I know how steady his love for me is, how it remained that way over the years and I’m still filled with awe.
“I love you,” I tell him just like I’ve told him every day since I moved into the ranch. “You’re my forever. The first person I want to see in the mornings and the one I want to close out the day with. I’ll always walk by your side as we continue to build this beautiful life together.”
Kannen cups my face in his hands. No one else is here. I see only him and I know I’m all he sees.
I barely register when the officiant announces that we’re husband and wife.
I move toward Kannen at the same time he moves toward me. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me to him.
We share a kiss, lost in our togetherness, until someone in the crowd cheers.
My new husband pulls back, and I can feel the flush on my cheeks.
Then Kannen takes my hand and we walk down the aisle. All the guests stand and clap as we pass.
I drink every moment in. The way the ranch house waits for us in the distance. The way the birds are chirping. The way the horses softly nicker. This is my life now. Living on this ranch. Married to my cowboy sweetheart.
We head to the wedding tent set up in the backyard where Bobby John starts singing as soon as we enter.
The afternoon slides seamlessly into the evening after the food and cutting of the cake until it’s time for us to dance. Kannen sweeps me into his arms, and it all feels magical. Like the dreams and wishes I had let go of years ago returned and melted together to give me this fairytale day.
“Are you wishing you’d decided on a honeymoon trip?” he asks.
“Why go anywhere when everything I want is right here?” I answer. “I’d rather us spend our days working on the ranch.”
“And our nights working on us,” he says with a wink.
“It’s a hard job, right?”
“Behave or we’ll have to leave so I can get you alone.”
I trace my fingertips across his jawline. “And if I choose to misbehave and won’t leave with you?”
“Then I’d have no choice but to wank off in the bushes.”
I laugh at the memory of that. “I think we should frame the mugshot and put it on the nightstand.”
He grimaces. “People are still commenting on that photo.”
“They want to get some of that.” I brush my leg across the front of his jeans.
“The only one who’s getting some of that is you,” he says, his voice low and filled with promise of the night ahead.
When the celebration finally winds down and we’re left alone, Kannen carries me into the house and walks into the bedroom.
“Today was magical,” I say against his lips.
“I can show you more magic.”
“Oh yeah?”
His hands caress my body as he lowers me onto the bed. “Absolutely. Just enjoy all my little tricks.”
“Will you pull a rabbit out of a hat?”
“Even better. I’ll pull a boner out of jeans.”
I laugh. There’s a lot of laughter in my life because of him. I didn’t know I could look forward to each day as much as I do and it’s all because of him.
