“Yeah, he rides like he’s got nine lives.” Roman mutters.
Silas shakes his head before focusing on Roman. “You good?”
“Never better.” He nods, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
“If we could just try to avoid hospitals for the next five months, I don’t get much time off in season and I can’t be coming back to check on your asses.”
Rosie gasps.
“Not a swear,” He tells her.
“Is.”
“Is not.” He argues.
“It is!” Rosie stomps her foot.
“No, it’s a donkey.”
“Dad!” Rosie whines, but Silas shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.
I laugh, watching the family that I’ve found myself a part of, seeing how much they love each other and care. They fight and they bicker, but in the bones, they’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.
“That sound,” Roman whispers, “I never want it to stop.”
I turn my eyes to him. “I’m home.”
His face softens. “This is where you belong, sweetheart. With me. Here.”
“Always, cowboy.”
“Always.”
Epilogue
Nerves rattle through me though I’ve no idea why. We’ve already been here once; we’re already married, but this feels more real than it did before. Before it was something we had to do, now this is something we want. And I want it more than I want the sun to rise in the morning. Niamh is the kind of forever that is rare to find.
She is the earth under my feet, the birds in the sky, the mountains that reach for the clouds.
All and everything.
Instrumental music starts to play, and my wide eyes meet Silas’s, who stands at my side as my best man. He grins and then hides his laugh behind his hand.I can hear Remy on the video feed, hooting and hollering, but we had to turn his volume down before he offended someone.
We’re already fucking married, why the hell is this terrifying me!?
His eyes lift above my head, and he smirks.
“You’re so fucked,” He whispers to me.
“Why?”
“She’s stunning, man.”
Unable to stop myself, I look behind me and the entire world stops spinning. There she is, in a flowing white gown that has flowers climbing up the skirts, toward a tight strapless corset that hugs her shape, pushing her breasts up. A diamond rests in the dip between her collarbones, the thin necklace hugging her throat. Dark hair is pulled up and bundled into curls; a floral headband with little diamonds embedded into it rests atop her head. Her eyes look neon, dark lashes framing them and she’s wearing a shocking red lip. She grins when she meets my eyes, her dimples sinking into her cheeks.
I’m ready to get on my knees right here and now. Ashley walks behind her in a subtle blue dress, with Rosie next to her.
“Hi,” Niamh whispers to me when she finally comes to a stop by my side.
