Page 6 of Bred for the West

“Awe, thank you sir.”

“My pleasure. Now let’s go get hitched.”

They laughed, and went hand in hand to the building, but were stopped right before they entered.

“Hey, thanks for coming Tuck. We appreciate it. This is Wren, my fiancé.”

Tuck was one of Hudson’s best friends and he’d come to meet them to be a witness for their wedding. Kind of a best man.

Tuck hugged Wren.

“You don’t have a sister, do you?”

“No sister, sorry.”

She smiled, but figured he was just kidding. He was almost as good looking as Hudson so shouldn’t have any problem finding someone for himself.

“You should have women falling all over you, you’re adorable.”

“Thanks, I wish that was the case. Maybe everyone in this town is just too familiar. I might have to venture out of my comfort zone at some point.”

“Okay, enough chit-chat you two, I’d like to marry this woman.”

Hudson tugged on Wren’s hand, and they went in the door. Once they were checked in at the clerk’s office, they were directed to a smaller courtroom where there were a few other couples waiting their turn and the judge was standing in the front of the room. Their name was called right away so they walked forward.

Hudson squeezed Wren’s hand and glanced at her with eyebrows raised.

“Ready?”

“Yes, you?”

“Absolutely.”

“Hudson Rivers and Wren Michaels, do you have witnesses and are you exchanging rings?”

Hudson spoke up first.

“Yes, your honor, we have rings, and we have a witness.”

“Sorry son, you need two witnesses.”

The judge cleared his throat to get the attention of the room.

“We need a witness for the bride, would anyone like to step up?”

Wren could feel herself start to panic; her heart started racing and she squeezed Hudson’s hand. He leaned toward her whispered.

“Hey, it’s okay, no reason to panic.”

“If you say so, but I don’t know anyone, who will want to step up as a witness for me?”

Just about that time, a woman hopped up from a chair in the front row.

“I’d be happy to stand in.”

She smiled at Wren and the judge agreed, motioning her to stand beside the bride. While the judge was getting his affairs in order, the woman leaned in and introduced herself.

“Hi, my name is Lizzie. Congratulations on your wedding.”