Chapter 20 #3
“Can I at least ask why they’re here?”
“When I spoke to them, I told them I was coming here to look for you. So, they probably decided to come support you, or us. It’s us now.”
Harper grinned and hugged him again.
The stranger had been waiting for Harper to focus on the horse trailer instead of the people that had arrived before he unveiled her surprise. When Clay looked toward him again, he gave Clay a nod and started unchaining and unlocking the back of the trailer.
Clay glanced toward the highway again when more vehicles turned in.
Riley’s truck had just made the turn onto the driveway and was slowly coming to a stop near Libby and Travis’s vehicles.
Seconds later Summer’s car came into view, just barely slowing down enough to make the turn as she brought up the rear.
“What’s happening, Clay?” Harper asked as she watched their family and Pride members arriving.
“You went missing. Everyone was worried.”
“Yes, but despite every one of them knowing where this place is, not a single one of them has ever cared enough to come by here before, except for Summer and that was a rare occasion,” she said, glancing toward everyone who was making their way to where her mother stood quietly speaking to her father as she stood far too close to him and stared directly up into his eyes as he nodded and agreed with whatever it was she was telling him.
Clay gently placed a finger on her chin and turned her face toward him. “Do you trust me?”
“I do.”
“Then forget all that. This is about us, you and me, not them in any way, shape or form. Focus on us.”
Harper nodded. “You’re right.”
“Close your eyes, hon.”
Harper opened her mouth to object, but then realized this was Clay, and she trusted him. She gripped his hand tighter and did as he asked, stumbling along beside him as she held onto him while he led her to stand just a few feet away.
“Go ahead,” Clay said to the stranger. Then he spoke to Harper. “We’re just going to stand here near the fence for a minute or two.”
Harper nodded, but kept her eyes closed as she wondered what Clay could possibly have to show her, and how this day could become anymore perfect than it already was, despite the arrival of her family and their Alpha.
She startled at the first loud clang of the doors on the horse trailer being opened, followed by the thud of the ramp on the horse trailer being lowered to the ground, but Clay reassured her by putting his arm around her and pulling her against his side.
Then she heard footsteps in the distance coming up the drive and she knew her family was getting nearer.
But that thought was suddenly blocked out by the hard clip of heavy hooves on the floor of the horse trailer, then stomping down the ramp and the sound of the stranger clicking his tongue and speaking softly to whatever horse he was unloading.
“What did you do? Did you buy another horse to help us set up our programs?” she asked, keeping her eyes closed tight.
“No, this one is just for you,” Clay said.
Huge hooves crunched on the gravel as the massive animal pranced excitedly, recognizing where it was. A shrill whinny filled the air.
Harper’s breath caught.
“Open your eyes, Harper,” Clay said, his lips right near her ear.
With her heart in her throat, Harper slowly opened her eyes, afraid that her senses were lying to her. But then she saw him, and her hands flew up to cover her mouth as though it was almost too much for her to experience.
Hephaestus stood proudly, his nose in the air, nostrils flaring as he scented the familiar landscape, his beautiful silver mane and tail blowing in the breeze.
Then he zeroed in on Harper and whinnied again as he went to her, pulling the stranger who tried to hold onto his lead along with him.
She reached her hands out to him and he rested his giant, graceful head against her hands as she tried and failed to contain the sob that breached her throat.
“Oh, my God! Oh, my God! How did you do this?” she cried, as she pressed her forehead to the massive gray Percheron’s face.
Clay nodded at the stranger, who let the lead rope go, but it made no difference, the horse wasn’t moving.
He’d found his person and nothing could sway him from standing in front of her.
He’d lowered his head even further and was rubbing his cheek against Harper as she wrapped her arms around his massive neck as best she could.
“Festus!” she cried over and over again as she hugged him.
Festus nickered softly as he rested his chin over her shoulder and pulled her closer to ‘hug’ her back.
Clay stepped up behind her, lifting a hand to lay on the massive horse’s forehead.
Festus seemed to recognize that this male was someone who belonged to his girl, and allowed the touch.
“I thought that instead of an engagement ring, Festus would be a much better gift to seal our promises to each other.”
Harper turned quickly to face Clay. Her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying she’d done all day long, but again Clay just delivered another happy surprise.
“I know we’re bound already, but let’s do the whole thing, fate and choice. Will you marry me, too, build a life with me and wake up everyday living our dream?”
Harper started sobbing all over again as she nodded and quickly moved from Festus to Clay, who wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. “Yes! Absolutely, yes!” she exclaimed.
Festus only stood still for so long, then he was using his nose to gently push Clay away from the girl he’d never allowed to be replaced in his huge equine heart.
Harper laughed and took hold of the lead rope with one hand as she dropped a kiss on his soft fuzzy nose. “Forever?” she asked as Clay hugged her close again.
“Forever,” Clay promised. “Me, you, and Festus.”
They both laughed.
The next thing she knew her parents, along with Riley, Maia, Summer, and even Richie and Yvette who’d ridden with Riley and Maia, were making their way toward them.
“They all knew?” she asked, looking up at Clay.
“My parents did, the others just found out today. And your father isn’t going to give us any trouble.
We had a little quick discussion about what is and is not going to be tolerated.
While he is your father, our lives do not include what he thinks they should.
Our lives are ours to live. You’ll do what makes you happy. ”
“And it was okay?”
“Very okay.”
Her mother reached her first, hugging her and crying right along with her. “I’m so happy for you. So very happy, Harper. You have your dreams, honey!”
Richie hugged her next. “I’m so proud of the both of you. This is perfect. There isn’t a happier outcome for either of you.”
Yvette swept her into a warm, welcoming hug. “And now I have a daughter,” she whispered as she kissed Harper’s cheek, even braving a gentle stroke down Festus’ nose where he curiously sniffed each person who came close enough to his girl for him to investigate.
Riley and Maia hugged her together with Maia cupping her face in her hands. “I told you, didn’t I?”
Harper nodded as she tried to blink back tears. “You did. And you were so right. But it’s so much better than okay.”
“Be happy, Harper,” Riley said. “This is a strong, strong mating. I’m proud you’ve found your way to each other. Can’t wait to watch you both live out your dreams.”
Summer ran right into the middle of everyone as they milled around and laughed and cried with Harper and Clay. She grabbed Harper and hugged her as she sobbed as hard as Harper had done off and on all day. “I love you. And I even love him,” she said, waving her hand toward Clay dismissively.
Clay laughed, as Summer hugged Harper once more.