Page 97 of The Promises We Broke
"...and she actually said yes," Gage was saying, his voice filled with wonder. "Can you believe it, boy? After everything I put her through, she still wants to marry me."
Bullet nickered softly and nudged Gage's shoulder, as if congratulating him.
"I know you understand," Gage continued, stroking the horse's neck. "You helped me find my way back to my family, and now look at us."
I leaned against the fence post, my heart swelling as I watched the man I was going to marry share his joy with the horse who'd helped him heal.
"He's a good listener," I said softly.
Gage turned, his face lighting up when he saw me. "Sorry, I just... I needed to tell him."
"Of course you did." I slipped my arms around his waist, breathing in the familiar scent of him mixed with winter air and happiness. "He's part of your healing journey."
"Our journey," Gage corrected, pulling me closer. "I wish we could take him with us to the house, but I know he belongs here."
"He does," Booker's voice came from behind us, making us both turn. He was walking toward the fence with his own cup of coffee, Reece beside him bundled in a thick coat. "And I think he's found his own reason to stay."
We all looked toward the paddock, where a beautiful chestnut mare with a white blaze was standing at the fence line, clearly waiting for Bullet's attention.
"That's Spirit," Reece explained with a knowing smile. "She's one of our rescue mares. They've been inseparable since she arrived. I think Bullet's found his own happy ending."
As if he understood, Bullet gave Gage one last gentle nudge, then trotted across the paddock to Spirit, who greeted him with a soft whicker and began grooming his neck.
"Looks like he's exactly where he belongs," Gage said, his voice thick with emotion.
"We all are," Booker said simply.
"Ready to go home?" Gage asked softly, his breath warm against my ear.
Home. Our house. The life we were building together.
"More than ready," I said, and meant it completely.
As we said our goodbyes and gathered our gifts, baby Barrett in Gage's arms reaching for my ring one more time, I felt acompleteness I'd never experienced before. This was what love looked like when it had room to grow. This was what family felt like when everyone chose to stay.
"Merry Christmas, fiancée," Gage said as we headed toward his truck.
"Merry Christmas, future husband."
And walking toward our truck with my hand in his, surrounded by the warmth and chaos and perfect imperfection of the family we'd chosen and who had chosen us back, I knew that some promises really were strong enough to survive anything.
Even the ones we thought we'd broken.
Epilogue Gage
The dining room table we'd finally assembled last weekend was barely big enough for our entire family, but somehow we'd managed to squeeze everyone around it. Baby Barrett dozed peacefully in Delaney's arms, occasionally making soft baby noises that made everyone pause their conversations to smile at him.
"Pass the rolls," Cade said, reaching across Xander to grab the basket before anyone could respond.
"Manners," Blake reminded him, but she was laughing.
"Please pass the rolls," Cade corrected with exaggerated politeness, making Amelia giggle and clap her sticky hands.
I looked around the table at the chaos and felt that familiar surge of gratitude that still caught me off guard sometimes. Six months ago, I'd been convinced I didn't deserve to be part of this family. Now here I was, hosting Sunday dinner in the house that Billie and I had always dreamed of building a life in together, watching my nephew learn table manners while my fiancée helped Reece plan seating charts for Trace and Delaney's summer wedding.
"So we're thinking August fifteenth," Delaney was saying, gently adjusting Barrett in her arms as he stirred slightly. "The weather should be perfect, and it gives us time to get everything organized."
"That's perfect timing," Billie said, making notes on the napkin she'd been using to sketch table arrangements. "It'll give us plenty of time to help with planning, and then we can think about our own wedding afterward."
