Page 117 of Long Time Coming

“Yes.”

And then I’m on the dance floor alone.

My dad saves my pride, and we catch the next slow dance. “I wanted to give you something for your wedding.”

“You already gave me so much—my something blue, the sapphire earrings, and the borrowed dress I took from her closet.”

“Those were always meant to be yours. As a minority owner of Rollingwood Ranch but a major decision maker, I had a plot of land mapped out.” He stops and pulls an envelope from his back pocket. “This is for you and Tagger to get your own home started.”

“Dad, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I know. It’s the place your mom always wanted to build her retirement home.”

This is news.“You have a house. Right there.”

“She wanted a cottage for just the two of us one day. We were going to keep this one for when family visits or we had the grandkids for the summer.” He taps the envelope. “But this right here was the place she called most magical.”

I take the envelope, feeling a stupid lump in my throat. My emotions are running the gamut this wedding season. Before I can ask, he adds, “I buried her where the sun could shine on her. She was always looking for a sweater. But the spot where she lies is where I found her most mornings picking wildflowers. For several years, she spread the seeds. Now, they grow in her memory.”

I move into my dad’s arms, feeling closer than ever and knowing my mom is with us right now. “Thank you, Dad.”

“No getting sappy. Go and get on with your night, Christine, and enjoy it.”

I turn to see Tagger smiling at me. There are no signs of impatience or rushing me, but I still run right into his arms. He lifts me off the ground and twirls me around. I kiss his temple and whisper, “Where are you taking me for our honeymoon?”

He sets me down, leaving his hands heavy on my hips. “To heaven, baby, and back again.”

“Promise?”

“I just made a vow before our friends and family and the skies above?—”

“Fine,” I say, playfully rolling my eyes. “I believe you.”

While others are filing through the buffet of barbecue and homemade cheddar biscuits, we start dancing in the dirt because why not? But then I remember something and reach down to swap one contract for the plans my dad just gave us. Handing it to him, I say, “Here’s your prenup.”

“Are you mad?”

“Hell-bent with fire.” When he flips open the paperwork, his eyes return to mine. “You didn’t sign them.”

“I’m not going to. We’re in this together forever. What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is yours.”

With the papers in his hand, he lowers it to my hip while holding the other in the air. We start a slow dance that will only end up with us in bed, judging by the look in his eyes.Sexy devil.

He leans down and kisses me. “Tell me, Pris, was it worth the wait?”

“The wait was worth the while, cowboy.”

. . . And they lassoed their way right into their own fairytale ending. But there’s more *winks* So keep reading!

EPILOGUE 2

Tagger

Two years later . . .

Beck is running up ahead, Pris not far behind, though she looks back twice, crossing her eyes and pretending she’s about to die from being run ragged by him, and somehow looks just as beautiful as she did at the sundries store. It’s like not a day has passed, and my love only grows for her. She waves him forward. “Go on without me, Beck. Take care of your chickens, and I’ll be there when I catch my breath.”

From her encouragement, he’s gotten into running to burn off all that energy he keeps stored up all day in school. The kid never tires, so now he outruns us all. He’s taking after me and growing like a weed at his age. I just know I’m going to blink, and he’s going to be in high school. But I guess that’s how it works. We look up, and they’re grown.

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