Epilogue
Later that same year
I hadn't seen Henry in four months, and it was four months too long.
I had two months to finish the series, and then the following two months had been booked solid with helping my sister with some of her personal endeavors.
We didn't know how long the series would take, and she had spread herself thin with projects and engagements when we got back from Montana.
I stepped in to help her, letting her delegate tasks to me.
I was the person who could best make decisions for Ty since I knew her style and taste.
Her efforts culminated in a Christmas concert which happened just the other night. She sold two thousand tickets, and she made videos from it that gained her tens of thousands of followers. She was becoming known as a promoter, and I was really proud of her and wanted to help in any way I could.
She was happy to use my services while I was around, but I had already planned my trip to Montana and had been talking it up for months.
I would be there for Christmas, and we all knew that I might end up staying there for a few weeks or possibly forever.
I was driving and not flying, so I didn’t have to worry about a return ticket.
I told my friends and family that it was temporary.
I even told myself that. But it didn't feel that way in my heart.
I was on my way to the ranch now, and I was so drawn to it that it felt like I had been missing a piece of myself—like my soul wouldn't be able to rest until I was there with Henry and PJ on the ranch.
PJ had stayed in Montana when I left four months ago.
Knowing that I had busy times in California and that I would soon return, we decided it was best for me to leave him there when we finished filming at the ranch.
He loved his life with Henry, and the feeling was mutual.
They had been keeping up with PJ's training.
I hadn't seen either of my boys in months. I knew they were doing well, but I was aching in my bones to be next to them. I called Henry when I was getting close to the ranch. His phone rang twice, and I smiled when I heard him say, "Hello," on the other end.
"Hey, I’m almost there," I said. "Eight minutes."
"Finally," he said.
"Don't let me forget, I need to get online and order a Bible right when I get there."
"Did you forget yours in California?" he asked.
"No, I didn't forget it. I left it for my sister at the last minute."
"Donna's Bible?"
"Yes."
"You can't hold onto that thing."
"No, I was happy to give it to her. She saw me reading it the night before I left, and she said that if anyone ever gave her a special Bible that meant something, she'd probably feel compelled to read it also.
So, anyway, I thought about it on my way out the door, and I just felt led to leave it for her.
I'm glad I made that choice. I just need to get myself another one. "
"Yeah, we can do that later tonight or whenever, but, hey, Amelia?"
"Yes?" I sounded concerned because of the way he switched gears.
"I already knew that."
"What?"
"Ty might actually be here when you get here."
"What?"
"Do you remember saying you wished you could marry me the instant you see me?"
"Oh, my gosh, Henry, am I going to get to? Are we doing that?"
I reached up and yanked on my rearview mirror. I aimed it at myself, checking my appearance. Henry was a matter-of-fact guy, and he didn't say things unless they meant something. I felt all wound up at the fact that he would mention it.
"Do you remember saying that to me?"
"Yes, I probably said it ten times. I wish I could marry you the second I see you. It would be amazing, I would want it, and it would take the guesswork out of—"
"Well, after you said it a few times, I started taking you seriously," he said.
"Good. Are we? Can we? Now? When I get there? Is this real? Are you serious? Henry, tell me what you're saying."
He laughed. "I was going to wait until you got here and surprise you, but you mentioned Ty, and I wanted to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"That people are here. Ty and others. You'll seriously have the option to marry me the second you see me.
I mean, I was going to talk to you in private first, but yeah, if that's what you want, it's going to be available.
It's no pressure, but there are… people here.
Just in case you say yes. I almost told you about it ten times.
It was so hard to wait. I just couldn't hold it anymore when you mentioned your sister.
She had already told me about the Bible. We ordered you a new one."
"Oh my goodness, Henry, who's there? Is there like a pastor or judge or something?"
"Yeah, and others. Your family, they've been here all afternoon."
"My mom?"
"Yes, both of your parents. They brought some others, too. Your mom called and asked how certain I was that you'd go along with this."
"And what'd you tell her?" I asked.
"I told her she should come," he said. "I knew you wanted to. You had seemed serious when you said you wanted this."
"I was serious," I said. "I am serious. I don't feel scared or doubt one bit. Do you? Do you want this?"
He paused, and when he spoke, I could hear a smile in his voice. "No, I don't feel scared," he said. "And, yes, I want it. Of course I do. I can't wait."
"So, my parents are there? Who else?"
"Two of your aunts and a grandma. I think about eight people. Twenty total. Alex is here. And Judd."
"Oh, my goodness, I'm freaking out."
"In a good way?"
"Yesssss," I said in a dramatic, deep voice that made him laugh. "How's this supposed to go down?" I asked, my heart suddenly pounding out of my chest.
"Your sister and I picked something for you to wear.
It's in the barn. That's what this phone call was supposed to be about.
I was just going to tell you I'm in the barn and that you should meet me in here.
There's a dress. It's your style. You'll see it.
It's beautiful, and it's comfortable enough for you to ride a horse. "
"I’m riding a horse?" I asked.
"Well, everyone's waiting for us in the new building. I thought you'd want to take Candice and Snowball over there."
"Oh, my goodness, Henryyyyy," I moaned.
"Are you happy?" he asked.
"I'm the happiest I could ever be. I'm almost there. I'm on my last turn right up here. I'm going to be with you in like two minutes. Are you happy?" I asked.
"Of course I'm happy. I'm the one who set all this up. I can't wait for this."
"Oh, my goodness, Henry. I don’t even know what to say. I can't wait to see you. Okay, I'm hanging up. I’m turning into the ranch. I'll be there in one minute."
It was as if I were in a dream.
It was a good thing I didn't put myself in any danger because I was convinced I could not feel pain at the moment. It was like I was floating through the atmosphere since the moment Henry told me I was marrying him.
It was the best possible scenario.
I wanted to see him and marry him so bad that I went through the motions of finishing the trip to the barn as quickly as possible.
PJ was there, and he ran up to me while I was on my way to the barn. Henry let him greet me outside, and he waited for me in the doorway.
I paid PJ just enough attention to satisfy him, and instantly crossed to Henry. My man. He was such a man. I could not get to him quickly enough. I hadn't seen him in four months, but we talked every day. We were in love. We had been in a committed relationship the whole time I was away.
A lot of the feelings were familiar, but my body was reacting to him on a different level.
I found myself leaning into him and letting my body mold to his in a way I'd never done before.
He was holding me differently, too. His grasp was gentle but firm, and his body was fully against mine.
Husband and wife things were going to happen with us, and we were both aware of it.
He was dressed nicely in slacks and a button-down shirt with a tie with a vest. He looked like the picture of a gentleman. His hair was combed away from his face, and I wanted to cry as I took him in.
"Merry Christmas," I said, even though it was still five days away.
"Merry Christmas, my love. PJ's got a Christmas surprise for you. He's going to ride with you."
"What?"
"He rides Candice. I've been working on that for months—longer than the wedding itself."
I laughed. "He rides her?" I asked.
Henry nodded. "They love each other. It's his new favorite trick. He knows where to stand. I hope he doesn’t get your dress dirty. But there's a towel just in case. And your sister said it was a material that would be okay."
"Have you tried it with you both up there?"
"Oh, of course. We ride together all the time.
I had to make sure Candice got used to it before I would ever trust her with you up there.
Anyway, that's what he's saying right now.
He knows we're going." He gestured with his chin at PJ, who had gone to sit at the door of Candice's stall.
"I told him before you came in that we're going riding.
I was trying to get him thinking about it so he'd leave you alone. "
"Why'd you want him to leave me alone?" I asked, even though I knew the answer.
"So I could have you," he said just before he kissed me.
Our mouths met two, three, four, five, six, times… maybe more. Henry made a moaning sound and used his hands to pull my face back, making a pained expression.
"Okay, let's go do this," he said. "Go get dressed, and we'll ride over and make this happen. The whole thing's going to take a couple of hours, and then we're going to spend the night somewhere else."
"At your house?" I asked.
"That's our house now, and no. It's another house. A rental. It's twenty minutes from here, and I know you've been driving, but—"
I kissed him to get him to stop talking. I held my mouth there for a few long seconds, and there was nothing that could be said that could be better than his mouth on mine. I slowly pulled back.
"I'll go anywhere," I said.
I put on that dress, and then I mounted Candice, and PJ hopped up there with me.
He was steady and sure, and Candice was calm and composed.
Riding her across the ranch with PJ nestled in my lap and Henry next to me on a white horse was like something out of a fairytale.
It was the best possible wedding day I could imagine, right down to the fact that I didn't know it was going to happen until the last minute.
Maybe our courtship felt quick to some of our guests, but none of them made it seem that way.
They were happy and supportive, and that was a good choice on their part, honestly.
Henry and I were solid. We were a sure bet.
We were going to make it. Today was the first day of the rest of our lives, and our future was bright and beautiful.