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The church in Great Falls was brimming with gardenias and lilies. The scent was intoxicating, but even more entrancing was the sight of his bride walking towards him on Carlton’s arm. Mack had never been so happy in his entire life. Myra helped Annie to remove the veil from over her face and he was glad to see that she was wearing the self same excited grin he wore himself. She was truly beautiful, and kind and good. He would spend the rest of his life gladly making her happy.
“Do you Mackenzie Gladwin Stott take this woman to be your wife,” the Minister intoned.
“I do, with all my heart,” he replied.
“And do you Annie Cahill take this man to be your husband,”
“I do, gladly,” she said solemnly.
“Then I now pronounce you man, and wife!” Without waiting for permission Mack lifted his bride and kissed her, not caring who was watching them – just knowing he had to claim her for his own forever and always.
Putting her down gently, they began to walk back down the aisle of the little chapel, and he took her hand in his. He felt a piece of paper in her hand. “What is this?” he asked as he took it from her and began to smooth out the wrinkles. A picture of a small boy stared back at him, his face alight with happiness. “Apparently they couldn’t get him to look solemn,” she said. “The photographer was apparently furious, was worried the exposure wouldn’t come out right!”
“He is a handsome young man. I am glad he was here with you my love. And I have a surprise waiting for you at the ranch.”
“A surprise? Whatever could you have been up to?” she asked impatiently.
“You shall have to wait,” he teased. But no matter how much she tried to coax it from him he was not prepared to utter one word more. He lifted her up into the smart open carriage he had hired for the day and drove her back home. Waiting on the porch for her was her beloved sister and her two younger brothers. “I hope you don’t mind, but I need some strong young men to help on the ranch, I figured you’d like it best if I could keep it in the family.” She took his face in her palms and kissed him.
“You pirate, still kidnapping folk I see! Thank you. You will never know how much this means to me.” He watched as she leapt out, her veil billowing behind her and was engulfed in the loving arms of her family. He was certain he knew exactly what it meant, because not having Penny by his side would have been, until now, the worst thing he could ever imagine. Now, the two orphaned families could become one happy, large one and that made him happier than he could ever have imagined too.
The End
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