Read Online Loving Justice (El Camino Real Book 2) by Sable Hunter - Free Book Online
Authors: Sable Hunter
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same to him, just decked out in different colors of haute couture. Since he couldn’t distinguish a designer gown from one bought off-the-rack, he was more interested in what was wrapped up in all that finery. Funny, he thought, Charlee wouldn’t be caught dead in a frou-frou gown. More like a young filly, running wild and free than a peacock, she’d hardly ever worn anything but blue jeans. With all of the animal analogies running through his mind, he wondered at the wisdom of leaving the safety of the dressing room.
Again, a pang of loss hit him like a blow to the gut.
Hunkering a bit to make himself appear smaller, Justice aimed for the bar.
“Justice! Justice!” He tensed, turning to see which of the felines had honed in on his location. Whew! It was just Ms. Horne. She was seventy if she was a day. He’d be fairly safe with her.
“Hello, Ms. Horne. You look ravishing today.”
The old lady tittered. “I just wanted to speak to you. I have some news I thought you’d be interested in.”
Justice’s eyes were focused over her shoulder. He spied a waiter with bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos and his stomach was growling. “What news would that be?”
“Charlee Parker’s on her way home.”
Justice ceased breathing. “Really? That’s good news.” He was having a hard time forming words, his tongue kept getting stuck to the top of his mouth. Justice was about to ask for details, like when, where, how…but Abby joined them, and she didn’t look happy.
She hugged her old friend, then leaned over to whisper in Justice’s ear, “Have you seen Cade?”
“No, I haven’t. But I’m sure he’s around somewhere. We’ve never been able to get rid of that outlaw.” He was teasing but it didn’t seem to help. “Don’t worry, he’ll turn up.”
Someone called Abby’s name, and she and Ms. Horne turned away. Justice took the opportunity to escape, his appetite gone.
Charlee was coming home.
With his head spinning from the news, the next few minutes passed quickly. Soon he stood next to Jase with his brothers at the altar, awaiting the bride to come down the aisle. Justice was having a hard time keeping his mind on the ceremony. It was all he could do to stay in one place. He wanted to leave, get in his truck and drive, park in front of Charlee’s dad’s clinic and wait. Damn.
“It’s past time to start,” the preacher said, a little too loudly. “We’re missing a groomsman.”
“Cade will show. He got hung up at the airport. The caterer told me that a few minutes ago,” Jase whispered.
“Did anyone tell Abby? She was worried.” Justice joined the conversation.
There was a chorus of ‘nos.’ “Anyway, that’s not what’s holding up the ceremony. There’s something going on in the back.” Shiloh pointed to the door where the wedding party would make their entrance.
“You know how women are, it takes a long time to get all gussied up,” Jase joked. Clearly he had found the waiter who was serving champagne.
Justice fidgeted. Everyone was staring at the groom and groomsmen as if it was their fault the processional hadn’t started.
“Hasn’t the organist played that same song three times already?” Jase whispered to Justice out of the corner of his mouth.
“Maybe, they all sound alike to me,” Justice returned his under the breath comment.
At his brother’s nudge, Justice surveyed the crowd. There was indeed something going on, people were whispering and looking over the shoulder. Finally, something started to happen! Everyone smiled when Cade walked in with an older woman. He saw her to a seat and raced up to the front to take his place. Justice watched Abby as she visibly reacted, her whole body going limp with relief.
That was just the beginning of the excitement. Soon, some of the wedding party began to make their way down the aisle. The flower girls came first, Pam’s cute little cousins and nieces, tossing rose petals along the way. Then a consecutive awwww
Again, a pang of loss hit him like a blow to the gut.
Hunkering a bit to make himself appear smaller, Justice aimed for the bar.
“Justice! Justice!” He tensed, turning to see which of the felines had honed in on his location. Whew! It was just Ms. Horne. She was seventy if she was a day. He’d be fairly safe with her.
“Hello, Ms. Horne. You look ravishing today.”
The old lady tittered. “I just wanted to speak to you. I have some news I thought you’d be interested in.”
Justice’s eyes were focused over her shoulder. He spied a waiter with bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos and his stomach was growling. “What news would that be?”
“Charlee Parker’s on her way home.”
Justice ceased breathing. “Really? That’s good news.” He was having a hard time forming words, his tongue kept getting stuck to the top of his mouth. Justice was about to ask for details, like when, where, how…but Abby joined them, and she didn’t look happy.
She hugged her old friend, then leaned over to whisper in Justice’s ear, “Have you seen Cade?”
“No, I haven’t. But I’m sure he’s around somewhere. We’ve never been able to get rid of that outlaw.” He was teasing but it didn’t seem to help. “Don’t worry, he’ll turn up.”
Someone called Abby’s name, and she and Ms. Horne turned away. Justice took the opportunity to escape, his appetite gone.
Charlee was coming home.
With his head spinning from the news, the next few minutes passed quickly. Soon he stood next to Jase with his brothers at the altar, awaiting the bride to come down the aisle. Justice was having a hard time keeping his mind on the ceremony. It was all he could do to stay in one place. He wanted to leave, get in his truck and drive, park in front of Charlee’s dad’s clinic and wait. Damn.
“It’s past time to start,” the preacher said, a little too loudly. “We’re missing a groomsman.”
“Cade will show. He got hung up at the airport. The caterer told me that a few minutes ago,” Jase whispered.
“Did anyone tell Abby? She was worried.” Justice joined the conversation.
There was a chorus of ‘nos.’ “Anyway, that’s not what’s holding up the ceremony. There’s something going on in the back.” Shiloh pointed to the door where the wedding party would make their entrance.
“You know how women are, it takes a long time to get all gussied up,” Jase joked. Clearly he had found the waiter who was serving champagne.
Justice fidgeted. Everyone was staring at the groom and groomsmen as if it was their fault the processional hadn’t started.
“Hasn’t the organist played that same song three times already?” Jase whispered to Justice out of the corner of his mouth.
“Maybe, they all sound alike to me,” Justice returned his under the breath comment.
At his brother’s nudge, Justice surveyed the crowd. There was indeed something going on, people were whispering and looking over the shoulder. Finally, something started to happen! Everyone smiled when Cade walked in with an older woman. He saw her to a seat and raced up to the front to take his place. Justice watched Abby as she visibly reacted, her whole body going limp with relief.
That was just the beginning of the excitement. Soon, some of the wedding party began to make their way down the aisle. The flower girls came first, Pam’s cute little cousins and nieces, tossing rose petals along the way. Then a consecutive awwww
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