Birdie and Isla wanted each of their parents to officiate their ceremony. Thirty minutes online later, Jessica and Pete were ordained and ready for the ‘honor’ of each marrying their only children.
“We’re gathered here today, in front of beloved family and friends, to join Birdie and Will, and Isla and Case, in holy matrimony,” Pete begins.
Jessica speaks next, reading an excerpt from The Magic of Love by Helen Steiner Rice.
“Love is like magic, and it always will be, for love still remains life’s sweet mystery.,”
I glance over at Blair. Just the sight of her has my heart thumping against my ribs.How did I wait my whole life to feel this?
I want this—what my brothers have. What the mountain wants all of us to have.
Whatever comes our way from this day forward doesn’t matter, as long as we do it together.
“Now, let’s get this show on the road and get these soulmates married, shall we?” Pete says, before reading through the vows.
When Will says, “I do,” rushing the words out before he’s even prompted, everyone chuckles.
When Case shouts “I do too,” I nudge him with my shoulder and call him a dork under my breath.
When Birdie reads out the vows she wrote for Will, I swear there’s not a dry eye on the ranch, especially when she talks of knowing she’d met the other half of her soul the moment she tripped over a sofa right in front of him at the furniture store.
Isla is the last to say her vows to Case.
“When I was tryin’ to find the words that would even comecloseto conveyin’ just how important you are to me, I couldn’t put the pen to paper. That’s because everythin’ I feel for you is bigger than words. It’s more than a feelin’, it’s knowin’. Wherever I am, you’ll always be. Whatever happens, you’ll be there. Where you go, I will go, even if it means chasin’ you.” Laughter fills the air while Case and Isla gaze at each other like no one else exists. “You’re the other half of me. My soulmate. My One. My reward. I can’t wait to spend every day fallin’ more in love with you for the rest of my life.”
That’s when Case breaks the rules and grabs hold of his almost-wife, dipping her back and kissing her like she’s the very air he needs to breathe.
“Well now, it looks likesomeone’sin a hurry to get to theendof the ceremony,” Pete jokes, earning a healthy blush from Isla and my brother when they come up for air.
“Sorry, not sorry,” Case says by way of a non-apology. “There’s no way I couldn’t kiss her after hearin’ that.”
“Duly noted, Cayson,” Jessica murmurs, her beaming smile full of pride.
“Now, how ‘bout we get to the rings,” Pete announces.
Will and Case turn and look at me, since they both gavemethe job of looking after them.
I look over at Jude, who nods at Wyatt. Wy walks off the platform we’re all standing on and moves to the back of the congregation before disappearing from sight.
“Sutt,” Case whispers under his breath. “What’s goin’ on.”
“Jude and Wyatt have a surprise for y’all,” I tell him, pleading with my eyes for him to let this happen. I offer up a silent prayer to the sky that thisdoesn’tgo as wrong as most things do when a certain animal is involved.
Wyatt reappears a moment later, a leather lead in his hand clipped on to a halter on Grumps’s head. The donkey’s ears perk up as he—somewhat calmly—walks beside Wy. Around his neck is a white collar with a small bag attached, which is where I’m guessing the rings are stored.
Sounds of delight and glee hit my ears as all the guests watch theuniqueringbearer being led down the aisle toward us.
“Oh god,” Will groans.
“He’s so cute!” Birdie says, clapping excitedly.
“I don’t have a good feelin’” Case says my way.
“Best wedding ever,” is Isla’s reaction.
I'm almost ready to breathe out a sigh of relief when it happens.
Wyatt missteps and trips over his feet. He jerks on the leash as he does, which startles the donkey. Mom gasps, Cap snorts, and it’sthenthat chaos ensues.
