Epilogue

It would’ve been nice if as soon as they’d realized how much they loved each other everything was perfect from that moment on.

Everything hadn’t been perfect.

This was her, after all, Dare thought. Stubborn and determined and not ready to be wrapped up and protected like she was made of spun glass.

And him. Cocky, arrogant, sexy-as-sin bastard that he was.

Between the two of them, they were both stubborn enough that they fought on a regular basis, sometimes about the stupidest things. But overall they got along great, and when they didn’t, making up was always a lot of fun.

Because that they always did—made up. Talked. Just straight up were there for each other, and for the family, because this was who they were. Who Jesse had always been, even though he’d gotten a little twisted for a while there.

Dare got frequent updates from Ginny who was having the time of her life trucking all around Europe. A certain Frenchman was described in great detail in one letter before he’d been abandoned for a more charming Italian, although Dare wasn’t sure if it was the man or his vineyard that had Ginny’s heart pounding faster.

Dare missed her friend, but she was happily distracted with a whole lot of new joys to experience.

Like her first Christmas in Rocky. First Christmas as a family.

Coleman tradition said Christmas Eve was for the immediate family, and Christmas Day with the larger clan. Boxing Day was set aside for the entire horde together in the twice a year, no-holds-barred event.

It was incredibly special to spend their first Christmas Eve day with just their little family. Her, Jesse and Joey making the first of many memories as an intimate family.

But she and Vicki had conspired to make a certain change, and when Joel and Vicki showed up on their doorstep for supper, the joy in Jesse’s eyes made the small modification to tradition worthwhile.

The next day at the Six Pack gathering, Blake and Jaxi’s home was bursting to the seams as children played, babies were passed around, and packages were unwrapped. Dare counted—there was a total of twenty-six bodies for just the Six Pack gathering.

No, make that twenty-six plus three because added to Vicki’s pregnancy both Ashley and Hope had announced they were expecting again, in August and September the coming year.

Blake casually left a card under the tree letting Jesse know he was back to full rights and responsibilities in the Coleman ranch.

Oh, and the deed to their house.

But her favourite gift was a picture frame that matched the others she’d admired. The cutout image of a tree had been filled with the picture of her, Jesse and Joey, and it was enough to make her want to burst with happiness.

That spring after the calves finished dropping and before seeding was done, she added another regular feature to her blog. At Home on Sunset Ridge.

They’d managed to finish all of the main floor living spaces in the two houses, more than enough room for them to move in. Between the two buildings, Jesse and Joel laid a brick patio large enough for children to play on while adults visited, a fire pit to one side. Joel moved the arbour from the trailer, and Dare held Joey in her arms as she watched the twins work together. She grinned mischievously at Jesse as he held the wooden structure in place while Joel leveled it.

“Make it solid,” Dare teased. “I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt if it were to accidentally fall over.”

“Someone would have to be pushing pretty hard to make this move,” Joel said innocently, pulling a snicker from his brother. Joel rolled his eyes as he glanced between the two of them. “Jeez, you guys. Stop it. I don’t want to know.”

Springtime also brought wedding plans. Dare had discovered something of vital importance that was leading up to one of the biggest memories yet.

After Joey had been tucked into bed. Dare laid a hand on Jesse’s knee to get his attention as they relaxed together on the couch. “I have an idea. Say yes.”

Jesse smiled at her with amusement. “Yes.”

Then he tumbled her into his lap and kissed her thoroughly until her cheeks were flushed and she was gasping for air when he finally let her up.

Or more correctly, let her breathe, because she’d somehow ended up lying flat on her back with him stretched over her. “I wasn’t finished talking,” she complained.

His grin widened, and his hands moved in wicked ways over her. Teasing. Stroking. “I already said yes.”

“You don’t even know what you just agreed to.”

He shrugged, his gaze drifting down her body. “It’s your idea. It’s bound to be a good one.”

“It’s my and Vicki’s idea.”

Not a single flinch—his smile just got wider. “Even better, because that means Joel will be happy too. Go ahead, tell me what we’re doing.”

“Hosting two weddings. August fifteenth. Here at Sunset Ridge.”

That made him sit up, still holding her fingers as he brought her back to vertical. “A double wedding?”

She nodded. “Turns out Vicki’s been putting off their wedding because she didn’t want to have their big day without you around. She hoped at some point you and Joel would be friends again so you could be his best man.”

Jesse’s face tightened for a moment and he swallowed hard. “I really don’t deserve my family.”

Dare shook her head. “I really think you do, but I agree they’re pretty special people. So, what you think? You okay sharing our day with Joel and Vicki?”

He nodded. “That would make it extra special.”

The rest of the family thought it was perfect as well. Plans were put in place for the wedding to be held long enough after Vicki’s baby arrived for everyone to enjoy themselves.

June rolled around. They hit the middle of the month before Vicki grew exceedingly annoyed. “It’s not fair. You were two weeks early. How come I couldn’t have that?”

Dare shrugged, catching Joey in mid-wobble as he made another attempt to walk. “You didn’t throw up for three months straight.”

Vicki grimaced as she attempted to adjust position, her belly far too big considering her petite size. “Okay, that’s true, but at this point I’d be happy to exchange—”

She broke off, her mouth opening in shock.

The guys, who were usually attentive but not excessively so, cued in on the sound or lack thereof like magic.

An instant later Joel was beside Vicki, looking her over frantically. “Sweetheart?”

Her eyes were wide. “I feel funny.”

“Funny how?” Joel demanded.

She met Dare’s gaze. “I really want to push.”

Joel shook his head. “Oh no you don’t. We’ re going to get you up and get you to the hospital—”

Vicki caught his hand in hers and squeezed, teeth gritted together as her breathing increased in pace. “No. We’re going to have this baby, now.”

Which is how, in spite of Joel’s demands that she wait for the hospital, Vicki ended up giving birth at home.

Dare acted as coach best she could. Joel caught the baby with Jesse encouraging him along. By the time the ambulance arrived, all the excitement was over.

Jessica Marie was lying in her mama’s arms having a snooze while Joel stared in amazement. Joey had fallen asleep in the playpen kept in the living room for when little people visited.

Jesse? Well, he held on to Dare as they sat across the room from the new parents, and he whispered how astonished and proud and crazily-lucky he was to be there. To be with her and get to witness his brother and Vicki’s joy.

Family—a growing, sharing experience like Dare had never imagined.

Now, a couple of months later, she put the final touches on today’s blog post.

Blog post: Wedding Bell Blues

It’s not what you think. You’ve been listening to me post about pre-wedding jitters for the past six months, and today is finally the day.

I’m not at all nervous anymore.

In fact, the blues are what’s outside the door. After two weeks of clouds, the sky cleared last night. An Alberta bluebird day. For those of you who have never seen it, consider the pictures you’ve drooled over of a Caribbean ocean, or a pristine glacier-fed lake.

But most importantly, this blue is the colour I see every day when I look into the eyes of the man I love.

Oh, and about those bells…

The happiness inside was real. Dare glanced out the window at her new home, past the picture frames filled with shots of family from near and far, and offered up a prayer of thanks for all her blessings.

Then she hit publish and went to get ready to say I do, forever to the man she loved.

 

 

Joel fidgeted with Jesse’s tie then adjusted the bright blue swatch handkerchief tucked into his suit pocket. They were waiting with their brothers out behind the garden shed. The one tucked away to the back of the open area where the wedding was about to take place.

Midway between their two homes, the sound of laughter rang on the air as family and friends gathered.

Jesse was ready for this. He was more than ready for this, which created a happy sensation in his gut.

Dare had done the old-fashioned “refused to be seen” in her wedding get-up route, and he wanted a peek.

After a year together she just got more damn beautiful every day, and he couldn’t wait to make her officially his.

Joel, on the other hand, was nowhere near as collected. “Then after the vows we have to sign something. Then we have to—”

“Why’re you trying to memorize this?” Jesse demanded. “The justice of the peace will tell us where to go next, and if he doesn’t move fast enough, Jaxi will jump in. Poof—instant wedding organization.”

His twin nodded. “I know. I’m just… I want to get on with it.”

“You ain’t the important ones today,” Blake pointed out. Their oldest brother leaned against the wall beside the window.

Matt snickered. “Come to think of it, you’ve never been the important ones.”

Jesse adjusted his cuffs, smoothing the sleeves. “Come on. Everyone knows that the farther down the birth order, the more important the kid. Because they were trying for perfection after dealing with you.”

A snort escaped Travis. “You got that sideways, bro. The fact they went for it again means we were so awesome they were hoping for the same results. Notice they stopped after you two?”

Even Joel mustered a terse chuckle.

“Heads up.” Daniel joined them. “Beth says music starts in under five minutes—the ladies are finally moving.

For one lingering moment there were the six of them. Gathered in a semicircle, tall and solid, and most definitely family. Jesse skipped his gaze over his brothers in turn, solid respect and love for each one of them rising up. Blake—who’d proven he was a man of principle and a man of compassion. Willing to do what was hard to build the strongest family possible, just like their father.

Jesse gazed at Matt and Daniel, each who had settled into happiness in their own way. Travis who had become so much more than a rule-breaker and a wild card.

Then he let his gaze rest on Joel. His brother who was more than family—he was Jesse’s best friend again. Better friends than before because Jesse had learned a thing or two regarding how to give a damn about someone other than himself.

Blake stepped forward and placed an arm around his and Joel’s shoulders. “We Colemans ain’t the prayin’ type, but it seems right to say a word of thanks that we’re all here. That we get to work together and play together and today—celebrate together. We’ve pulled through some tough moments, and dealt with our differences, and I think we’ve come out stronger on the other side. We’re damn lucky we’ve each found the perfect partners willing to head into the future with us.

“I’m glad we’re brothers. I’m glad we’re family, and I look forward to every damn day from here on, even through the rough times, because you’re all with me.”

Jesse’s throat tightened up, and Joel coughed. Even Travis looked touched.

Music started in the background, but Jesse had to say it. “You’re the best brothers ever. Thanks for putting up with my bullshit and making me grow up. Double thanks from the woman crazy enough to agree to get hitched to me permanently, and from my son, and my future kids. We couldn’t do this without you.”

“Jeez, you want me to be a blubbering fool?” Joel complained, wiping at his eyes before flashing a grin. “Stop procrastinating. It’s time.”

They accepted a firm pat on the shoulder from Blake then slipped around the corner to where they were expected to stand at the front of the gathering, waiting for Dare and Vicki to arrive.

Jesse caught Joel before they moved to their assigned positions. “That thanks goes extra for you, considering you’ve put up with more of me being an asshole than anyone else.”

Joel shook his hand firmly. “Asshole or not, you’re my other half. Love you, jerk.”

They grinned at each other, then Jesse took those final steps.

There was no motion from the door of the house yet, so he let his gaze drift over the gathered crowd. Daniel and Beth’s boys were seating the guests, Lance all gangly and teenage awkward in a dress shirt and tie, Nathan and Robbie only a little less so, but all of them proud as they guided the last arrivals to their places.

The entire Coleman horde was there, and at each face a memory or two flashed into Jesse’s mind. Running wild with his cousins Steve and Trevor from the Moonshine clan. Trying to talk his way out of a speeding ticket or two from Anna. Chatting about horses with Karen from the Whiskey Creek. Time spent with Rafe and Laurel—too many good memories to put them all in a neat little package.

Then there was his family and Dare’s.

Hope with a baby belly out to forever with Matt hovering protectively, Colt wiggling in his grasp. Beth and Daniel found their seats, and the boys settled next to them contentedly.

Travis had one arm around Ashley, the other holding bright-eyed, blonde-haired Daisy who happily sang a nonsense baby song while they waited. Cassidy sat beside them, cradling the newest arrival to the clan. Baby River had arrived only a week earlier, with a shocking amount of dark hair and a decidedly Coleman look to his features.

Blake and Jaxi. Mike and Marion. All Dare’s brothers and Ginny—the lot of them were seated together in one giant mixed-up batch. Children had been passed around and were being contained on random laps. Emma Stone sat next to Rebecca, Sasha held Lana’s hand.

Baby Jessie lay sleeping in Ginny’s arms while Joey clung happily to Luke’s shoulder. There’d been enough visits between the ranches that even the non-Coleman-looking person was family to their son.

Jesse’s cup of happiness overflowed.

Something bumped him from behind, and he glanced down to discover Travis at his heels. “What’s up?”

Travis tugged the bottom of Jesse’s pant leg. “You had a smudge.”

He sounded far too amused, but then the music swelled, and Jesse ignored everything except the vision leaving the house.

Dare and Vicki stopped just shy of the back row of seating, hugging each other fiercely.

There was another joy he might have missed if he hadn’t had the good luck to stumble into Dare all those months ago—that the girls loved each other as friends as deeply as they did only made his and Joel’s lives better.

They broke apart, each moving to the top of the aisle that led to where he and Joel waited. While he supposed Vicki looked nice, Jesse only had eyes for Dare.

She’d picked a slim dress in a rich blue shade that matched the cloth in his pocket, the fabric clinging to her curves. Her hair was twisted up on top of her head, a few long strands curling down in a way that made him want to take her somewhere private to mess her up.

Neither of the girls had anyone to give them away, and Dare had sweetly but firmly turned down the offer from Caleb. Jesse realized how right this was. This was her, giving herself into his hands to care for, and love and protect.

Her choice, his privilege.

She walked slowly toward him, a smile growing on her lips that teased his senses. A sexy, trusting look meant for him alone.

A smile he was going to spend a lifetime enjoying.

But when he finally took her hand in his, her sweet, sexy expression turned to pure mischief as she pressed something soft against his palm.

He glanced down at his hand in confusion.

A piece of plastic fruit?

“You stole my cherry, now you gotta marry me,” Dare said softly.

That was all it took to push him over the edge. Screw protocol.

A low growl escaped as Jesse tugged her close so he could kiss her. Right then and there, as laughter rose from the gathering. Dare smiled against his lips before wrapping her arms around him and kissing back enthusiastically.

They’d get to the wedding eventually.