EPILOGUE - Colt
One year later...
The Montana sunrise paints the sky in shades of gold and pink, stretching across Beau's hill like God himself is showing off for Lucy's special day.
I adjust the tie that's trying to strangle me and watch our girl fuss with a rescued foal down by the barn, her white dress hiked up to keep it out of the mud, completely oblivious to the fact that half the town is already gathering on the hillside for what my sister Emma insists on calling "the most unconventional wedding ceremony in Briarhaven history. "
"She's gonna be late to her own damn wedding," I mutter, but there's no heat in it. Watching Lucy with that foal, all gentle hands and soft words, still makes my chest tight in the best possible way.
"Relax," Gabriel says from beside me, straightening his own tie with military precision. "She'll be here. Wild horses couldn't keep her away."
"Speaking of wild horses," Beau drawls from my other side, his gray eyes dancing with amusement, "you might want to tell your sister to tone down the commentary before the ceremony starts. She just informed Mrs. Henderson that polygamy might be illegal but stupidity should be"
I snort with laughter. "That's Emma. No filter, maximum chaos. Perfect for officiating this circus."
It's been a year since we dragged our sorry asses to New York and won our girl back with a presentation and pure desperation.
A year of waking up with Lucy between us, her hair tickling my chest while Beau's arm curves around her waist and Gabriel stands guard over all of us like the protector he was born to be.
A year of learning how to share not just a woman, but a life, a home, a future that's bigger and brighter than anything I ever imagined.
Don't get me wrong, it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows.
Three alpha males learning to coexist in the same space leads to some territorial pissing matches that would make actual wolves proud.
Just last week, Gabriel and I got into it over who was driving Lucy to her hair appointment. Beau had to physically separate us while Lucy stood there with her hands on her hips, telling us we were both idiots and she'd drive her damn self.
But that's the thing about real love, real partnership. It's messy and complicated and sometimes you want to punch your best friend in the face, but at the end of the day, you'd die for each other. And for her.
The sound of laughter draws my attention back to the barn, where Lucy is now surrounded by a small herd of rescued animals. Three-legged dogs, blind horses, traumatized cats, all of them drawn to her like she's some kind of Disney princess. Which, honestly, she pretty much is.
Her nonprofit, Second Chances Ranch, officially launched six months ago right here on Beau's property.
The concept is simple but brilliant. Pair struggling kids with rescued animals, let them heal each other. Lucy works with teenagers who've been through hell, just like she did, and together with these broken animals, they piece themselves back together one day at a time.
I've never been prouder of anything in my life than I am of watching her turn her pain into purpose.
"Colt Mercer, get your ass down here and help me with this foal before I have to get hitched covered in hay!"
Her voice carries up the hill, sharp with mock irritation, and I grin like the lovesick fool I am.
"Duty calls," I tell the guys, already jogging down the hill toward the barn.
I find her crouched beside a bay foal with a crooked leg, her dress somehow still pristine despite the barn floor. The little guy is skittish, probably dumped here because someone thought he wasn't worth the vet bills, but Lucy's got infinite patience for the wounded ones.
"Hey there, beautiful," I say, dropping to my knees beside her. "Need some help?"
"The foal is limping again," she says without looking up, all her attention focused on the animal. "I know you checked him yesterday, but something feels off."
I run my hands over the foal's leg, feeling for heat or swelling, but everything seems normal. "He's fine, shortie. Sometimes healing isn't linear. Sometimes you just gotta trust the process."
She looks up at me then, those big brown eyes soft with understanding. We're not just talking about the foal anymore.
"I love you," she says simply, like it's the most natural thing in the world.
"Love you too, trouble. Now come on, Emma's about five minutes away from starting this ceremony without you, and I've seen her when she's impatient. It ain't pretty."
Lucy laughs, letting me pull her to her feet. "Can't have that. She's already threatened to make this 'memorable' in the worst possible way."
We walk up the hill together holding hands. The same hill that used to be just for her and Beau, and now will be witness to this significant day.
A year ago, I was drinking too much and sleeping around and convinced love was just another word for eventual heartbreak. Now I'm walking toward a commitment ceremony that's not legally binding but feels more real than any piece of paper ever could.
The hillside is packed with everyone who matters. Dusty and Tyson, our honorary best men.
Matty stands with his husband near the back, both of them grinning like idiots, probably remembering their own difficult start.
Half the town is here, including Mrs. Henderson, who's still muttering about Emma's earlier commentary but wouldn't miss this for the world.
"Look at that turnout," Lucy breathes, wonder in her voice. "A year ago, I thought I'd spend the rest of my life running from people who might hurt me. Now look."
"Now you're stuck with us forever," I tell her, squeezing her hand. "No backsies."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Gabriel and Beau are waiting at the altar, both of them looking like they're about to burst with pride and possessiveness and pure male satisfaction.
My chest swells with something I can't even name. These men, this woman, this impossible life we've built together. It shouldn't work, but it does.
Emma steps forward, wearing what appears to be a judge's robe she probably ordered online, her expression serious for once.
"Dearly beloved and nosy neighbors," she begins, and I catch Gabriel trying not to smile. "We're gathered here today to witness something that's probably illegal, definitely unconventional, and absolutely perfect for these four stubborn hearts who somehow figured out how to make this work."
Lucy's laughing now, the sound bright and free, and I feel something settle deep in my chest. Peace. Contentment. The bone-deep certainty that this is exactly where I belong.
"Lucy Reid," Emma continues, "also known as Lucinda Kensington-Reid, also known as the woman who somehow convinced three grown men to share not just their coffee pot but their entire lives, do you take these cowboys to be your partners in all things?
Through ranch emergencies, animal rescues, and whatever the hell else Montana throws at you? "
"I do," Lucy says, her voice strong and clear. "All of them. Forever."
"Gabriel Maddox, do you promise to keep protecting this woman and these knuckleheads, even when they're being stupid, which is most of the time?"
"I do," Gabriel rumbles, his voice carrying across the hillside like a vow.
"Beau Blackwell, do you promise to keep providing the emotional stability while these two" she gestures at Gabriel and me "figure out how to use their words like grown-ups?"
"Yes, ma'am," Beau drawls, his gray eyes never leaving Lucy's face. "Gladly."
Emma turns to me, grinning like the devil. "And Colt Mercer, do you promise to stop being such a pain in my ass and love this woman like she deserves, even though you're emotionally constipated and have the communication skills of a particularly stubborn mule?"
The crowd laughs, and I flip my sister off before answering. "Yeah, Em. I promise to love her every day for the rest of my life. Even if you are the worst officiant in Montana history."
"Perfect," Emma declares, clapping her hands together. "By the power vested in me by my own unshakeable confidence, I now pronounce you married in every way that matters. You may kiss your bride. All of you. But not at the same time because that would traumatize Mrs. Henderson."
The crowd erupts in cheers and laughter as Gabriel steps forward first, cupping Lucy's face in his hands. Their kiss is soft, reverent, full of promises and protection and forever.
Beau goes next, slow and thorough, pouring a year's worth of quiet devotion into the way his mouth moves against hers. When they break apart, Lucy's eyes are bright with unshed tears.
Then it's my turn.
I step forward, threading my fingers through her hair, and for a moment the crowd fades away. It's just us, just this moment, just the overwhelming certainty that somehow, despite everything that tried to break us, we made it.
"Love you, shortie," I murmur against her lips.
"Love you too, cowboy. All of you."
The kiss tastes like coming home, like second chances, like the kind of love that survives institutions and secrets and three stubborn men learning how to share their hearts.
When we finally break apart, the cheers are deafening.
But the best part, the part that makes my chest feel like it might explode with happiness, is the look on Lucy's face. Pure joy. Complete contentment. The expression of a woman who knows she's exactly where she belongs.
This is our life now. Messy and unconventional and absolutely perfect.
Three men who learned how to share everything that matters.
One woman who taught us that love multiplied is love magnified.
A house full of rescued animals and second chances and the kind of happiness that makes you believe in fairy tales.
It's not the life any of us planned.
It's better.