Chapter 14
Tate walked over to sit beside Buck and Teaspoon. He watched the sun set on another day.
"Think they'll make it back in time?"
"I hope so. I can't figure what's got them held up." Teaspoon answered.
"Lori is starting to get upset so life has been hell."
"I'll give them another day then I'll head out. See what I can find." Buck said.
"They will make it back, Buck. Sides you don't even know where to look. Just have faith. He wouldn't miss his daughter's wedding. You'll see."
"The wedding is in three days." Tate said.
"Just have a little faith."
Jimmy and Luke ended up walking another day and a half before finding their horses. They ended up taking the wagon and everything into town. The doctor told them that Luke had more than likely cracked some ribs and Jimmy had indeed broken his wrist. The two of them got a room for the night. After a bath and a set of new clothes, they got their horses ready to head home.
"If we ride straight through, we should get there the morning of the wedding." Luke said.
"I don't honestly think we can ride like that. But we have to get there, our lives depend on it."
"We will just tell them what happened."
"Yeah, the girl's father shot me then her crazy mother chased us through the woods for a day and half."
"It's the truth."
Jimmy laughed and shook his head.
"Mount up."
They both groaned as they clumsily pulled up into their saddles. Lucas looked at his Dad as he shifted in the saddle trying to get comfortable.
"You are sure looking handsome these days with a busted nose and black eyes." Luke snickered.
"Shut up. You got room to talk with your left eye swollen shut."
"Man, we have some good times."
"Like I said, shut up."
The two kicked their horses out of town.
Lou fixed the last piece of Lori's hair. She pinned it back then stood back to admire her daughter. She was stunning in her wedding dress. Annie held the bouquet of flowers that had been picked from the few remaining in the fields. She wiped her eyes as she looked at her sister.
"It's time." Lou said standing.
"But Dad and Lucas aren't here. I can't do this without them."
Lou pulled her into a hug. She looked out the window at all the town folk sitting patiently waiting. She was going to turn back around when she heard boots downstairs. She knew those boots. She turned to Lori. They heard them again and then another pair. Lou smiled. Lou and the girls ran down the stairs to find Jimmy and Luke washing off at the kitchen basin. The girls squealed in happiness.
Jimmy and Luke jumped around to see Lou, Annie, Lori, and Penny rushing toward them. They almost knocked them to the floor in an embrace.
"Lou, honey, we are glad to see ya'll too, but we got to hurry and change for the wedding." Jimmy said holding his wife with his good arm.
"The wedding can wait for a few." She said as she kissed him.
She finally pulled away to look at the sorry sights that were standing there, well, bent over.
"What the hell?"
"Long story, I promise to tell you all about it but let's get this wedding going first."
"You better. Annie get everyone ready. Penny, you are in charge of Luke, Jimmy you are with me. Lori, just sit in the living room."
Lou pulled Jimmy to their room and helped him change his clothes.
"What happened out there? Are you alright?"
"Like I said, I will tell you everything and yes, I will be fine."
Lou helped pull on his good shirt over his arm and bandages.
When they all emerged downstairs, they were wedding ready. Lou smiled and kissed Lori's cheek as she made her way outside to sit. Annie followed her Mom out. Penny and Luke made their way out after them. Jimmy smiled at his daughter as she took his arm.
"You can run you know. I would help." He whispered making Lori laugh.
"So, a busted nose and two black eyes at my wedding?" Lori said laughing ignoring his comment.
"Sorry honey."
"I wouldn't want it any other way." She smiled. "That would make us normal."
Jimmy laughed as the two emerged from the house. He walked his child down the aisle trying to hide his emotions as he thought of her years ago walking on his arm in the same fashion as they looked at the horses in the corral. He swallowed the memories back as he saw Tate smiling in awe at her. He saw her smiling back at Tate. He smiled back. They were going to be fine.
