Page 61 of Montana Freedom

Lena put her hand on my arm and then pulled it away. “Sorry, I should ask first. I’m a touchy-feely person, and I forget. Is it okay if I give you a hug?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

She hugged me and squeezed me tight. “We all end up here for a reason, and we all have stories. We’re not nice for any other reason than you’re a person and you deserve kindness. And beyond that, we understand.”

I didn’t have time to respond. She pulled away and smiled. “I need to go check on the bride, but things will start in just a few minutes, and I’ll see you at the reception.”

Lena nearly skipped away, and I had to sit down, suddenly worried my legs wouldn’t fully hold me. People were filtering in, and I just sat there in the middle of it all with my thoughts. They weren’t being kind out of obligation, and frankly, I’d forgotten what that was like.

Lena had already wanted to invite me here, and she’d never know how much it meant to me. I blinked away the tears misting my eyes and listened to the soft music coming through the speakers. People I didn’t recognize sat around me, and I couldn’t help the nerves forming in my stomach.

Out of habit, I searched for faces I might know who could cause me harm. Any of Simon’s men that I’d encountered or Simon himself, but of course, I saw none of them. Everyone seemed happy and friendly.

No sign of my favorite FBI agents either, thankfully.

From the side of the barn, Lucas came in with the officiant. The music swelled, and we all turned to watch as Liam came down the aisle alone with a pillow and the rings, completely hamming it up as the adult ring bearer. Laughter rang out, and a spike of yearning wove through me.

This was beautiful—a community that could laugh together in the midst of both sadness and beauty.

Next, Lena came down the aisle with Jude. There weren’t any official roles, I’d been told. Everyone was too close for there to be titles like best man and maid of honor. Not when their chosen family was so tangled. The other pairings followed. Grace and Harlan, Cori and Grant, Noah and Kate.

They all stood together at the front, and when the music changed again, everyone stood. Lucas looked at the back of the church, and the emotion on his face as he saw his bride was so pure, I choked up with him. Such love and awe. I couldn’t imagine someone looking at me like that.

Turning, I watched Evelyn walking down the aisle, escorted by Daniel. He was perfect, as the leader of the group, to stand in for a role traditionally held by the father.

The expression on Evelyn’s face matched Lucas’s.

Her dress was incredible and made more so by its strapless design. The scars she’d suffered were on full display, and it was beautiful. They were both a part of her and a testament to the fact that she’d survived the impossible.

The only scar I had from what had happened to me was the one healing on my side, but I still hoped I could be as brave as she was one day.

Her hands overflowed with calla lilies, and she also had one in her hair. Lucas couldn’t take his eyes off her. Even when she was finally in front of him, he was swiping at his eyes while he had the biggest smile on his face.

“Please be seated.”

As I sat, I caught Daniel’s eye. He was staring at me, the hunger and intensity he used to hide now on full display. My stomach did a flip-flop, and I could only stare back. Again, I felt the vastness of these feelings and didn’t know what to do with them. I put my hand to my heart, hoping he understood.

The ceremony itself was short and simple. Lucas and Evelyn exchanged vows and rings, and everyone was poised, waiting for the pronouncement of husband and wife, when Lucas held out a hand. “I have more to say.”

Evelyn startled. “Really?”

I saw his hand squeeze hers. “Really.”

From the pocket of his tuxedo, Lucas pulled a piece of paper and unfolded it. “I wrote it down because I don’t want to get sidetracked in the middle.”

He still held one of her hands. “I will never forget the first time I saw you. Jumpier than a brand-new foal and terrified of your own shadow. Before you ever saw me, I looked at you, and I knew you were going to change my life.”

“Lucas.” His name was so quiet only those of us in the first couple of rows could hear it.

“And I know it was chance that brought us together, but every day, I say thank you to whichever person forgot to take down that flyer. So many days it could have been thrown away, and I might never have met you and lost you before I ever had the chance to know you.” He took a second, and it felt like the entire building held its breath. Even if everyone here didn’t know the whole story, they knew enough.

“So when I tell you I vow to love you forever, through everything, no matter what, I do it knowing we’ve already survived what might be the worst. We’ve already overcome so much just by finding each other, and now I can fully breathe, knowing you’re finally my wife.”

The piece of paper disappeared, and he took her other hand again. “I love you.”

Evelyn was truly crying, and so was I. So was half the room. Lucas kissed her, and no one thought twice as the officiant pronounced them married without ever giving permission for the kiss. It wasn’t a normal wedding kiss. It was the all-consuming kiss of two people who loved each other more than life itself and had already proven it.

The entire barn burst into cheers when they came apart, and they weren’t remotely aware of it. Lucas brushed away her tears and said something to her too soft to hear over the applause. Finally, they retreated up the aisle, smiles on their faces, still practically unaware of the crowd that had assembled for them.

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