Texas Cowboy's Protection by - (best book clubs .txt) 📕

Epilogue

The wedding was a low-key affair. Only a precious few folks had been invited and the whole shindig took place in the backyard at the family ranch on a surprisingly beautiful Sunday afternoon. The bride wore boots, jeans and a lacy white shirt.

Noah looked at Isaac from across the room, his brother’s happiness written in big letters across his face. Had the man ever smiled as much?

No.

Noah was thrilled for his brother, don’t get him wrong. Isaac seemed like he’d found the real deal with Gina. It was Noah’s own restlessness putting a damper on the celebration. And he’d been plenty restless lately.

There was no reason he could pinpoint. No big ah-ha moment that made him feel like he was missing out on anything in life. He loved the land. Texas was the air in his lungs and the blood in his veins.

So, what was with all the melodrama?

Isaac walked over. Noah gave his brother the biggest bear hug. “I couldn’t be happier for you, bro.”

That ear-to-ear smile reappeared on Isaac’s face. “Who would’ve thought that not only would I move back to Quinnland, but that I’d have a beautiful bride and baby girl in my life?”

“A man knows when he’s met the one.” Noah had heard the saying his whole life. Was it true? He couldn’t say from personal experience. A piece of him that he’d buried deep down wanted to believe it was.

“The world can be a crazy place sometimes.” Isaac’s reflection rang true enough. “One minute you’re wandering around, lost, maybe searching a little bit. The next, everything clicks into place and you’re given an opportunity to be the man you always hoped you could be.”

“I can’t imagine you with a better family. And I mean every word of that.”

“Thank you, Noah. It means a lot coming from you.” Isaac glanced toward the barn. “Did you hear the good news about the Labrador?”

“I heard it looks like he’s going to pull through.”

Isaac nodded and then his gaze surveyed the grouping of tables on the west side of the lawn. “What do you think about him?”

Noah followed his brother’s gaze to their father. “Good question.”

“Think he’s sincere about making a change?”

“If not, he sure is putting on a good show.” Part of Noah wanted to buy his father’s miraculous turnaround. What man didn’t want a real relationship with his father? “I guess time will tell when it comes to T.J.”

“True. By any chance, have you heard from Liam?” Isaac’s twin had all but fallen off the face of the earth recently.

“No. He’s not returning your messages, either?”

Isaac shook his head. The news was troubling. Isaac and Liam had always been close.

“Think I should take a trip out to Colorado to find him?” Noah had been restless lately. A road trip with a research mission might do him some good even though the ranch couldn’t spare him this time of year. Hell, the wedding had to be an afternoon affair in order for family on site to attend.

“If Liam doesn’t want to be found there’s no tracking him. He’ll turn up when he’s ready.” Isaac knew his twin the best. Noah would yield to his brother’s judgment.

Speaking of people who’d gone M.I.A., “Did you ever hear back from Mikayla?” He’d add the line, asking for a friend, and it would almost be funny. A total lie, but humorous nonetheless. It had been good of his brother to invite her to the small ceremony on Noah’s behalf. Ever since she’d given him the cold shoulder she’d avoided him. Considering he’d lost his cell he couldn’t exactly call her. He’d stopped by her mother’s house once but talked himself out of knocking. Mikayla’s two-door sedan wasn’t parked out front and he couldn’t think of one word to say to her mother.

The few times he’d gone out with Mikayla had been the best dates in longer than he cared to remember. Hell, they’d been right up there with best ever. So, it was probably just his wounded ego that had him wishing she’d felt the same.

Conversation with her had been easy. He’d laughed more than he could remember. Hell, their chemistry had been off the charts, or so he’d thought. Until she’d decided looking at his face made her want to punch something.

Noah thought about the kiss they’d shared more often than he should. He was still trying to figure out what he’d done wrong.

To Continue reading Noah and Mikayla’s story, click here.