Sage

3 months later

“I can’t believe today is finally here.” I stood in the room that for months had been my bedroom, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The white dress I chose was simple, short and flirty. “I’m getting married!”

Sierra grinned at me but her eyes held a misty quality I chose not to comment on. “You look beautiful Sage.”

“I feel beautiful,” I told her honestly. Since we were having a backyard wedding I chose a high-low dress that showed off my legs in the front but remained traditional in the back. Sable cowboy boots with a matching belt cinched at the waist capped off my look.

“You’re missing something,” she told me and handed me a small white box with a silver ribbon. “This is your something blue and something new.”

I felt incredibly emotional today as I prepared to marry the man of my dreams, as well as becoming a mother to a little girl I loved as though she was my own. Opening the box, I couldn’t help but laugh at the turquoise and white garter belt with a strip of leather woven through it to match the rest of my wedding attire. “Sierra, I love it you crazy woman!” I wrapped her in a hug and held her for a long time. “Thank you.”

“I figured if you were going to show off those long legs of yours, might as well draw even more attention to them.”

It only took us eight weeks to plan this wedding and most of that was thanks to Tammy and Sierra and of course, Lily. Mason wanted to get married the week we came back from Houston but I told him that I’d been waiting a lifetime to marry him and I wouldn’t do it in some quickie ceremony.

“Oh I have something for you too.”

She took the box I handed her and opened it. “If you make me cry before your wedding photos, I’ll kill you.” Then she swiped away one tear as she opened the locket with two photos of us, at age ten and another one from the Double Barrel a few weeks ago. “It’s beautiful, Sage. Thanks.” She stood, fanned her eyes and turned to me. “Now let’s go get you married!”

We made our way downstairs where Tanner waited for me. I know it probably seems weird that my soon to be brother-in-law was walking me down the aisle, but when Mason took Jack as his best man I figured this was the next best solution. Besides I knew he would love the extra attention of walking me down the aisle.

“Damn Sage you look beautiful. Sure you don’t want to run away with the sexier Manning brother?”

I laughed and smacked his rock-hard stomach. “Oh please, you’d get bored of me in a week. And Mason would hunt you down.”

He shuddered at that thought. “Okay then, let’s get you up the aisle. Can’t have anything messing with this pretty face.” He batted his eyelashes, sending me into another fit of laughter.

The music started up and Lily began her walk up the aisle, leaving a trail of wildflower petals in her wake. She kissed Mason before taking her seat beside Tammy. Then it was Jack and Sierra’s turn and I couldn’t help but watch them and think what an odd but striking couple they made. The height difference was significant but they somehow made it work. “I think the next year will be very interesting,” I told Tanner who just laughed.

Then the wedding march began, and I straightened. Tanner turned to me and grinned. “I’m so happy my brother finally came to his senses. You’re a great girl Sage and I’m glad you’re my sister now.” He kissed my cheek and I blinked to push down those tears. This was a happy day and I refused to be one of those blubbering brides.

“Thank you Tanner.”

He winked at me and placed my hand around his arm.

We walked up the aisle and my eyes were focused on Mason, looking so incredible in his tux. His blonde hair had been freshly cut as evidenced by the pale skin at his neck, but it gleamed in the sun and the slight curl gave him a boyish handsomeness that made me want to run to him. Soon I stood before him with a goofy grin on my face.

“Lookin’ good cowboy.” He’d even left the scruff for me, which I couldn’t resist touching for a moment.

“But darlin’ you are the sexiest bride the good lord ever put on this earth.” Brown eyes heated me all the way down to my bones and I wondered if it would be rude to ask the pastor to speed things up.

Instead I went up on my toes to kiss him when I heard a throat clearing and turned to the pastor. “Oh, sorry.”

“That part comes later child,” Tammy called from the front row and everyone laughed.

“But he just looks so handsome ya’ll.” A blush stole up his face at the catcalls from the back though I’m pretty sure most of them came from the ranch hands.

The ceremony went fast because Mason and I decided we didn’t need all the pomp and scripture of a long ceremony. We promised to be good to one another, to love and cherish each other as well as our family and then we kissed. We really kissed. The kind of kiss that made me glad we’d opted for an outdoor wedding instead inside a church wedding.

“How do you feel Mrs. Manning?”

Mason held me close as my heart raced, my legs trembled at the knowledge that we were now married and would spend the rest of our lives together. “I feel like dancing, sweet husband of mine.”

“I like the sound of that.” His deep voice was low so only I could hear it as his lips brushed my ear.

“Me too.” I couldn’t stop smiling because that’s just how happy I felt. We’d been through a lot this past spring and summer, so much that I never could have guessed we’d be married by fall. “I love you, husband”

“And I love you wife.”

I felt a tug on my dress and looked down at my precious step daughter. “Mommy Sage?”

“Yes Lily bug?”

“Are you gonna make me a brother and a sister? I have a lot to teach them before I’m too old,” she said seriously.

Shocked, I had no idea how to answer that. Of course Mason and I already talked about having more children, but talk about putting me on the spot!

“Well then you should probably start writing it all down so you don’t forget a thing.”

Her eyes went wide and she darted after Tammy in search of a pen and paper.

Mason chuckled beside me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell her.”

“We have another five weeks until it’s safe to tell people and Lily is worse than Tammy at keeping secrets.” That’s right, we’re already working on expanding our family and our businesses.

Life on the M&M Ranch is just about perfect.