Rider’s Block

41. Epilogue

Chapter forty-one

One Year Later

“ M ia, are you sure I don’t look fat?” Penny asks for the one-hundredth time today, spinning around in a silky blue dress with a big ol’ bow on the back. Christine is wearing a matching color in a different silhouette, and I can see her roll her eyes from across the room.

“Penny, you look amazing. Dare I say glowing! No one will be able to tell. You tied the sash perfectly even if there was a bump, but there’s not, so you’re double covered,” I say as I smooth out the fabric of my own lace dress.

Little Levi comes toddling in, wearing a tiny tux with a tiny cowboy hat of his own, and I snatch him up to give him raspberries on his cheek before Christine comes to get him, lovingly chastising him for wrinkling my dress. I don’t tell Penny that I have my own sash precariously placed, but I plan to once this is all over and done with.

Dean was correct, Nancy was equally ecstatic and livid that we got married in Vegas—right alongside Penny and Dean in a two-for-one special—so we made it up to her by promising her she could throw the biggest party for each of us at separate times and make a whole hoopla out of it.

Penny and Dean had their wedding party first, only three months after Vegas. It was a lovely spring wedding and it felt like the entire town was there, cheering them on.

Eric and I wanted to wait a little longer since I had so many book events lined up for the next year. He came to every last one of them. After winning the big one, he hung up his competition saddle for good and focused solely on training horses, which gave him a much more flexible schedule. After Eric and I got married in Vegas, we drafted up the plans to start building our house in his favorite spot on the ranch, but he made it very clear to me he wanted to spend as much time as we could in my home in California as well. I think he fell in love with my little bungalow when he came to visit.

But as much as I love my bungalow, I love being at the ranch, too. Our house is finally done, and this New Year’s Eve ceremony and reception is just the housewarming party we love. Intimate, with only our family present, I’ve decided to officially claim this holiday as ours to host for future years. After this, I think we’ll get away with it.

Nancy was beside herself when I told her I wanted to wait a little longer, and at first I thought it was disappointment. But once we sat down to do some initial planning, with my mom there as well, I realized she was beside herself with excitement because she could see to all of the details that she wanted to accomplish. I think the three of us watched Father of the Bride three times in one weekend as inspiration for a home wedding.

And today all of the effort shows. It’s almost a shame it’s only for forty or so people in attendance. Nancy found the best florist in Colorado to come and add arched installations to every pillar we have on our house. Which is a lot. When Eric and I designed the place, we had the Montana lake house in mind. I told him I wanted the porch to wrap all the way around, so he made it happen. Which means today we have nearly the entire house covered in some kind of floral display. We chose to do all white flowers of varying types with lots and lots of greenery to make the whole setting lush and pristine against the snowy backdrop. There are simple roses, carnations, peonies (imported because they’re not in season, but something as silly as that won’t stop Nancy Randall) all surrounded by evergreen branches.

My evolution of style is entirely on display with my wedding gown. The figure-hugging lace gown floats the edge of western and boho (as Penny puts it) and I feel like the best version of myself wearing it. And since it’s long, I decided I might as well wear the boots that started it all. The pop of red that pokes out with each step makes me smile, and I know Eric will like it. I thought about getting a new pair of red boots, a special version, but these boots have seen me through so much, I didn’t want to abandon them today.

The whole day goes off without a hitch. Eric tears up perfectly when he sees me walk down the aisle. Dean volunteers to walk me, and I eagerly take him up on it. I was almost offended my brother let me go so easily, but Dean quickly won him over, too. To this day Dean gives himself all of the credit that Eric and I ended up together. I can’t say he’s entirely wrong, and now as my brother-in-law I can say I love him for it. And I was right, Dean and my brother are two peas in a pod.

By the time Eric and I sway to our first dance song under the clear tent in our backyard completely lined with twinkly lights and glowing with candlelight, I’m dead on my feet, but having such a good time I barely notice that I can’t feel my toes anymore.

“Your mom really outdid herself with this one,” I say to Eric as he spins me around and back into his arms. I’m doing my best not to show how nauseous I am, but I think he can tell and the bastard is being a little smug about it.

“We were the last one, so she wanted to go all out. I don’t mind.” He pulls me in close and I can see the patience leaving. “You’re killing me, Red. I’ve been waiting for you to say something for a week, and I was going to let you have your surprise, your grand gesture, or whatever you have planned up those pretty little sleeves of yours…but you look green and it’s making me crazy.”

My stomach drops a little, both from what he’s saying and what he’s implying. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He dips his forehead to my shoulder in a way that’s familiar to me now.

Picking his head up and looking me in the eye he adds, “You’re really going to pretend like you haven’t had a glass of champagne tonight? Like you haven’t been trying to hide the fact that you’ve been throwing up for the past two weeks? I’m going crazy over here trying to let you have this your way but I’m about to lose it.”

I don’t know why I thought I could hide this from him, dammit. If I’m being honest with myself, I have noticed he’s been particularly mother-henny lately. “Babe, come on. I have a whole thing planned! I wanted tonight to be about us, and then I have a whole big thing to surprise you with if you could just stay with the picture. You’re ruining my grand gesture. Again!”

His eyes twinkle in pure joy as he laughs at me and pulls me in tighter. “Alright, wife. I’ll let you tell me about baby Red when you’re ready—”

“Oh my gosh—” I mutter and shake my head.

“—but I can’t help it if I’m a little excited, okay?”

“That’s fair. I just…I just have a whole thing ready and I—”

“I know, I know. Big gesture. It’s your thing. I’ll be surprised, I promise. But I bought little red boots. I couldn’t help it. ”

I do my best to hide my tear in my eye as we finish up our dance and head to our table to get a drink. He brings me a water and rubs my back absently as we watch our family and friends out on the dance floor in our new home. It’s a scenario I never imagined in my future. Me, a rancher’s wife.

I’m watching Dean dance around with Penny at a glacial pace to account for her nausea when out of the corner of my eye I see my agent, Sarah, beeline it to our table.

“Amelia! Amelia, oh my God. I don’t want to bring up work at your wedding, of all places, but have you…oh my God. Have you checked your email by chance today?”

That gets Eric’s attention right away and he comes to stand right behind me as I pull my phone out. I can see him reading along with me, but I have to read it four times before I believe it. I still can’t find my voice, but my handsome, resolute husband can.

“Oh my God, a movie?” Then squeezing my shoulders, he bends down at eye level and says, “And it’s one of the production companies on your list, baby. A movie! Oh my God!”

Sitting under Orion’s belt with a movie offer in my hands…I will never underestimate the power of in-person research ever, ever again.

Yee-fucking-haw.

The End