CAROLYN AND BRODY were married in early August at sunset, on the former swimming beach at River’s Bend, with the whole town and a good portion of Denver in attendance. Conner was the best man, Tricia the matron of honor and Melissa and Steven’s oldest, Matt, proudly served as ring-bearer.
Davis, handsome and comically uncomfortable in his Sunday suit, gave the bride away, while Kim looked on with tears of pure happiness glittering in her eyes.
Carolyn wore the now mended gypsy skirt, with a white camisole and a short silk jacket she’d made to go with the outfit, and Brody looked better than handsome in his jeans, crisply white Western shirt and sport jacket, his concession to formality.
Since it was summer, the sunset lasted well past the actual ceremony, gradually fading as a band struck up a romantic country tune inside the large, rented tent that stood where the lodge used to be.
There was dancing, and there was cake, but the evening was mostly a glad blur to Carolyn—whenever she looked at Brody, which was often, he was all she saw, and she knew by the expression in his eyes that he was under the same spell.
They were surrounded by friends and family, by music and light and love and laughter, but they might as well have been alone on the planet, just the two of them, they were so absorbed in each other. They’d eaten cake, and toasted each other with frothing flutes filled with ginger ale, and posed for endless pictures, images Carolyn knew she’d treasure for the rest of her life.
Davis, with a slight smile, walked up to them, shook Brody’s hand and politely asked if he might dance with the bride, since he’d been the one to give her away and all.
Carolyn smiled up at the man she thought of as her father-in-law now, as well as her good friend, and she remembered something he’d said to her, a few days before the wedding, when they’d all gathered at the main ranch house for a family dinner.
“When you marry a Creed,” Davis had announced, smiling at her, “you get all of us.”
Now, as they danced, as Kim and Brody joined them on the plank floor put down for the purpose, Chinese lanterns casting a multicolored glow, Davis squeezed her hand lightly. “Welcome to the family, Carolyn Creed,” he said, in that singular rumble of his. “And I don’t mind telling you, you took your sweet time about it.”
Carolyn—Carolyn Creed—laughed softly. “You sound like Tricia,” she replied. “And Kim. Were Brody and I the only people in Lonesome Bend who didn’t see this wedding coming?”
Davis grinned, and Carolyn smiled up at him as they danced. “Sure seemed like it,” he said. “There were times when I would have liked to thump your heads together. It was Tricia and Conner, all over again. They couldn’t see the forest for the trees in the beginning, either.”
“You know, don’t you, that you and Kim mean the world to Brody and Conner? And to Tricia and me, as well?”
“They’re my brother’s boys,” he said quietly, “and the spittin’ image of him, too. There’s never a day that I don’t miss Blue, and wish he was here with the rest of us, where he belongs, but if he had to go ahead and get himself killed, well, he left a fine legacy behind.” He glanced over, saw Conner cutting in to dance with Kim and Brody pretending to protest, and Davis’s eyes brightened until they shone. “I love them like my own.” He turned his head again, to face her. “And you and Tricia are the daughters we’ve always wanted.”
Carolyn let her forehead rest against Davis’s strong shoulder for a moment, overcome with emotion. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Davis chuckled and gave her a reassuring squeeze, and then Brody cut in, and she was dancing with her man, her cowboy, her husband.
“I love you, Mrs. Creed,” he said, smiling into her eyes. “And I’m fixing to kiss you, right here and now, so get ready.”
She giggled.
He stopped the giggle with the promised kiss, complete with a pretty flashy dip and some serious tongueaction, and the whole gathering cheered.
“And I love you,” Carolyn replied, breathless, when it was over.
Brody curved a finger under her chin and lifted. “What do you say we get out of here, Mrs. Creed,” he said, “and leave these good people to party on to their hearts’ content?”
“I think that’s a fine idea, Mr. Creed,” she replied.
He led her outside.
They stood hand in hand in the weighted heat of an August night, watching the light of the moon and a bajillion stars dance on the surface of the river, singing as it passed.
In the morning, they’d be leaving on their honeymoon, location undisclosed, but Brody and Carolyn wanted to spend their wedding night in the new house. It seemed just right, for their life together to begin there.
Brody held on to her hand, and they walked toward home, following a glowing path of silvery moonlight.
It was magical. Something right out of a fairy tale but better, because it was real.
To Carolyn’s surprise, they passed by the house and headed toward the barn instead.
Inside the entrance, Brody flipped the light switch and Moonshine blinked at them from his stall, sleepily munching on a mouthful of grass hay.
Carolyn smiled and moved to pat the horse’s velvety nose, but Brody pulled her on past, stopping in front of the stall next to Moonshine’s.
A beautiful, snow-white gelding stood in the center of his space, splendid enough to pull Cinderella’s carriage.
Carolyn drew in her breath, laid a hand to her heart.
“He’s yours, if you’ll have him,” Brody said gently. “A wedding present from your lovin’ husband. His name’s Sugar-man, but you can change it if you want to. He’s gentle, but he’s spirited, too.”
Carolyn, in her shimmery skirt and special jacket, stepped up and clasped the rim of the stall door in both hands, already shaking her head. “I wouldn’t change a thing, Brody,” she said, turning to look into the face of the man beside her. “Not about him, and not about you.”
Brody kissed her gently. “When we get back from the honeymoon, well, I thought you might like to go riding with me. Maybe up to Hidden Lake?”
She smiled. “Brody Creed,” she said, “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
He grinned that megawatt grin of his. “Back at you, pretty woman,” he said, bending his head to taste her mouth.
A warm shiver went through her.
“Isn’t it about time you carried me over the threshold, like you promised?” she asked, slipping her arms around his neck.
“I do believe it is,” he replied, after pretending to consider the matter for a few moments.
With that, they left the barn, walking on that same path of light, and when they reached the house, Brody Creed swept his bride up into his arms, kissed her again and said, “Hold on tight, lady. I think we’re in for quite a ride.”
Carolyn smiled. She knew he wasn’t just talking about their wedding night. He was talking about the rest of their lives.