Epilogue
One Month Later
I’ve stepped into a dream. Only it’s been going on for months. But today is the pinnacle and it’s a day fit for celebration.
Golden light of sunset skims across the ranch, catching on the bright archway of flowers set at the edge of the yard.
There’s a flurry of activity. All of which the horses are ignoring.
Nothing here to distract them from the patch of grass that has their heads down in the pasture.
Gunnar, on the other hand, is in heaven. Scratches all around.
“So,” Rae Lynn appears at my elbow. “How you holding up, big guy?”
Hoarse. Shaking inside. “Good,” I say, because I’m better than good. I’m on a fucking cloud. Surprised my boots will touch the ground.
“Your bride is gorgeous.”
“Without a doubt. I’m just ready to see her.”
She laughs. “Alright, Patience-isn’t-my-strength, it’s almost time.”
I straighten my cuffs adjust my bow tie, reseat my cowboy hat on my head. For the tenth time.
Sheriff Baker grins at me as he passes by, heading to the spot where he will make River my wife.
Wife.
Fuck, I love that word.
“What are you thinking about?” Rae Lynn tilts her head as she studies me suspiciously. “That’s a weird smile.”
“That’s the I’m about to be married to the hottest woman in Texas smile.”
She rolls her eyes and leans up to give me a kiss. “Proud of you, you did good.”
“I almost didn’t.” I grumble. “We didn’t exactly start off on the right foot.”
“River’s a tough one. Big Bad SEAL didn’t scare her off.”
I’m grinning, but as I watch Sheriff Baker take up his spot, there’s a tumbleweed stuck in my throat.
“Go on.” She shoves me and I slice through the small crowd. A few guys from LSS and their girls are gathered in a group. Gray and his daughter, and Mae stop talking and swivel my way.
Dee Dee gives me a wink. Probably admiring the tux outfit she put together for me with River’s guidance. No pink, miraculously.
River called this my anti-hero look. Black on black on black.
The fiddle player by the arch tips his chin to his instrument and a long, slow note comes out of the wood and strings, sending a chill through me and all my arm hairs standing up.
Christ, feels like I took a shot from that sound right in the heart.
But nothing compares when I turn in my spot and catch sight of my bride. Caleb momentarily blocks my view as he hugs his sister.
They exchange a few words, her eyes bright, his expression bordering on pain. A few seconds later, he’s moving toward me, the black tux he’s wearing shifting over his large shoulders.
He takes his spot beside me, a don’t fuck up vibe pelting my back.
“You run, you die,” he says under his breath.
I chuckle. “Not running anywhere but to bed with your sister.”
He kicks my leg and Sheriff Baker grumbles in his throat. “Boys…”
Rae Lynn skips out of the house, hair flying. Bouquet glowing against her charcoal gray dress.
“Oh, Jesus,” Caleb drawls. “That dress. Guess I might be running to bed with your sister.”
It’s a good thing that River said she’s amused by men fighting in tuxedos because if this keeps up, there might just be a brawl.
But all thoughts of anyone, anything else in the world cease to exist when River steps out of the shadows and into the sunlight.
I barely notice Gunnar wagging his way down the aisle until he sits on my boot, his tail thumping the ground proudly.
River is my world now, an invisible cord running from her heart to mine.
Lace everywhere, dark hair loose in a waterfall of curls, flowers woven around her crown, she’s the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen.
I’m so fucking in love, I can’t breathe.
The hem of her dress rides up showing off her custom wedding boots, threaded with gold and pink, just like the bouquet she’s carrying.
My eyes have never stung so hard as they do when she steps in front of me, and blows me a little kiss, the sunlight glinting off her shimmery lip gloss.
“Hey, beautiful.” I manage to rasp out through gravel and dust.
“You look good in black, hero.”
“I love your dress.”
“Go on. Kiss her,” Sheriff Baker waves his note paper. “Cause you ain’t gonna pay attention to a word I say until you do.”
He’s right.
I drag River in for a not at all polite kiss, knocking the bouquet out of her hands, causing Gunnar to bark at the thing.
I forget where we are momentarily, until Caleb kicks me in the ankle again.
“Sorry… can you blame me?” I retrieve the bouquet and pass it to Rae Lynn because she’s wiggling her fingers in my direction. Thankfully I remember to get the rings off Gunnar’s collar.
When I’m done, I straighten my jacket, grinning so hard my face hurts. “We can proceed now.”
Baker’s shaking his head.
“Ladies and gentlemen. I’m honored to be here today officiating over this wedding.
I was lucky to be there when Diesel and River met.
Let’s just say that it wasn’t warm and fuzzy.
I thought they might tear the walls of the Sheriff’s Office down, but I’m happy to report all county property survived. ”
The people gathered around us laugh and the warm sound wraps around us, lingering long after it stops.
“I’m glad they worked it out,” he continues, “because these two… are two of the finest, strongest people you’ll ever meet. Fire meets fire. It’s a great pleasure to launch this new chapter of their life. So let’s get this show on the road.”
River looks up at me as I take her hands, and she says, “I told Sheriff Baker I wanted to go first.”
Good. Because I’m choked up as hell.
“When you blew into my life like a tornado, I couldn’t wait to see you in the rear-view mirror.
” She shakes her head, wistful expression.
“But somehow in the chaos you became the only storm I wanted to stay in forever. I give you my heart, my soul, and my loyalty, from this day forward. With this ring, I thee wed. ’Til death do us part. ”
She slides the hand-carved wooden ring on my finger, tears filling her eyes, lower lip trembling, as she settles it against the knuckle.
“River,” I say, but stop, trying to get the pain in my throat under control.
“There’s only you. Forever. Your strength and courage humble me.
Your willingness to be mine amazes me. I promise to honor and cherish you every day for the rest of my life.
I will stand between you and the world. ’Til death do us part. With this ring, I thee wed.”
My tears of joy fall onto her fingers as I slip the wedding band into place.
“I pronounce you man and wife,” Baker says, sounding choked up himself. “You can kiss your bride now.”
This time I pick River up, looping my arm below her hips, cradling her against my chest, and take my time sealing the deal. Making her mine in front of everyone.
There’s cheers and whistles, and a hole being burned in my back.
But the world is right. Even if Caleb’s too close to Rae Lynn and there’s going to be dancing at the reception.
Everything is better than I ever imagined.
Especially when River cradles my face in her hands and whispers, “I love you, cowboy. My husband.”