.

"OMG that is a great Idea. I can't believe how stupid I am. I so should have thought of that," Jen said slamming her head down into her hands.

"Honey your getting married in just a few days. You have a right to be a bit scatterbrained." I said rubbing her back.

"Well I still don't know what to do for a band!" she said in pure frustration. That's when it hit me.

"What you say if I got my band to play at your wedding?" I asked

"What?" she said whipping her head around in my direction.

"What would you say if I had my band come down from San Francisco and played at your wedding?"

"Since when do you have a band?" she asked.

"Senior year. Me and a couple of my friends got together for a school talent show. And since we took first place we decided to try our hand at prom and from there we moved to our now permanent gig at JB's father's Bar."

"And you never told me this?" she demanded.

"I'm sorry. Look do you want me to give them a call or not?" I said.

"Please." She said practically begging my with her eyes.

I rolled my eyes as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Thankfully I got service out here. Quickly I scrolled down till I found our drummer's name.

"Hello?" a sleepy voice answered.

"Tory honey can you wake the dumbass up so that you can three way the other four in."

"Why what's up?"

"I need you guys to come out to Nevada to play at my friends wedding."

"I'll tell them and we'll be on our way in tomorrow."

"Sweet I'll book you guys a suburban and meet you at the airport."

"'Kay we'll see you tomorrow." With that we hung up.

"Well?" Jen demanded.

"Honey everything is taken care of all I want from you is for you to go home and relax. Go take a bubble bath, light some candles, read a book, and listen to some music. Every thing will be fine."

"But I still have to go to Clair's and put in reservations. How many people are going to be there?"

"Don't worry I will call and talk to them you go do what I just said. We don't need a stressed out bride." I said pushing her toward her mare.

"Are you sure? what if you forget something?"

"I wont and yes I'm sure. Now go." I said giving her another shove toward Silly.

"Fine. I guess your right I do need to relax a little." She said as she swung up into the saddle.

"I knew you would see things my way." I said smiling up at her. "Don't worry every thing will be fine."

"Promise?"

"Yes now go home." I said slapping Silly's rump. I watched till she was no more than a dot before pulling out my cell phone. I quickly called Darrel.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Darrel, when Jen gets home make sure she goes and takes a nice warm bath then get your ass over to my place pronto. I also want you to call that idiot you call a friend and tell him to get his ass over there too."

"Why may I ask?"

"Because your faïence is freaking out saying that the wedding is going to be a complete disaster."

"Why would Jen think that?"

"Because she's getting married in three days if you don't count today. She has a right to be nervous. That is why I'm calling. You, Jake, and JB are going to help me to get everything done, so hurry up and get your asses over to my place."

"Yes ma'am."

"Good." I said hanging up the phone with a click. I gave a whistle and watched as Sugar came trotting over to me. "Good boy." I said patting his neck before swinging into the saddle and heading toward home.

As I trotted over the bridge into the ranch yard, I saw both a palomino and a black quarter horse tied to the hitching posts. I instantly recognized the quarter horse as Jake Ely's mare, Witch. Quickly I dismounted and let Sugar out into the ten-acre pasture. Briskly I walked toward the mane house.

I walked into the kitchen to see all three guys sitting at the kitchen table. JB and Jake, with his black eye, glaring at each other and Darrel was enjoying what seemed to be a piece of my Gram's sweet Chocolate and cherry cheese cake pie. (OMG if you have never had chocolate and cherry cheesecake pie you are missing A LOT.)

"Sam honey can I talk to you in the living room please?" Gram said giving me a meaning full look.

"Sure no problem Gram." I said giving Johnny a pleading glSugar before following her into the living room.

"Honey Jake and JB are ready to kill each other."

"I know." I said with a sigh. Not that I wouldn't mind if Johnny were to kill Jake, but every one else here might not hold a very high opinion of him.

"Will you please talk to them. You brought both of them here now make sure I don't have blood stains on anything in my house come the end of the day."

"Yes grandma. I only have him here because, seeing as how he is the best man in my best friend's wedding, I figured he could help with making this the perfect day for Jen so that she doesn't kill me for lying to her about having nothing to worry about."

"Okay dear. I'm going to leave you alone with the boys. I have to run into town to pick up some groceries."

"WHAT! Gram you can't leave me here with all of them." I said practically begging.

"And why not Samantha?"

"Because I…I don't … I can't be in the same building with him without one of you here." I said trying not to cry.

"Honey you can do this. You have to learn to be in the same room as him. You know that your family isn't happy with him because of what happened between the to of you, but the rest of the community still thinks of him as the great tracker he is and now as a hero for joining the military."

"I know. I know it's just, Gram, I can't get the picture of the two of them out of my head. Every time I look at him all I see his him leaning against the lockers with his hands on her shoulders and her… fucking model body pressed against his. And oh my god." I couldn't help the sobs that racked my body as I fell to floor as the images flashed through my head. The image of him holding her close as he kissed her out side of his mother's class. The way she had her body pressed to his as she kissed him. He was supposed to mine. Every one told me so when we got together. Then she came along. Little fucking Rachel Slocum who always got what she wanted and once again got what she wanted, my man.

Softly in the background I could hear Gram telling the guys that I wasn't feeling well and to come back tomorrow. Soon I felt two arms come around me and pull me against a hard familiar chest. Quickly I turned and clung to Johnny as if he was the last solid thing in the universe.