The Rancher's Rules

He kissed her temple. “Not yet, querida, but soon.”

She affected disappointment, but secretly thrilled to the anticipation he was building for their wedding night. He’d refused to make love again until they were married. She hadn’t argued—not after he’d pointed out that they’d forgotten precautions in the shower and that he’d prefer their children were conceived after the wedding and not before.

Just then the doorbell rang, and Lottie left the room to answer it. Zoe was wondering who would be calling on Christmas Day when a familiar deep voice boomed from the entry hall.

“It’s colder than a witch’s tit out there.”

Zoe sat paralyzed as her parents walked into Grant’s living room. “You came.”

“’Course we came,” her dad said. “It’s Christmas, ain’t it?”

“Yes.” It was Christmas, and her parents had come. She smiled at them. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Her mother smiled warmly back, but her father actually walked right up to her and pulled her from the loveseat for a hug. “Glad to see you too, Zoe.”

Her dad held her so tightly she could barely breathe, and he whispered two words into her ear she’d never expected to hear. “I’m sorry.”

The pain of a lifetime couldn’t be eradicated with a hug, but a lot of healing could happen—and did. Her mom pulled her into an embrace before Zoe could respond, but she squeezed her dad’s arm as she let go of him.

Zoe turned to Grant. “Did you know they were coming?”

He nodded, and something in his eyes told her that he’d had something to do with it. He’d told her about their dads’ attempts at matchmaking. Learning her dad had sold the ranch to Grant expecting it to pave the way for them to marry had helped detract from the lingering pain at the way he’d handled it.

She smiled at Grant, letting her love shine through. She mouthed the words for him alone.

I love you.

He put his hand out and drew her to him. “I love you, too, angel.”

She sighed, and snuggled against him.

They were married on New Year’s Day.

The church stood bright and beautiful in the winter sunshine, acting as a beacon as Grant walked through the side entrance, anticipation zinging through his body. Today Zoe would become his wife. He listened to the cacophony of voices and figured the majority of Sunshine Springs had turned out on short notice to witness his and Zoe’s wedding.

A hush fell over the assembly, and the minister motioned Grant to take his place at the front of the church. Grant looked out over the crowded pews and smiled at their guests. Jenny and Tyler sat next to each other, their hands entwined. Grant’s parents occupied the first pew to his right. Zoe’s parents sat in the corresponding pew across the aisle.

Remembering Zoe’s emotional reaction to her parents showing up at Christmas brought a smile to his face. She had cried when they arrived. She had cried again when he’d given her an engagement ring. For a woman who rarely wept, she had been very misty-eyed lately. He wondered if she would cry when she spoke her vows.

The “Wedding March” started and Grant fixed his eyes on the back of the church. The guests stood, and then Zoe filled his vision. She wore her grandmother’s wedding dress. It hadn’t required any alterations, and the old-fashioned lace and veil suited Zoe to perfection. Grant’s heart constricted at the sight, and he felt his hands twitching to touch her. She smiled at him and he knew that the radiant happiness he saw in her eyes was reflected in his own.

She reached his side and the minister instructed Grant to take her hand. He spoke his vows with assurance, gazing directly into her eyes. When he said, “I do,” his voice sounded strong, as if he had been practicing all his life. He felt like he had.

A scream rent the air. Grant and Zoe both spun around to see what the commotion was about. Carlene stood on a pew at the back of the church, her peach-colored miniskirt visible above the heads of the couple in front of her.

“Rodents!”

Grant groaned. Zoe laughed, and a little boy, looking uncomfortable in his Sunday best, pushed his way into the center aisle. “That’s no rodent. That’s my hamster. He used be Miss Jensen’s. He wanted to see the wedding too.”

Surprised gasps and shrieks followed this announcement. Within seconds the entire church was a massive scene of pandemonium. Everywhere but the front two pews. Zoe’s and Grant’s parents remained in their seats.

“We’re used to this sort of thing, pastor. We raised her.” Zoe’s father’s words, spoken with resignation but some humor too, brought a smile to Grant’s lips.