Inside, the smell of roasted venison filled the great room, and on the island was a spread of baked potatoes rolled in foil, rolls, and a heap of pasta salad.

It wasn’t a large crowd for the wedding—Echo and Dodge wanted it small. But the Starr family was coming, and the Remington boys from the mine, the Bowie brothers, and probably even Dodge’s hockey pal Moose Mulligan.

And, of course, Echo’s parents would be there. They had renewed their vows just a month ago, in a ceremony over at their homestead.

Barry walked upstairs, knocked on the door of the boys’ bedroom, then opened the door.

His boys. Home, finally, and reconciled. They wore similar black suits, white shirts. Dodge’s hair had always been curlier than the others, and he wore it just long enough for it to spill out under the hat he usually wore, only not today.

Ranger, however, wore his hair military short on the sides, a little longer on top, but always tip-top.

Colt let his grow, although he’d cut it recently, and now tucked it behind his ears.

Handsome, strong men. Warriors.

Barry wanted to burst with the pride that welled inside. “Okay, so what’s the problem?”

“I’m going to have to kill Colt,” Dodge said.

Colt shook his head. “Listen, I’m telling you—”

“He says that he shouldn’t be my best man.”

Colt just held up his hands. “I’m just sayin’ that probably, given everything that went down, I’m not the right choice.”

“But you’re second born,” Dodge said.

“Why does it always have to be so . . . logical with you? I mean, it’s not like I don’t want to be your best man, but really, don’t you think it will be a little weird for Echo, given the fact that she had a hot crush on me?”

Oh no.

Colt grinned.

“She never loved you, man. Get over it,” Dodge said.

Ranger had been standing by the mirror. “I’ll do it.”

“See? He says he’ll step in.”

“Why don’t you want to do it? What, are you afraid of screwing up? All you have to do is hold the ring.”

Colt’s smile dimmed, his tone turning serious. “I just . . . this wedding should have happened ten years ago. And if it hadn’t been for me, it would have.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Sorry. I wish I could get past it, but it keeps coming back to me.”