Page 101 of A Rancher's Bride
Every time Nemo earned a stud fee, a portion now went into a joint bank account to be used for whatever the three women of Silver Stone deemed was needed. And all of them, Tamara, Ivy and Kelli, had voted to keep the percentage going straight back into ranch operations for the time being.
Kelli had arranged that with the others before he’d even proposed. She’d already decided to help save Silver Stone. To keep it going for the family she’d chosen.
Luke collected himself before he broke down.
Dustin had his hands on the tabletop, and he stared at them. “Caleb said I was a part of it too, and I’ll agree, but it would be a mistake to not recognize howmuchyou all stepped up.” He lifted his eyes and looked at them each in turn. “I don’t know how, but I promise that someday I’ll find a way to make a real difference, too.”
Caleb laid a hand on his shoulder. “This was the whole family, including you, Dustin, and I’m not just saying that. We worked together and this time, we came out on top. It’s Ashton, and the hands. It’s Tamara and the girls doing what they could when they could.”
Outside the window, a long-muzzled grey face poked up and peered in at them as if wanting to be let in on the meeting. The goat’s debonair bowtie tilted saucily to one side. It appeared Sasha was determined to keep replacing the things as fast as the creatures could lose them, and this one was festive red in honour of the wedding.
Dustin snickered. “Fine. We all contributed, but if you try to tell me that the goats had anything to do with this, I’m going to worry about you.”
“Dustin, I’m shocked. Don’t you feel they’re an important part of our family?” Luke teased as he rose to his feet and peeked out the window. Dammit. He gestured for his brothers to join him. “It’s not only Meany. All three of them are out, and if we don’t get them now, they’ll probably show up in the middle of your wedding, Walker.”
“That would go over well,” Walker muttered, pulling on his coat and reaching for his hat.
“The girls would love it.”
“Don’t go putting ideas into their head or they’ll want the goats to be ring bearers,” Dustin warned. “Right now Sasha is plotting to tie a pillow on Demon’s back.”
“No goats, and no dogs. And it appears our family meeting is over, called on account of goats,” Caleb drawled. “But the good news is Silver Stone’s got plenty of family meetings in her future.”
They headed outside, the crisp cold air and beautiful blue sky making it clear that, even while they chased the goats, they were home.
When a rope dropped around his torso, snapping tight and trapping him in place, Luke glanced over his shoulder unsurprised to find he’d been hogtied by his favourite cowgirl in the world.
“I heard there were wild animals running loose, so I figured I should help round them up.” Kelli tugged the rope, guiding him closer to her horse.
“Round them up and brand them?” Luke teased.
Her eyes slipped over him in appreciation. “Well, it seems only right since branding is what got me started here at Silver Stone. I only want to put my mark on one particular wild beast, though.”
Luke stood next to her now, staring up as she loosened the rope, coiled it, and hung it from her saddle. “Trust me, Kelli. You’ve already put your mark on me. Heart and soul. Now and forever.”
She tipped back her cowboy hat, sliding her foot from the stirrup and gesturing for him to join her. “Come on, cowboy. This kind of branding requires privacy.”
“I like the sounds of that.”
He mounted behind her. The two of them snuck a final glance toward where the rest of the family, Caleb, Walker, Dustin and now Lisa, had been joined by Sasha and Emma.
Tamara leaned against the goat pen gate, her coat stretched hard over the swell of her belly. Ivy was beside her, bundled up in her bright blue coat, the two of them laughing as the three goats leapt everywhere, almost, but not quite in range of their pursuers.
Luke wrapped his arms around Kelli as she tugged the reins and headed toward his house—theirhouse. Leaning forward to put his lips by her ear. “So. How exactly does this branding business work?”
She twisted until he could see her smile. “Well, I’ll get the fire roaring, open the grate, and wait until the brand is glowing red-hot. You can decide if you want it on your right butt cheek or your left—”
He squeezed her around the waist. “Leave my butt out of it.”
Kelli laughed out loud then leaned harder against him. “Then again, maybe kisses will be involved. Long, slow and very heated kisses.”
He hummed in approval. “That sounds like my kind of branding.”
Silver Stone was still theirs and would be for years to come. Kelli was part of his family, in more ways than one. They had a grandpa to visit, friends to spend time with, but over all that, the deepest sensation riding Luke was one of peace.
He held on tight to the woman who was the perfect bride, and the perfect partner, and the perfectjust Kellifor him.
Together they rode toward the future.
* * *