Page 126 of Seeing Harper

Clay nodded at the stranger, who let the lead rope go, but it made no difference, the horse wasn’t moving. He’d found his person and nothing could sway him from standing in front of her. He’d lowered his head even further and was rubbing his cheek against Harper as she wrapped her arms around his massive neck as best she could. “Festus!” she cried over and over again as she hugged him.

Festus nickered softly as he rested his chin over her shoulder and pulled her closer to ‘hug’ her back.

Clay stepped up behind her, lifting a hand to lay on the massive horse’s forehead.

Festus seemed to recognize that this male was someone who belonged to his girl, and allowed the touch.

“I thought that instead of an engagement ring, Festus would be a much better gift to seal our promises to each other.”

Harper turned quickly to face Clay. Her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying she’d done all day long, but again Clay just delivered another happy surprise.

“I know we’re bound already, but let’s do the whole thing, fate and choice. Will you marry me, too, build a life with me and wake up everyday living our dream?”

Harper started sobbing all over again as she nodded and quickly moved from Festus to Clay, who wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. “Yes! Absolutely, yes!” she exclaimed.

Festus only stood still for so long, then he was using his nose to gently push Clay away from the girl he’d never allowed to be replaced in his huge equine heart.

Harper laughed and took hold of the lead rope with one hand as she dropped a kiss on his soft fuzzy nose. “Forever?” she asked as Clay hugged her close again.

“Forever,” Clay promised. “Me, you, and Festus.”

They both laughed.

The next thing she knew her parents, along with Riley, Maia, Summer, and even Richie and Yvette who’d ridden with Riley and Maia, were making their way toward them.

“They all knew?” she asked, looking up at Clay.

“My parents did, the others just found out today. And your father isn’t going to give us any trouble. We had a little quick discussion about what is and is not going to be tolerated. While he is your father, our lives do not include what he thinks they should. Our lives are ours to live. You’ll do what makes you happy.”

“And it was okay?”

“Very okay.”

Her mother reached her first, hugging her and crying right along with her. “I’m so happy for you. So very happy, Harper. You have your dreams, honey!”

Richie hugged her next. “I’m so proud of the both of you. This is perfect. There isn’t a happier outcome for either of you.”

Yvette swept her into a warm, welcoming hug. “And now I have a daughter,” she whispered as she kissed Harper’s cheek, even braving a gentle stroke down Festus’ nose where he curiously sniffed each person who came close enough to his girl for him to investigate.

Riley and Maia hugged her together with Maia cupping her face in her hands. “I told you, didn’t I?”

Harper nodded as she tried to blink back tears. “You did. And you were so right. But it’s so much better than okay.”

“Be happy, Harper,” Riley said. “This is a strong, strong mating. I’m proud you’ve found your way to each other. Can’t wait to watch you both live out your dreams.”

Summer ran right into the middle of everyone as they milled around and laughed and cried with Harper and Clay. She grabbed Harper and hugged her as she sobbed as hard as Harper had done off and on all day. “I love you. And I even love him,” she said, waving her hand toward Clay dismissively.

Clay laughed, as Summer hugged Harper once more.

“And I got pictures of the whole thing, so many pictures! So you can watch your proposal later! Well, I might have missed the first bit, but I didn’t realize it was an actual proposal until Clay made you close your eyes. I got most everything from that point,” she explained as she held up her phone and waggled it in the air to show Harper.

Harper laughed. “Thank you. My mind is so blown, I’m kind of in a whirlwind right now.”

“A good whirlwind, though,” Summer said.

“The best, absolute best.”

Summer grinned at her, then quickly turned to Clay. She grabbed him and hugged him tightly. “Sorry I sent you searching in the heat.”