CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
I Do
The morning sun rose over the farmhouse, casting a golden glow across the pasture.
Luke stood on the front porch with a cup of coffee in his hands.
The horses grazed peacefully in the distance.
Oscar sat beside him, whining softly.
“You nervous?” Luke asked.
Oscar whined again.
Luke laughed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Kira sat quietly at the top of the porch steps, watching the sunrise.
Winston stretched, yawned, and settled back onto his favorite spot without a care in the world.
“I wish I could be as relaxed as you,” Luke said.
? ? ?
Across town, Emily smiled as her mother fastened the last button on her wedding dress.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
The white lace gown was simple and elegant.
Exactly what she had always imagined.
Her father stood quietly in the doorway.
For a moment, he couldn’t find the words.
Finally, he smiled.
“You look beautiful.”
Emily hugged him tightly.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“You ready?”
She smiled through happy tears.
“More than ever.”
? ? ?
Guests filled the little country chapel.
Soft music echoed through the room as friends and family took their seats.
Ryan stood beside Luke at the front.
He leaned over and whispered,
“Still breathing?”
“Barely.”
Ryan grinned.
“Good.”
Luke laughed quietly.
? ? ?
The music changed.
Everyone stood.
The chapel doors slowly opened.
Emily stepped inside on her father’s arm.
For Luke, the rest of the room disappeared.
He saw only her.
She smiled through tears.
Luke felt his own eyes begin to water.
Ryan gently nudged him.
“You might want to blink.”
Luke laughed softly.
“I’m trying.”
? ? ?
Emily reached the front of the chapel.
Her father placed her hand into Luke’s.
“Take good care of her.”
Luke nodded.
“I always will.”
Her father smiled.
“I know.”
? ? ?
The minister welcomed everyone before turning toward the couple.
“You have traveled many miles together already.”
Luke smiled at Emily.
“And today…”
“…you begin the greatest journey of all.”
They exchanged vows they had written themselves.
Luke looked into Emily’s eyes.
“You’ve been my home long before we ever bought a house.”
“You’ve stood beside me through every challenge.”
“You’ve celebrated every victory.”
“I promise to laugh with you.”
“To stand beside you.”
“To love you every day for the rest of my life.”
Emily wiped away a tear before reading her own vows.
“Luke…”
“You’ve always believed in tomorrow.”
“You taught me that dreams are worth chasing.”
“You’ve made ordinary days feel extraordinary.”
“I promise to love you.”
“To encourage you.”
“To walk beside you wherever life takes us.”
“And to always save you a handful of gummy bears.”
The chapel erupted in laughter.
Luke smiled.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
? ? ?
The minister smiled warmly.
“By the authority entrusted to me…”
“…I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
“You may kiss your bride.”
Luke gently kissed Emily.
The chapel filled with applause and cheers.
Oscar let out one excited bark from the front pew, making everyone laugh again.
Even Winston, who had been sleeping peacefully near the entrance, lifted his head for just long enough to witness the celebration before lying back down.
? ? ?
Outside, church bells rang as Luke and Emily walked through a shower of flower petals.
Friends and family surrounded them with hugs, laughter, and congratulations.
Ryan wrapped Luke in a hug.
“You did it.”
Luke smiled.
“We did.”
Luke’s mother embraced Emily.
Luke’s mother wiped away happy tears.
“I’ve never seen two people more perfect for each other.”
? ? ?
The reception was held at the farmhouse.
Strings of white lights hung from the wraparound porch.
Wildflowers decorated every table.
Country music filled the evening air.
The horses grazed peacefully beyond the white fence.
Oscar happily greeted every guest.
Kira quietly accepted gentle pats from children.
Winston slept beneath the dessert table until the smell of barbecue finally convinced him to wake up.
Luke laughed.
“I knew food would do it.”
? ? ?
As the sun set behind the Oregon hills, Luke and Emily shared their first dance as husband and wife beneath the glowing lights.
Everything else faded away.
The music.
The conversations.
The laughter.
For those few moments…
It was just the two of them.
Emily rested her head against Luke’s shoulder.
“We made it.”
Luke smiled.
“We sure did.”
He looked around at the farmhouse…
The barn…
The horses…
Their family…
Their friends…
Their three unforgettable dogs…
And the woman in his arms.
Every mile.
Every sacrifice.
Every challenge.
Every laugh.
Every dream.
It had all led to this day.
And as the stars appeared above their little farmhouse, Luke realized that this wasn’t the end of their story.
It was simply the beginning of forever.