Epilogue
The January sun shone through the church windows, but the winter breeze whistled around the panes and bare branches banged against the sideboards.
Brady stared at the back of the church where Abby would come out and walk down the aisle. His heart hadn’t stopped beating at a rapid pace.
A sense of déjà vu swept over him. A year-and-a-half had passed since the last time he stood in this very spot.
This time was different.
This time he was marrying the woman who meant more to him than taking his next breath. He hadn’t truly known what love was until Abby.
Brady and Abby had almost eloped, but their sisters and brothers convinced them to have a wedding with all family members in attendance.
The preacher stared placidly ahead, and Brady wondered if he was concerned that today would be a repeat of long ago.
Colt, his best man—again—elbowed Brady in the side, capturing his attention, and he spoke in a low voice. “You landed a good one, bro. Abby’s the greatest.”
Brady slowly nodded and looked back down the aisle. What if history repeated itself?
He shook that thought off—Abby was one in a million and she would never walk away from him.
On the groom’s side of the church sat his entire family, which filled several rows. On the bride’s side, Abby’s brothers and sisters and a few of her other relatives took up two rows of pews. They had all flown in from Montana over the past few days. It would be one hell of a reception at his parents’ ranch after he and Abby were married.
The organist cued up the country song they’d picked for the bridesmaids and Brady’s heart beat even faster. His dry throat tightened, and his stomach churned.
The door to the chamber opened and Abby’s maid-of-honor, her sister Emma, walked through the doorway. She wore an emerald-green dress, the color of Abby’s eyes, and she carried a small bouquet of flowers. Instead of rushing up the aisle like Haylee had that long ago day, Emma walked at a sedate pace, in time with the music.
The younger redhead took her place beside the spot where Abby would stand.
The bridal march began. Brady stared at the entrance to the back chamber, willing Abby to come out.
An elegant redhead in a beaded white gown, carrying a large bridal bouquet, stepped through the doorway.
A breath rushed from Brady’s chest. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding it, half afraid Abby might disappear like a dream.
One of Abby’s brothers took her arm and escorted her slowly down the aisle. Brady’s heart shifted to only beating in time with her steps. It seemed an eternity before Abby’s brother left her at the place where Brady waited for her.
She looked at him and smiled, causing warmth to flow into his chest and throughout his body. He smiled back, his love for her filling him to the brim and overflowing.
The preacher’s voice droned on, but Brady couldn’t take his eyes off Abby. She looked nervous, but she continued to smile at him. He barely remembered saying his vows and hearing Abby’s before the preacher pronounced them husband and wife and told Brady he could kiss the bride.
Brady drew her into his arms in a rush and kissed her with everything he had. She matched the kiss and he forgot everything but her. In the distance he heard cheers and then closer the preacher clearing his throat.
They broke the kiss but still looked into each other’s eyes, until they were prompted to walk down the aisle. One of Abby’s sisters took the bridal bouquet while another handed Brady a white coat. He helped Abby into it before they walked out of the church and into the cold day.
Wedding guests showered them with birdseed as they laughed and hurried to the Range Rover limousine that would take them to the ranch for the reception.
Then they were in the back, the doors closed, and it was just the two of them.
“Mrs. McLeod.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “I love you.”
She smiled at him. “Mr. McLeod, you promised you would tell me where we’re going on our honeymoon once we were married.”
“My surprise.” He reached into his tux pocket, drew out an envelope, and handed it to Abby.
“You told me I’d need my passport, which I got first thing, so I’m dying to find out why and where.” She opened the envelope, read the itinerary, and grinned at him. “England, Ireland, and Scotland. You are amazing.” She kissed him hard. “I can’t tell you how excited I am—you know how much I’ve always wanted to see those places.” She beamed at him. “Which you clearly remembered me telling you.”
He pointed to one of the lines with the flight schedule. “We leave tomorrow evening. We’ll sleep on the plane and land the next afternoon at Heathrow.”
“I’m beyond thrilled, Brady.” She threw her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, sweetheart.” He held her close to him, wanting her to feel as cherished as she was to him. “This is just the beginning.”