Epilogue

Dan adjusted his bowtie and smoothed a hand over his hair. He felt naked without his hat, but inside the courthouse, it just seemed wrong to be wearing it. Garlands covered the doorways and a simple Christmas tree sat in the corner. Rubbing his palms down his jeans, he took a deep breath just as the bathroom door behind him opened.

Tyler waddled out looking picture-perfect in his suspenders, sweater, and matching plaid bowtie. Sofie was hot on his heels. Dan’s breath caught in his chest, a not uncommon occurrence when he caught a glimpse of her while she was focused on the little devil. So serene and angelic, even when distracted. And today she would officially become his wife.

“Ready?” she asked while simultaneously snagging a suspender to keep the recently mobile toddler from escaping. He dropped a kiss on her cheek and scooped up Tyler, much to the delight of the shrieking little boy. Several heads turned to look at them with smiles.

“Never more for anything in my life.” They walked hand in hand down the hallway ’til they came to the room. There, inside, was half of Fly Creek.

“Did you…?” Sofie asked.

Dan shook his head. Emotion worked his throat, and he swallowed it back down as face after face beamed in their direction.

Emily came up the center and shrugged. “Surprise?”

Sofie enveloped her sister, and Dan watched a tear slide down his soon-to-be-wife’s cheek.

“M…M…” Tyler squirmed and wiggled until Emily let go and reached for her nephew. “Hey, little man, I got you.”

Everyone settled into seats. The judge came in, and her eyes widened a bit.

“Ahh, I’m thinking this is a much-anticipated union.”

Chuckles spread as Dan took Sofie’s hand and led her down to the front.

The service was short and sweet, and when the judge pronounced them husband and wife, cheers erupted from the seating area. The two of them were engulfed in hugs and handshakes and back-claps, and it was only after the judge whistled loudly that all eyes turned her way.

“There’s another couple equally excited to share their day. Could we maybe move this celebration somewhere?”

They filed out of the room, and that was when Sofie pulled him to the side.

“Do we tell them?”

“I don’t see how we can’t. I mean, we know these people, and chances are they have something waiting for us back in Fly Creek.”

As if on cue, Shelby came over and hugged them both. “Now, there’s a little something at Sky Lake. Nothing fancy, as we know y’all wanted to keep this simple. But love is love and deserves to be celebrated. Especially the hard-won kind.”

Sofie met his gaze and pleaded.

“Shelby. We’re honored and grateful for all you’ve done. But we have one more stop to make before we can share in your present to us.”

Emily and the others were close enough to hear Dan, and all eyes ping-ponged between Sofie and him. Sofie found Tyler being smothered by Emily and Peyton and grabbed him. She smiled, and Dan crossed over to her.

“You ready?” he asked teasingly.

“Oh yes.”

Before anyone could ask any more questions, they walked down to the end of the hallway and entered another courtroom. The judge looked up and smiled. He resembled nothing short of Kris Kringle, down to the rosy cheeks and snowy white beard.

Pushing his wire-rim glasses up his nose, he asked, “The Pennington-Rigby Party?”

“Yes, although I suppose it’s just the Rigby party now,” Sofie said.

The old man smiled and grabbed a sheet of paper. Looking it up and down, he grinned. “I suppose you’re right. We can file everything together.”

A commotion had them turning, despite knowing the cause. Nearly everyone who’d witnessed the marriage was now spilling into the room. They settled almost in silence, each wearing the nosey gaze that only Fly Creek residents could produce.

Turning back to face Sofie and Dan, the judge started. It only took a moment for the entire group of surprise witnesses to realize what was happening. Gasps and ohs ping-ponged against the plain white walls, and the judge stopped until everyone settled again. He winked at Sofie and continued.

After he confirmed that both parties understood what was happening, and what rights were granted upon his judgement, he asked both Dan and Sofie to come forward and sign. Dan’s fingers trembled as the ink slid across the crisp white paper. Finishing, he dropped the pen and met Sofie’s smile with one of his own. Tyler tugged at his bow tie, and he reached for the boy, who came willingly.

“Daniel Paul Rigby, you are now in the eyes of the Court and the State of Wyoming, the official father of Tyler.”

“Now Tyler Reed Rigby.”

Sofie sobbed and reached into her sleeve and pulled out a hanky. He glanced over his shoulder and saw several other women dabbing. He kissed Tyler’s mop of long, curly hair. His son if not in blood, in heart, and now in name. He gathered Sofie to his side and kissed her, his wife, who had been in his heart since the moment she took on a herd of cows.

“So, cowboy, how are we going to top this Christmas?”

Dan smoothed a hand over her flat belly and smiled.

“I think we can come up with an idea or two.”

Once again, they were enveloped by friends and family and love. Tyler jigged and squealed as he was passed from person to person, while Dan and Sofie were congratulated on the surprise of their own. Eventually everyone made it back to Sky Lake and into the Great Lodge, where food spread for miles.

Dan couldn’t contain his smile or his emotions. He felt sure they were plastered on his face for all of Fly Creek to decipher. But he didn’t care. This town, his place in it, was now perfect with Sofie and Tyler by his side. Sofie had settled into her second-grade classroom easily, and Tyler had never been more spoiled by Shelby and Polly and his Aunt Emily.

“Dan?”

He turned to find Shelby and Mitchum. The old man clapped him on the back. “Congratulations, son. Your family’s beautiful.”

Satisfied he’d done his “fatherly” duties, Mitchum kissed his wife and headed over to Laney, who was setting out some more tarts.

“Well, that was surprising. That man will give you whiplash with his emotions. Anyway, this is for you.”

Shelby handed Dan an envelope. “Merry Christmas.”

Dan opened the legal-size manila envelope and slid out a bunch of papers stapled together with a blue binding. He scanned the legal jargon, only to crush the paper and pin Shelby with his gaze.

“We should have done it a long time ago. Sky Lake’s what it is today in part because of you and your hard work and ideas. You and Ryder will make it even more special in all the years to come.”

Dan yanked Shelby into a bear hug. “Thank you for loving me like your son.”

“You are my son, you silly boy.”

She bussed his cheek. “Now go find that wife of yours. I expect more grand-babies soon.”

He slid the envelope and deed into his back pocket and searched for his angel’s head. Levi, Adam’s brother, stopped him.

“Have you seen Becky Jane?”

Dan shook his head. “Did you try the birthing barn? Damn Winston is apparently intent on making babies at Christmas an annual tradition.”

Levi smiled. “Is his owner following the lead?”

Dan grinned and left Levi to search out the spitfire vet.

Spying Sofie, he slid in behind her and kissed her ear. “Ready to go home, Mrs. Rigby?”

She turned in his arms and kissed him. “I thought you’d never ask.”

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