Her Second Chance Cowboy (Crystal Creek Sweet Romances #1)

Chapter Nineteen

The morning of the festival arrived with a buzz of excitement in the air. Emma woke early, her heart racing with anticipation as she looked out the window at the bustling activity already underway on the ranch. The sky was a crisp, clear blue, promising a perfect day for the celebration.

She dressed quickly, choosing a simple but elegant sundress, and made her way downstairs. The kitchen was already filled with the delicious scents of freshly brewed coffee and homemade pastries, courtesy of Mabel, who had insisted on coming over early to help with the preparations.

“Good morning, Emma!” Mabel called out, her face breaking into a warm smile as she caught sight of her. “You look absolutely beautiful, my dear. An absolute picture. You remind me so much of your father.”

Emma felt a lump rising in her throat at the mention of her father, but she swallowed it back, determined to focus on the joy and excitement of the day ahead. “Thank you, Mabel,” she said, giving the older woman a quick hug. “I couldn’t have done any of this without your help and support.”

Mabel waved away the thanks, her eyes twinkling with affection. “Oh, hush now. You’ve done all the hard work, Emma. We’re just here to celebrate with you and show you how much you mean to all of us.”

As Emma stepped out onto the porch, she was greeted by a scene of organized chaos. Volunteers from all over the community were hard at work, setting up booths and tables, hanging decorations, and arranging displays of local crafts and products. The air was filled with laughter and chatter, punctuated by the occasional moo or whinny from the livestock pens.

Garth was manning the grill, flipping burgers and hot dogs with practiced ease. He looked up as Emma approached, a grin spreading across his weathered face. “There she is, the lady of the hour!” he called out, waving his spatula in greeting. “Everything’s coming together real nice, Emma.”

“Thank you, Garth,” she said brightly. “But, um, isn’t it a little early for burgers?”

“Never too early for a burger, my girl!” he said, waving his spatula.

She laughed and left him to it. As she made her way through the crowd, greeting friends and neighbors, Emma couldn’t help but marvel at the outpouring of love and support. Everywhere she looked, there were smiling faces and warm embraces, people coming up to congratulate her and express their admiration for all that she had done.

There was just one person missing.

Chris found her as she scanned the gathered faces, distracting her from her search for Cody. He looked as charming as ever in a crisp button-down shirt and jeans. He greeted her with a warm hug. “Emma, this is incredible!” he exclaimed, gesturing to the bustling festival around them. “You’ve really outdone yourself. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store for this place.”

Emma grinned, feeling a rush of affection for her longtime friend. “Thanks, Chris,” she said, squeezing his arm. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of you and your dad, and everyone else here. You’ve all been there for me through thick and thin.”

Chris smiled, his expression softening. “That’s what friends are for, Emma. We’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

As they chatted, Dr. Hanson approached, looking dapper in a suit and tie. He smiled warmly at Emma, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Emma, my dear,” he said, his voice filled with affection. “What a wonderful celebration you’ve put together. It’s a testament to your hard work and dedication to this ranch and this community.”

Emma felt a lump rising in her throat, touched by the vet’s kind words. “Thank you, Dr. Hanson,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “That means the world to me, coming from you. You’ve been such a blessing for the animals, always there when we needed you.”

Dr. Hanson chuckled, patting her hand. “It’s been my pleasure, Emma. Though I have to confess, these old bones are starting to object to working with big, surly animals. Never your Daisy, of course.”

“Of course,” Emma said with a chuckle, well aware that Daisy could have as much of an attitude as any horse, when the mood took her.

“But I’m hopeful I won’t have to manage all on my own for much longer.”

Emma raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Oh?”

“I’m hoping that one day soon, my daughter will be ready to take over the practice and carry on the work that I’ve loved so much.”

Emma’s eyes widened in surprise. “Selene? I didn’t know she was interested in veterinary medicine.”

Dr. Hanson nodded, a proud smile tugging at his lips. “Oh yes, she’s been working hard at it for years now. She’s off getting some experience at a big stable upstate, looking after their horses, but she’s ready to come back and start taking on more responsibility at the clinic. I’m hoping that one day, when these old bones of mine can’t keep up anymore, she’ll be ready to take over the practice and continue the work we’ve done here.”

Emma’s face lit up, excitement bubbling in her chest. “Dr. Hanson, that’s wonderful news!” she exclaimed, clasping his hands in her own. “I’m so happy for you and Selene. I can’t wait to see her again and hear all about her adventures.”

As they continued to talk, Emma felt a sense of warmth and belonging wash over her. These people, this community, they were more than just friends and neighbors. They were family, bound together by the love and the memories they shared, by the roots they had put down in this place that meant so much to all of them.

Just then, Emma felt a familiar presence beside her and turned to see Cody, his eyes shining with love and admiration. She smiled, her heart skipping a beat as he took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together.

“Hey there, stranger,” she teased, bumping her shoulder against his. “Where have you been? I was starting to think you’d gotten lost.”

Cody chuckled, a mysterious twinkle in his eye. “Oh, I had something I needed to take care of,” he said, his voice low and playful. “But don’t worry, I’m all yours for the rest of the day.”

Emma raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued, but decided not to press him further. Instead, she leaned into his side, reveling in the warmth and strength of his presence.

Together, they made their way through the festival, stopping to chat with friends and neighbors, sampling the delicious food, and taking in the sights and sounds of the celebration. Emma couldn’t help but marvel at the way Cody seemed to fit so seamlessly into her world – or maybe the way she fit into his - and the way he charmed everyone he met with his easy smile and genuine warmth.

As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking array of pinks and oranges, Emma knew that it was time. Time to take the stage, to say the words that had been burning in her heart, to express the gratitude and love that threatened to overflow.

With Cody by her side, she stepped up to the microphone, feeling a hush fall over the crowd as all eyes turned towards her. For a moment, she felt a flicker of nerves, a momentary doubt in her own ability to convey all that she was feeling. But then she felt Cody’s hand on the small of her back, a gentle, reassuring touch, and she felt a sense of calm washing over her.

“Friends, neighbors…family,” she began, her voice ringing out clear and strong across the yard. “I want to thank you all for being here today, for sharing in this incredible moment with me.”

She paused, feeling emotion welling up inside her, threatening to overwhelm her. But she pushed on, determined to say what needed to be said.

“This ranch, this land, this community... it means everything to me. It’s the place where I grew up, where I learned the value of hard work and perseverance, of love and loyalty and compassion. It’s the place where my father poured his heart and soul into every day, building something beautiful and lasting and true.”

Emma’s voice caught, a tear spilling down her cheeks as she struggled to compose herself. But then she felt Cody’s arm wrap around her waist, his presence a steadying force, and she drew strength from his unwavering support.

“When I came back here, after my father passed, I was lost. I was scared and uncertain, unsure of my place in the world, of the path that lay ahead of me. But all of you, each and every one of you, showed me the way. You welcomed me back with open arms, with love and kindness and unwavering support. You helped me to see that this was where I belonged, that this was the life I was meant to live.”

Emma took a deep breath, feeling a sense of clarity and purpose washing over her, a deep and unshakable knowing that this was exactly where she was meant to be.

“And so, today, I want to make a promise to all of you. A promise to honor my father’s legacy, to carry on the work that he began, to build a future for this ranch and this community that is full of hope and possibility and joy. I promise to be a good steward of this land, to care for it and nurture it and pass it on to the next generation with love and respect. And I promise to always, always put the needs of this community first, to be a neighbor and a friend and a partner in all that we do.”

Emma paused, taking a moment to look out over the sea of faces before her, to meet the eyes of the people who had become her family, her heart and soul. She saw Mabel, her eyes shining with tears of pride and joy. She saw Chris and Dr. Hanson, their faces beaming with admiration and respect. She saw Ellie, the little girl who’d started all this by reminding her about the festival, hanging on to her father’s hand with a shy smile on her young face.

And then she turned to her side and her gaze found Cody’s, and the love and support she saw there took her breath away. He nodded, a small, encouraging smile on his lips, and Emma felt a renewed sense of strength and purpose flowing through her.

“My father always said that the true measure of a life well-lived was the impact we had on the lives of others,” she continued, her voice growing stronger, more confident with every word. “He believed that every act of kindness, every moment of compassion, every gesture of love and support, no matter how small, had the power to change the world. And looking out at all of you today, seeing the incredible community we have built together, I know that he was right.”

Emma’s voice caught, tears spilling down her cheeks, but she pressed on, determined to finish what she had started. “So today, let’s celebrate the bonds that tie us together, the unbreakable threads of family and friendship that have sustained us through every challenge and every triumph. Let us honor the legacy of those who came before us, and build a future that is worthy of their memory.”

She raised her glass, her eyes shining with emotion and conviction. “To my father,” she said, her voice ringing out clear and strong, and then it dropped to a whisper. “I love you, daddy.”

As Emma finished her toast, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, a deafening roar of love and support that seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth. People surged forward, embracing her and each other, their faces wet with tears of joy and gratitude.

And through it all, Cody never left her side, his hand steady on the small of her back, his presence a constant reminder of the love and the strength that had brought her to this moment. She stepped down from the stage, her heart full to bursting, and found herself enveloped in Cody’s arms, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was soft and sweet and full of promise. As the cheers began to subside and the music started up again, he pulled her close, his lips brushing against her ear.

“I am so proud of you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “So proud to stand by your side, to be a part of your journey.”

Emma turned to face him, her heart so full she thought it might burst. “I couldn’t do any of this without you, Cody,” she said, her voice soft and filled with love. “You’re my rock, my partner, my everything.”

He smiled, his hand coming up to brush a stray tear from her cheek. “And you’re mine,” he said, his eyes shining with adoration and promise. “Always and forever, Emma. No matter what comes our way.”

As the festival continued on into the night, Emma and Cody found themselves swept up in the joy and celebration of it all. They danced under the twinkling lights, lost in each other’s arms and the music and the magic of the moment. They laughed with Mabel and Sally, shared stories and memories with Dr. Hanson and Chris and all the other people who had become like family to them.

And through it all, Emma felt a sense of belonging and purpose that anchored her, a deep and abiding connection to the land and the people and the legacy that had shaped her life in countless ways. This was where she was meant to be, where she had always been meant to be. And with every breath, every heartbeat, every step, she knew that she was exactly where she needed to be, doing exactly what she was meant to do.

As the night wore on and the festival showed no signs of slowing down, Emma found herself stealing a quiet moment with Cody, away from the crowds and the noise. They walked hand in hand through the fields, the moonlight casting a soft glow over the land that had brought them together.

“Thank you for being here with me today,” Emma said, her voice soft and filled with love. “For being by my side through all of this. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m so grateful for every moment we have together.”

Cody smiled, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing gently across her skin. “You deserve everything, Emma,” he said, his voice fierce with conviction. “Everything and more. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know that, making sure you feel loved and cherished and supported every single day.”

Emma felt tears welling up in her eyes, a sense of joy and contentment that filled her from head to toe. She leaned in, her lips meeting his in a kiss that was soft and sweet and full of promise. And as they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the sounds of the festival drifting on the night air, Emma knew that this was just the beginning.