**** The weddings and reception went off without a hitch. All the guests clapped as the new husbands escorted their lovely brides into the big tent and to the main table.
Beau and Drina stepped up to the mic. He grinned. "Howdy folks." He held up a glass of wine and invited everyone to congratulate the couples and wish them well. "Welcome to the 3B Ranch wedding event of the year!"
Everyone clapped, cheered and whistled. Beau's smile widened. "As y'all know, it's customary to start the reception off with the bride's dance with her father." His gaze fell on his sister and new sister-in-law.
"Yancy is blessed to have that honor with Trish." He cleared his throat. "As most of you know, we lost our dad when we were just kids."
Bobbi felt a tear slide down her cheek as she watched her brother. 'He looks just like daddy.'
Beau took a deep breath, cleared his throat and pinched the bridge of his nose as Drina took his hand.
"The other evenin' the guys and I were talkin' about this. Brett and I were ready to turn that privilege over to Yancy since he's always been there for us. He stepped right into pa's place and has been there for us ever since in every way and....pop.... if we've never said it before, we are all three profoundly grateful to have had you in our lives, and in that way." Brett and Bobbi both stood and the three siblings applauded their step-father.
Yancy turned red, wiped his eyes and nodded to the three that he had helped raise and loved as his own.
"Then," Beau continued, "Brett'n I found out how selfish we are when we both wanted the privilege as well. We started askin' around for advice an' Hos," he pointed to the previous County Sheriff, "jumped in an' said he wasn't goin' to be shut out." The crowd was chuckling as Hos stood and confirmed the statement.
"That's right she's my girl too....they both are! I claim my chance with both of 'em." He nodded with finality, looked at both brides, winked and sat back down.
"Carry on, boy." He said to Beau. Koni, and her brother Avonaco (Bear) both clapped at their father's speach.
"Thank you, Hos. I appreciate your permission." The older man smiled back and nodded.
"So. What we all decided together, in order to prevent bloodshed was that we would all step into pa's boots for a minute with both brides and share dad's privilege....we think he would approve. He thought of Trish as his little girl too."
Trish teared up and covered her face and Brett held her close until she regained control.
Beau grinned at his little sister. "Dad and Bobbi's favorite song was 'Butterfly Kisses'. We mentioned that to pop and he just stared at us a minute. Then he said that Trish used to stand on his boots and they'd dance around the livin' room to that same song." A gasp sprang from among the audience as both brides wiped tears from their eyes.
"So, that is the song Drina and I will be singin' for them."
Bobbi's jaw dropped is utter shock. Her brother could sing with the best of them, but seldom would in public and never in a million years had it occured to her that he would willingly sing at the wedding. She realized what a wonderful, rare gift he was giving them.
They all watched as Beau and Drina placed head mic's on and slipped the battery into the back pocket of his jeans. He grinned and lovingly ran his hand down Drina's bare back as he slipped a battery pack in her dress. He looked at the beautiful brides that held such a hold on the hearts of many people.
He watched as Brett led their sister to the floor and Yancy led Trish. He grinned as Rowdy, Hos and Bear stood on the sidelines waiting their turn. He, himself would be last as he and Drina finished the song.
Drina kissed his cheek and they stood in each other's arms as her band began to play. Tears fell down Bobbi's cheeks as her brother's clear powerful baritone voice blended perfectly with his wife's and filled the air. There was not a dry eye under the huge white tent as the women shared this special dance with the man they all loved, admired, respected and sorely missed.
As the song wound down, Rowdy smiled as he watched Beau step down from the small stage and take Bobbi into his arms as he sang from the floor and Drina from the stage. The sound and sight was magical. They flowed across the floor as she cried into her brother's shoulder and held on tight.
Trish took her brother Rowdy's hand and smiled sadly. "As hard as it is for me that Brody and mama aren't here." She nodded at her best friend, "It's harder for her. She's never gotten over watching her dad die before her very eyes."
Rowdy nodded, "Beau and Brett will take her to the grave after the reception so they can all be together ."
She nodded as the song ended. Rowdy kissed her cheek whispered how proud he was of her. He then kiss her other cheek and whispered he loved her, stepped away and went to his wife.
"I miss him so much," Bobbi said as they looked up at the hill. It was then that she saw him looking down at her.
Her breath caught in her throat as a tear slipped past. Before she could change her mind she blew her father a kiss.
He grinned down at her and a soft breeze wafted past her with the smell of apple blossoms. She heard his voice on the wind.
"I'm never far away, Bobbi girl. All you have to do is think of me an' I'm there."
Bobbi closed her eyes and smiled, "I love you, daddy."
Rowdy and Brett walked up behind their wives. The men looked up toward the hill as their brides were doing.
"What are you lovely ladies looking...." Brett's question faded with the apple scented breeze. He squeezed his eyes tightly and opened them again to think he saw a cowboy grinning, and a soldier standing at attention. The two spectres began to fade as one saluted, and the other tipped his hat then disappeared.
Brett, shaken to the core looked at Rowdy, who was ashen.
Rowdy slowly turned to the older man, "Did...you...see...."
Brett nodded solemnly, "My dad...and your brother...."
"Saluting us...." Rowdy finished still watching the knoll.
"Yeah." Brett said quietly. "Yeah. I'm not hallucinating then."
"Nope."
"No, you aren't," Bobbi assured them. She smiled at Trish, who added.
"Your brother and my dad were here, watching from the knoll." The four turned back toward the dance floor, their guests and their reception, knowing their entire families were present, accounted for and approved.
