Meg's Best Man: A Montana Weekend Novella
while. Then he added, “I’ll give you some of the gory details someday. For now, let’s just say that I may be a slow learner, but I’m a determined one.”
    Someday. Not likely, she realized, and besides, it wasn’t any of her business. He would be heading back to Texas soon. “When do you fly out?”
    “Sunday evening, a red-eye. I have to get back and move out of Joshua’s and my place by Tuesday night. The new tenants move in a few days after. Since I found out my roommate was going to ditch me for a bride, I’ve been thinking a lot about where I want to move.”
    “Did you decide?” She told herself that she was just being polite, but there she was, being absolutely ridiculous and wishing he was about to tell her he was moving to Montana.
    “I’ve been looking all over, but I think I’ll probably end up moving nearer to my hometown. That’s where my parents are, and my sister and her family. If I could be within a few hours’ drive of my nephew, that would be the best thing ever.”
    She was going to ask more, but the sound of an engine caught her attention. She turned to see a familiar car coming up the drive. It was Catherine’s Expedition, but there was no reason for her to be back so soon.
    “I thought Catherine just left,” Gage said. He put his feet down and leaned forward.
    “She did, she went home to finish cooking the reception food before everyone invaded her home… and her showers.” She glanced at Gage. For the first time that she had seen, he looked worried, and it gave her a bad feeling.
    Joshua started walking over to the driver’s side window, but Leah stayed by the bonfire, peering at him while she held a hand up to block the light from the headlights. As he approached, the passenger door opened and out bounded a tall woman. She ran forward into the beam of the lights and Leah opened her arms for the hug she got, one that nearly knocked her over.
    The woman was wearing over-the-knee boots, skinny cream-colored jeans, and a leather trench coat with a belt that showed off her slim figure. Above that was a flood of shining red waves of hair. She had a stylish green scarf on and sunglasses on her head, although the sun had set. In the middle of the creek-washed, sweaty, smoky crowd in the meadow, she looked like a supermodel.
    “Brie,” Gage said, but Meg had already guessed that.
    I bet Brie looks great in Kelly green, she thought. And although she knew she should feel happy for Leah and relieved for herself, instead she felt a sad, sinking feeling that she couldn’t quite explain.
    She talked herself out of that. It was wonderful that Leah’s friend was here for her important day. Brie certainly looked healthy enough, and she had run faster in her high-heeled boots than Meg probably could in tennis shoes. “Looks like I’m out of a job,” she joked to Gage, but when she turned back to him she saw him frowning, the knuckles of one fist pressed to his lips. He didn’t seem to hear her.
    Meg stepped around him to go introduce herself, but Leah and Brie were already headed toward the cabin. Behind them Meg caught sight of Joshua taking two suitcases and a purse out of the Expedition. Leah threw Meg a distraught expression as she approached, and she touched her hand to her heart. The last thing Meg wanted was for Leah to feel badly about kicking her out of the maid of honor job. She never wanted it anyway, so what did it matter? She winked at Leah. “You must be Brie,” Meg said. “I’m so glad you made it! I know Leah was hoping you could.”
    It wasn’t too dark to see the big, movie-star smile Brie gave her as she stepped up onto the deck. Meg had to look up at her. “Hi! And you are?”
    “My name is Meg. I was going to be the backup maid of honor, but luckily you’re feeling better now.”
    “Yes, it was awful. But I bounce back pretty fast.” She suddenly looked over Meg’s shoulder, and her eyes narrowed. “Well, if it isn’t the best man. I guess you finally

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