James and I were married soon after his proposal and I received my ring on our wedding day. It was a simple ceremony and we were surrounded by the friends who loved us and cared for us. We said our vows and before God we became husband and wife. I’d never been as happy as I was on my wedding day. I was in love and suddenly I knew I’d be spending the rest of my life with the man God had intended for me to love. I had once dreaded my wedding day and now I looked back on it with an unchallenged fondness. I truly had been delivered to the promised land.
The sun was high in the sky, shining down on myself and my husband as we lay on a blanket in a field. Louise and Mark (the blacksmith) were knee deep in a nearby river, casting a net in an attempt to catch our dinner. It was a beautiful summer day and my belly was round and nearly on the verge of popping. I was pregnant with my first child and looking forward to meeting them.
James sat beside me on the blanket, gazing at me lovingly. That look in his eyes still made me blush from time to time. I turned to him and smiled, leaning in to offer him a kiss. “Can I help you?” I teased playfully.
“You’ve already done so much,” he answered honestly.
I blushed and brushed some hair behind my ear. “You’re going to make me blush, darling.” I hummed, putting a hand over my belly.
He put his hand over mine and smiled, leaning in to steal a kiss. “Good,” he whispered, nuzzling me adoringly.
I chuckled softly and wrapped my arms around him, stroking his cheek and chewing on my own bottom lip. “This must be what heaven is like.”
“I can only hope,” he said, pressing his lips to mine.
I sighed into the kiss, overwhelmed with feelings of love and devotion. The road to get here had been bumpy and full of challenges, but despite all of that I found my place in the world and I was happier than I ever imagined I would be.
He pressed his forehead to mine and smiled. “I love you, Madison.”
“And I love you, James.”
I gasped as water was suddenly splashed on me, and Louise looked at me from the river, grinning brightly. “Knock it off, you two!”
James jumped to his feet and ran into the river, grabbing Louise around the waist and dipping her beneath the water playfully. I just shook my head and laughed. It wasn’t what I’d expected, but this was my happily ever after.
THE END
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Romance: Western Mail Order Bride Bethany's Love -Clean Christian Historical Romance (Western Mail Order Bride Short Shorties Series) Page 168