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“This here is a falcon. His name is Rook,” Kage explained.

“I consider him sort of my pet, but he is free to come and go as he pleases. I don’t keep him locked away, or in some cage.

He can be wild. He has no owner, only a friend in me.

” Kage reached into his tuxedo jacket pocket, pulled out a treat, and brought it close to Rook’s beak.

People laughed as Rook dramatically chumped it down as if it were the most delicious morsel he’d ever had.

“Rook, in some ways, represents what I wanted to be, and some of what I am. Loyal. Cautious. Protective. He’s a beautiful bird, and without a word exchanged, me and this guy have had long conversations.

He rests and hunts on my land, near my house, but never stays for long durations.

He doesn’t keep himself guarded or locked in.

He’s careful, without cuttin’ off the entire world.

Rook doesn’t like bein’ around a lot of people, but since he trusts me, he came anyway, even after seein’ all of y’all here.

That’s how I feel about this woman I’m marrying today…

my beautiful possum. She brought me out of my shell, unclipped my wings, and encouraged me to soar.

” Kage lifted his arm higher, and Rook flew away, ushering applause and more awe as people watched the beautiful bird disappear into the clouds.

Music began to play. All of a sudden, Phoenix came forward and addressed the crowd.

“I’m gonna sing one of my cousin’s favorite songs.

Kage is a true country music fan, and he asked me to sing this song to his beautiful bride today.

Says it fits how he feels about this lady to the ‘T’.

” A few men approached wearing big cowboy hats, their guitars in tow, and another sitting at a small drum kit, sticks in hand. The gentlemen got in position.

Phoenix started singing Chris Stapleton’s ‘Tennessee Whiskey,’ hitting those notes like no other. The crowd swooned, and so did Poet. The man could sing his behind clean off!

“He sounds just like him!” she whispered to Kage excitedly.

Kage smiled down at her, looking quite pleased with himself.

“I like this surprise!” She giggled and grabbed his arm.

She shuddered when he reached between them, real slow and easy, and gave her stomach a loving rub.

When the song ended, there didn’t appear to be many dry eyes in the place.

Once everything was quiet again, Kage took her hands in his.

“Possum, I’m not great with romantic words, or things that sound pretty.

Big, frilly words. You know my heart though.

” He took a deep, audible breath, then continued.

“One day I walked onto my land, sure that I was going to find an intruder. I found my possum instead. My sweet Poet. God placed her right in my hands. The land is so big out here, it ain’t uncommon for folks to not know where it ends or begins.

She was innocently here just tryna do a nature walk and see some bobcats for work.

I didn’t expect to see someone like her here though.

but I found you…” He stared into her eyes.

“As soon as I looked into those big, pretty brown eyes of yours, with your long lashes, those pretty lips, and all of that shiny, black curly hair showing from beneath your hood, I knew that I wanted to find out all about you. What began as just normal physical attraction turned into something dynamic. Somethin’ powerful.

You made me look at myself in the river, and you reminded me that I’m beautiful on the inside, too.

” Kage closed his eyes for a minute, and she reached towards him, and stroked his hand.

“…I’m okay,” he whispered, offering a half smile.

“…And uh, you reminded me of who I really am, and what I deserve. That I don’t have to be mean and ornery to protect myself from pain and hurt.

I gotta be open if I want to let good stuff in.

You were so bubbly, funny, and full of life, it was contagious.

What started off as bobcat sightings, and greenhouses being built, ended with river prayers, and tales of wolves…

” He winked at her, and she caught his drift.

“Every date, every phone call, every text message, I found out a little bit more about you, and fell in love a little more, too. Possum, you’re a free spirit, like the falcon.

“You wash away my pain, like the river, and quench my thirst, too. Lord knows you do, and you taste oh, so good going down, my little woodland, fairy princess…” He licked his lips real slow as he stared into her eyes, lifting her chin in the process, causing a burst of high-pitched feminine squeals and laughter from her bridesmaids, which only triggered more laughter from the crowd.

She felt her cheeks burning red at his sexual innuendo in front of all of those folks.

“You made me grow up, like a tree. Yeah, I was grown, but in some ways, I was stunted. Stuck in the past. Afraid to move forward. Isolated on purpose. You watered me and gave me plenty of sun—encouraged me to spread out, and now, here I stand.” She blinked away her emotions.

“Your love is plentiful and abundant, like acres of land. You’re solid, like a rock.

” He grasped both of her hands and squeezed them.

“Your kiss is a cure for my ailments. You’ve stood by me when some would’ve turned away and left.

You’ve believed in me, and trusted me, like the falcon flying past a crowd.

You’ve never broken my trust, or made me second guess the love that we have, and the love we’ve made.

” Without words, he glanced at her stomach, and placed his hand there for a fleeting moment.

Not everyone knew of her pregnancy just yet.

She wanted to wait to make a formal announcement until she was a bit further along.

“You’re my little slice of paradise, and I’ll protect you with my life, baby.

” She read between the lines, and her heart swelled.

“Thank you for agreeing to be my wife. I can’t wait to go on this new, mind-blowing voyage with you, because I know with you by my side, Poet, every thing is possible.

” People clapped and cheered as Kage turned back towards the pastor, ready to finish their ceremony.

It was now time to exchange rings. After a bit of back and forth with Kage’s cousin, Maddox, Kage presented a tiny greenhouse that was set in the palm of his hand.

“Oh, my goodness, that’s so cute!” Melba exclaimed from the crowd, joyous tears in her eyes.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Kage created a handmade, miniature greenhouse to keep the rings inside. It symbolizes the excuse he used to initially spend more time with his bride during their courtship. You see, he built her a greenhouse on her property, since Poet has a green thumb and wanted to expand her horticulture business. But, you must understand that the greenhouse can symbolize so many things… Like protection. Growth. Nurturing. Cultivation. Development of one another. Shelter. Security. Just as our mothers’ bodies acted as a greenhouse for us during our first nine months of development, it’s the love between humankind that is the most important ingredient. The seed to a bright future.”

Kage opened the greenhouse door, and the minister removed the two rings and held them, while Maddox took the greenhouse away. Poet took Kage’s wedding band as the pastor offered his to her.

“Kage, I give you this ring as a representation of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, as a sign that I have chosen you above all others.”

She slid the gold band down his finger. Then Kage took the wedding band for her, and did the same.

“By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife! Kage, you may kiss your bride!”

Dan + Shay’s, ‘Speechless’ blared as Kage wrapped his long, strong arms around her, pulled her close, and pressed his soft lips against hers, taking her breath away.

The feel of flowers falling all over her from being tossed in the air didn’t make her open her eyes…

The cheering and gleeful screaming didn’t make her open her eyes…

The sounds of motorcycles from Sarah’s friends lining up to take a victory lap around the property didn’t make her open her eyes…

But when she felt the first kick of their baby, and knew with the way they were pressed close together that so did he, that made her open her eyes, and when she did, he was staring down at her stomach…

She swiped a tear from his eye, and they smiled at one another, then laughed. His smile slowly faded.

“I felt that…Wow. I, uh, I wrote you a poem, but I don’t want nobody to hear it but you. I’m not talented at this sort of thing, like your mama was, but I did my best. Here goes.”

He nestled in close, wrapping his arms around her as if they were slow dancing to the music.

“Life ain’t promised me it would be easy.

I spent half of it angry and full of rage.

I was a wolf in a zoo, not realizing I’d made my own Kage.

A blessin’ was comin’ my way. Only, at first I didn’t know it.

She came lookin’ to draw some bobcats, and her name was Poet.

I fell in love with her fast, she fell in love with me a bit slower.

I don’t talk about how I love a woman; I’m more action—get up and show ’er.

And now here we are on this magnificent day.

We’ve got love like I’ve never known, and another blessin’ on the way…

Gotdamnit, I love you so damn much, Possum. ” His voice shook like an earthquake.

She quickly pulled away from him, held his cheeks with both hands, and watched this man cry quietly in front of her.

“Kage, my love for you flows like this river. You’re my Stone, and I’m your Nina. The settlers are long gone… it’s just you and me, boy.”

She wrapped her arms around him, rocking to the music and squeezing him oh so tight…