Dylan's Redemption (36 page)

“I thought you’d never ask,” he teased.

“I did. Yesterday.”

“Exactly. You said as soon as possible. I hope in about two minutes is fast enough.”

She slid open the glass doors and stepped out to greet their guests. She’d met Dylan’s cousins and their wives and the girls and babies several months ago. She recognized the men from the sheriff’s department and met their wives.

She greeted Pop and Greg with hugs and kisses for both of them. “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t think I’d have made it to this day without your help. I love you both.”

She turned to Brian and Marilee and bent to kiss her sleeping nephew in Marilee’s arms. Seeing him made the ache in her heart a little more pronounced, but it was better now that she’d shared the loss of Hope with Dylan. She no longer had to carry the burden alone. Looking down at her nephew, she placed a hand over her own belly and sighed with contentment. Today was perfect. Today, she was happier than she’d ever been in her life. She gazed up to the sky and sent a silent prayer to her daughter, letting her know today her parents would be married and joined by love forever. It’s what Hope would have wanted for them.

After she and Dylan signed the marriage license, everyone got set up. She waited on the patio as Dylan took his place on the back lawn with Will at his side and Greg as his best man. She thought it appropriate the two men who loved her and had been a part of Hope’s life stood together waiting for her to walk down the aisle. Pop stood on her left and Brian on her right. Arm in arm the two men walked her down the aisle to Dylan. Her past and present had finally converged with a clear path ahead of her, leading straight to Dylan and Will.

The ceremony took only a few moments with simple words of love, family, commitment, and connection from the preacher. Dylan slipped another diamond ring onto her finger to complement the engagement ring he gave her not even an hour ago. It came time to give him a ring and she panicked, but Dylan handed her a gold band that she slipped onto his finger with a brilliant smile. She had to put it on his right hand, because the fingers on his left hand were still too swollen. His wrist was still in the brace and would be a few more weeks. He didn’t mind. He just smiled at her with that half grin of his and made her feel like everything was perfect.

He kissed her with so much love her heart filled and overflowed. The preacher declared them husband and wife. Everyone in the crowd cheered and Dylan kissed her again. Will hugged them with his little arms wrapped around both their legs.

The crowd of well-wishers enveloped them and she got separated from Dylan, talking to Rain and Claire. She loved seeing their babies, David and Sean. Dawn and Autumn kept Will busy, playing tag on the grass.

“Jessie, come over here,” Dylan called to her from the patio.

She excused herself from Greg and Pop and went over to Dylan and Owen.

Owen handed her a stack of papers and a pen. “Mrs. McBride, if you’ll sign here.”

“Oh, I like that—Mrs. McBride.”

“There are quite a few of you now,” Owen teased, now that Brody, Owen, and Dylan were all happily married.

She scanned the legal papers and asked Dylan, “What are these?” not believing what she read.

“These are adoption papers. If you sign them, Will is yours. You’ll be his legal mother.”

“
If
I sign them? There’s no
if
about it.” She signed her name
Jessie McBride
. “Fitting the first time I use my new name it’s to make Will my son.”

He kissed her senseless after that beautiful statement.

“I’ll file the papers with the court. We’ll have a court date to finalize everything, but it’s mostly a formality. From this moment on, you’re Will’s mother,” Owen announced.

“You’re the mother I always wanted for Will,” Dylan said.

“Good thing Will picked me,” she said, mimicking his words.

“I love you.” He laughed and kissed her again. “Mrs. McBride.” He leaned his forehead to hers. “We’ve waited a long time to make this happen.”

“It was worth the wait,” she said, brushing her lips against his.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. They had a lovely early dinner. Dylan turned on her stereo and they danced in the great room by the fire where they’d made love again for the first time. Everyone had a great time. They cut the cake and fed each other the first piece. Then, she’d led everyone in singing “Happy Birthday” to Dylan. Today was a double delight for them.

When the evening came to an end, Greg held his glass aloft along with everyone else. “Today, my best friend married the love of her life. Dylan got the wife he always wanted, and Will the mother he chose. Though circumstances tore them apart, love brought them together. Second chances are rare. Take care of each other. Love each other. I wish you love and happiness for the rest of your lives,” he toasted them and everyone cheered, “Here, here!”

Greg kissed her goodbye that night on the forehead. “Be happy.”

“I already am.” She meant it for the first time in a long time.

W
HAT A PERFECT
day.

Everyone left an hour ago and the house was quiet. She left Dylan to read a story to Will and put him to bed after she kissed her son goodnight. In their room, she hung up her dress and put away her shoes. She slipped into a satin robe and went out on the roof to gaze at the stars.

She stared down at the road, the trees, the hills, and back up to the sparkling sky. Happy, she put her hand over her belly and thought of Hope and everything that led her to today. Grateful for it all, everything that came before had finally brought her Dylan and Will.

“Today was a big day,” she said, and Dylan came through the window. “Your birthday, our wedding day, and I became Will’s mother.”

“You’ve been his mother from the start. You two took to each other immediately.”

“That’s because a car almost crushed him.”

“Don’t remind me.” He sat beside her on the roof. He’d long ago discarded his suit jacket and tie. Will had practically undressed during dinner, trying to get out of his uncomfortable suit. Still, he thought they all looked nice when they’d taken pictures during the wedding. He didn’t care about his banged-up face and arm from his accident. Nothing mattered except Jessie becoming his wife. He thought that all in all, a wedding put together in a matter of hours had turned out all right. Of course, he’d done a lot of preplanning.

She leaned into his shoulder. “Today was perfect.”

“It’s not over.” He kissed her temple and squeezed her to his side. “Come to bed. Let’s make a baby.”

Leaning her head back against his arm, she smiled up at him. “Too late. We already did.”

He gazed down into her beautiful face. The truth of it so clear to see in the joy filling her smile and eyes. Still, he couldn’t quite believe it. “Tell me again.”

“I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby. I found out on Friday before I picked up Will. I wanted to tell you on your birthday, but it’s been kind of hectic today.” She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. He groaned when her arms crushed him to her and her breasts pressed against his chest.

“We’re going to have a baby,” she said again.

He smiled, unable to help himself. “I didn’t think I could be any happier today. A baby. I’m going to be a father. Again,” he said, smiling. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good. Nervous, but excited.”

“Me too, but we’ll get through this together. Come to bed. Let’s celebrate.” He kissed her again before he helped her through the window, back into the room and straight into his arms.

He held her tightly against him, walking her backward to the bed. Kissing her deeply, he sank into her sweet mouth. A shiver ran through her, and the joy in her eyes matched his own.

“We have a lot to celebrate.” She smiled up at him, her back hitting the mattress as he lay down the length of her, his heart pressed to hers.

And celebrate they did through the night, and every day they were together, but especially on the day they welcomed their daughter, Faith, into the world.

If you loved the McBrides, head on up to Big Sky country with Jennifer Ryan to meet her

MONTANA MEN . . .

Keep reading for a sneak peek at

AT WOLF RANCH

A Montana Men Novel

Coming Winter 2015

An Excerpt from

AT WOLF RANCH

After years on the rodeo circuit, Gabe Bowden wants nothing more than land of his own and a woman who will claim his heart for more than one night. When he has the chance to buy the enormous Wolf Ranch spread, he snaps up the incredible deal. Everything is set, until Gabe rescues a woman on the deserted, snowy road leading to the property, and the half-frozen beauty changes everything.

Ella Wolf rushes to her family’s abandoned Montana ranch after her twin sister is murdered. She knows she’s next . . . unless she can uncover a secret hidden somewhere at Wolf Ranch. The last thing Ella expects is to be rescued by a rugged rancher with his own agenda. A man who almost makes her forget how dangerous love can be . . .

As an unlikely partnership sparks into something so much more, and a killer closes in, can Ella and Gabe learn to trust one another before it’s too late?

Three Peaks Ranch, Montana

G
ABE
B
OWDEN PUT
the quarter horse through its paces around the corral, stopping him short to make an abrupt turn, then pulling on the reins to make him back up. All in all, he liked the horse’s attention and readiness to follow commands. His brother Blake trained the animal well. The horse would be a fine addition to his new ranch and a big help with the cattle due to arrive in nine weeks. Gabe couldn’t wait to take over Wolf Ranch. He’d worked his ass off to earn the money to buy the place, and in nine short weeks, the deal closed and he’d have everything he ever dreamed: the huge spread with wide-open meadows, rolling hills, rivers snaking out over the land, grass as far as the eye could see for the cattle. A livelihood he could depend on, and a legacy he’d leave to his kids. If he ever found a woman and had some kids.

After Stacy left him standing at the altar all alone, turning her nose up at his little ranch, the plans he had to build it into something more, and a quiet life as his wife and the mother of his children, it couldn’t be just any woman. He needed to find the right woman. One who wanted the same kind of simple but meaningful ranch life he wanted. Since he bought Wolf Ranch, he had a hell of lot more to offer now than he did when Stacy left him.

If the woman of his dreams was out there, she sure as hell wasn’t in Montana. He’d looked and come up bust.

Finished getting a feel for the horse, he rode over to the rail and stopped next to Blake and dismounted. He ran his hand over the horse’s flank.

“You did a fine job with this one. Where’d you find him?”

“He’s one of Ross’s.”

“Something about that guy puts me off. Don’t get me wrong, his horses have the bloodlines, but I don’t like the way he runs his ranch.”

“Me either, but you asked for the best I could find. Sully is gentle, attentive, a hard worker, and a fast learner. He’ll suit you.”

“Sully? You named him already.”

“I’ve spent the last six weeks training him. I couldn’t keep calling him ‘horse.’” Blake grinned and pat Sully on the white patch on his brown forehead. The horse leaned in and closed his eyes, completely enamored and content with Blake. Gabe had to admit, his brother had a way with horses.

“How do you like it here at Three Peaks Ranch?” Gabe asked.

“I love it.”

Though Blake trained quarter horses for cutting cattle, he was making a name for himself training thoroughbred racehorses.

“The partnership with Bud Tucker working out? It’s been a few years, you ready to get your own place?”

“Naw, I like it here. I’ve found exactly what I wanted and more.”

“I’m glad you’re happy, man.”

“You must be chomping at the bit to get into the Wolf place.”

“I can’t wait.”

“I still can’t see you rambling around that huge house.”

“It’s the stables and pastures I’m more interested in.”

“Please, that house is beyond awesome.”

Yeah, it certainly would appeal to that elusive wife he kept looking for but couldn’t seem to find.

“Did you get it cleaned out like the owner asked?”

“Get this, I’ve dealt solely with Phillip Wolf, but Lela Wolf showed up the other day.”

“What’s she like? Spoiled rich girl?”

“Hell if I know. I only spoke to her for a couple of minutes. I met her in the driveway. She wanted to know what I was doing there. When I told her Phillip requested I put the contents of the house in storage, she told me to leave the place alone and tore out of there. You’d have thought the hounds of hell were after her.”

“So you didn’t pack the house?”

“No, I did. Moving trucks showed up fifteen minutes later.”

Blake frowned. “Why didn’t she want you to touch anything in the house?”

“Beats me.”

“Did you tell her you own the place now?”

“I don’t own it until escrow closes in nine weeks. That’s the deal.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“She didn’t give me a chance. Come to think of it, she thought her uncle sent me to find her.”

Blake frowned and narrowed his eyes. “That’s strange.”

“I had my orders from her uncle and delaying the inevitable seemed stupid. The stuff sat in that house for the last ten years untouched. People like them, from the city, more money than they know what to do with, they don’t care about all that land. Hell, Travis Dorsche took over running their prime cattle, and that guy’s just this side of worthless, and they don’t give a shit. So, yeah, I cleaned out the house. When the deal goes through they’ll still have all that stuff sitting in the lockers Phillip rented. With those people, it’s out of sight, out of mind.”

“Too bad you didn’t get the cattle as part of the deal. That would have saved you some big bucks getting the place set up.”