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Her eyes welled with tears, and she glanced at Nate. He smiled at her and then around at everyone. “I love seeing my best friends every day,” he said. “I love the men you were with me in prison, and I love the men you are now. I love the women who love my boys, and I love—” He cleared his throat. “I love this ranch that literally saved me and Connor.” He looked back at Ginger, and she turned to Dallas.
“It’ll be a quick prayer,” Dallas said. “I know we’re all hungry.” He tucked his cowboy hat under his arm, and Hannah watched as all the other cowboys did too.
She watched them all as Dallas prayed, thanking the Lord for their blessings from the past year. Luke sidestepped over to her, and she looked at him. The perfect sense of love filled her, and Luke silently leaned down and kissed her.
“Amen,” she said when everyone else did, and then she said, “I love you, and I love our life together here at Hope Eternal.”
“I do too, angel,” he said. “Can you believe this is where we are?”
Hannah grinned up at him. “You know what? Yes, I can.” She looked at Jess and Dallas, who were helping their kids get food. She loved Jess so much, and she loved Thomas and Remmy and Jonas too. Dallas was the perfect compliment to all of them, and Hannah didn’t know anyone who was more dedicated to his family and children.
She watched Nate bend down and pick up his son and start pointing to things on the counter. Anything Ward nodded at, Ginger put on a plate for him. Ginger had been the steady rock in Hannah’s life for so many years, and it was a true blessing to see her bloom in new ways as she embraced her role as wife and mother.
Nathaniel Mulbury had changed everything at Hope Eternal Ranch, and a rush of gratitude filled her for the way he’d brought all of his friends here, kept them united, and pushed them to heal. Without Nate, Hannah wasn’t sure she’d have Luke at her side right now.
She watched Ted and Emma inch through the line while Missy helped Frannie. Fran and Matt followed, as they attended almost every family function. How Ted had accepted Emma and all of her secrets, her past, and her friend warmed Hannah’s heart, and she was so glad Emma had let down her guard and allowed herself to fall in love with the big, burly teddy bear of a man.
Hannah finally turned her attention to Jill, who currently knelt in front of her toddler and put a bib around Savannah’s neck. She lifted the girl into her arms and passed her to Slate, who held a children’s plate full of food already.
He took his daughter over to a highchair at the table and strapped her in. He put a sippy cup on the tray in front of her and then her plate of food. He bent down and pressed a kiss to her head, and it was really hard to believe that the man had been in prison at all.
Hannah looked at Luke, and the glow about him warmed her soul. She snuggled deeper into his side, glad when he lifted his arm around her shoulders.
Yes, she loved him, and she loved this life she had at Hope Eternal Ranch.
* * *
