The sound increased in volume and the closer it got, the more sure she was that they were some kind of bells. A dozen of them, maybe more. She went to the front door and opened it.
Two lights moved across the snow and then Quinn made out the shapes of two horses, next to each other, pulling a sleigh. She laughed when she recognized Craig under a mound of blankets, driving the contraption. He guided the horses onto the driveway and halted them.
“What are you doing?” she called out.
“Get bundled up. I’m taking you for a ride.”
Quinn didn’t take the time to question him. She rushed to her room and put on her warmest pants, followed by a pair of fleece sweats, her wool socks and a thick sweater. In the mudroom, she put on her winter jacket, boots, hat and gloves and dashed out to where Craig waited.
“Where in the world did you get this?” she asked him after he covered her up with blankets and gave her a sound kiss. “And why didn’t you tell me you were home?”
“Actually, this is your brother’s. If you’ve been paying attention you would’ve known he bought it last week.” Craig guided the horses in a big circle and then headed out toward the prairie where he’d come from. “Marisol and I snuck back into town this afternoon. If I’d called you to let you know then you wouldn’t be surprised to see me, now would you?”
Quinn leaned against him, pure contentment sinking right down to the bone. “True. I’ve never been in a sleigh.”
The horses managed the snow surprisingly well and they glided along at a good clip. The light from the lantern illuminated the snow around them and sent sparkles everywhere. Above, the moon shone brighter than she had thought earlier and gave the prairie an unearthly look.
“Then sit back and enjoy.”
They headed toward the pond where they swam and made love all those months ago. Though she’d seen it thousands of times before, the changes in the landscape between summer and winter always amazed her. Each held its own particular beauty, and she was hard pressed to decide which enchanted her more.
This, she thought as she cuddled into Craig’s warmth, had to be it. The jingle from the dozens of bells on the horses’ harness rose merrily into the crisp air. She tasted the pure snow kicked up into the air by the dashing hooves. Everything glistened under the moonlight, turning the world into a magical place where only she and Craig existed.
How much more perfect could it be? Quinn realized she sounded as romantic as Craig had once accused her of being.
Craig slowed the team down and stopped the sleigh by the pond, now covered with a thick blanket of fresh snow. Later in the winter, she’d convince Craig and Marisol to come out for a little ice-skating, like she used to do when she was a kid. She’d ask Jacob to join, had a feeling Jacob, with his busy schedule, would refuse.
“Can’t believe we were swimming here just a few months ago,” she said, breaking the silence.
“And in no time we’ll be swimming here again.” Craig hugged her to him.
“Mmm. Sexy. Very sexy.” She nuzzled his neck.
“Quinn.” Craig’s voice wasn’t more than a whisper. He kissed her temple.
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Craig took her hand and slid her glove off. She glanced up at him. His eyes glittered in the moonlight.
“Quinn, I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I never thought when Marisol and I came to live here I’d find the woman of my dreams. And who would’ve thought she was the girl next door? Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, allowing me to be your husband?”
His words sent her heart thundering and nearly swept the breath right from her lungs. From underneath the blanket he brought out a small velvet box and opened it. She didn’t have to see the ring to know what her answer would be. Tears blurred her vision of the diamond. “You know I’ve honestly been dreaming of this moment all my life. Well, since I was ten,” she murmured shakily and looked up at him. “I’d given up on it ever happening, but now it’s here, well it’s more perfect than I could’ve imagined.”
She pressed a trembling kiss on his mouth, clung to his lips for a long moment while she tried to get her senses to stop reeling.
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes,” she replied in a whisper and touched her hand to his cheek, tracing the dimple in his cheek. “Oh, Craig, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do with my life than to spend it with you and Marisol.”
Craig pulled the ring out of the box and brought her hand away from his face, kissing it tenderly. She tried to keep it from trembling, but did a lousy job of it. Craig’s hold was firm but gentle. He slid the ring on her finger, brought it back up to his lips.
“Thank you,” he said simply. “I love you so much. You’ve made two people extremely happy.”
Quinn knew he meant Marisol and realized the girl must have known what her dad was up to. It warmed her heart to know she had the girl’s approval.
She drew in her breath and savored the chilly, fresh air, but she was warm and safe within the tight circle of Craig’s arms. The diamond on her finger glimmered in the light of the lantern. Craig swung the horses around and they headed back across the snowy plain. Quinn smiled and the wind blew against her face. She lifted her gaze up and looked at the black sky, filled with stars as glittery as her ring. Now she had everything she could possibly want in the world, right under that South Dakota sky.
Epilogue
Long Knife Creek Ranch was decked out for a wedding. White and pink flowers were everywhere and soft spring sunlight set them to glow.
Quinn stood in Jacob’s office, gripping onto the rose and gardenia bouquet as if it were a lifeline. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. The day couldn’t have been more perfect, clear and cool with a slight, fragrant breeze riding in off the prairie.
Maybe it was the dress. Even though it was a simple, long sleeved gown of antique lace over oyster satin, it weighed a ton and she found herself wishing it were a pair of jeans and tee shirt. But that would hardly be appropriate for her own wedding.
Alexis artfully decorated her hair with sprigs of Baby’s Breath before putting on the delicate veil.
“I’m only going to do this once,” Quinn declared, but as she said it she knew it had less to do with getting dolled up and more to do with the lifetime of love wrapped up in the man who would be waiting for her at the end of the aisle.
“Well, I think Craig would be pleased to hear that. You look absolutely stunning.”
Alexis turned her toward the mirror and Quinn’s mouth nearly dropped to the floor. She hadn’t been allowed to watch her transformation and now she hardly recognized herself.
Her hair had been swept up in a simple, soft knot at the back of her neck. The little makeup brought out the blue in her eyes, a soft blush to her cheeks and made her lips look fuller.
“I look like a girl,” she said in soft disbelief.
Alexis chuckled. “I don’t think there was any doubt about that.”
“I did. If someone had told me sixteen years ago I’d be standing here, preparing to become Mrs. Craig Lynch I’d have fainted dead away. How in the world can I handle this happiness? All I want to do is dance with joy and then scream a little.”
“Well, there’ll be plenty of time for dancing later. I think it’s about time to get yourself married.”
Quinn nodded and Alexis went to let Jacob in. He would walk her down the aisle and give her away.
“Who would’ve guessed you would clean up like this,” Jacob teased. Thea elbowed him in the side.
“I’m kidding. I always knew. You are going to knock Craig dead. He’s a good man and you two will be very happy together. Marisol too. She’s going to love having a rodeo queen for a mom.”
Quinn grinned. Jacob’s full acceptance of her relationship was a hard fought battle, but in the end, he came around. The day wouldn’t have been as perfect if he hadn’t. “Well I hope she wo
n’t mind if I’m retired from the rodeo scene. I’m hoping that she’ll follow in my footsteps.”
Jacob nodded and offered her his arm. “Ready?”
“I’ve been ready since I was ten.”
Jacob gazed at her, his blue eyes warm. All at once Quinn missed her parents with a powerful punch that caught her by surprise.
“I wish Dad and Mom were here,” she said and pushed away the tears that flooded her eyes.
Jacob hugged her to him. “I know, but I bet they’re here just the same.”
“I think you’re right. Damn, I’m going to ruin my makeup.”
She pulled away from her brother and grinned up at him. With his thumb he gently brushed her face, just below her eyelid. “Nope, it’s perfect. Now I think everyone’s waiting for you.”
The bridal party was small. One bridesmaid and Thea as her matron of honor drifted up the aisle. Quinn took a deep breath and clung to Jacob’s arm when the wedding march began, but as they stepped into the doorway and she saw Craig standing there, next to the minister, all the butterflies in her belly disappeared. Even from a distance, she could see his clear blue eyes, the small smile on his face, so warm and comforting.
Next to him stood Marisol, his “best daughter”. It was fitting, and the girl looked radiant. Even better, she smiled in a way that left Quinn no doubt things would work out.
Wow I’m going to be a mom.
Halfway down the aisle that seemed to go on forever, Quinn paused, her attention back on Craig. He furrowed his brows as she slowly lifted the hem of her gown. When it was up about a foot off the floor, Craig burst out laughing.
She may have looked all girly on the outside, but underneath she was still a cowgirl. She wiggled her foot, displaying her favorite pair of boots, the ones she had to sneak on when Alexis wasn’t looking.
Jacob pulled her along, but not before the guests saw the boot clad foot and joined in the laughter.
Not soon enough, Jacob placed Quinn’s hands into Craig’s.
“Take care of her,” he said in a low voice before turning to give her a soft kiss on the cheek.
All was right with the world, there with her hands warm in Craig’s safe, strong hold. A lifetime of hopes and dreams reflected in his eyes.
His words, the gold band he slipped on her finger and the kiss they shared after the minister pronounced them man and wife was the perfect start to their own forever.
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Since the age of 12, Cerian has known what she wanted to be when she grew up. Now, many many years later she still says it. Its been her dream to be an author. Countless notebooks are filled with her stories written over the years while she’s worked jobs like cleaning stalls in New York to booking cruises in Maine. Currently she’s happily settled in southwestern New Hampshire with her husband and three children working for a well-known children’s magazine company, but in her spare time she’s busy weaving stories and continuing to pursue her dreams.
Visit Cerian Hebert's website at www.cerianhebert.com
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