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Within six months, they were asking JT to come back in time for the coming guest season. Though JT was ready for more interesting work after working as a ranch hand at Thorton's horse breeding operation, he held firm that he wouldn't go back unless he received a more competitive salary and had a lot more authority to run the guest business the way he saw fit.
They had finally acquiesced, and now not only was JT making nearly twice what he'd been making when he'd left, the new guest cabins, fitness center, and remodeled pool area were going to be ready to open when the guests started arriving in two weeks.
So what if it was a year behind schedule?
And there had been a few more hiccups as they all got used to his greater authority, but as things had settled down, he found himself getting along better with his family than he could ever remember. Even his brother, Cort, had conceded that maybe JT's hands-on experience counted for more than he'd given him credit for.
It also helped that, true to JT's prediction, there was a lot more involved in getting the pasture-raised organic cattle operation up and running than his father, uncles, and brother had anticipated. It was enough to keep them too distracted to spend much time hanging over JT's shoulder.
All in all, life was better than he could have imagined it.
That being said, his job satisfaction accounted for only a small fraction of his happiness.
No, most of that lay squarely on the slim shoulders of the beautiful woman standing at the end of the white carpet that stretched between the two groups of chairs. As the string quartet struck up Pachelbel's Canon in D, Colleen linked her right arm through her mother's, and her left through her brother's. In her hands, she clutched a bouquet of pink and white peonies.
Next to Eileen sat Frankie, Colleen's ridiculous little dog, his tongue lolling out as he surveyed the wedding guests with his wide doggy grin. As they all started down the aisle, Eileen had to tug on his leather leash to coax him off his chubby butt to follow them down the aisle.
Though Colleen's face was obscured by the delicate lace of her veil, he could make out her broad smile and knew it matched his own.
Tears burned the back of his eyes. He blinked rapidly, marveling a little that they were finally here, living this moment. After almost two years of patiently building trust, their love deepening by the day, Colleen was finally going to become his wife.
His heart clenched at the sight of her, a vision in satin and lace. The creamy skin of her arms and shoulders were left bare by thin strips of cream satin. The scooped neckline tastefully emphasized her full breasts, and the bodice hugged her torso and slim waist. There, the satin skirt with its lace overlay flared out and swayed slightly as she continued down the aisle.
The skirt also did a good job of hiding the fact that the bride was thirteen weeks pregnant.
Last week's test results had confirmed the baby's health, and had them bursting with equal parts joy and relief. As he took her hand, his knees went a little weak as he realized right then, in that moment, all their shared dreams were coming true. A home, a family, a life with Colleen. All he’d ever wanted was something just like this.
THE END
