Against the Law (32 page)

Wind Canyon, Wyoming
Ten days later

J
ackson had never seen his brother so happy. Not even when they were kids.

Especially not when they were kids.

Being the youngest, Dev had needed a mother, but she was usually drunk and passed out on the sofa in the tiny, run-down living room of their house beside the railroad tracks. In high school, he was always in trouble and well on his way to being a dropout with a bleak future ahead of him.

They all were.

Today, Dev's wedding day, instead of dirty jeans and a sweatshirt, instead of empty pockets and nothing to look forward to but likely a stretch in jail, they all wore tuxedos and black lizard boots and had plenty of money in the bank.

All of them were married to beautiful, talented women, and all of them were well-loved.

And deeply in love with their wives.

“You're smiling.”

Thinking how lucky he was, Jackson looked up to see his wife, Sarah, walking toward him in a pretty blue silk dress, and his heart took a funny little leap.

“I'm happy for him. My brother deserves a good woman.”

Sarah followed his gaze from Dev to Lark, who stood in a group that included Livvy and Aida, both of them laughing at something Lark said. “I like her. I like her a lot.”

“So do I.”

“Chrissy and Holly are already best friends. It'll be fun having her here for a couple of weeks while her dad and mom go on their honeymoon.” Italy, two weeks of heaven in a lovely Tuscan villa.

“So we'll have two little girls for a while,” Jackson said. “When does Holly get a brother?”

Sarah laughed. “Soon, I promise.”

Next to Sarah, Jackson's brother, Gabe, settled a hand at his wife, Mattie's, slightly fuller waist. “How's the apple juice?” The fizzy kind. No champagne for his pregnant wife.

“I'd rather be drinking some of that Dom Pérignon they're pouring, but having your baby is worth giving it up—at least for a while.” She smiled, went up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “Your brother looks really happy. Lark's a terrific girl.”

“Yes, she is.”

“They're perfect for each other.”

Gabe chuckled. “A woman who can tromp through cactus and fend off rattlesnakes…yup, they're a perfect match.”

She laughed. “And they both look great in designer clothes.”

Gabe grinned. “That, too.”

Dev sauntered over to join his brothers and their wives in front of the big rock fireplace in the ranch house living room. The furniture and rugs had all been removed for the reception, making room for the guests. A few had to send their regrets; Lark's friend, Brenda, had two kids in school and couldn't get away, Clive and Molly had a prior commitment but sent their love and best wishes.

Jackson's foreman, Jimmy Three Bears, a longtime friend, was there with his two boys—apparently, still single. Town and even Chaz had come, grumbling the entire time about the freezing weather.

Dev thought of the friends who chatted in front of the long buffet table in the dining room, but his eyes remained on Lark.

“You did good, little brother.” Jackson's gaze followed his and his brother smiled. “I knew she was the one for you when she went into a house full of dead people to save that little girl.”

“It'll be a little complicated,” Dev said, thinking how gorgeous she looked in her white silk gown and how he couldn't wait to get her out of it. “She has to be in L.A. a lot more than I'd like but we'll work it out.”

“You're both fairly flexible,” Gabe said.

Dev absently shined the toe of his boot on the back
of his leg. He had given up his loafers for the occasion. Funny, the only time he put on a pair of boots anymore was when he was in Wyoming. But he had been born and raised in this country and they felt as natural to him as his Armani suits.

He looked up to see Trace, Johnnie and Jake walking toward him.

“Trace and I wanted to wish you our best before we take off,” Jake said. “You married a really great lady.”

“Yeah, I did.” Dev frowned. “You're leaving?”

“Somethin's come up,” Trace drawled. “We need to get back to Texas.”

Something always came up when you were in the business of trouble. “I really appreciate you guys coming all this way.”

The lanky Texan tapped his black felt cowboy hat against his thigh and grinned. “Are you kidding? Watchin' you finally get hitched? I wouldn't have missed it for the world.”

“Same here,” Jake said, also grinning.

Dev wondered what kind of problem beckoned the men back home on such short notice. Something important, no doubt. But this was his wedding day and pleasure was his business at the moment. He looked at Lark, who stood chatting with Mattie, all the while casting him come-on glances.

Oh, man, he couldn't wait to get the party over with so he could take her back to the romantic little cottage beside the stream, strip her out of those clothes and make love to his wife for the very first time.

“What about you?” he asked Johnnie. “You ditching me, too?”

“No way. I'm staying right here until the party's over. I plan to dance with those two pretty friends of Lark's and drink you out of that fancy champagne.”

Dev laughed, knowing John Riggs rarely if ever got drunk. He didn't like being out of control. The women, on the other hand, well, Johnnie Riggs might be the quiet type, but he did just fine with the ladies.

Dev turned back to Trace and Jake. “Keep me posted, will you? If you need me, just call.”

“Count on it,” Jake said.

“Kiss the bride for us, will ya?” Trace winked and grinned.

Oh, he planned to kiss her, all right, and a lot more than that, but he didn't say so. “You bet.”

The men walked away, Johnnie went over to talk to Lark's friend, Delilah, and Dev returned his attention to the woman he had married. The music would be starting soon. He couldn't wait to dance with his wife. Afterward they would cut the cake and she would toss her bouquet, and he would haul her sweet little ass out of there and straight into bed.

From the way Lark was looking at him, she wouldn't be hard to convince.

 

“You make a beautiful bride, Lark.” Mattie had worn her thick auburn hair swept up in a twist and in a yellow wool dress with a softly flaring skirt, she looked fabulous. “That dress is just gorgeous.”

“Thank you. Delilah has an amazing talent.” Lark
smoothed the front of her ivory silk wedding gown, Delilah's design, a slim skirt that came to her ankles instead of the short skirt she would have chosen, a concession to the frosty Wyoming winter. The off-the-shoulder cut had sleeves of Belgian lace and an appliqué of lace around the hem.

Delilah, Carrie Beth, Scotty and Dex had personally delivered the dress and accessories to Raintree Ranch. Her best friends had all come to Wind Canyon for the wedding, staying at a cozy bed-and-breakfast at the edge of town.

Sarah walked up just then, a tall, slender brunette with pretty blue eyes. “Chrissy was the cutest little flower girl.”

Lark grinned, thinking of the trail of pink flower petals that ran out halfway down the aisle. “She was, wasn't she?”

Both of them looked over at the girls, cousins now, who were playing jacks in the corner. “She's so much like Holly.”

“You mean on occasion they can both be a little overzealous?”

Sarah laughed.

“It was a wonderful ceremony,” Mattie said. “I felt like an idiot crying that way, but you and Dev looked so happy, I just couldn't help it.”

“I cried a few tears myself,” Lark admitted, “though I was trying to hide them from Dev. I didn't want him to think I was a wimp.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “After the stories he told about you tromping through fields of cactus and fearlessly
fighting off drug lords, I don't think he would ever think you were a wimp.”

“Besides,” Sarah said, “about halfway through the ceremony, he looked a little misty-eyed himself.”

The wedding had been held in the chapel at the local Presbyterian church, a charming white, wood-framed structure with a steeple dating back to the 1890s. Considering how little time they'd had to make plans, she was amazed at how wonderful the wedding had turned out.

Now they were back at the ranch in the middle of the gala reception Livvy, Aida and Marge Covey had helped her plan, along with the help of her sister-in-laws, of course. She felt so lucky to be included in such a warm, loving family. Something she had missed so badly after losing her parents and her sister.

And Chrissy was happy.

She and little Holly played together all day. They were both sleeping in Holly's room while Lark and Dev slept in the antique brass bed in the romantic little cottage down by the stream.

They had considered living apart until after the wedding, but in the end, with everything that had happened and realizing now how short life could be, they had decided to stay in the cottage together.

Lark grinned. Now it was legal.

She spotted Dev walking toward her, felt the butterfly rush she always felt when she looked at him. He was wearing an Armani tux and, dear God, he looked good in it. The wide shoulders, narrow waist and long legs were impressive, but thinking of the hard, sculpted muscles
beneath his expensive clothes made her want to fan the heat out of her face.

Behind him, sunlight bounced off the snow and shined through the windows. Gorgeous, deep, powdery white covered the rugged mountain landscape, and there wasn't a cloud in the skies that so nearly matched her husband's blue eyes.

He bent and softly kissed her, turned to Mattie and Sarah. “If you ladies don't mind, I'm stealing my wife away for a dance. Believe it or not, it's our first.”

Both women grinned.

Dev led her onto the dance floor and the trio of musicians began to play an old Carpenters song. It was corny and wonderful and her eyes felt misty again.

“This is the best day of my life,” Dev said as he took her into his arms.

Lark smiled up at him. “I love you so much.”

A dimple appeared in his cheek. “I love you back.”

And then he twirled her around the old plank floors as if they had danced together a thousand times, leading her into a future brighter than the dazzling sun shining down on the snowy pastures of Raintree Ranch.

I hope you've had fun with the handsome men and brave and beautiful women of the Raines Brothers trilogy.

If you liked Dev and Lark's story but haven't read Jackson or Gabe's tales, you will find them in
Against the Wind
and
Against the Fire.

After that, I'm hoping to continue the adventures in more AGAINST novels, featuring Trace Rawlins, Johnnie Riggs and Jake Cantrell. I hope you'll watch for the action and romance to come.

Till then, all best wishes and happy reading,