Levi fidgeted like a man facing the firing squad. His about-to-become brothers-in-law, looking fancy in black hats and suits, circled around him like anxious coyotes ready to attack at the first sign of trouble.

Outside, car doors slammed, and voices filtered to him from the church foyer. He could smell the flowers. Or maybe that was his boutonniere, the palest pink rose he’d ever seen. It smelled pretty good, too. He drew in a big sniff, so excited, he hardly knew himself.

He was in a Sunday School room with Nate and Ace waiting for the signal to move into place down in front of the sanctuary next to the preacher. Emily was somewhere in the building, getting even more beautiful, if that were possible. He couldn’t wait to see her.

After the awful scare with Beech, he could hardly bear to have her out of his sight. Six months, and he still woke in a cold sweat. But his Emily was a strong, independent woman. So strong, she’d convinced the Tompkinses that Levi was the perfect father for Mason, and the couple had dropped their custody suit. He’d been so relieved about the turn of events, he’d offered to keep in touch.

“Your tie’s crooked.” Nate grabbed for Levi’s throat, and the groom-to-be tried not to flinch. Even though the brothers declared their pleasure that Levi had finally come to his senses, Emily was still their baby sister, their pride and joy, and these two bruiser cowboys would knock his head if anything upset her.

No way Levi would do that.

Ace drifted close to his brother and looked Levi up and down. He checked out the silver vest, the black tux, his brand new shiny black boots. “You’re an ugly cuss. Don’t know why she wants you, but she does.”

Levi grinned. The nicest compliment a cowboy could pay another was to tell him how ugly he was. That and criticize his riding ability. Both meant he was doing something right.

“I’m a blessed man,” Levi said.

“Yeah, you are,” Ace growled. He’d always been the wild man of the Caldwells. Today he looked particularly feral. “Better treat her right or you’ll answer to me.”

“I aim to.” He’d spend the rest of his life loving her, treasuring her, and making up for lost time. “If I ever even think about getting out of line, I fully expect you to knock some sense into me.”

Ace clapped him on the back. “Won’t be a problem.”

“Hey.” Nate lost his grip on the contrary tie and shot his brother a cranky look. “I’m fixing a tie here. Beat on him later.”

Ace grinned. Like a Doberman. “My pleasure.”

Levi laughed out loud. He loved these guys. Though he missed Scott with a grief that would never end, he was proud to call these two cowboys brothers.

“Seriously, boys.” He wished he knew how to express all that was in his heart for Emily. “You got no worries. Emily is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m finally smart enough to know it.”

“Smart?” Nate dropped the tie again and pulled a face. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

The three men chortled, good-natured, happy to see this day arrive. Today was Levi’s wedding to Emily, the woman who could have any man she wanted. But she’d chosen him.

Forgiveness brings good things.

You were right, Lord. Imagine that.

Aunt Ruby would be proud to know that God talked and that Levi listened and talked back. Either that, or she’d think he was nuttier than a squirrel tree. She was here. He’d have to ask her.

Forgiveness was a good thing. If he’d known how free he’d feel after letting go of his father, he’d have done it long ago. The incident that had defined him for years seemed small now. Distant. He credited the Lord and Emily with the change.

“Aren’t you done yet?” With Nate’s thick fingers between the tie and Levi’s skin, Levi’s throat was closing off.

The pressure released. “All done.” Nate patted Levi’s chest. “You look fairly decent.”

“Good enough to marry Emily?”

“Not even close.”

They grinned at each other, and Levi felt the weight of aloneness drifting away. The Triple C had sprawled across the Oklahoma landscape for decades. These men had roots and family. Now, he and Mason, too, would plant themselves on soil he’d once wanted to abandon with the woman who’d helped him find his way when he’d been lost.

He swallowed thick emotion, wanting to tell Nate and Ace how much their friendship, their acceptance meant. “Nate. Ace. I gotta say something.”

Ace squinted at him. “If you run now, I’ll break your kneecaps.”

He’d just got those kneecaps fixed.

“He’s joking, Levi.”

“I know it.”

“No, I’m not,” Ace said.

Levi shook his head, loving the banter. “What I’m trying to say is, thanks. I miss Scott. I wish he was here more than I can ever express, but having you two to stand up with me today…well, it means a lot.”

Two pairs of eyes held his, serious now. Levi struggled not to get crazy and spring a leaky face. As it was, his chest was about to explode. He was that emotional.

He was saved from disaster and a lifetime of cowboy teasing when Ace’s cell phone mooed. He was the only man Levi knew who had a cow ringtone.

Ace glanced at the screen, shot them a weird look, and stepped into the corner to answer his call. Nate and Levi exchanged glances and talked quietly while Ace finished his conversation.

When Ace slid the cell phone inside his jacket, his face had paled, a real task for a man with a permanent outdoor tan.

“What’s up?” Nate asked.

“Step nine. The big one.”

Levi had no idea what he was talking about, so he kept his mouth shut and listened. Anxious to get the wedding started, he was glad for the distraction.

“You found her?” Nate leaned close to his brother, voice low. “You found Marisa?”

“Took a private investigator. Same one you hired last year to track down Whitney’s rotten cousin.”

“He’s a good man. Where is Marisa now?”

“I told the PI I was at a wedding, so we didn’t talk much. He said he’d give me all the details tomorrow in his office.” Ace sucked in a deep breath, clearly shaken. “He said I should prepare myself. Wonder what he meant by that?”

Nate’s big rancher’s hand squeezed the top of his brother’s shoulder. “Don’t know, but you’re doing good, bro. After Marisa, how many more on your list?”

“Way too many.”

“Part of the process, man. You’ll get there. I’m proud of you.”

The odd conversation swirled around Levi’s head. Ace had found someone he’d been looking for. Someone he should be prepared to see. And what was this step thing he was talking about? Was Ace in AA or something? He’d have to ask Emily.

But not today.

Someone tapped on the door.

“Yeah?” he called. “Come in.”

The most beautiful woman in the world poked her head around the door edge. She wore a poufy white veil and a big smile. “I’m here. Let’s get married.”

Levi’s heart soared right out of his chest. They’d both needed time to heal physically—his surgically repaired knees and her leg—but the biggest healing had taken place on the inside. Now they were ready for the rest of their lives.

Ignoring Nate and Ace, he reached out a hand, and she took it. “I love you. You’re beautiful.”

“Wait till you see the rest of me.”

He laughed. Her brothers growled. She glared at all of them. “I meant my dress.”

Levi didn’t care about the dress. He didn’t care about the ceremony. But he cared about the family and friends waiting outside in the sanctuary, and most of all, he cared about Emily. He’d do anything to make her happy.

“You’ll be beautiful with it or without it.”

Someone jabbed him in the back. Ace, he thought, because he heard him mutter, “Kneecaps.”

Levi ignored him. Ace had threatened him pretty much every day for the last six months. But the cowboy and his brother had also done his chores and baled his hay while Levi’s knees healed.

They’d come to an understanding of pure friendship and brotherhood. They all fiercely loved Emily.

“Where’s Daisy?”

“She’s lighting the candles now. She looks beautiful in the blue dress Connie and I picked out.”

Connie, with her loving, nurturing heart, had embraced the little girl as foster daughter while her father served time in jail. As far as Emily and Levi were concerned, Beech could stay locked up, and Daisy could remain in their family forever.

“Mason?”

“Connie has him, of course. You know how he loves his abuela.”

His grandmother. Mason would know the deep, lasting love of family in a way Levi never had. “Sounds like everyone is set then.”

“Everyone but us.”

“Still want to marry me?”

She hooked a finger beneath his too-tight tie. “Better believe it, cowboy.”

Levi took her hand, pressed the fingers to his lips, and then leaned close for the real thing. Her lips.

“Time to go.”

The moment he’d been waiting for had finally arrived. He kissed his bride again, aware that he could kiss her all he wanted for the rest of his life.

As she moved away from the door, he and his groomsmen headed to the front of the church while some guy played beautiful piano music and another guy fiddled.

Connie sat on the front pew with Gilbert at her side and Mason in her lap. The baby was dressed in a onsie tuxedo, handsome as his late daddy, and Levi’s best man in Scott’s stead.

Nate stopped and took the little man into his arms before moving into place between Levi and Ace. Mason saw his uncle, and he kicked his legs, his mouth opened in a wide smile. Levi’s chest swelled with love. He could feel Scott here beside him, smiling too, both through his child and in spirit.

Levi crossed his hands in front the way Emily had instructed and the wedding march began. Though he tried his best to appear calm, his pulse easily hit one-fifty when Emily appeared at the top of the aisle.

She came toward him, the dream he’d been afraid to dream. Their eyes met, and her lips curved. Her face glowed, radiant, a word he’d never used in his life. Maybe he glowed a little too.

Today he would marry his best friend, the love of his life.

Thank you, Lord, he thought, heart bursting with love and gratitude.

And as Emily reached his side and took his hand, Mason laughed, and Levi was absolutely sure he felt God smile.