Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
ADDY
Twelve months later. . .
I may be his captain, but Hudson is my anchor. The solid ground I walk on. And with that sentiment, I squeeze Sergeant forward. We trot up the hill on the far side of the vista. My dress, white, lacy, and studded with rhinestones, flows over the gelding’s rump.
As we near the crest where our family and friends are seated, I imagine them in perfect rows of white chairs, yellow petals scattered as far as the Montana four winds care to take them. Of course, I wasn’t allowed to see the actual setup. Ruby’s rules, of which there are many. But this one she is ruthless about.
I glance at my wrist, where an identical bracelet to the one I gave Louisa jangles as I move with Sergeant. But unlike hers, mine has only one charm, the captain’s wheel, and on the back engraved in script font is Hudson .
When Reed appears beside me on Magnet in dress jeans, jacket, tie, and black hat, the butterflies in my belly turn to full on eagles.
“Ready, Adds?”
“Of course.”
He beams at me, and I lean forward in the saddle. Sergeant takes off up the hill. My hair flows around my shoulders. Crisp Montana mountain air hits my lungs. Sunshine warms my face, and for a heartbeat I let my eyes drift shut. There was a long, long period of my life that I thought I would never have this again. This freedom. The part of me that lights up my soul.
Reed lopes beside me, and when we crest the rise, the rows of seated people I love stand as one. Ruby has outdone herself this time. And I’m glad she did. Hudson deserves nothing less. The Rawlins deserve nothing less. Dad waits for me at the start of the aisle. I slow Sergeant to a walk, and Reed follows my lead.
Before we reach the gathering, I give him a thank you smile and he veers left, saluting with two fingers to his forehead, the widest grin stretching his face.
Sergeant slows to a halt, and I look down to Dad. His hands on the reins steady the gelding before he offers me a lift down.
“I got it, Daddy.”
“Yes, you do, baby.”
Shifting the dress to my left, I swing out of the saddle, feet landing on the grassy hilltop. Mack takes Sergeant and leads him away to where Reed is handing over Magnet to a young boy. They walk toward the front of the aisle. I adjust my skirts, tidy my hair, and lift the front of the dress a little to walk to where the aisle begins. Dad loops his arm through mine, dotting a kiss to my head. “Don’t keep the man waiting, Addy.”
“Never.”
The music starts. A six-piece string ensemble with an acoustic guitar. A rendition of “Oh Love” by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood starts. Ma sits with Ruby to the right, up the front.
Standing at the end of the aisle, hands clasped in front of him, is my Huddy. In dress jeans, a white shirt, jacket, and tie, with his trusty Stetson hat over those blue eyes. And the biggest smile I have ever seen on that gorgeous face. A single yellow daisy is pinned to his lapel. And then I see him...
Charlie.
Sitting by Hudson’s side, calm as a cat in the sun. Small black bow tie, and all clean. No growls at the guests. No barking at the boys or Harry. Dad nudges me, and we walk down the aisle as the song reaches a crescendo. Louisa is all tears. Harry’s crinkled eyes meet mine and his jaw feathers. Fancy that—never thought I’d live to see the day Harry Rawlins gets emotional.
When Dad releases me, I step to where Hudson stands. His warm hands wrap around mine. “Hey, sweet girl.” His voice is soft, a little wobbly.
My heart skips a beat or two and I steady my galloping breath. “Hello, Huddy.”
The preacher leans in. “Okay if I start, you two?”
We nod and he chuckles. Charlie barks, as if to say come on, already . Hudson throws him a calm down, buddy look. Mack and Lawson smile at me and Reed beams, all of them with their hands clasped in front like their brother’s were moments ago. The preacher clears his throat.
“We are gathered here today . . .”
“Put me down, Hudson.” I chuckle.
“Nope, not a chance.” He kicks the front door open and carries me across the threshold, and my dress trails behind us. I drag his mouth to mine with both hands. Charlie trots by his side, his paws clacking over the hardwood floor. The windows are open, and the cool night breeze rolls in from the mountains around us.
Yellow flowers are tossed over the floor of the entire house. Flames flicker in hurricane lanterns on every surface, lining the hallway. More yellow petals are strewn on every surface of our home. Ruby has been here, and Reed, too, I bet. I pull the hat from Hudson’s head and toss it onto the sofa by the fire.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Rawlins.” His voice is gravel, raw.
“Why, thank you, Mr. Rawlins.” I dot kisses along his jaw, and he strides toward our bedroom.
“As stunning as that dress is, it will still look better on the floor.”
I nip his ear. “I one hundred percent agree.”
He sinks his face into my hair, nuzzling until his mouth finds my neck. When I have worked him up into a frenzy, I wriggle to be put down. Reluctantly, Hudson releases his grip and my feet hit the floor. “One more thing before the rest of our lives start, Huddy.”
I grab his hand and drag him down the hallway and out the back door. More hurricane lanterns dot the back porch, two flanking each step down to the backyard. “Where are you taking me?” he says with a chuckle.
“You’ll see.”
When we clear the last step, I spin back and put a hand over his eyes. He chuckles, his Adam’s apple bobs, and his hand wraps around my free one. “You will never cease to amaze me, Adeline Rawlins.”
Breath lodges in my throat. And I fight the urge to let him fold me into his arms, and instead pull him along beside me to the last weeping willow at the back of the yard. When we round the tree to where his wedding present sits, I turn him on the spot.
“Open your eyes, Hudson,” I whisper as I drop my hand.
He stares at me before turning to face the swinging love seat set under the tree facing south. The one we talked about on that camping trip. Even in the dim candlelight, it’s the perfect spot for our lives to start.
He swallows.
I study his face. “Welcome to the bridge, sailor.”
He chuckles and sweeps me up. Wind hisses through the hanging branches that have us cocooned. When the back of his legs meet the swing, he smashes his mouth to mine. A heartbeat later the zipper swishes, the bodice loosens, and his mouth finds my peaks as I arch into him.
“I changed my mind, that dress will look perfect on the grass.”
A moment later our clothes are a pile on the grass below the willow. I straddle his lap, exploring his face with my lips, and his hair, neck, and chest with my hands.
“Turn around, Addy.”
I sink my knees on either side of him, and lean into him as he thrusts upward, filling every place that matters. I lay my head on his shoulder as he rolls my nipples through his fingers. I take up the rhythm between us, the four winds caressing every inch of my skin.
“Goddamn, how much I love you, sweet girl.”
I moan as his pace gets rougher, faster. His thumb finds my apex and I open my eyes. Ragged breaths burn as I say, “Always, Hudson...”
Stars shimmer in the messy spaces between the waving long, thin branches overhead. The inky blanket that bursts with stars disappears as I close my eyes, climbing so high with Hudson wrapped around me. “Come for me, beautiful.”
I let go and spiral, whimpering his name.
He follows.
My heart is full.
My Hudson. Always.