Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
T wo weeks later
The October day was exceptionally warm for Colorado. The high temperature was supposed to be in the 70s. They couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to be married.
Rachel was nervous, though she wasn’t sure why. She was marrying Nick, her best friend and the person she’d loved since they were five. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
The judge, a man in his early fifties, with a shock of black hair, stood with his back to the fireplace in the family room.
Cole, who was Nick’s double, with nearly black hair and deep blue eyes, stood on the judge’s left, with Nick on Cole’s left.
Megan, with her dark blonde hair and the deep blue eyes, like her brothers and father, was on the judge’s right.
The family room furniture had been removed and folding chairs set up with an aisle down the middle.
Music from a trio of musicians on the back patio drifted in through the open doors.
Both of their families and the cowboys at the ranch were seated.
The music changed to the bridal march, and Bailey began walking, throwing rose petals out in front of her.
Jake walked beside her carrying the pillow with the rings attached so they didn’t get lost if he accidently dropped the pillow.
Rachel followed the children holding a bouquet of red and pink roses.
When she got to the front, she saw Jake hold the pillow up and she handed her bouquet to Megan. Then she untied the rings from the pillow, handing hers to Cole and his to Megan.
His job finished, Jake smiled at his mother and Nick, then walked back to sit next to his grandmother, Ruby Foster. She had cotton white hair and emerald-green eyes she’d passed on to both Rachel and Jake.
Rachel admired her mother more than anything. She was her hero. She’d raised four successful children on her own and still managed to have a smile on her face whenever Rachel gazed at her.
Bailey grinned at her father and then Rachel before she went to sit with her grandparents, Rocky and Madelyn Kincaid.
Rocky was a large man and still quite muscular from working the ranch every day. He’s the one who passed on sapphire-blue eyes to his children.
Madelyn was tiny. At just over five-feet tall, with blonde hair, she ruled the family. She still cooked for all the ranch hands everyday and cleaned her house like she’d always done.
The judge nodded. “Are you ready?”
Rachel gazed at Nick and smiled. “We are.”
“Yes,” said Nick, as he smiled back. “We’re more than ready.”
The judge cleared his throat. “We are gathered here to join this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony. Nicholas Robert Kincaid, do you take this woman, Rachel Lynn Foster-Bennett, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
Nick gazed down, his gaze roaming over her face. “I do.”
The judge turned toward Rachel. “Rachel Lynn Foster-Bennett, do you take this man, Nicholas Robert Kincaid, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
She grinned at Nick. “I do.”
Turning back toward Nick, the judge said, “I know that you have rings to exchange. Nick, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”
Nick took the ring from Cole. “With this ring, I thee wed.” He slid the ring, a circle of diamonds in a platinum setting, onto her ring finger.
“Now Rachel, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”
Megan handed Rachel the ring she’d bought for Nick. It was platinum with a large center diamond and four smaller diamonds surrounding it. “With this ring, I thee wed.” She slid the ring onto the third finger of his left hand and then grinned.
“You may kiss the bride,” said the judge.
Nick pulled her into his arms.
The room exploded with applause.
The kiss he gave her was not what she expected. He kissed her deeply, and she felt his love in the kiss. She relaxed and returned it with all the love in her heart.
She’d returned home to start a new life and found her heart. Nick had always had her heart. Now, she was sure she had his, too.
The reception was a party and lasted long into the night.
Nick and Rachel danced the first dance to Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You . Lots of couples danced after that.
Rachel danced with Jake.
While Nick danced with Bailey.
Both kids were glowing and happy. They even danced with each other, which surprised Rachel and Nick both.
Megan danced with her boyfriend. A pro quarterback named Brandon Murphy. She looked beautiful and happier than Rachel had ever seen her.
Rachel had arranged for the event to be catered and gave Sarah the night off so she could partake of all the festivities.
When the cake was cut, they fed each other cake without shoving it into each other’s face. They had agreed they would be civilized with the cake.
After every person had left and the kids were in bed. She and Nick were finally alone.
He took her hand and pulled her inside. “Now that you’re my wife, I can’t wait to hold you in my arms and make love.”
Rachel squeezed his hand. “I can’t wait either.”
They grinned at each other and then hurried toward the stairs.