Page 102 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

“I agree. If we start planning tonight, we can get married this month.”

“If you say we can have the wedding soon, then let’s do it. The sooner the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

“It’s not late now. Let’s get dressed and go tell my family. They’ll love it.”

“Sure. Your folks, my half brothers—I’ll call them.”

“Blake, I heard about you and William—that you donated baseballs, a bat and a glove—lots of equipment for him and for the kids. That was wonderful.”

“I wanted to. I’d like to have him out to the ranch sometime. I suppose it’s inevitable that we’ll have all those kids out. I’ll charter a bus or fly them there.”

“We’ll figure it out. That would be wonderful.”

“This means I need to hire you and Eli and Lucinda and my contractor again. Now we’ll need a nursery in the new wing, and we’ll need a nursery in my Dallas home, too, unless you don’t like that house.”

“That is a gorgeous mansion. Of course I like it. And, yes, we’ll need a nursery both places, but that’s doable. Now let’s shower, dress and go see my family. I can’t wait to tell them. They’ll be so happy for us. You’ll see.”

Hugging her tightly, he looked down at her. “You’ve given me faith in people, Sierra. I have never seen a married couple so filled with care and love for each other as your parents—I really didn’t think that was possible. Because of you, I know there is good in people. I guess that rose-colored view is contagious—or is it just that I’m so in love that you’ve made me believe, and I see good everywhere now?”

She held him tightly. “I love you. Your life is going to change in lots of ways, but it will all be good.”

“What’s really good is kissing you,” he said in a husky voice.

And he kissed away her response.

Epilogue

Sierra stood in the foyer with her arm linked through her older brother’s. The church was packed with every seat filled, and an overflow crowd watched on big screens set up in other rooms while some just waited outside.

She looked at the row of bridesmaids. The last one was going down the aisle now. They were in pale yellow silk dresses and carried bouquets of spring flowers. Her oldest sister, Ginger, was her matron of honor, and there were eight attendants. The groomsmen were two of Blake’s half brothers and his friends. Cade was the best man. Two five-year-old nieces, Viola and Tina, were flower girls. Sierra’s gaze slipped past them and went to her tall, handsome rancher fiancé. In a black tux, Blake took her breath away.

She wanted to be finished with their vows and the party and to be in his arms. She thought of all the joy Blake had brought into their family and the families of others through his donation to the agency, and she thought of how he had stopped holding on to the hurt he had experienced as a child.

On the groom’s side of the church, she saw Blake’s father sitting straight backed, facing his son. He was a solitary figure, and he looked as frail to her as he must have looked to Blake. She was surprised he was present.

Brad Benson squeezed her arm. “You look beautiful, Sierra. Dad told me to tell you that he just hopes you have what he and Mom do. He told me that when I married, too.”

She smiled at her older brother and looked at her father, standing near the altar rail in his robe, waiting to say the vows that she and Blake would repeat.

She was filled with love for her dad, thinking what a contrast he was to the father Blake had.

“Blake’s a good guy,” Brad said, and she smiled.

The wedding planner shook her veil lightly. “Now, it’s time,” she said, and Sierra walked down the aisle with her brother to have her hand placed in Blake’s.

Blake smiled at her as she stepped beside him, and they moved forward to face her father, who smiled at her before beginning the ceremony.

When they were man and wife, trumpets and organ music filled the church. Then they walked back up the aisle and into the foyer.

“Now we circle around to come back for pictures,” she said, leading him through the church that was as familiar to her as her home.

The reception was at the country club. Blake had reserved the entire place. A band played in the ballroom, and there were tables of food in various rooms. People filled the club—friends and people Sierra had helped, relatives and employees, cowboys from Blake’s ranch.

The party commenced, and Sierra only saw Blake across the room until it was time to cut the cake. Then they were again separated to talk to guests until the first dance.

Music became lively as the dance floor opened to the crowd, and arms waved in the air while people danced and sang.

Blake took Sierra to one side. “Think we’ll be missed if we step into the library?”