At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(85)

“I love it,” she said, throwing her arms around him. This from a man who’d never had a plan? She smiled over at him. “You’ve thought of everything.”

“I tried,” he said with a grin. “You know me.”

Oh, she knew him. Could a woman ever love a man as much as she loved this one? “Let’s do this,” she said as he took her hand and led her through the guests gathered to the podium framed in the window overlooking the creek.

“Earl Ray?” she said when she saw who would be officiating the wedding.

“I am a man of many talents,” he said humbly.

“You certainly are. Is Bessie here?” she asked and looked around, spotting her in the crowd. She waved, delighted to see her.

“She wasn’t about to miss this,” Earl Ray said.

“Bessie made our cake,” Culhane whispered. “Wait until you see it.”

Alexis felt tears sting her eyes. “You really have thought of everything. Thank you.”

Earl Ray cleared his voice. The music died down, and the ceremony began. Throughout it, Culhane held her hand right up until Earl Ray said, “You may now kiss your bride.” And he did.

AS HE LOOKED AROUND the room, Culhane couldn’t believe that he’d pulled it off. Christmas music played in the background as friends and family visited. He’d kept to some wedding traditions and skipped others. Bessie’s cake was a huge hit. So was his mother’s punch. Alexis had seemed pleased, and that’s all he really cared about.

“I can’t believe what the two of you have been through,” Al said shaking his head. “Are you sure you won’t be bored stiff raising horses? Alexis told me that she’s closed her bounty-hunting business. That she’s looking forward to child-rearing and the domestic life.” Al looked skeptical. “You really think you can keep her on the ranch?”

Culhane laughed as he looked across the room at his lovely bride. “I do like the idea of a houseful of children,” he said with a chuckle. “But you’ve known Alexis long enough to know that she will do what she wants to do. Whatever it is, it’s fine with me.”

“Modern marriage,” Al said and laughed. “I never thought I’d see you succumb to it.”

“Me either,” Culhane agreed. “But when you meet someone like Alexis...”

ALEXIS FELT AS if in a dream. Everything had happened so quickly, and yet there were moments that were imprinted on her memory as clear and in-focus as if they had just happened.

“The wedding was so wonderful,” she said to Culhane as the last of the guests left. She’d insisted her parents take some of the cake. Her mother had gotten the recipe from Bessie, something Earl Ray said was nothing short of a miracle.

“I’m glad you liked it,” Culhane said as they stood on their porch. “It was a bit unorthodox.”

She shook her head. “It was perfect. All of it.” She was so glad that she had trusted him. She couldn’t have come up with a more beautiful wedding.

Twilight had settled over the ranch, turning the pine-covered mountains a midnight blue. It reminded her of other evenings in the mountains, but none this vivid. The smells, the colors, the sense of the solid earth beneath her was so intense that it made her heart soar.

“But I didn’t give you your white Christmas,” he said as he put his arm around her and led her back inside.

“You gave me all of this,” she said, stopping in the doorway to take in the room again. He’d added just enough to the decorations they’d already put up to make it enchanting. The man had style, something he and his lucky hat and boots would have never let her imagine. The wedding had brought out even more Christmas spirit in both of them.

Like him, for years she’d opted to work the holidays rather than face her empty apartment. The first few years she’d gotten a small tree and decorated it with tiny lights. It had looked so forlorn that she’d ended up taking it over to an elderly neighbor’s apartment.

The man had looked at it, then at her. “What am I supposed to do with that?” he’d demanded.

“Plug it in,” she’d said and thrust it at him. A few nights later when she’d stopped by his apartment, she’d seen the tree in his window, the tiny sparkling lights glowing. She’d smiled, glad it had given someone a little cheer.

Now, Culhane pulled her close. “Pretty night.”

“Beautiful,” she said. “It’s so...peaceful here. Do you hear the creek?” She felt him nod.

“I hate to pull you away from this, but you must be freezing,” he said and stepped back to turn her to face him. “Come inside. I need your help.”

She raised an eyebrow, but he gave her no clue as they entered the house. Once in the large living room, the blaze in the fireplace a welcoming warm crackle, she saw that he had alcohol-free champagne chilling and two glasses.

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Travis.” He poured her a glass and one for himself. “To us.”

She clinked her glass against his and took a sip of the bubbly. It tickled her tongue. She smiled at her husband. Husband. Would she ever get used to that?

He was so darned handsome. She hoped their son looked just like him.

As she felt him moving, she put her hand on her belly. Culhane came up behind her and encircled her with his arms to place his hand over hers.