Chapter 3

The Best Man

"Will you just hold still and let me fix your tie? You're a mess," Nick said to his good friend Carl Wheeler.

"You're not my brother yet and already you're bossing me around," Carl said while Nick tried to fix his tie. Then, "Ow, it's too tight." He tried to loosen it.

"You're just not used to formal wear," Nick said. "The tie has to be tighter. It won't strangle you."

Nick stood back and took a look. At least Carl's face wasn't turning red, but he was perspiring. Nick grabbed a stray bandana and blotted Carl's forehead.

Carl pushed him away. "Will you stop all the fussing?! I'm just getting married. I'm not on display for auction or something."

"I want you to look good for my little sister. Nothing is too good for Audra," Nick said with a mock threat.

Carl settled down, looking at his old friend and the way he was smiling. "I know. I love her, Nick. I don't want her to be embarrassed standing next to me."

"I know you love her," Nick said. "And I couldn't be happier that she's marrying you. And while I'm at it, thanks for making me your best man. It means a lot to me."

"We better stop or I'll start crying," Carl said. "I'm so nervous, I don't know what's gonna come out of me in front of that priest."

"All the right words will come out," Nick said. "And just remember, Audra is as nervous as you are."

"I think you're the only one who's calm around here."

"Well, I've been planning for this day since we were kids. Audra's always been nuts about you. I knew after all those beaux went by that you'd be the one."

"Let's go get in place. I don't want to be late."

"You got ten minutes!"

"It'll probably take that long for me to get down the stairs."

Laughing, Nick escorted Carl out of the guest room and actually helped him down the stairs. Heath happened to be wandering into the foyer at the time – he and Eugene were ushers and Heath was escorting guests in after Silas opened the door for them.

Nick took a look at his younger brother and their houseman there in the foyer, both of them full of smiles and as elegant as they would ever get in their formal wear. Silas always looked elegant – the man just oozed style no matter what he wore. Heath, on the other hand, well, he was a cowhand rancher. Formal wear was not his norm, but he looked great.

Nick hoped he looked as good.

Heath noted that Nick was holding onto Carl as they came down the stairs. "Which one of you has cold feet?" he asked.

"Nobody has cold feet," Carl protested. "I just want to be sure I'm not late."

"You've got a good five or ten minutes," Heath said.

"Come on," Nick said, "let's get you back in the hallway over here and out of the way till it's time to go to the priest."

Carl went meekly as a lamb, and once in his place, he stuck there like he was glued there. He was out of sight of everyone – especially Audra, whom he was not to see before she came down the aisle. He knew he'd better not go taking any peeks around the corner, so he stayed solid where he was.

Nick gave him a smile. "Now you stay right here. I want to go check on Jarrod and see that he's ready."

"Okay," Carl said and did not even fidget with his tie.

Laughing softly, Nick went to the library, where he knew Jarrod was getting ready. He found his older brother putting down a glass of scotch, only having drunk half of it. Jarrod looked up and gave him a grin.

"Well, there, Brother Nick. Looks like you're ready for the nuptials to begin."

"You're the one who better be ready," Nick said. "The guests are all here and it's only five minutes until showtime."

Jarrod got up. "I am ready," he said, spreading his arms.

"Come on, then. It's my job to get you to where you belong."

"You're the best man," Jarrod said as they left the library. "Isn't it your job to get Carl where he belongs?"

"He's been in place for five minutes already," Nick said as they headed down the hall to the doors that led to the foyer. Once there, Nick straightened Jarrod's tie.

"I'm fine, Nick," Jarrod said. "Go see to Carl's tie. He's the one who looks like a jersey bull in formal wear."

Nick said, "Audra will be downstairs in only a couple minutes. You stay put."

"I am put," Jarrod assured him.

Nick went back to where he had left Carl. The man hadn't budged an eyelash. Nick laughed softly. "You can go ahead and blink, Carl. Nothing will fall off."

"Funny," Carl said. "Is Audra coming down yet?"

"Any minute now."

"God, I love her, Nick."

"I know you do." Nick took a peek toward the steps, saw Heath with Jarrod and caught a glimpse of white at the top of the stairs. "Ooup, okay, it's time to get you to the altar, brother-in-law."

Nick guided Carl out to the fireplace in the living room, where the priest waited, smiling. Then, in what seemed like only two seconds, Heath escorted Victoria down the aisle toward them. She was beautiful herself, even if she was full of tears. Heath placed her as Matron of Honor and took his seat on the front row with Eugene.

Then there they were – his older brother Jarrod – their 'Pappy,' – escorting their sister down the aisle. Nick had to swallow a lump in his throat. Audra was so beautiful he thought he was going to burst into tears himself. But Jarrod wore a secure smile, and as he lifted Audra's hand to Carl, he was as solid as the rock he'd always been. Nick felt himself settle down as Jarrod took his seat with Heath and Eugene, and Carl and Audra only looked at each other.

And then, suddenly out of nowhere, Nick thought of Nancy. It startled him. She was back home, miles away, and they were only writing to each other at this point. Why did he think of her when he saw Audra?

The ceremony went by so fast that Nick hardly took it in. Before he knew it, Carl was lifting Audra's veil – my God, she was beautiful – and the newlyweds kissed. Then they were dancing down the aisle together.

Nick offered his arm to his Mother. She was full of tears and smiles as they walked out together, Nick's brothers right behind them. "You're almost as beautiful as the bride," Nick said to her.

"And you're a flatterer," Victoria said.

Then everything was all activity outside in the garden – dancing and eating and music and voices everywhere. Nick cut in on Jarrod to dance with his mother and then he danced with all of Audra's girlfriends, until Carl and Audra were through greeting their guests and danced their first dance.

Watching with Eugene, Heath and Jarrod, Nick said, "Good night, whoever thought Carl could dance?"

"I suppose Audra could have been giving him some lessons," Heath said.

Overhearing them as they danced by, Carl quickly said, "Just eat your hearts out, Barkleys."

Jarrod danced with Audra next, and then Nick finally got to take the beautiful bride into his arms. As he looked at his little sister, he could hardly believe the gangly little kid who used to follow him around was all grown up into this gorgeous woman. He shook his head.

"What's that about?" Audra said, seeing him do it.

"Oh, just remembering pigtails and denim shirts, and a little girl with her hands on her hips and saying 'Niiiiick!' for the umpteenth time because I loved to tease her so much," Nick said. "She used to get so irritated at that."

"Which is why you did it, of course," Audra said.

"I always knew you'd be this beautiful when you grew up," Nick said. "I knew it from the moment Mother let me look at you in your cradle."

"And I took every advantage of you that I could after that."

Nick laughed. "Yes, you did, and don't think I haven't already warned Carl about that."

Nick danced the day away into the sunset, with each of Audra's girlfriends at least twice. Finally, Audra and Carl took off for their ranch and then their honeymoon in San Francisco, in a buggy trailing shoes and carrying a "Just Married" sign. Nick stood with his mother and brothers and watched them go.

When his mother said she didn't think she could be happier than she was today, Nick said, "Just wait till I get married."

"I don't know, Nick," Eugene said. "Would you really have any girl who would marry you?"

And Nancy flashed into his mind's eye again. He wished she were here. Some little part of him even wished –

No. Better let that go. It's too soon. But, darn, I wish -

Nick swatted his youngest brother and chased him back into the house while Victoria, Jarrod and Heath laughed at them.

It was a ritual Nick and Eugene had followed since Eugene was about four, Nick chasing Eugene into the living room but making sure he never caught him. On this day, now that all the chairs for the wedding had been removed and the regular furniture put back in its place, they both just fell into the armchairs by the fireplace and immediately loosened their ties.

"She was beautiful, wasn't she, Nick?" Eugene asked.

"She certainly was," Nick said.

"So when are you getting married?"

"Oh, when the right woman comes along and will have me," Nick said, and thought of Nancy yet again. He would write to her tonight. "How about you, little brother?"

"Well, don't tell anybody yet, but I have met someone."

"Really?"

"I don't know if she's the one yet, but we are seeing a lot of each other."

"Well, I hate to tell you, but I think Audra let the cat out of the bag when she got home from Washington."

"Ohhhhh….."

The rest of the family came in then, laughing together. Jarrod escorted his mother to the settee and sat down beside her, while Heath stood beside the fireplace.

They chatted for several minutes before Nick realized that everyone was fading fast. He went to the refreshment table and poured everyone a last glass of wine. Then he raised his own glass.

"I'd like to propose one last toast – to the bride and groom, and to the Matron of Honor and all her children – especially the Pappy of the Bride, who I think our father would be very proud of today."

Jarrod enjoyed the nickname and toasted himself, making everyone laugh.

XXXXX

After a light dinner, they all admitted they were exhausted. It was only a little while later they all made their way up to bed.

Nick watched his family members disappear into their rooms, and especially focused on Jarrod entering his room where his wife Maggie, uncomfortable in her pregnancy, rested all day in bed. Jarrod carried a sandwich and a slice of wedding cake – for Maggie, of course. Nick smiled at the love he was seeing in his older brother's eyes these days. He had settled into marital happiness so well that it overshadowed the cloud of his heart problem. Nobody even worried that much about it anymore.

Jarrod married, and now Audra, and Eugene apparently on the way there. Nick actually felt a little left out. It was way past time for him to bring some lovely woman into his room, to have that wedding by the fireplace and that celebration in the garden. It was way past time for him to have a wife who would wisp away his own clouds. He thought of Nancy yet again.

Nick smiled. Yes, it was way past time. He'd have to do something about that.