Free Randall Wedding by Judy Christenberry Page B

they were in the truck again, with Angel strapped in between them. “Russ, surely we won’t have a guest list with three days’ notice.”
    “Are you against guests? My family does things in a big way. They’re not going to want it to look like they’re not happy about our marriage.”
    “They probably aren’t happy, truth be told. I’m sure they think I’m taking advantage of you.”
    Russ sobered. “No, they’re going to be grateful to you. I’ve come back to life, and that’s what they wanted.”
    “Was it that bad?” she asked.
    “I haven’t been to the ranch but once in the last eighteen months, Isabella. I hid from life. It was cowardly of me, but it was all I could manage. I hadn’t laughed, either. But now I’m living again. You know I’m not marrying you because I’ve fallen in love with you. I wouldn’t mislead you. But I’ll take care of the two of you. I’ll be a good husband.”
    “Yes. I’ll try to be a good wife like…like that. A partnership. That’s what we’ll have.”
    “Exactly.”
     
    I SABELLA’S FIRST GLIMPSE of the Randall ranch was a surprise. There were a lot of buildings, as well as a large house.
    “How many people live in the house?”
    “Ten adults and two children most of the time.”
    “Who does that include besides your parents? Red and Mildred?” She’d been paying attention.
    “Nope. Red and Mildred live in that house to the left of the third barn. That’s where B.J., Toby and Mildred lived when they first moved to the ranch. After Jake and B.J. married, Red and Mildred married and they moved to the other house to have a little privacy. No, Toby and Elizabeth are the other couple, with their two babies.”
    “How old are the babies?”
    “The oldest, a boy, is three. The baby is a year old, just about three months older than Rich and Samantha’s little one.”
    “Oh.”
    “Don’t worry. Angel is going to fit right in.”
    “I hope so.”
    He could hear the concern in her voice. “She already has more hair than all of them.”
    Isabella ran her hand protectively over her baby’s curls and said nothing.
    After Russ parked the car, he took Angel’s carrier from Isabella and guided both females into the big kitchen.
    All the introductions were made, with help from various family members. Toby was the only member of the household who hadn’t quit work early to meet her. Elizabeth apologized, explaining he was on a deadline with the horse he was training, but Isabella told her she wasn’t offended.
    “I’m sorry the rest of you thought you should stop work just to meet us.”
    Janie, unable to hold back, hugged her. “We’re so pleased to meet you. I told them all how beautiful you were. But Angel is even prettier than I described. Those curls are spectacular.”
    “Janie’s excited because she’s never had a baby girl to buy for. She’s got a daughter-in-law, of course, but all her babies have been boys,” B.J. said.
    “May I hold her?” Janie asked, hovering over the sleeping baby.
    “Mom!” Russ protested. “Let her sleep. She’ll be up in about fifteen minutes if she’s on schedule.”
    “I have a bottle ready,” Isabella said hurriedly. “She’s very noisy when she’s hungry.”
    That statement brought a lot of smiles.
    “Come sit down. We have so much to ask you.” Janie guided Isabella over to the big table.
    Isabella shot a worried look at Russ. He knew she thought his mom’s questions would be about her family and her past life, but Russ didn’t think so. They had already made plans for the wedding.
    The men excused themselves to go back to work.
    “They stopped work just to say hello?” Isabella asked, surprised.
    “If you want them to stay, they will, but they’re not interested in discussing wedding plans,” Janie said, watching her.
    “No! I mean, I wasn’t complaining. I was feeling bad that I caused them such a disruption.”
    At that, everyone laughed and the men left, except for Russ. He thought,