She grinned. “I do.” Her voice was louder than she intended.
A couple of the cowboys chuckled.
Reverend Bailey smiled at her benevolently. “Do you have rings to exchange?”
“I do,” said Ryan.
The reverend smiled. “Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”
Ryan held her left hand and said, “With this ring, I thee wed.” He placed a gold anniversary ring with diamonds and emeralds in full circle, on her ring finger. Then he lifted her hand and kissed her ring and finger.
“Kaylie? Do you have a ring?” asked Reverend Bailey.
“I do.” She pulled the wide gold band off her right thumb and placed it on the ring finger of his left hand.
“Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”
She grinned up at Ryan. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Reverend Bailey smiled wide. “Then by the power vested in me by the Lord God Almighty, The City of Twin Bluffs and the State of Montana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Ryan took her face between his palms and lowered his head. “I love you, Kaylie Evers.”
His kiss was soft and tender, before he claimed her deeply, reverently.
He pulled his lips away, rested his forehead against hers and smiled.
Butterflies dive bombed her stomach, but she smiled at her husband. Husband—Ryan was her husband. “I love you, Ryan Evers. Forever and a day.”
As they looked out the window, snow began to fall, first slowly and then faster and it didn’t matter. They were warm inside with their family and friends. Kaylie thought sure, for just a moment, she felt warm air kiss her skin.
Be happy.
She looked around for someone whispering to her then she looked up.Julie? Janice?
“What’s the matter, love?” Ryan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“You’ll laugh.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“I could swear that Julie…and Janice…told me to be happy. I heard their whispers and felt their kisses on my cheek. I know it sounds crazy—”
He placed two fingers on her lips. “Not crazy. It sounds like a Christmas miracle to me. We got their blessing from the two people who mattered most to us in this world. I’d say we’ll live up to their wish for us. We are happy.” He leaned down and kissed her gently. “Now and forever, my love.”
Kaylie reached up and cupped the face of the man she loved. Her friend, her lover and her husband. “Now and forever.”
* * *
February 6th
Courthouse for the Southern District of New York
Kaylie was morenervous than she’d ever been in her life. Today she’d have to tell the judge everything she knew about Vinnie’s operation.
Suddenly, Ryan took her left hand and kissed the top. “You’ll be fine. I know telling you not to be nervous is futile…but don’t be nervous.”
She burst into laughter. “How do you do that? Make me laugh and suddenly, the world tilts back and everything will be fine? Hmm, how?”