Read Online Meet Me at the Chapel by Joanna Sims - Free Book Online Page A

Brock been treatin’ you over there at his place?” Uncle Hank asked her between bites of his baked chicken breast that he had smothered with homemade barbeque sauce.
    â€œI already told her that she should be staying with us. We’ve got plenty of room upstairs.” Aunt Barb sent her a disapproving glance.
    â€œHe’s been so good to me,” she told her uncle.
    â€œHe’s a good man,” Uncle Hank said simply, but Casey knew how much weight that simple compliment carried. Her uncle wasn’t an easy man to impress.
    Hank turned in his chair to look at his wife, who was opening the oven. “Are you joining us, Barb? We’re almost done here.”
    â€œI’m coming, I’m coming.” Aunt Barb brought a plate of corn bread hot out of the oven and then took her place at the table.
    â€œI appreciate the offer to stay here, Aunt Barb.” Casey took a piece of corn bread and slathered it with butter. “But I really wanted to be closer to town. And I like that the loft is my own little private retreat from the world.” Casey poured honey all over her corn bread. “Besides, Brock’s place is halfway between Bent Tree and Helena—I’m close to everyone there.”
    â€œWell.” Aunt Barb’s tone reflected her continued dissatisfaction with the arrangement. “Now that you know the way, I’m sure you’ll want to come to Bent Tree for regular visits.”
    * * *
    Aunt Barb was happy to dog-sit Hercules while Casey visited the horses in the main barn on her way to see the chapel. The chapel, a one-hundred-year-old structure, had been built by her great-great-grandfather and had been moved down the mountain so that it could be restored and enjoyed by new generations of Brands for decades to come. Her memories of the chapel were seared into her mind. She couldn’t wait to see the restored structure in person—she imagined that the pictures she had seen couldn’t truly do it justice.
    Casey took her time in the barn, personally greeting each horse and putting little pieces of apple and carrot in their food buckets as treats. So far, it had been a successful trip back to Bent Tree. She couldn’t believe that she had been worried about opening her life to this part of her family. Yes, her father still refused to speak to Hank, but she was a grown woman. Ultimately, she had to decide who she let into her life.
    â€œHeads up!”
    Casey had been in her own world, deep in thought, when the loudly shouted warning shocked her back to the present. An early model pickup truck had been backed into an open part of the barn and there was a young man in his twenties preparing to throw a bale of hay in her direction.
    â€œDid I scare ya?” The young man stood upright with a teasing grin on his face.
    â€œThat would be a yes !” she snapped.
    He jumped off the back of the truck and sauntered over to her.
    â€œWell, I’m mighty sorry about that.” The cowboy pulled off his leather glove with his teeth so he could stick out his hand. “I’m Wyatt.”
    â€œCasey.”
    â€œI do apologize for scarin’ you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
    She took in his dimples, the strong jawline, the masculine chin and the nice teeth to top off his lopsided, flirtatious grin.
    Brushing off the flirtation, she said sardonically, “Consider yourself forgiven.”
    Something akin to surprise mixed with respect flashed in his light blue eyes. “Where did you come from?”
    â€œChicago.” Casey shifted her body away from him, silently signaling that she was planning to end their small talk.
    She took a small step back and Wyatt, she noticed, took a small step forward.
    â€œWell, nice to meet you, Wyatt.” She gave him a quick wave of the hand.
    â€œIt’s always a pleasure to make the acquaintance of such a pretty lady.” He tipped his hat to her.
    His