Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Zeke, Jed, Macca and Bain all worked for JSI, while Bear worked on the ranch. But he considered them all to be family.
This was everyone who had been available to help on short notice, but he thought it would be enough. How hard could it be, getting all this stuff done?
“Now that we’re all here, let’s get on with this.”
The door opened and Doc and Archer stepped in. That surprised him, usually one of them was always with Caley.
Plus, Doc wasn’t exactly the helpful type.
Doc nodded to everyone as he walked up and handed Clint a paper bag. “Here’s the vitamins and a bottle of that nutritional shake I was talking about. Is she sleeping?”
Clint nodded, taking a quick look at the baby monitor. He’d fed her a late lunch then waited until she’d fallen asleep before calling everyone to meet with him.
“So what’s going on?” Archer asked. He was new to the ranch. A head doc. Clint had rolled his eyes when Kent said he was hiring him. What the hell did they need with a shrink? But he seemed to be an okay guy. So long as he didn’t get into Clint’s head.
He liked it just the way it was.
“I need your help. You may not have heard, but Charlie fainted today.”
Some nodded, others looked at him in concern.
“She’s all right but she needs to get some more rest and eat properly. Doc’s grounded her. She’s currently upstairs taking a nap. She’s on bed rest for the next two days at least.”
This time everyone gave a satisfied nod. When a Little was ill, she needed extra coddling and looking after.
“The wedding is in ten days,” Bear spoke up. “You need our help?”
Clint nodded; glad his friend had gotten to the heart of it. He turned the whiteboard around. At the top he’d written: Wedding Shit To Get Done.
Kent groaned at the wording.
“Doc wants Charlie to completely rest, which means no organizing stuff. So it’s all on me.”
“Which means you’re roping us in to help,” Bain said dryly.
“You bet. No need to do everything myself when you’re all sitting around, twiddling your thumbs.”
“I quite enjoy a bit of thumb twiddling,” Archer offered with a grin. “Helps me think.”
“Well, you can twiddle your thumbs as you pick up all the stuff Charlotte needs from in town. She’s got a list.”
“Sure. I like shopping.”
Clint gave Doc a look. Seriously? Archer liked shopping? Doc just shrugged. “He’s weird.”
“Hey. Just because I like to shop does not make me weird.” Archer grabbed the list from Clint, looking it over. “I’m on it.”
“What you want me to do?” Doc asked.
“Check in with the people providing the horse and carriage.” He figured Doc couldn’t alienate them too much. Right?
“Kent, need you to check in with Father Thomas, who is performing the ceremony.”
“Sure,” Kent replied easily.
“Zeke, can you and Eden visit the place we’re having the reception and make sure everything is set?”
Zeke nodded. “Sure can, boss.”
“Bain, you’ve got the florist.”
“I know nothing about flowers.” Bain shot him a dark look.
“Get Ari to help.”
Bain sighed.
“Jed, I’ve got you down for the cake decorator. Make sure she’s all good.”
Jed nodded.
“Bear, need you to help Ellie figure out something else for the bridal shower.” The girls were all supposed to be going into the spa in town but that was off the table now.
He took in a deep breath and looked around at them all. “There’s something else. Charlotte doesn’t think she has any family attending this wedding.”
They all frowned at that.
“I intend to show her differently.”
“Good,” Zeke grumbled.
“Charlie’s been family since the moment she stepped on this ranch,” Bear added.
Satisfaction filled him. Charlie might not have any blood relatives, but family could be a choice.
“What are you going to be doing?” Kent asked.
“Taking care of Charlotte.”
Kent gave a nod of satisfaction then stood and whacked his hand against Clint’s back. “We got this, brother.”
They better have. Charlotte deserved a magical wedding and he was going to give it to her.
5
She really did look like shit.
She studied herself in the bathroom mirror. Her skin was pale. There were dark smudges under her eyes. And her collarbones seemed more pronounced than they had a few weeks ago. Shit. Would she even fit her wedding gown? She was due to have her last fitting tomorrow. What was she going to do?
“Charlotte?” Clint called out, walking in with a frown. “What do you think you’re doing up?”
“I needed the toilet.”
His frown deepened. “You should have called out for me. What if you’d fainted again? You could have fallen and hit your head against the sink.” He shook his head. “Next time yell out for me.”
She turned to scowl at him. “Clint, I can’t call for you every time I need to use the toilet.”
“You can. I’ve cleared my schedule. I’m going to be taking care of you. And Little girls shouldn’t get out of bed without Daddy’s permission.” He ran a thumb over her cheek. “How are you feeling?”