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Chet stopped singing and looked at me and Eloise. I couldn’t stop the tears from pouring down my cheeks.
“That was beautiful,” I said, standing next to him at the altar in front of his family and friends. Eloise stood beside me, a small bouquet of pink and peach flowers in her hand and a white chain of daisies on her head. She looked like a little princess and I’d never seen her happier. But I understood why because I’d never been this happy myself.
“Your turn, Arya.” The priest nodded at me and I took a deep breath.
I looked out at the crowds of people, some familiar, some unfamiliar. I saw Amelia and Ranger beaming with pride as they gazed at us. Sadie and Wyatt, looking lovingly at us both. Beau, Austin, Flint, and Huck, all looking proudly at Chet, and Olivia and Lucy looked happy and excited.
I cleared my throat. “I came to Horseshoe Ranch in search of a new beginning. I didn’t know exactly what I was hoping to find, but I knew that there was going to be something there that would change my life.” I looked around the crowds of people and then at Chet. “This might sound crazy, but I had a dream before I came here. I had a dream that told me that Horseshoe Ranch would provide me happiness, and I didn’t know what to make of it. I didn’t want to believe it. I thought, Horseshoe Ranch, what’s that? And then I came here and I met the wonderful Hamilton family, who embraced both myself and Eloise without a second thought. Amelia, who has been like a mother to me and a grandmother to Eloise. Ranger, the father I always wished I had. Beau, Austin, Huck, Flint and Knox and Wyatt, the brothers I’d always longed for, and Sadie, Olivia and Lucy, the sisters I never knew I needed.”
“But, Chet, you are my happiness. You are the reason I was meant to come here. You are a strong, proud, handsome, loving man. You are the sort of man I’ve dreamed about my entire life. The prince, the king, the knight, all of the men young women want to be with in one. I love you. I will always love you, and I am so happy to become your wife today. I will never forget this moment and I will never forget how happy you have made me.”
I was shocked to see tears running down Chet’s face. I’d never seen him cry before. He grabbed my hands and squeezed.
“I love you, Arya,” he said, his voice hoarse.
“I love you, too.”
He reached down and touched my belly. “And I love our baby.” He looked at the priest guiltily. “Oops, sorry.” Laughter rippled throughout the crowd.
The priest smiled and shrugged. “It’s okay. At least you’re getting married now. That’s all that matters.”
I beamed at him, happy that he wasn’t going to judge us.
“Can I say something?” Eloise spoke up, and I looked down at her in surprise. She hadn’t told me that she would want to say anything.
“Of course, my darling. You can say whatever you want.”
“Thank you,” she said, softly. She looked up at me, a happy expression on her face. “I just wanted to say that even though Auntie Arya is my auntie, she’s the best mommy I’ve ever had and I am so glad you came to take care of me, and I’m so glad we came to Horseshoe Ranch and I got to meet Grandma Amelia and Granddad Ranger and Daddy Chet, and I’m going to be a big a sister soon and I just want to say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my whole entire life, even more happy than when I went to a birthday party at McDonald’s,” she said.
Everyone laughed and clapped. The priest smiled at her adoringly.
“Well, now, from the mouth of babes,” he said, and cleared his throat. “Everyone, we are gathered here today so that Arya and Chet will come together under the eyes of God in holy matrimony.”
He continued talking, but I wasn’t really paying attention. All I could do was stare at Chet and the love in his eyes. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. I couldn’t believe that this was my life and this was my family. I would never take them for granted. This was the happiest moment of my life and I was going to make sure I was the best wife, mother, sister, and daughter-in-law that I could be.
Bonus Chapter
"We Three Kings of Orient are…” I sang my favorite Christmas song to myself and paused as I saw Olivia approaching me. She had a wide smile on her face, that showcased how happy and content she was.
"You look really happy, Lucy," she said as she stopped next to me. We both looked at the fireplace for a few seconds and then to the enormous Christmas tree on the other side of the room. There was stacks of glittering presents on the ground and I was excited for Christmas Day. “Why did you stop entertaining us?”
"Is that a code for my singing sucks and keep it quiet,” I teased her, laughing slightly as she shook her head.
"No, you know I've always thought you have an amazing voice." There’s a sincere look on her face and my heart warms. She really is the best friend a girl could ever ask for.
"Yeah, but we know that's not exactly true," I laughed. "I mean, you did tell me to apply for American Idol back in the day, even though we both know I can’t sing.”
"I know. I was only kidding you," she grinned. “You have a nice voice, but you’re not Carrie Underwood.” I laughed and then we both looked over at the rest of the family and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and squeezed.
"Can you believe that we are here right now?" I asked her as we stared at Austin and Beau. Sadie and Wyatt were dancing, and Arya and Chet were whispering something into each other's ears. Eloise was playing with Mrs. Hamilton and the three brothers were standing at the side with their dad, Ranger, drinking beers and talking about the snow that had come in earlier in the day.
"I just love it here," I said, taking a deep breath. "I really wish my mom could have spent Christmas here with us. I really wish she would've seen how happy I am."
"She's here with you, even though you can't see her," Olivia said softly gazing at me. "I know you miss her. I miss her too."
"She would've been surprised that I lived here in Montana," I said laughing, thinking about my mom and how she would have reacted knowing I’d made the move to such a remote place.
"I know. Even I'm surprised and I live here too, " Olivia smiled. “We got really lucky meeting the Hamilton brothers."
