Monica grinned as Roxy walked out of the fitting room.
"What?" asked Roxy. "You hate it."
"No, Roxy, it's perfect."
Roxy walked the few steps that separated her from the elevated platform in front of the full-length mirror. She looked herself over as she wore the A-shaped bustier ivory-colored tulle dress.
Monica stood and placed the train properly behind Roxy.
"You don't think it's too much?" asked Roxy as she looked at herself from different angles.
"It suits you," they both heard the saleswoman say.
"It does," added Monica. "And too much? No… you only get married once, right?"
"Well, yeah," answered Roxy. "How many times do you want me to get married?"
"Hopefully you'll only get married once."
"That is the plan. Now back to the dress."
The saleswoman walked over and checked it out. "There is no need to make alterations, it fits you perfectly."
"How much is this one?" asked Roxy.
"A little over 2 thousand dollars, without veil, shoes or any other accessories."
Roxy pondered as she looked at herself again in the mirror before eyeing Monica in the reflection of the mirror. Monica gave her a nod.
"I'll take it," replied Roxy.
"Wonderful," said the saleswoman clasping her hands together. "Shall we look at veils and shoes?"
Kayce rode at the back of the group with Ryan as they led a group of cattle back from the pasture to the ranch for shots.
"The wedding is in three weeks," said Kayce.
"Don't remind me," said Ryan.
Kayce gave him a side eye. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"
"No of course not. I'm just scared to disappoint your sister."
"What are you talking about?"
"After her mascarade wedding with Malcolm Beck, I told her she'd have her dream wedding."
"And she will," replied Kayce. "You both will. It will be the dream wedding because you are getting married to one another."
"You're right," said Ryan smiling, "it's going to be perfect. I can't wait to marry her and for us to start our life together."
Kayce chuckled. "You already live together and do everything a married couple does," he said lifting a couple of times his eyebrows, indicating the intimate aspect of things, "you're just making it official; you already have a life together."
After a couple of minutes, Kayce looked at his watch. "You'll be at the lodge later tonight for my dad's press conference?"
"Yeah, Roxy says it's a big deal."
"So, I've heard. Beth has been talking about it for at least a week. Sending regular reminders, so I don't forget."
"Who will be here tonight?"
"Well, Beth and Jamie will be with my father in Helena, so it should only be Rip and the four of us."
"You think your father has got what it takes to answer the questions they will throw his way?" asked Ryan.
"It will all be political that's for sure, but I'm sure most of it will be able what he plans to put in place for Montana. I'm certain most of it will be about ranches, livestock and how to prevent more businessmen from California to try and take a piece of our land."
"Well then, he'll handle that with ease."
"No doubt", replied Kayce as they all picked up the pace as they neared the ranch.
"Press conference is in two minutes," said Beth as she joined her father at the window.
John frowned. "I still feel as though I'd be better off just trying to run the ranch."
"Yeah well, this was part of the plan to stop Market Equities and so far, it's working, so we just keep doing what we're doing."
"It's true that they haven't come with loopholes to get their project back on track. I guess we can say we're in the clear."
A man in a suit walked into the room. "Governor, they are ready for you."
"We'll be right there," answered John.
Beth looked at her father. "You've got this. Remember, even if it's also for our ranch, it's also about every other ranch and honest man in Montana working hard to make ends meet and leave something behind as a legacy. Speak the truth and they'll eat every word off the silver platter you are offering them in being their new governor."
"You make it sound so easy," said John. "Maybe you should have run for Governor."
Beth smiled and both headed toward the door.
Roxy sat with the others as they watched the press conference from the lodge. So far, as she could tell, her father was handling the press conference like a pro. It didn't surprise really, her father was good at a lot of things. She looked at Kayce.
"He's doing good."
Kayce nodded as Ryan casually put his hand on Roxy's thigh under Rip's watch.
"We have time for one last question," said Beth.
A man raised his hand and Beth laughed. "Porter you've already asked a lot of questions tonight, how about someone who hasn't."
The crowd laughed and Porter lowered his hand. Finally, a woman in her thirties raised her hand.
"Yes, the woman in the blue dress," said Beth as she stepped away from the microphone and let her father resume his place at the console.
"Governor Dutton, a lot of questions tonight have been asked about how you plan on changing things to preserve the Montana most people know. Yet, we all know that your role as Governor doesn't just end with that."
"You're right. There are a lot of other topics that require my attention."
"Governor, would you say you are pro-life?"
"I think it's neither black or white. I believe every woman's story is different, if a woman is a victim of sexual abuse, it is quite understandable for her to not want to go through a pregnancy. It could also be because the health of the mother or infant is at risk. Again, each situation is different."
"I agree, but if none of these situations were to occur, would you say you are pro-life?"
"Yes, I believe that children are the future of this country and that is why, just as much for my grandson than for all the others out there, that the Montana we know will still be here when we aren't."
"I'm sorry Governor, but I'm a little confused. You say you are pro-life and yet, you wanted your son's girlfriend to get an abortion."
Monica and Kayce shot each other a glance.
Before John could answer, the woman continued.
"And your eldest daughter, Roxanne, fled the ranch years back because she was pregnant. Indicating that there was a chance that if she had stayed, you would have forced her to get an abortion. So how does that add up to you being pro-life?"
John blinked a couple of times paralyzed on the podium.
Beth stepped in. "I believe that is all the time we have. Thank you all for coming and for your support."