Chapter Thirty
Three Weeks Later
Tanner stood next to the arch that his brothers had erected in the round pen. He tugged nervously at his shirt collar. Luke elbowed him.
“You’re not having second thoughts, are you? I know you love her, but you threw this wedding together pretty damn fast.”
“Hell no, I’m not nervous! Not about marrying her, just because I want the day to be perfect for her. And yes, it’s fast – but I can’t take the credit for making it happen. That was all Cash.”
Cash leaned forward with a grin. “You’re welcome.”
Luke and the rest of the brothers all laughed.
Ashton looked up at Tanner. “We just didn’t want to waste any time, did we, Dad?”
“We didn’t.”
Ashton grinned at the brothers. “After today, I’m going to be a MacFarland, just like all of you.”
Ford ruffled his hair. “You already are, little man.”
Tanner looked down the line of men standing beside him. This felt right. He’d wanted Ashton to stand with him while he and Everly said their vows – he was as much a part of this as they were. He’d also wanted Luke to be his best man. In the same way, he’d wanted each of his brothers to stand up with him.
He’d gone back and forth over it so much that in the end, he’d asked them all. And now, here they stood. Ashton to his right, and then Luke, Ty, Kolby, Wade, Ford, and Cash. He worried at first about leaving Cash out on the end, but he should have known better. Cash saw himself as the center of everything, so it didn’t bother him where he stood.
When they first started planning, he’d been concerned that there might be more of them standing up here at the front than people who’d come to celebrate with them. He needn’t have worried; the crowd who’d shown up filled the round pen and spilled out beyond it.
There was a half empty row of seats at the front on one side – Rocket and Spider grinned at him. Janey and Frankie would sit with them after they walked up the aisle. Since all the guys were here with him, the girls had decided that they should lead the procession ahead of Everly. He smiled, thinking about the way they’d all welcomed her – and had been more than happy to take Cash up on the offer to fly them all to LA to go dress shopping together.
Ty elbowed him. “You just did this so fast to beat me and Shay to it, didn’t you?”
Wade leaned forward and said, “Never mind you, squirt. I’m the one who looks like he’s dragging his feet. Sierra and I have been engaged the longest.”
Kolby winked at Tanner. “It’s not about anyone else taking their time, is it, Tan? It’s about not being able to wait when you know it’s what you want.”
He laughed. “That’s right. The three of us are a family. I don’t see any point in waiting to make it official. More than that, I don’t want to wait.”
“It doesn’t look like you’ll have to wait much longer,” said Trip from his spot under the arch. He jerked his chin toward the house where Frankie and Laney had just stepped outside. “If I have the order right, it’ll be Frankie, Janey, Sierra, Callie, Laney, then Shayna. Once they’re all up here, Zeke’s going to bring Everly.”
Tanner nodded. The moment was almost here. He looked over to where Everly’s mom was sitting with her husband, Joe. He’d been a little concerned about how they would feel about Zeke walking Everly down the aisle.
Her mom waved at him, and Joe nodded. They didn’t have a problem. Joe had only been a part of their lives for a few years, and Everly’s mom had always hoped that Zeke would figure out how to be a part of her life someday.
Looking past them, he grinned when Travis waved at him, and Retta blew him a kiss and held baby Levi up to wave. They were sitting with Ace and Ari, and Deacon and Candy. He felt a momentary panic when he saw Libby sitting next to Candy. He scanned the rows quickly and relaxed a little when he saw Mav sitting with Blane, and Emmett and his girls a couple of rows back. Mav met his gaze and gave him a chin lift.
Tanner nodded back. There was so much that felt right about this – and seeing Mav and Libby in the same place ranked high up near the top of the list.
“Brace yourselves, gentlemen – here they come,” Cash said with a laugh.
Ashton leaned against Tanner’s leg. “Wait till you see Mom. She looks like a princess in her dress.”
Tanner had to swallow a couple of times. He hadn’t thought that he was going to get emotional, but the kid’s words had him tearing up.
“Pull yourself together, Tan, you haven’t even laid eyes on her yet,” said Ford.
Cash chuckled beside him. “And the kid’s right, she does look like a princess.”
“Well fuck,” Tanner mumbled. “Quit it, would you? I’m gonna be bawling like a baby before she even gets here.”
He should have known that he wouldn’t get any sympathy – they were all too busy laughing at him.
~ ~ ~
Everly watched Callie set out on her way up the aisle between the rows of chairs. The original plan had been for them to wait outside the round pen together, but this whole thing had snowballed, and there was a whole crowd of people outside the pen. So, the girls were setting out from the back porch.
Laney came and took hold of her arms and looked her over. “Damn, girl! You know, the night you guys first met, I told him that if you had your hair and makeup done and were wearing the same kind of clothes, you’d be way more stunning than the girls who used to chase him – and boy, was I right!”
Everly laughed. “It’s the dress. Every girl wants to look her best on her wedding day.”
“Well, I’ve got to tell you, you succeeded!” Laney glanced back over her shoulder. “And I’d better get my ass down there. You don’t want me holding this thing up.” She hugged Everly before turning and trotting down the steps.
Now, Shayna was the only one left waiting with Everly and her dad. She hugged Everly, too.
“I’m so happy for you.” She laughed. “And only a little bit jealous. I thought that I was fine taking my time, but seeing you guys getting married…”
Everly squeezed her arm. “You and Ty can do the same just as soon as you want, you know.”
Shayna nodded vigorously. “We decided that we’re going to. But never mind that. Today’s about you – you and Tanner, and Ashton. And now it’s time for me to go. See you at the front.”
Everly smiled as she watched her new friend walk up the aisle between the rows of chairs.
“Are you ready, love?”
She slipped her arm through her dad’s and nodded. “I am. But before we go, there’s something I need to say.”
“What’s that?”
She squeezed his arm. “Thank you. I’m so grateful that you’re here. I didn’t know if I’d ever get married, but I knew that if I did, it wouldn’t be the same if you…” She swiped her thumbs under her eyes to stop the tears that had started to fall.
“Don’t do that, love. We can’t go ruining your makeup just when…”
She laughed. “I won’t. I just needed to say it.”
He turned to face her and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry, Everly, love. I know I can’t make up for the past, but I swear to you, I’ll never let you down again. You’ve got yourself a good man in Tanner – the best. I know that he’ll be what you need – you and Ashton. But I need you to know that I plan to be around from now on – I’ll be here for you, I’m not going anywhere.”
His words brought fresh tears, and she laughed through them as he mumbled, “Shit! I’m sorry, love.”
“Don’t be. This is perfect.”
“It is. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”
“We’d better get going, Shayna’s nearly at the front now.”
She clung to her dad’s arm, feeling as though she was walking on air – as though if she didn’t hang on to him, she might float away on a cloud of happiness.
She smiled back at all the people who turned to watch them pass. There were so many faces that she didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. They knew Tanner; they were here for him, and to welcome her – her and Ashton.
Once they were inside the round pen, she spotted faces that she did recognize. She was thrilled that Hannah and Grady had made it. They were sitting with Ava, and Hannah’s brother, Xander, and his fiancée, Tori.
Then, she spotted Corinne and Beau. Next to them were Shane and Cassidy, who both grinned and waved at her. The other Remington brothers, Mason and Carter, were there with their wives, Gina and Summer.
Her dad’s friends all gave her encouraging smiles. Some of the girls had sat down already with their men, and the others flanked the archway, mirroring their partners who stood with Tanner on the opposite side.
Tanner. She couldn’t look at him yet. She just needed to… She relaxed when she spotted her mom and Joe. They both smiled, and her mom blew her a kiss.
And then, they were there, at the front. Her heart felt as though it might burst with happiness when Tanner stepped forward. She loved him with all her heart. He was the best man she’d ever met, and he was so good with her son. And a little voice in her head pointed out that, although it wasn’t what mattered most, he honestly had to be the best-looking guy she’d ever known – and she was about to marry him.
She glanced over at his brothers – the whole long line of them! They were a good-looking bunch, but Tanner was something else.
She met his gaze, and he smiled. Shayna came forward to take her flowers, and her dad held her hands and leaned in to kiss her cheek. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but then grasped Tanner’s shoulder, before turning and hurrying to his seat.
This was it, she and Tanner stood facing each other. Ashton grinned at her and jingled the little bag with the rings, making her laugh. She’d been worried that he might lose them, but Tanner had insisted that he could be trusted with them.
“Friends, family, we are gathered here today…”
She listened to Trip speak the words she hadn’t really expected to ever hear said for her. She smiled when he winked at her. He was another one of her dad’s friends. He was a doctor, but he was also the chosen officiant in the group. It turned out that absolutely anyone could officiate a wedding in the state of Montana, but Everly had been happy to go along with Tanner’s suggestion that they should ask Trip. Tanner had known him all his life, and the fact that he’d served with her dad made it seem extra special.
The ceremony went by in a blur: Tanner’s voice was strong and steady as he promised to love and honor her for the rest of their lives. She repeated the vows after Trip, and before she knew it, it was done.
Ashton handed over the rings. They slid them onto each other’s fingers. And then, Trip was telling Tanner that he could kiss his…
Of course, Tanner didn’t need to be told. He’d already closed his arms around her and tipped her as he claimed her mouth in one of his deep, soul-searing kisses.
When he finally set her back on her feet, the crowd was cheering and applauding. As they walked back down the aisle, with Ashton leading the way, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
When they reached the back porch, Tanner tugged her hand. “Would you go make sure that your grandpa’s okay, Ash? Your mom and I just need to sign the papers.”
Ashton nodded happily and went off in search of her dad.
Everly gave Tanner a questioning smile as he tugged her in through the kitchen door. “Where are we going? I thought we had to sign the papers with Trip?”
He rested his hands on her shoulders and grinned as he looked down into her eyes. “We’re not going anywhere. I just need you to myself for a minute.”
She slid her arms around his waist. “I don’t think you have the hang of how this works yet. You know that thing we just did? Those vows we exchanged up there? It means that you get me to yourself for life.”
He shook his head with a laugh. “I know damn well that’s how this works. I just… This is it, darlin’. This is the first day of the rest of our lives. When we go back out there, all those wonderful people who are here to celebrate with us will take over. And it’ll be great, we’ll enjoy every second of it – of our wedding day. But I just wanted this minute with you, to tell you just for you and me, that I’m going to love you forever. I’m yours and you’re mine. You’re the most beautiful girl in the world. Ashton said that you look like a princess in your dress, but he was wrong – you’re not just a princess, you’re the queen of my heart. And I know what a lucky bastard I am. Thank you.”
She pulled his head down so that she could kiss him. When they finally came up for air, she tapped her finger against his lips.
“You know that I think it’s the other way around. You’re the most beautiful guy in the world, and I’m the lucky one. You should just give up and accept that I’m right. Do you think you can do that?”
He chuckled. “Unlikely. But I’ll be happy to spend the rest of our lives debating who’s right.”
They both turned when Cash stuck his head in through the kitchen door. “Thank fuck for that, you’re still here.”
“Is something wrong?” Everly asked.
Cash laughed. “Not a damn thing, honey. I was just worried that he’d dragged you off already and I was going to have to make your excuses.”
Tanner wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You’re safe. We won’t be disappearing. We’re coming back out there now. This is the happiest day of my life; no way we’re going to miss it, right, darlin’?”
Everly nodded happily. “Right. Although, I’ll be looking forward to the part where you drag me off later.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you.”
She nodded happily. “I don’t doubt it – I’m not worried about a thing.”
He tucked his fingers under her chin and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Good. Let’s get out there and start enjoying our life together.”
She rested her forehead against his chest for a moment and nodded – she was already enjoying it;
I hope you enjoyed Tanner and Everly’s story. I love them – and little Ashton.