Tumbleweed Weddings (46 page)

“What happens to the money if Cheyenne doesn’t meet the conditions of the will?” Dad folded his arms.

Mr. Griggs straightened the papers on his desk. “All the recipients in Florence Ingersoll’s will are dead, except for Cheyenne and George Sommers.” Cheyenne willed her pulse to slow down. “Who is this George Sommers?” Dad’s blue eyes met hers. “A distant relative of your grandfather’s. I believe he was in the restaurant business.” He waved a beefy hand toward the lawyer. “Florence must have liked him to include him in the will. Either she really liked someone and couldn’t do enough for them, or she didn’t like them at all.” He grimaced.

Lowering her eyes, Cheyenne felt a stab of pain for her dad. Bitterness laced his words, and her mind went back to a conversation she once had with her grandmother. Cheyenne had only been seventeen, but she remembered every word.

“Jim Wilkins was not good enough to marry my daughter, and he’s still not good enough.”
Grandmother’s blue eyes flashed, and her white hair quivered as she ranted.
“If it hadn’t been for your grandfather intervening, Lynn would have married William Thorndyke. He would have taken care of her.”

Cheyenne still recalled the shock she felt. Grandmother had always been kind to her, maybe because she was her only grandchild, but evidently her kindness didn’t extend to Jim Wilkins.

Mr. Griggs donned his glasses. “Sommers is the only other relative of Mrs. Ingersoll’s who is still living.” He shuffled some papers. “Ah! Here’s the information. The man lives in Reno, Nevada, and has expanded his restaurant to include a hotel and a casino.”

“A casino?” Dad frowned as he glanced at Cheyenne. “So if my daughter doesn’t fulfill the requirements of her grandmother’s will, Sommers will get the four million dollars?”

Mr. Griggs nodded. “That is correct.”

“Without any stipulations on his part?”

“None whatsoever.”

I can’t believe this!
Cheyenne sighed. “So if I’m not married in two years, with a child, all of Grandmother’s money will go to this casino owner?”

Mr. Griggs shrugged. “I’m sorry, Cheyenne.”

“Don’t give up yet.” Dad’s eyes met hers. “A lot can happen in two years.”

She looked down.
But will it?

O
n Saturday, June 20th, Cheyenne stood in the church lobby, waiting her turn to walk down the center aisle of the auditorium.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride
. But she hoped to be a bride soon, and in this very church in Fort Lob, Wyoming.

If only she had a groom.

The white carnations in her bouquet shook slightly, and she took a deep breath before smoothing down the sky-blue satin of her long bridesmaid gown. She glanced around at the other bridesmaids dressed in different shades of pink, yellow, green, and violet. Cheyenne was thankful she had been given a blue dress since it brought out the blue in her eyes.

“I can’t believe my little sister’s getting married,” Callie Hutchins whispered. She was wearing a light-green dress, which didn’t do a thing for her dark eyes.

Cheyenne smiled at her best friend. “I love weddings, and this one’s going to be so pretty.” She glanced at the front of the auditorium. The men stood on the platform, waiting for the ten attendants in Tonya Brandt’s wedding. There were only four men, two standing on each side of the groom. Four women would join them on the platform, and the other six girls would stand below, forming a circle of pastel “flowers”—as Tonya described it.

Callie leaned toward her. “By the way, happy birthday.”

“Thanks!” That was all Cheyenne had thought of today. A pang of apprehension stabbed her. She had exactly two years to fulfill the conditions of Grandmother’s will, which was never far from her mind.

No use thinking about that during Tonya’s wedding, although she wished she could tell Callie about the will. But Mr. Griggs was adamant that she and Dad keep that info to themselves.

She turned to Callie with a smile. “Dad already gave me a present this morning at breakfast.”

Callie raised her eyebrows. “What was it?”

“A ruby necklace he had given Mom when they were dating. I never saw it before, and I love it!”

“That was thoughtful of him. It’s something you can remember your mom by.”

“Yeah, I’m planning to wear it to church tomorrow.”

Evelyn Seymour, the wedding coordinator, hushed them as she walked by. She adjusted her black-rimmed glasses. “Be ready for your turn, girls.” She waved her sheaf of papers toward the auditorium.

Cheyenne glanced behind her at the bride. Tonya stood beside her father, Jake Brandt, with her arm laced through his. She looked beautiful, as always, with her perfect complexion and dark hair and eyes. A tiny tiara crowned her head, and a veil flowed down her back. Jake stood tall and confident, as well he should be. He’d already given away three daughters—Melissa, Callie, and Molly. He must be a pro at this by now.

With a last glance at Tonya, Cheyenne held in a sigh. The tiny sequins sewn on the lace of Tonya’s bridal gown, which she had designed herself, glinted in the overhead lights as she moved. But it was the bride’s figure that Cheyenne envied. The dress had a fitted waist, and Tonya’s waist must have a smaller diameter than one of Cheyenne’s thighs.

I haven’t been that thin since I was ten!

The organ music changed, and Evelyn waved her papers. “That’s your cue, girls.” She corralled the first six girls to the door, and they walked down the aisle, two by two, and then fanned out across the front of the auditorium as they rehearsed last evening.

Cheyenne moved into place and stepped into the aisle at Evelyn’s prompting. Sucking in her stomach, she smiled and slowly walked down the aisle, feeling curious eyes on her from every crowded pew as she moved past.

As she neared the platform, she glanced ahead at the groom. Murray Twichell smiled back at her as he stood beside Pastor Reilly. Her glance flitted to Jon Hunt, the best man, and then landed on Derek Brandt. He was her destination.

Pinching the satin skirt of her gown, she pulled up the fabric a couple of inches and ascended the three steps of the platform. She raised her eyes to Derek’s handsome face as she drew nearer. He smiled at her, his dark-blue eyes holding hers.

If only that look and smile meant something! But it had been rehearsed last night, as per Evelyn’s instructions. With an inward sigh, Cheyenne turned to face the audience, standing as close to Derek as she dared.

Melissa walked the length of the aisle and ascended the platform on the other side, sharing a smile with her husband, Philip, before stopping at his side. Then it was Molly’s turn. After walking up the stairs, she stood beside Jon, near Cheyenne. Callie came down the aisle last, as the matron of honor. Her husband, Lane, smiled at her as she took her place between him and the pastor.

The music changed once again, and the congregation stood to turn and watch the bride. Tonya seemed to float down the aisle on her father’s arm. A beautiful smile lit her face as she gazed at her groom.

Tears crept to Cheyenne’s eyes, and she sent up a silent prayer.
Oh Lord, this is what I want
. She had been in love with Derek since high school, ever since he asked her to the prom when he was a junior and she was a senior. But for the past ten years, their relationship had deadlocked into being nothing more than good pals. He seemed to enjoy spending time with her, but they always hung out in a group. Would he ever view her as more than a friend?

And now with Grandmother’s will hanging over her head …

She glanced across the platform as Tonya and Jake stopped in front of the pastor. All the couples in the bridal party were married to each other—except for her and Derek. Melissa and Philip, Callie and Lane, Molly and Jon, and now, of course, Tonya and Murray. They were all part of the Brandt family, too.

Is that a sign, Lord?

Derek didn’t plan to get married until he was forty. At least, that’s what he told his sisters. Evidently he enjoyed living at home, letting his mom make his meals and do his laundry, and working on that huge sheep ranch with his dad.

But Cheyenne wasn’t about to let him remain single, not with the Last Will and Testament of Florence Ingersoll pressing her into marriage. As the ceremony progressed, her determination increased at the same time. She would lose weight and make a concentrated effort to win Derek’s hand.

Win
his
hand? That would be a role reversal, but she couldn’t depend on Mr. Laid-Back to win
her
hand. If she left it up to Derek, she would be forty-one years old before they married, if they married at all.

And that would definitely invalidate Grandmother’s will.

Tonya and Murray repeated their vows, gazing into each other’s eyes. Cheyenne could only see Tonya’s face, but she envied the look of love the bride held for her bridegroom. A wistful sigh escaped Cheyenne’s lips. Maybe someday … but not too far into the future.

Next week would be good.

Derek relaxed on the blue chair in the living room, thankful the wedding was over and he was now wearing comfortable clothes. Why did people have to make such a big fuss about weddings anyway?

After the cake-only reception at the church, all the Brandt relatives had descended on the house en masse, and the noise level drifted up to the ceiling and bounced back to Derek. He laid his head back on the chair and watched the ceiling fan turn in lazy circles. His eyes began to close when a commotion roused him.

“Hey, everybody.” Tonya, dressed now in a classy skirt and blouse, stood in the middle of the living room, her dark eyes shining. “Before Murray and I leave, we all have to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Cheyenne.” She nodded to her husband. “Ready?”

Murray started the song, and everyone joined in.

Easing out of his chair, Derek rumbled in on the third line. He glanced at Cheyenne, standing near the fireplace. Her round face sported a smile, and Derek thought the two deep dimples in her cheeks made her cute.

When the song ended, she nodded at the crowd. “Thanks, everyone! I’ve had a wonderful birthday.”

Derek kept his eyes on Cheyenne as she hugged a few well-wishers, and something stirred deep inside him. He and Cheyenne had been best buddies for years, but sometimes it hit him how pretty she was.

“Okay, folks.” Dad strode through the living room. “Time for the happy couple to leave. I’ll get my car keys.”

Tonya and Murray followed him but stopped every few seconds to receive hugs from the many aunts, uncles, and cousins, not to mention brothers and sisters, who lined the room.

Derek waited until Murray stepped in front of him. “Is Dad driving you guys to Denver?”

“Yep.” Murray looked up at him. “We’re staying at the Brown Palace Hotel tonight. Our flight leaves Denver International Airport at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”

“Stay safe, Twitch.” Derek shook Murray’s hand. “I hope you two have a great honeymoon in Hawaii.”

“We will.” Murray cocked an eyebrow at him before he smiled.

Derek grinned. Twitch got the girl he wanted.

“Bye, Derek!” Tonya threw her arms around his shoulders.

He hugged her. “Have fun, sis. We’ll be praying for a safe trip.”

“Thanks.”

The crowd followed the happy couple to the door and flowed outside behind them. Everyone waved as they drove off, with Mom and Grandma waving handkerchiefs, and then they all tramped back into the house.

Above the din of the noisy relatives, Lane tapped Derek on the shoulder. “Callie wants to eat at Mama’s Kitchen in Lusk for a nice quiet dinner. Want to go with us? I’m paying.”

“Sure. I’m always game for a free meal at a good restaurant.”

Lane grinned. “I’ll let her know. Most of the relatives are leaving, and Mom is going to Casper with Grandma for a week. Callie wants to say good-bye to everyone. Then the four of us will go out to eat.”

Derek frowned. “The four of us?”

“Callie invited Cheyenne.”

“Oh.” Derek watched Lane wend his way past several uncles out to the kitchen. Was this date Callie’s idea? His sisters were always trying to throw Cheyenne and him together.

Not that there was anything wrong with Cheyenne. He glanced around the crowded living room, but she was gone. If he ever got married, Cheyenne Wilkins would be the kind of wife he would choose—godly, vivacious, pretty.

But for the past several years, Derek felt the Lord wanted him to stay single in order to serve Him. And the Lord was keeping him busy. Besides his regular volunteer work at the orphanage in Casper, he planned to help build a church in Honduras in October. Then there was the soup kitchen that requested volunteers during the holidays.

The last thing Derek needed was a dating relationship. He knew that dating a girl took time and money. But it wouldn’t hurt to go out on this impromptu date with Cheyenne.

Besides, it was her birthday.