Chapter 16
They pulled onto the utility road at Baker’s field. The sky was dark, but a faint glow radiated off in the distance.
“What is that?” Whitney asked curiously, squinting at the glow on the road in front of them.
Hayden smiled and continued to drive slowly until they had approached the glow of the lights fully and turned off the truck and headlights. He got out of the truck and came around the front to help Whitney out of the cab. As she rounded the side of the truck, and her eyes widened as she took in what had created the light. On the road was a large heart outline lit by mini metal lanterns. Inside the heart, she could make out the red glow of rose petals.
“What is this?” She asked.
Hayden led her to the middle of the heart. “Wait here,” he said. As he went back to the truck and pulled something out of the storage box in the back of the truck. Approaching her, he was holding a white box tied with a bright red ribbon. He met her gaze and gave her a loving smile. “This is for you,” he said, placing the box in her hands. Whitney glanced up at him, her eyebrows raised in question. “Open it,” he urged with a smile, gesturing to his gift.
With trembling hands, she pulled the ribbon, letting it fall to the ground. Lifting the lid of the box, her eyes darted up to his, a bright smile curving her lips. “It’s my treasure box!” she exclaimed, pulling it out and setting the white box off to the side.
“Open it,” he urged again.
Whitney opened it and gasped. Inside was a red velvet box. She glanced up at Hayden, his eyes sparkling in the dim glow of the lanterns.
Hayden took her Treasure Box from her hands and set it gently on the ground. “Whitney Faris, I have a question for you,” he said, getting down on one knee and taking the velvet box from her hands. “6 months ago, I professed my love to you right here on this road in the middle of this field under a starry prairie night. That night you told me you felt the same and I can’t think of a more perfect place to ask you this question.” he paused; his blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “Whitney, will you marry me?”
Whitney’s eyes filled with tears and her lips curved in a smile that lit up the night. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Hayden!”
Hayden got to his feet and swung her around, both laughing and crying with happiness. He set her on her feet and pulled the ring out of the box. “This ring was my mother’s, and she told me that someday she would pass it on to me to give to the woman that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.” He told her,sliding the ring onto her finger. “Although I wish she was here, I know she would be so happy to have you wear it.”
Whitney glanced down at the beautiful ring on her finger. A simple gold band with a large diamond in the middle and two smaller diamonds on either side, and Whitney had never seen anything more perfect.
“I love it, Hayden.” she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and crushing her lips to his in a long, delicious kiss. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
* * *
Whitney caughtsight of the vehicle lights turning down the utility road, and a knowing grin curled her lips as Hayden held her in his arms, basking in the glow of their engagement. Hayden’s brows furrowed. “I don’t know who’s coming down here right now, but I’m going to send them away.”
Whitney let a giggle escape and Hayden”s eyes darted to meet hers, a look of confusion on his face as the vehicles approached. “Hays, it”s okay,” she reassured, taking both of his hands in hers and giving them a squeeze. “Now, I have a question for you.” Whitney countered, transfixing on his gaze. “Will you marry me?” she asked simply.
“Of course, but what is this?” he asked, his eyes widening in surprise as he recognized Ben and Ever’s truck, Bea’s little Toyota truck and a car he did not recognize pulling in behind them.
The sound of vehicle doors opening and closing and the laughter and calls of their family and friends echoed in the darkness. As they each approached, they all held a lantern like the ones on the road.
Ben, Ever, little Violet and Poppy in their carriers, Bea, Dan, and Betty were all there, as well as Mr. Estes, the local lawyer and marriage commissioner who married Ben and Ever.
Hayden looked at Whitney, a sudden realization washing over his face.
“This is an ambush wedding.” she explained. “I want to get married, right now, here in this place that means so much to us both.”
Hayden looked into the questioning eyes of their friends and family and back at Whitney.
“Will you marry me tonight?” Whitney asked. “I can’t go another day without being your wife.”
His eyes flashed with elation at her surprise, and a broad smile overtook his face. Letting out a big, bountiful echoing laugh, he spread his arms wide and lifted his eyes to the starry night sky. “Hell yes!” he shouted into the darkness. “I will marry you right now, here under these stars!”
Everyone cheered and went to work. Bea picked up the boxes from their engagement and putting them into the truck as Dan and Betty embraced Whitney while she showed them her engagement ring. Ben adding several more lanterns to make a makeshift aisle. Mr. Estes taking his position where directed so he could face the couple and Ever handing Whitney a bouquet of red roses. With the scene set, Whitney looped her arm through her father”s and beamed up at him. Dan gave his daughter a proud smile, his large hands covering hers. “Let’s get you married, sweet girl,” he declared gruffly, giving her a nod.
“I’m ready, Daddy.”
Bea held up her phone playing “Open Arms” by Journey. The same song they’d danced to at Ben and Ever’s wedding.
“I love this song!” both Hayden and Whitney declared aloud.
Everyone laughed as Whitney walked down the candle lit aisle towards Hayden.
“Who gives this woman to this man?” Mr. Estes asked, looking towards her father.
“I do,” he answered, clearing his throat.
“I do too.” Whitney’s mother echoed from behind them, making Whitney roll her eyes.
Dan leaned over and kissed his her on the cheek, placed her hand on Hayden’s and walked back to the others.
Hayden took Whitney”s hands in his and smiled, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight.
Mr. Estes cleared his throat to begin. “We are gathered here today in Baker’s field to witness the marriage of Hayden Hastings to Whitney Faris, under a sea of stars on this glorious prairie night. This couple has wasted no time starting their life together, so we’re not going to make them wait another minute longer. Do you have vows?” he asked, looking towards Hayden and then Whitney.
Hayden shrugged and looked at Whitney. “Can we wing it?”
Whitney laughed, causing snickers behind them. “I think we can!”
“Okay then, Hayden you start,” motioned Mr. Estes to him.
Hayden’s gaze met Whitney’s, so soft and tender her heart fluttered wildly. “Whitney, I always searched for my true love, doing strange and often stupid things…” he paused, and he could hear a snicker from Ben and Bea. “To find that one person who was going to fill that void in my heart. That one person who I could share my life with. That would put up with me, would laugh with me and would make me feel whole and happy. Then when I least expected it, on a day that I was there to support my brother finding his happily ever, I met you. There you were, a vision in a green dress. I hadn’t even spoken to you yet, and I knew, right then and there, that you were exactly what I wanted.” he continued, his voice brimming with emotion. “And as I got to know you more, I found out that you were exactly what I needed. You are my everything, Whitney. The stars, the moon, this entire prairie night sky. Today and for the rest of our lives, I will choose you, Whitney. You are enough and so much more that I deserve. I love you, gorgeous.”
Sniffles sounded behind them, and Betty exclaimed. “Oh, good heavens. That was just the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Everyone laughed through their happy tears, and Mr. Estes gestured to Whitney.
“Hayden, when we met, I thought you were this impossibly handsome, charming playboy. Someone that was dangerous and would hurt my heart. What you turned out to be was one of the sweetest, kindest, most selfless people I have ever met. And quickly, you became my safe haven. My port in the sea. You are more than I had ever hoped for or thought I would ever have. You have already given me more than I dared to dream, and you have been the sweetest surprise!” she smiled at him; her eyes were wet with tears. “You, Hayden, are my everything. I want to grow old with you, I want to have lots of babies with you, I want to live the rest of my life happily by your side. Every day, I will choose you. I love you, Hays.”
“That was beautiful. Rings?” Mr. Estes asked.
Ben stepped forward and handed Mr. Estes two simple gold wedding bands. He handed one to Hayden.
“Do you take Whitney to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I DO!” Hayden shouted into the night air.
Whitney took the other band and held it on his ring finger.
“Do you take Hayden to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“Heck yes, I do!” she exclaimed.
Mr. Estes clasped his hands together and smiled at them brightly. “Then by the power vested in me, by the Province of Manitoba, I now pronounce you officially married! Hayden, you may kiss your bride!”
Hayden took Whitney’s face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. His blue eyes brimming with pure unbridled joy. “My wife,” he whispered.
“My husband.”
Their lips crashed together, every single emotion, every moment of doubt, everything they had been through worth it, in that life affirming moment. All that was left now was their happily ever after.