EPILOGUE

 

“What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you to never step foot in this building again?” Marshall Reed stood up from behind his desk, waving at the secretary who’d ran in behind Weston into Reed’s office. “Call security.”

“No worries. I’m not here to break your neck.” Weston dropped the check worth fifty grand onto the desk. “Just here to end any business dealings you have with Lucas and Sammie Tanner.”

Reed was quiet for a second, then shrugged. “Hmm, not what I was expecting.”

“Of course not. Your wish was to see Tanner destroyed. Too bad. Now don’t come near Sammie again.”

He laughed, picked up the check and placed it in the top drawer of his desk. “If it’s over my dead body, Jericho, I will have Torment. He was mine.”

“No, he was up for bidding and I won.” Weston pushed out through thin lips.

“You really think you’ve won? You truly don’t think I could have outbid you?” He smirked. “You’re smarter than that, aren’t you? I let you spend money on him and I’ll get him for free.”

Weston didn’t have the time to waste. He had a wedding to get to. “Good day, Reed.” He tipped his hat and left.

 

*****

“You look so pretty.”

Sammie looked through the full-length mirror, past her wedding gown to the little girl standing behind her. Sammie turned and admired how beautiful her soon-to-be-stepdaughter was in the soft, flowing blue dress that she’d picked out herself. Her long, braided hair hung down one shoulder and a crown of fresh flowers sat upon her head. Pippa and Harley had been such a major help. Sammie couldn’t have managed to pull off a nice ceremony in a month if it hadn’t been for the women. Not to mention, Pippa had a baby boy she was taking care of too. “You’re beautiful, Brie.”

“I feel like a princess.” She swished the hem of the skirt.

“You are a princess.”

“Pippa wanted me to tell you that it’s time.”

“Okay. Thank you. I’ll be out in one moment.”

Once she was alone, she stood in front of the mirror and stared at the beautiful dress. Her life had taken a spin and everything turned out better than she could have imagined.

“Sammie?”

Hearing the soft voice, Sammie turned and was surprised to see Ashley standing in the doorway.

“I’m sorry. I’m probably the last person you expected, or wanted to see before you walk down the aisle.” The woman palmed her growing belly.

“Wes and I did invite you here. Brie wanted you here too.” After Sammie and Weston spoke to Brie, they managed to work something out with Ashley that would have her building a relationship with Brie slowly. Eventually, they knew it was the best for the little girl who was excited that she had a new sibling on the way. With any luck, Sammie hoped she would be pregnant soon too.

“Thank you for inviting me. I can’t say it enough. I just wanted to step in and tell you congratulations. Weston is a good man and he loves you. He always has, even when he and I were together. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She wringed her hands together. “I tried to keep him by getting pregnant, even believed he would eventually love me.”

“That’s in the past, Ashley. I’ve made mistakes too. Big mistakes. What we can do now is support Brie in becoming a lovely young woman. We should be friends.”

“Okay. I like that idea. I-I guess I just needed to clear the air. I had better step out and find my seat. Talk soon.”

Fortunately, Sammie only felt good feelings for the other woman. No matter what, Sammie and Wes would be sure to keep Brie safe.

Stepping out of the room, she met Lucas in the hallway. He looked handsome in a suit and a blue tie. She never thought she’d be able to get him out of his overalls, but he’d relented. Yet, not entirely. He wore a scuffed pair of cowboy boots. “Daddy, you look amazing.”

“No, sweetie, you look amazing. Very beautiful. Just like your mother when we married.” Tears built in his eyes. “My goodness, I’m sure she’s looking down today.”

“Do you think she can see us, daddy?” A tear slipped down her cheek and she swiped it away.

He nodded. “I do, my dear. She wouldn’t miss her baby girl getting married for anything in the world. The day you were born she knew you’d grow up to be a fine woman and meet someone who will love you until his dying age. Wes is a good boy. Always has been.”

“Even when you threatened to fill his behind with buck-shot?”

“Hell, I was just checking to see what type of man he was. Most would squirm away with their tail tucked, but not Weston. No siree. He apologized and promised that one day you and he would be married.”

“You never told me that before.”

He shrugged. “Didn’t think I needed to. You think this old man has a chance at dating again? You don’t think it’s cheating, do you?”

“Daddy, momma is gone. She’d want you to be happy.” More tears flowed.

“I’m thinking Lanie looks about as good today as those sweets she makes.”

Sammie smiled. “You should ask her out on a date. Now, I’m ruining a good makeup job here. You ready?”

“The question is, are you?”

“I’ve always been ready for this.” She tucked her arm around his elbow.

The music started and Harley waved, telling them it was time to walk down the aisle.

“Here we go.” Excitement filled her.

Together, they walked to the open door that looked out into the crowded sanctuary of the church. At the end of the aisle stood Wes, the love of her life. Their gazes connected and all was right with the world.

 

Not the end, but only the beginning…