"These are sacks of gold from the Timber Bear Mine," Jessie spurted out. He and Buck exchanged a smirking glance.
"You're paying us five hundred thousand dollars with gold dust?" one of the auditors asked.
There was a murmur throughout the room, eyebrows narrowed and heads shaking.
"This is highly irregular," Mr. Stands said.
"Is it even legal for us to take this?" one of the suits asked.
"We’re paying in gold dust because that’s the easiest way for us to pay. We have proper certifications of its worth," Leland said, still standing with his palms rested on the conference room table. He stared down the length of the room at Mr. Stands.
He could see Sylvia’s shocked and giddy expression out of the corner of his eye and smell her bubbling excitement. Leland took a long draw of breath through his nose as he stood up straight. Just then the sharp scent of hyena filled his lungs.
He looked around the room, glancing at each person individually until his gaze settled back on Sylvia's boss. His eyes had the subtle glow of the shifter. Leland knew that the hyena scent was coming off of him. Leland’s teeth pulled back into a toothy grin as he crossed his arms.
"What do we need to sign?" Leland asked firmly.
"The papers are right here," Mr. Stands said, tossing a packet of papers across the table.
It slid down the highly-polished wood surfaced to the Kincaid brothers. Buck caught the packet and brought it front of Leland and Jessie. Leland looked down as the two brothers went through the packet.
"We need your signatures wherever there's a sticky tab," Mr. Stands said, rising from his seat.
There was plenty of grumbling from the other auditors as Mr. Stands left the conference room. The rest slowly packed up their papers and trailed out behind him, leaving Sylvia, Buck, Jessie and Leland in the conference room.
"I can't believe you just did that," Sylvia giggled.
A security guard came into the conference room and picked up all three bags of gold dust, including Leland’s certification of value, and carried them off on a rolling cart.
The entire time. They all had to hold back a laugh that came bursting out the moment the guard left the room. Leland was the first one to let his chuckle break through his tightly pursed lips, followed by Sylvia, then Jessie, and finally Buck.
Sylvia helped them go through the paperwork as they each signed the places they needed to sign. A secretary came back a few moments later with a receipt of payment. She handed the receipt to Leland, and Leland handed the secretary the documents they'd signed. She hurried out of the room with a blank expression on her face.
"Should we celebrate?" Leland asked his brothers and his mate.
"Of course we should," Jessie said.
"I have to stay at work," Sylvia said.
"But do you really?" Leland asked.
"What you mean?" she asked as Buck and Jessie left the room.
"Do you really need to stay here and keep working in this place you hate?" he asked, gathering her hands in his and looking deeply into her eyes. “Why don't you just come with me now? You could help me run the ranch. Goodness knows we need an accountant. There will always be work for you to do at Timber Bear Ranch. We need your help, baby.”
"Leland, I can't believe you are offering me the honor of helping you run your ranch. I never would have asked for such a thing. It's been in your family for generations. I don't have the right to…"
"Of course you do, Sylvia. You've been there for us all along, helping us through this process. My brothers wouldn't have it any other way. I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that I need you every day in every way. Please come with me. What do I have to do to convince you?"
"You don't have to do anything to convince me, Leland, because I already am," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Chapter 21
Sylvia looked at herself in the mirror, admiring the cascading layers of silk and lace that flowed down the skirt of her wedding gown. She squeezed her eyes closed, trying not to let the tears escape and ruin her makeup. Her mother stepped beside her, squeezing her hand and patting it gently. It felt so good to have her mom here with her on her special day.
"I wish your father could see you today," her mother said softly.
"I do too," Sylvia said, opening her eyes. "I wish he were here to give me away on my wedding day. But I'm so glad you are here to share this moment with me, mom."
"Are you sure you want me to do this?" her mom asked her, putting her hand on her exposed shoulder.
"Of course I am, Mom. There's no one else I would want give me away to my mate."
"I know I haven't always been the most tactful, Sylvia. I pushed you when I shouldn't have. But all this time, all I wanted was for you to be happy.”
"I am happy, Mom. I appreciate everything you tried to do for me. I really do. Now that I found Leland, I can understand what you wanted for me,” she said with a sigh.
"You're lucky woman, my dear. Appreciate him while you can."
"I will, Mom.” Sylvia opened her arms to embrace her mother.
The two women hugged tightly for a long moment. When they pulled back, Sylvia's helped her arrange her veil down her back. Sylvia looked at herself in the mirror one more time, admiring the drop sleeves of her plunging neckline. Her honey brown skin glistened with softness. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were bright. Her mother handed her a long cascading bouquet of white orchids. The fragrance blossomed in the room, filling Sylvia's lungs with their beautiful scent.
There was a soft knock at the door and a woman glanced inside. It was the head receptionist at the Fate Mountain Lodge, Kelly Green.
“It’s time,” she said softly.
"We’ll be right out," Sylvia's mother said.
The older woman picked up a Kleenex and softly dabbed the corners of Sylvia's eyes. She handed her a lip gloss to touch up her lips. After dabbing the gloss for just the perfect coverage, the women nodded at each other and started out the door into the antechamber between the hallway and Fate Mountain Lodge’s legendary atrium.
Leland had spared no expense for their wedding. Sylvia wanted to invite all their friends and family for the special occasion. Her mother had been there for the last week, helping her get settled into the ranch and giving her tips on married life. Most made Sylvia giggle or blush, but many she took to heart and would keep with her for the rest of her life.
Sylvia and her mom stood together in the antechamber as Buck and Jessie moved nervously in their tuxedos. They were escorting Sylvia's two best friends who'd come up to serve as bridesmaids for her special day.
Even though she’d left her job, she was glad she was a short drive from home. So many of her friends and family had come to celebrate her wedding day that it made her heart burst with happiness to look out on the guests, sitting in the rows of chairs. In the clearing at the end of the aisle a waterfall poured below the domed glasses ceiling.
Leland waited for her in front the waterfall with the minister. A string quartet started the wedding march, and Sylvia's heart jumped into her throat. Her mother wrapped her arm through Sylvia's elbow.
"Are you ready?" her mother asked as Buck and her friend started down the aisle.
"I'm more ready than you could know," she giggled.
Jessie and her friend Mary started down the aisle next. Sylvia took a deep breath. She and her mother took the first step down the aisle toward Leland. He waited there in his tuxedo and cowboy hat, looking like a dream. She and her mom stopped at the end of the aisle.
The minister asked in a confident voice, "Who gives this woman to be married?"
"I do," her mother said.
Sylvia squeezed her mom's hand and smiled at her gently as she placed her hand in Leland's. He helped her step up the rise to stand with him in front of the minister. Her bridesmaids took her flowing bouquet. Leland took both of her hands in his as they faced each other.
The minister started the wedding ceremony, g
athering the guests’ attention. Sylvia could feel everyone’s eyes on her and her mate. She loved how it felt to have everyone she loved and everyone Leland loved there for them in that moment.
"Do you, Sylvia Becker, take Leland Kincaid to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Sylvia said.
"And do you, Leland Kincaid, take Sylvia Becker to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Leland said.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Leland leaned toward her and swept her up in his arms, pulling her body against his and capturing her mouth in a passionate kiss. He inhaled her scent deeply. A moment later, with his big hand still firmly around her waist, he let her up for air. Sylvia was swept away in his embrace, her knees going weak. Leland’s strong arms were there to keep her up.
Everyone cheered and clapped, but she didn’t hear it. All she felt was Leland's embrace. They started down the aisle as the guests threw birdseed in the air. Out of the corner of her eye, Sylvia saw a colorful bird leap from a tree and fly into the air, singing across the crowd. “Beautiful!” it cawed.
Sylvia gasped, coming out of her daze. She gazed up at the domed glass ceiling of the atrium as a second bird jumped from another tree. "Gorgeous!" The second bird crowed.
The parrots swooped and dove over the crowd as Leland and Sylvia made their way out of the atrium. Sylvia held her bouquet in her hands. She smelled flowers as the bright blue sky stretched over the glass dome. With the birds flying overhead, her heart sang and her mind raced with anticipation for all the promise of her future with Leland.
They giddily made their way into the Fate Mountain Lodge dining room, already prepared for the reception. All of their old and new friends started to gather. Since joining the Kincaid family, Sylvia had met many of the other bears on Fate Mountain. They were unbelievably close.
Buck was good friends with Rollo Morris of the Bear Patrol. The bears on the Bear Patrol were good friends with the Rescue Bears, Fate Mountain’s search and rescue team.
Everyone was there that day with their children, wearing their finest party clothes. A band played on the stage and Leland swept Sylvia into his arms. He led her into the empty dance floor as the guests filed through the doors into the dining room.
Some guests joined the dance, while the others found their places at the tables. The waiters started to bring out the guests’ meals, and everyone happily drank and ate and laughed as they listened to the band play. Leland held one of Sylvia's hands and his arm gently curved around her waist. She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to his heart beat. It was the most beautiful sound, more beautiful than music. She could rest her head there for the rest of her life.
Closing her eyes softly, she let herself fall into Leland's rhythm as he guided her across the dance floor, feeling his strong body against hers as he gently held her. When the dance was finally done, he kissed her softly before guiding her to the wedding table where they started their meal.
When they finished their food, she heard the telltale ding, ding, ding of a fork on a champagne flute.
"I would like to make a toast," Buck started as he stood at the other end of the wedding table. "To my brother, the Alpha of the Kincaid clan. When you first arrived here, it was difficult for all of us, me in particular. I couldn't understand why dad would leave you the role of Alpha. Now brother, I understand exactly why it was the right thing to do.
Even though our dad made a lot of mistakes, making you Alpha wasn't one of them. You had the steady head and the heart to see us through this difficult time. Fate stepped in and lent us a hand at the very last moment.
“If you hadn't kept fighting for love and for the family, who knows what would've happened. Thank you for coming home," Buck said. “And congratulations to you both. You two inspire me."
Buck sat down, and Sylvia felt her heart pounding in her chest at Buck’s declaration of pride and devotion to his brother. It was exactly what the family needed right now. She wished that Cyrus could've been here, but that was probably too much to ask.
Then Jessie got up to say his speech. "I'm not the guy people usually ask to make speeches in polite company,” he started. Everyone laughed. “Everything Buck said, I say double. Leland, you were always the leader. Even when you left. It made Dad mad as hell, but you were right all along.
“Having you home is like old times. Now we just need to get Cyrus down off the mountain and the whole clan will be back together again. I, for one, can't wait," Jesse said, lifting his glass to his brother and then taking a long swig before he sat down.
Everyone clapped with approval, and there was laughter and joking throughout the audience. The music started up again, and the guests went out on the dance floor to dance the night away. Sylvia was overjoyed to have a quiet moment to focus on her husband as the rest of the wedding table left to dance to the band.
"I feel so happy, I don't know how to contain it," Sylvia confessed with a smile as she leaned into Leland and squeezed his hand.
He cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead.
"I know exactly what you mean," he said. "But I have a feeling it's only going to get better from here.”
Chapter 22
Leland gazed out at the pastures extending down to the river and the view of the rolling hills beyond. Snow carpeted the ground and dusted the green tree boughs. The sky was blue and bright with the afternoon sun glowing warm overhead. Leland took a deep swig of his morning coffee and breathed a steamy, satisfied sigh.
He turned and walked through the French doors of his new master bedroom and back inside. He gazed at Sylvia and their son: Henry Leland Kincaid, named after his father's father. Sylvia held their baby boy in her arms as he drank his morning breakfast. Sylvia’s cat Charlie nestled lazily at the end of their big bed. Leland walked across the room and sat beside her.
"He's hungry this morning," she said with a giggle. "He takes after his father."
"He has the Kincaid nose and chin, and your eyes."
"I think he has my father's cheekbones," Sylvia said caressing the back of her index finger over her baby's cheek softly.
Henry was a month old today. The last thirty days had been the happiest of Leland's life. He never would have imagined that he could feel greater love and fulfillment than the day he'd claimed Sylvia. But the moment his son was born, he felt as if he'd grown another heart.
A second heart large enough to contain all the unbridled love he felt for his family. Sylvia had done so much for him and given him everything. Since she had to come to Timber Bear Ranch, the company had become three times as profitable. She ran the farm's finances while he attended to leadership. The herd was healthy and strong, and they would have many calves in the spring.
"Do you need anything from downstairs?" he asked softly, patting her leg over the blanket.
"I would love another cup of tea," she said.
He kissed her softly on the cheek and grabbed her tea mug on the way out the door. When he got downstairs to the kitchen, he put the kettle on and started to go over his schedule on his laptop on the counter. There was a knock at the kitchen door and a moment later his brothers stepped inside.
"What is that?" Leland said.
"Today is the day we make our last payment," Jessie said.
"We wanted to be here to commemorate the moment,” Buck continued.
A slow smile crept over Leland's face as he finished Sylvia's tea.
"Is it ready?" Sylvia asked, walking into the kitchen in her warm fuzzy green wrap dress and insulated boots. Her hair was piled up on her head in a messy bun and she was wearing a thick pair of glasses. She couldn't have been lovelier.
"Yes, my dear," he said walking toward her to carefully hand her the hot mug. She took it with a gra
teful sigh and began to sip.
"I put Henry down for a nap," she said. "What are you guys doing here?"
"They want to be here to when we make the last debt payment," Leland said.
Sylvia started to laugh and nodded her head in agreement.
"That sounds like a perfect idea."
They all went into the dining room and sat around the big old oak table as Leland typed into his laptop computer. He went to the website form and filled out the form. His finger hovered over the mouse, the pointer hovering over ‘send’.
"This is it," he said with a big smile.
"Do it!" Jessie cheered.
“Yeah, do it," Buck encouraged.
Sylvia gasped and giggled and then took another sip of tea. Leland smiled at his mate and then his brothers before looking back at the screen. With a grin, he forcefully clicked his mouse button. The page loaded and it was done.
Jessie stood up and pumped his fist into the air with loud "I’m going to buy a new truck," he said.
"Hold on a minute," Leland protested.
Buck sat back in his chair and crossed his arm, shaking his head. He had a massive smile plastered on his face. Sylvia set her mug back on the table and giggled at the brothers’ excitement.
"We did it, guys," she said. “We really did it. You are all so brave. There were times when I wanted to run away, but each of you stuck it out. Now we have a future to look forward to as a family.”
"We just have to get these two mated off," Leland mocked.
"I've been signed up for that dating site for a long time," Buck grumbled.
"I don't need a mate," Jessie said. "I get all the girls I want."
"You may change your mind," Sylvia said with wide smile.
"I know you'll change your mind," Leland said. "Because in the end, what I want more than anything, for all my brothers, is for you to be as happy as I am with my dear sweet mate, Sylvia."
Sylvia reached across the table and slid her fingers into Leland's hand, squeezing affectionately.
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