Page 13 of Claimed by the Cowboy (Havenstone: Mail Order Brides #3)

Tom

Three days later, I’m standing at the altar in our family barn, hands shaking like a teenager on his first date.

The space has been transformed into something Mom would’ve loved—wildflowers in mason jars, white lights strung from the rafters, hay bales covered in quilts for seating. Simple, beautiful, and utterly perfect for my bride.

My bride. I can’t believe my luck.

“Nervous?” Angus asks from beside me, straightening his tie for the dozenth time.

“Terrified,” I admit, checking my watch. Two o’clock on the dot, and still no sign of Kitty. “What if she realized she’s too good for me and changed her mind?”

“Then she’d be an idiot,” Henry says from my other side. “Which she’s not. She’s getting ready to marry the luckiest bastard in Montana.”

“Speaking of which”—Angus grins wickedly—“Cheese Puff’s been unusually quiet today. Almost like someone bribed her with an entire bag of grain to behave.”

“Someone did,” I mutter. “Can’t have her destroying my wedding.”

Before my brothers can respond, the barn doors swing open and Luna steps through, wearing a simple blue dress. She winks at Angus as she glides to her place, mischief dancing in her eyes.

Shay follows in a green dress that does nothing to hide her pregnant belly. Then comes Delaney, looking lighter, freer, happier than I’ve ever seen her. The satisfied smile on her face says it all—she’s exactly where she belongs.

And then it hits me. Kitty’s coming. My bride will walk down that aisle any minute now .

“Breathe,” Dad whispers from the front row, his voice thick. “Proud of you, son.”

The music begins—a simple, soulful guitar melody strummed by Beckett, our security guy.

Who knew the gruff ex-SEAL had that kind of talent?

His fiancée, Georgina—George to all of us—watches him with stars in her eyes.

For once, our resident mechanic has traded her grease-stained coveralls for a purple dress, which has Beckett fumbling a chord.

Even my cousins—Daniel, Ethan, and Gabriel—are here, having traded their jeans and flannels for suits. All three look about as comfortable as cats in bathtubs.

But all of that blurs into the background.

Because there she is.

Kitty stands in the barn doorway like something out of a dream, backlit by afternoon sunshine that makes her hair look like wheat kissed by the sun. She’s wearing a simple white dress that flows around her like water, wildflowers tucked behind one ear, and a smile that could power the entire ranch.

But it’s her eyes that undo me. Brown and gold and locked on mine with such love, such certainty, that I have to stop myself from crossing the barn to claim her right now.

She walks toward me, slow and steady, and I catalog every detail. The way the dress moves with her graceful steps. How the flowers in her hair catch the light. The soft curve of her lips as her smile grows wider with each step that brings her closer to becoming mine.

Halfway down the aisle, disaster strikes.

“MAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

The triumphant bleat echoes through the barn, and I close my eyes in resignation. So much for bribing Cheese Puff into good behavior.

A collective gasp goes up from our small gathering as the goat appears at the far end of the barn, moving with purpose toward the altar. She’s dragging an entire roll of toilet paper behind her, the streamers fluttering like victory banners.

“Oh, no,” Luna breathes. “Please tell me she didn’t?— ”

“She raided the supply closet,” Delaney mutters grimly.

Cheese Puff prances down the aisle like she owns the place, tissue paper streaming from her horns like a bridal veil gone terribly wrong. The roll bounces along the floor, unspooling faster than anyone can stop it.

This is when my wedding turns into a complete disaster like every other important Sutton family event Cheese Puff has ever crashed.

Then Kitty starts to laugh.

Not polite wedding laughter. Real, genuine, from-the-belly laughter that fills the barn and makes everyone else smile despite the chaos.

“Come here, you ridiculous menace,” she calls, extending her hand toward Cheese Puff like she’s coaxing a child.

The goat pauses, startled, clearly expecting screaming and chaos—her usual reception. Instead, she gets a bride who’s more amused than angry.

“That’s right,” Kitty coaxes, her voice warm with humor. “Come on, bring them here. You can be part of the wedding if you behave.”

Kitty waves her bouquet like it’s a snack. Cheese Puff tilts her head, considering. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, she trots over, and Kitty drops the bouquet into Cheese Puff’s waiting mouth.

After a few thoughtful chews, the goat drops the bouquet. The flowers are a little worse for wear—stems bent, petals scattered—but Kitty cradles them like they’re precious.

“Perfect,” she declares, flashing the goat a dazzling smile. “Now, go sit with Luna and try not to eat anything important.”

Cheese Puff obeys, trotting over to curl up beside Luna’s chair like the world’s happiest flower girl.

Angus gapes. “Did that goat just?—”

“Follow orders?” Henry finishes dryly. “Looks like she did.”

Kitty continues her walk down the aisle, bouquet in hand, grinning like this is exactly how she wanted her wedding to go. When she reaches me, her eyes are dancing with mischief.

“Only you,” I say softly, taking her hands in mine, “would allow a toilet-paper-draped goat to crash our wedding.”

“She just wanted to be included,” she whispers back. “I know how that feels.”

The simple words hit me in the chest. This woman—my woman—has spent so much of her life feeling excluded, overlooked, unwanted. But not anymore. Never again.

“Lord above. First time I’ve had livestock in the bridal procession,” the reverend who married both Henry and Angus declares. He stands in front of us, Bible in one hand, smirk firmly in place. “Another day, another Sutton wedding,” he says with a wink.

Tom squeezes my fingers. “Sorry, Reverend, I’m the last one. After this, you can finally take a rest.”

“Are you sure? What about those cousins of yours?” he fires back, brow lifting as he spears a look at Daniel, Ethan, and Gabriel. “I swear, every time I get a call from a Sutton, I brace myself because there’s usually a wedding, a brawl, or a goat involved.”

Laughter ripples through the barn. Cheese Puff bleats loudly as if to confirm his point.

“Guess today we’ve got all three,” Angus mutters dryly, earning another round of chuckles.

The reverend sighs with theatrical resignation. “Well, Lord willing, this is my last Sutton for a while. My poor heart can’t take much more excitement.” The laughter fades into anticipation. “Are you both ready?”

“Ready,” we say in unison, and I realize I've never meant anything more in my life.

The ceremony passes in a blur of traditional words and promises. I hear myself saying “I do” and “forever” and “with all my heart,” but mostly I’m focused on Kitty’s face, on the tears of joy tracking down her cheeks and the tremble of her hands in mine.

When the reverend pronounces us husband and wife, the words hit like a physical blow.

Husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sutton.

Mine. Finally, legally, completely mine.

“You may kiss your bride,” the reverend says with a beaming smile.

I don’t need to be told twice.

I cup Kitty's face and kiss her with everything I have—love, possession, promise, need. She melts against me with a soft sound that makes my blood sing, her arms winding around my neck as she kisses me back with equal fervor.

Applause erupts around us, along with whoops and hollers from my brothers. But all I can focus on is the woman in my arms, the way she tastes like forever and feels like home.

When we finally break apart, Kitty’s eyes are bright with unshed tears.

“Mrs. Sutton,” I say softly, testing out the name.

“I like the sound of that,” she whispers back.

“Good. Because you’re stuck with it for the next sixty years or so.”

“Only sixty?” She grins up at me. “I was hoping for longer.”

Before I can respond, we’re surrounded by family, pulled into hugs and congratulations and laughter. Dad claps me on the shoulder with pride in his eyes. Luna hugs Kitty so hard she lifts her off the ground.

“Pictures,” Shay announces, producing a camera. “Before everyone gets too emotional.”

What follows is a photo session that will make our wedding album unique. Traditional shots of the bride and groom. Family groupings with everyone smiling. And, because this is the Sutton family, several pictures featuring Cheese Puff as an honorary wedding party member.

“One more,” Shay calls, lifting the camera. “Tom, pull her close. Kitty, look at your husband like he’s the cowboy you’re gonna ride all night.”

Kitty’s face blazes red.

“Shay!” Henry chokes beside her, eyes wide.

She lowers the camera, claps a hand over her mouth, and mumbles, “Sorry, got carried away. Pregnancy hormones seem to be messing with my inhibitions. ”

“Don’t I know it,” Henry says, giving his wife a meaningful look.

“Don’t we all know it,” Angus grumbles.

I lean down to murmur in Kitty’s ear, “Don’t worry, darlin’. Happy to let you ride me into the sunset tonight.”

Her blush deepens, which only makes Shay cackle as she lifts the camera again. “Perfect. That’s the shot.”

The shutter clicks, capturing my Kitty’s laugh, my cocky grin, and our entire family cracking up around us.

The reception is everything a ranch wedding should be—relaxed, joyful, full of laughter and love. The food is perfect, the atmosphere warm, and the company exactly right.

As our small gathering moves to the front porch for cake and dancing, all I can think about is being alone with my wife.

My wife. The words still don' t feel real.

“Cake cutting,” Luna announces, producing a simple white cake decorated with wildflowers. “Make it good—this is going in the photo album.”

Kitty and I move to the cake table, her hand warm in mine. When we cut the first slice together, she feeds me a bite with gentle fingers, her touch making me want to forget about tradition and carry her straight to bed.

“Your turn,” she says, lips quirking with mischief.

I take a forkful of cake, aiming for her mouth. But at the last second, I swipe a dab of frosting on her nose instead.

“Tom!” she squeals, laughing as she tries to wipe it away.

“Oops,” I say innocently. “Let me get that.”

Instead of using a napkin, I lean in and lick the frosting from her nose, the simple contact sending fire racing through my veins.

Kitty’s breath catches, and when I pull back, her eyes are dark with want.

“Behave,” she whispers, but her voice holds no real protest.

“Not a chance, darlin’. You’re mine now. I don’t have to behave anymore.”

The promise makes her shiver, and I file that reaction away for later.

Dancing follows cake, with Beckett providing guitar music that ranges from sweet to silly. I claim the first dance, of course, pulling Kitty into my arms as he plays something slow and romantic.

“Happy?” I ask, swaying with her under the stars.

“Deliriously,” she admits, resting her head against my chest. “I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and this will all be a dream.”

“Not a dream. Real as it gets.” I tighten my arms around her. “You’re my wife now, Kitty Sutton. No take-backs.”

“Good,” she says fiercely. “Because I’m never letting you go.”

We dance through several songs, surrounded by family and laughter and the kind of joy I didn’t know existed until today.

Dad cuts in for a dance with his new daughter-in-law, his face soft with affection.

Henry twirls her around the dance floor, making her giggle with his dramatic dips.

Angus is next, all stiff formality, until Kitty deliberately steps on his boot.

He huffs, but the corner of his mouth twitches, and by the end of the song, he’s smiling as if she’s worn him down with her charm.

Then Shay waddles out, belly first, and declares she’s not missing her chance.

Kitty dances with her, too, the two of them swaying in exaggerated slow-motion while Henry looks on like he’s ready to catch his wife if she topples.

Everyone bursts into laughter when Cheese Puff tries to butt in—literally—nudging Kitty’s hip until she gives up and lets the goat “dance” a few steps with her.

But when the music slows and I reclaim my wife, pulling her back into my arms where she belongs, I know it’s time.

“Ready to go to the cabin, Mrs. Sutton?” I murmur in her ear.

She tilts her head back to look at me. “What cabin? ”

I nod, letting the secret slip with a grin. “One of the cabins we usually keep for the vets. It’s private, tucked away from the main house. I figured it’d make a good place for us to start.”

Her lips part. “It’s ours?”

“Yeah, darlin’.” I stroke my thumb over the back of her hand. “I’ve already talked to Dad about it. We’ll remodel it, extend it, make it ours. Big kitchen for when you decide you’re in the mood to bake, porch swing so I can watch the sunset with my wife every night, whatever you want.”

Her breath catches, eyes wide and shining.

My voice drops. “A home. A place that’s ours . Not borrowed, not temporary. Just you and me building something from the ground up.”

She swallows hard, blinking fast. “Tom, that’s—” Her voice breaks, and she presses her forehead against my chest. “That’s everything I didn’t know how to ask for.”

I hold her tighter, resting my chin on her hair. “Good. Because it’s ours.” I pull back, grinning. “Besides, you didn’t think I was gonna take my bride back to the house with half my family listening through the walls, did you? It’s a little crowded there nowadays.”

She laughs, a little shaky, a little shy, and it goes straight to my chest. “Guess not.”

“Good,” I murmur, tightening my hold as the music swells around us. “Because tonight is ours, Kitty. Just you and me. No goats, no brothers, no arrangements hanging over our heads.”

“What about the party?”

“The party can survive without us. I can’t survive another minute without having my wife alone.”

She looks around at our family, all of whom are studiously pretending not to listen while obviously hanging on every word.

“Go,” Luna says with a grin. “We’ll clean up. You two have more important things to do.”

“Much more important,” Angus adds with a wicked grin, sliding his arm around Luna’s waist.

Heat floods Kitty’s cheeks, but she nods. “ Okay. Let’s go home, husband.”

Those words hit me square in the chest. Because that’s exactly what I am now, and exactly what the cabin will be. The place where we’ll build our life together, where we’ll wake up in each other’s arms every morning for the rest of our lives.