Still holding her, he said: "For a while back there, on the trail, I wondered whether I'd ever be able to tell you how I felt."
"You were worried?" she countered. "I was thinking exactly the same thing myself."
Landon grinned. "Seems like we need to do some plain speaking."
Beth nodded. "I love you, Landon Baxter." She giggled and shook her head enthusiastically. "And I want the whole world to know it."
Landon laughed. "That sure feels good," he admitted. "There ain't a person in Montana who isn't going to know how much I love the woman who owns the Circle D."
Beth frowned. "So who is going to be my new foreman?" she asked.
"Just a foreman?" he responded and lifted a querying brow.
Beth felt her heartbeat thundering. Her breath hitched in her chest as she gazed up into Landon's eyes. She knew what he was going to say next. She knew what he needed to ask her. All day she'd been wondering where everything with Landon was going to lead. And now she had her answer.
Landon's arms slid down to Beth's waist. It felt like he didn't want to let her go. Not until he'd spoken his next words. The words which she knew would change everything. For her, the children and for Landon. She suddenly saw clearly how everything which had happened over the last few days had been leading up to this moment. The Lord had placed this wonderful man in her life. Landon was to be the means of Beth and the children being led out of the darkness and into the light. And now she could see, by the determination in his eyes, he intended to fully obey the Lord's will. Landon understood why he'd been brought into Beth's life.
"Beth," Landon breathed softly. "You know how much I love you. I want to be a part of your life. And I want you to be part of mine. I know we met in unusual circumstances, but that's one way the Lord works his wonders." He leaned his head closer. When he spoke next , she couldn't take her eyes off him. "You and I belong together, Beth."
Joy filled her heart. She reached up and gently cupped the side of his face in her hand. She felt so much love for Landon that, for a brief moment, she could hardly express it in words. Then she sighed contentedly. "Landon. This is a miracle. You loving me like this. And me loving you. How can such a thing be true?"
"It's what the Lord intended for us both, Beth," Landon said. Glancing toward the ranch house, he added: "And for Max and Katie, too. Those children deserve to have a complete family again."
Once again, Beth's heart filled with joy and bliss. "This is a big step for you, Landon. Being a father to the children."
"Nothing will stop me from doing all I can to give those two the best possible life."
Beth sighed softly. Every one of his words was like music to her ears. "Are you sure?"
Landon nodded firmly. She was beginning to get used to that look she told herself. It was the way she knew that he meant to do something, no matter what the personal cost. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life." He tilted his head. "Of course, that leaves one thing for me to do." Taking one step back, he took her hands in his and gazed longingly into her eyes. This time, the earth did shake beneath her booted feet. She held on to Landon's hands and waited for him to speak.
Landon drew in a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. "Beth Russell," Landon said, his voice shaking with emotion. "Will you do me the great honor of agreeing to become my wife?"
The words seemed to hover in the air. Beth's mouth opened and, for a moment, she was speechless. When she'd come to the Circle D all those weeks ago, she never would have believed that one day she would stand in front of the most handsome man in Montana as he asked her to marry him. It truly was a miracle. She gazed into Landon's eyes and saw tenderness and love in them. "I will, Landon," she whispered. Now it was her turn to speak with a voice shaking with emotion. "I will become your wife."
Landon's features lit up with delight. He drew her closer to him and wrapped her in a warm embrace. He kissed her again, this time with sheer joy. Ending the kiss, he leaned back and gazed deeply into her eyes. "My love," he murmured. "I promise to devote my entire life to making you happy. No matter what it takes, I will do all I can to bring joy into your life."
Lifting her hand, Beth pushed some loose locks of stray hair from one side of his forehead. "And to think this all happened because you hit your head on a rock," she said and smiled at him.
The door to the ranch house opened. Max and Katie stepped out onto the porch followed by Sally. The mouths of each of the children dropped open when they saw Beth and Landon. Katie turned to Sally as if seeking some kind of explanation. Sally laid a hand gently on the shoulder of each of the children and started to lead them across the yard. Max and Katie gazed, wide-eyed at Beth and Landon. Realizing she was still in Landon's arms, she looked up at him. "I think we should tell them, don't you?"
"I think they've probably already guessed," Landon replied.
Beth and Landon turned to face the children and Sally. Landon's arm was still wrapped around Beth's waist. It was a fact which, judging by the delighted expression on the faces of Max and Katie, had not gone unnoticed. "We have some wonderful news for you," Beth said.
Katie smiled up at Landon. "Are you going to be our new pa?"
Taken aback by the way Katie had just gotten to the point, Landon glanced at Beth, seeking help. Beth edged forward with Landon still holding onto her. She glanced at Sally and saw the delight on her face. "Landon has just asked me to become his wife. And I have accepted."
Max and Katie's squeals of delight rang out across the yard. They started bouncing up and down on their toes. Max turned to Katie. "I told you," he yelled.
Beth extended her arms to the children. "Come here," she said to them. They both tumbled into her arms. She hugged them warmly, hearing the sheer excitement in their muffled cries. Then she released them. "I think Landon wants a hug, too." Looking at Landon, she added: "Don't you?"
Landon peered down at the children. "It sure would be nice," he announced and smiled at them. Then the children leaped against Landon's legs, crying out with delight.
Beth smiled at Sally. The housekeeper came to Beth. "Congratulations, Beth," Sally said, her eyes moistening.
Beth hugged Sally. "I'm so happy," she said quietly.
Sally looked at Landon. He'd lifted Max up into his arms. "You've got a good man, there," she told Beth. "The Lord has been generous to you in so many ways."
"And I'm truly grateful, Sally," Beth admitted. "I will always be grateful to the Lord for bringing Landon into our lives. Even when I turned away from Him, the Lord found a way to bring me back to Him."
"You're all a family, now," Sally said.
Looking at Landon, Max and Katie, Beth nodded. "We are. And it's the most wonderful thing in the world."
Then she went to Landon and hugged him as the children danced around their feet.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
ONE MONTH LATER
The wedding ceremony had been completed an hour before at the church in Inspiration. Now, they were all back at the Baxter ranch. The celebration was about to begin and Beth hoped it would go on for the rest of the day and long into the evening. She and Landon stood at the far end of a long table which had been set out in the yard in front of the ranch house. Squinting in the bright, afternoon sunshine, Beth gazed down the length of the table. On one side sat Gabe and Lauren, with Kyle and Veronica sitting next to them. On the opposite side of the table sat Landon's parents, Miriam and Nathaniel. Next to Landon's father sat Veronica's parents Dominick Flint and his wife Augusta. At the far end sat Lauren's father. Filling up the space on both sides of the rest of table were Victoria Munro and her husband, Wyatt, along with Josh Munro and his wife Grace. Most importantly, up near the end of the table where Beth and Landon would be sitting in a few moments were all the children. Max and Katie and Ryan Munro and Molly Baxter.
Any moment now, Landon would start to make a speech. Right now, everyone at the table was busy chatting. The steady murmur of the conversation drifted on the cool, afternoo
n air. Beth looked up at her new husband. He seemed nervous about the speech. But that didn't stop him looking fine in his neatly cut dark gray suit and waistcoat. Landon glanced down at Beth and smiled. "You look beautiful," he said for what seemed like the hundredth time today. She ran a hand down the front of her white wedding dress. She'd spent many hours with Victoria, Lauren, Grace and Veronica making the dress. And there had been times in the last week when it had seemed the dress would never be ready. But it had all worked out perfectly in the end. Just like everything with Landon.
Landon gazed into Beth's eyes. She'd never get weary of him looking at her like that, she told herself. Every day would be a joy and delight, as long as Landon gazed at her with his eyes filled with love. "And you're still the most handsome man in Montana," she replied.
He quirked a brow at her. "I aim to stay that way for a long time."
Beth laughed quietly. "I have no doubt you will."
Landon lifted his glass and clinked a spoon softly against its side. Instantly, all heads turned to look at Landon. He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. "I'm not one to make long speeches. But I want to say a few words before we all tuck in to the fine food which has been laid on here." Beth ran her gaze along the table, admiring the variety of food which filled the plates laid out along its length.
"I'm getting hungry," Kyle called out. Everyone laughed. Beth saw Kyle's wife, Veronica giggle even as she dug her elbow softly into Kyle's side. He flinched and gave his wife a good-natured smile.
Landon turned to Beth and gazed into her eyes. "I want to say how happy I am today. This beautiful woman has become my wife, and I can hardly believe how generous our Lord has been to me." Landon gazed down the length of the table. "To me and my brothers. It truly has been a summer filled with blessings."
Beth saw Gabe nod his head and smile at Lauren. Kyle did the same to Veronica.
Landon looked across at his parents. "When you wrote to us earlier this year and told us it was time to get married, we couldn't possibly have known how things would turn out for all of us. You did the right thing, ma. And you too, pa. I figure we needed a reminder of what was right and proper for us." He smiled warmly at his parents. "I hope your proud of us."
"We are, son," Landon's father announced. Looking at Beth, Lauren and Veronica, he added. "We have three wonderful daughters-in-law. And beautiful grand-children, too," he added smiling at Molly, Max and Katie. "And we couldn't be happier." He smiled at Landon's mother. "Could we, dear?"
She smiled. "It truly is a blessing from the Lord," she declared.
Hands were pounded on the table in clear agreement with that statement. Once the noise had died down, Landon lifted his wine-filled glass and faced Beth. Everyone else at the table lifted their glasses. She lifted her glass and gazed at Landon, wondering what he was going to say next.
"I'd like to propose a toast to my new wife," Landon said softly. "Who I will always love." Landon raised his glass and smiled at Beth. "To the new Mrs Baxter."
Beth lifted her glass and smiled at Landon. "And to my new husband, who I adore with all my heart." She saw Landon smile broadly as she said those words. And she meant every one of them. Just as she knew he had meant his sweet words about her.
Voices acclaimed the new Baxter husband and his wife. Beth sipped her drink and smiled at Landon over the brim of the glass.
As she placed her glass back down on the table, Kyle cried out. "Kiss the bride. Again."
Once more, laughter rang out around the table. And then Landon swept Beth into his arms and kissed her.
THE END
THANK YOU
Thank you for reading The Rancher's Frontier Family. I hope you enjoyed the novel.
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Brides of Inspiration series.
The Rancher's Bride Arrangement
The Rancher's Marriage of Convenience
The Rancher's Second Chance Bride
The Rancher's Bride Surprise
The Rancher's Bride Blessing
The Rancher's Devout Bride
The Rancher's Christmas Miracle
The Rancher's Christmas Wish
The Rancher's Reunion Bride
The Rancher’s Frontier Family Page 20
