Gunner

 

I watched as Jenny walked Ellie back over to her truck and they took off for the hunter’s cabin. Ellie turned back once and smiled at me, and my knees about gave out. Would her smile always affect me this much?

“Yes.”

What? I heard Gramps and wondered if I had just said my last thought out loud.

“Excuse me, sir?”

“Yes, she is always going to do whatever it is you’re feeling right now, Drew, whether you can’t catch your breath at the sight of her, your knees go weak from a smile or a kiss. She will always have you bewitched.”

“Are you able to read minds now, old man?” I asked as I watched the love of my life drive off.

Gramps let out a loud and gruff laugh. Then he slapped me on the back.

“Walk with me, son.”

We headed in the direction away from where everything was being set up. I looked over my shoulder and saw Grams standing on the porch watching us.

“Were you nervous the day you married Grams?” I asked after about three minutes of silence.

“Hell yes, I was nervous. I threw up three times, and my father kept telling me to man up. I was scared shitless I wasn’t going to be able to make her as happy as she made me. I decided after the last time I threw up that I would rather die than not spend my life with her, so I would just have to figure out a way to make her happy.”

I smiled at the thought of my Gramps being scared. He was the strongest man I knew and didn’t take shit from anyone. Well, anyone except Grams.

“I love her so much, Gramps, that sometimes I can’t even think straight when I’m around her. I never in my life thought this was what love was going to be like. The moment I saw her, I knew . . . I just knew I had to make her mine.”

Gramps let out a chuckle. “Drew, listen to me, son. Love like that, the love that you feel for Ellie and she feels for you, it’s very rare. Only a lucky few will ever experience it, and when you do, you fight for that love every single goddamn day of your life. You will both fight; make each other mad as hell. You might even think it won’t work out, but it will, son, trust me it will. When you share a love that strong, you can weather any storm.”

“Like you and Grams? Did you think it wouldn’t work out ever?”

“Yes, not long after we got married. I can’t even remember what the fight was about, but I remember packing up a bag to leave. The moment I reached for the door to open it, I was hit by this realization that if I left, if I walked out that door, I might not ever be able to get her back. It was not worth risking it, so I put my bag down, turned to see her crying and walked up to her.”

Good Lord, what the fuck was wrong with me? My heart was beating a mile a minute as I hung onto every word.

“What happened?”

Gramps laughed. “I kissed her, picked her up, and made love to her in the kitchen. It was one of the best fucking moments of my life.”

Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick. I didn’t need that fucking image in my head.

“Ahh shit, Gramps, I don’t want to hear about that . . . man.”

Gramps laughed. “I’m just saying, Drew, don’t ever give up without a fight. She loves you, son. She needs you more than I think you know. The fact that only your touch calmed her down earlier was a testimony of how much she loves and needs you.”

When Ari came screaming in the house for me, I thought something horrible had happened. The moment I saw Ellie sitting there, my only thought was to get to her. When I touched her and saw her almost immediately relax, I thought I was going to burst with happiness knowing I was the one she needed, not Jeff or Ari or Grams. It was me who she needed.

“Drew, when you see her walking down that aisle, watch her every move. Don’t look around to anyone else but her. Memorize how she looks, how she’s smiling, how her hair looks, the dress she is wearing . . . every single thing. Tuck it away in your heart and never forget it. It will probably be one of the most amazing sights you’ll ever see. And when she walks up to you, tell her immediately how she just made you feel.”

I nodded my head and turned to look at the most important man in my life.

“Gramps, I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Teaching me about the ranch, giving me the opportunities to be able to go to UT, play football, and get my degree in something I love. Thank you for teaching me to respect and to be grateful for the love that I have found with Ellie. Thank you for loving me and believing in me. I love you more like my father than my grandfather.”

Gramps stopped and turned to face me. He had a smile on his face and he just shook his head.

“I love you, Drew, you make me so fucking proud, son, and I want you to know that. You will always make me proud. Now, let’s go get you married!”

Jeff leaned over and looked at Ellie sitting in the carriage. Then he looked at me.

“You fucking bastard. A carriage, you got her a carriage? Jesus, you’re killing me here!”

I just smiled. He was still pissed about having to pay Jenny and Aaron so much to help out with his first night with Ari.

“Do you want me to make your sister happy or not, Jeff?” I asked as I struggled to see my beautiful girl.

“Fucker . . . I knew you’d pull that card out. What the fuck are you going to do when she tells you she’s pregnant for the first time? Fly her to Paris?”

Just then the preacher coughed and looked at us. Hmm, Paris? I’ll have to remember that.

Jeff turned and looked at me and then went white. I just smiled at him.

“That was MY idea! I claim that one. You cannot have it, dickwad! Paris is my idea, Gunner.”

“Boys!” Preacher Roberts said as Jeff instantly took a step back and looked down the aisle. Little Lauren and Matthew were walking down the aisle. So fucking cute. Lauren was skipping as Matthew was looking around at everyone, holding the pillow and snapping his suspenders. Yep, I taught him that. Then I saw Heather walking. I took a quick peek at Josh and I thought he was going to break his face, he was smiling so goddamn big. Then came Amanda, and I heard Brad let out a cuss word that I’m pretty sure Preacher Roberts would be talking to him about later. Then I saw Ari. Jeff took in a breath of air and just stared at her.

“Holy fuck, she’s beautiful,” Jeff said at the same time he released all the air he sucked in. I had to agree, Ari looked breathtaking.

Then I saw her. Gramps had his arm around her and they started to walk. Our eyes met, and I couldn’t breathe. Oh. My. God. She looked . . . beautiful. Like a princess. She was looking me up and down, checking me out, and man, did I like it. It looked like she was about to stumble and Gramps had to hold her up. She looked back up at me, and I smiled even more at the thought that I just made her weak in the knees.

Then she giggled. I raised my eyebrow at her wondering what she thought was so funny and she giggled more. If I didn’t know any better, it looked like for a moment she started to walk faster. Then Gramps laughed and whispered something to her.

It took forever for her to walk up to me. Once she got there and Gramps placed her hand in mine, that familiar shot of electricity took off in my body. We stepped up to the altar and I leaned over to do just what Gramps told me to do.

“You look so beautiful, Ellie. You take my breath away, sweetheart. I love you.”

She looked at me and her eyes filled with tears as she smiled at me.

“Drew, I love you, too.” Her voice was cracking and I knew she was having a hard time talking. I squeezed her hand and we both turned to Preacher Roberts. I smiled as the thought occurred to me for the first time that day.

Another first . . .