“Cameron and I have moved that thing so many times, it seems light to us now.”
“Jack.” She pressed a leather glove to her lips as the sleigh got closer to the gathering of the people she loved most in the whole world.
And a few extras.
“Is that Marshall Hampton and his little girl, Olivia?”
“Well, the pastor wasn’t available on short notice.”
“The…” Did he saypastor?
“But Gracie said Marshall is licensed to marry in the state of Utah. Olivia didn’t have a sitter and…”
She let out a whimper. “Marry?Now?”
He brought Copper to a halt about fifty feet from the others, who all watched, quiet but smiling.
Turning to her, Jack looked into her eyes. “Right now, honey. This is official, legal, totally private, and…we will say our vows under the trellis that Owen Starling built. Please tell me you will marry me tonight. After that, I don’t care what happens tomorrow, as long as you are my wife.”
“Jack, this is…perfect.”
“I thought so,” he said simply. “Our first kiss, our second marriage, our forever future. Don’t worry, we’ll still have tomorrow’s wedding production—it’ll be incredible. But this…” His voice caught, steadying again. “This one’s for us.”
Her throat tightened, tears blurring the lantern light. “Jack?—”
He squeezed her hand. “I don’t need a venue or light time or an audience. I just need you.”
He jumped down first, then turned and held out his hand to her. “Come on. Everyone worked so hard to make this happen, and Benny has a playlist and…don’t cry, Cin.”
She blinked at tears as she carefully climbed down. “How can I not?”
He reached into the back of the sleigh and pulled out a bouquet of red and white roses, which must have been a signal to Benny, because just then, a portable speaker started playing soft classical music.
The small group parted to make room for them, and Jack offered his arm.
Cindy took a deep breath and took the flowers in one hand, and Jack’s arm in the other.
Slowly they walked the short distance to the trellis, pausing to give MJ a kiss, and Nicole a hug. Cameron shook Jack’s hand and Red squeezed Cindy with a murmur of love.
Gracie blew a kiss and Benny, standing next to Olivia, gave a thumbs-up.
Her family. Their family. She loved them all so much that joy spilled through her chest until she couldn’t contain it.
Laughter, music, wind in the pines, and soft words of encouragement filled the air, carrying Cindy forward to where Marshall stood holding what she knew was the Starling family Bible, welcoming them to a blessed and private ceremony.
“Marriage,” he began gently, “isn’t about the perfect photo, or the flawless day. It’s about showing up for each other—again and again, day after day, year after year. And we are gathered here tonight to join Jack Kessler and Cindy Starling Kessler in a marriage that they vow will last forever. And this time?”
“It will,” Jack whispered.
Cindy laughed through her tears. Jack grinned.
Marshall talked about forgiveness and patience, about choosing the same person and creating a history, about love and laughter and highs and lows.
Cindy heard the words, but all she could really do was look into the eyes of a man she’d loved since the first time he kissed her, right here on this mountain crossing, through decades and divorce and a do-over.
She belonged with Jack Kessler, and she would never leave him.
“Jack,” Marshall said, “would you like to share your vows?”
