by Danni Roan
“I am, Dad,” Rainy said taking his arm. “I know mother worries about Nathan, and with our past I understand, but you need to know something. I’m not putting my trust in Nathan. I’m putting my trust for Nathan, in God. I know Nathan loves me, but no one can love me like God.”
Owen leaned over kissing Rainy’s brow. “I’d like to know more about this kind of love,” he said. “When you and Nathan come back from your honeymoon, we’ll join you at church.”
Rainy’s heart fluttered at her father’s words. It had been hard enough getting her mother on board with this wedding, but to have hope that her parents might come to find the same love and peace she and Nathan had thrilled her.
The first strains of the wedding march began and Rainy squeezed her father’s arm walking to the double doors of the sanctuary.
Rainy’s eyes shimmered with tears as she followed her oldest friend down the aisle and her eyes fell on Nathan standing tall and straight in a black tux and holding Lucas by the hand. He had called their son his ‘best little man’ and though Nathan’s cousin stood with them, Lucas beamed with pride.
It didn’t seem possible that a chance meeting at a Dude Ranch in Wyoming could lead to this much happiness, but Rainy was learning that with God there were no coincidences.
“Hi, Mommy!” Lucas enthused as Owen placed her hand in Nathan’s. “Are we married yet?”
“Shh,” Rainy smiled. “Not yet, let the preacher talk and after we kiss then we’ll be married.”
“Ah-hem,” Pastor Bob cleared his throat but grinned at the couple. “Shall we begin?”
Nathan winked at Rainy making her smile until her cheeks hurt. In what seemed a matter of seconds the words were all said, the rings exchanged, and the final vows spoken?
“Now?” Lucas asked, looking between the preacher and his parents.
“Now,” Pastor Bob agreed. “Nathan, you may kiss your bride.”
Nathan pulled back the short veil covering Rainy’s shining face and dipped his head, meeting her eyes. “I love you Rainy,” he whispered as his lips met hers.
“Yippee!” Lucas yelled grasping Nathan’s legs. “Now you’re my Daddy.”
Together Nathan and Rainy knelt pulling Lucas into their arms, as they started their life as a family.
Nathan scooped Lucas into one arm as his hand held fast to Rainy’s, and they walked up the aisle together as a family for the first time. God had brought him full circle and in doing so had completed his heart.
***
“You promise to be good for Mimi and Poppa?” Rainy asked as the reception wound down and Lucas yawned at her sleepily. “Your Daddy and I will only be gone for two nights.”
“I’ll be good,” Lucas said dropping a sleepy kiss on his mother’s face before climbing into his grandfather’s lap. “Will you bring me something back from your honeymoon?” He yawned again, his eyes growing heavy.
“We’ll bring you something special,” Nathan agreed. “It will be a surprise.”
Rainy leaned over kissing Lucas on the cheek, as a bright tear trickled from her eye. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.” Lucas nestled his head on his grandfather’s shoulder. He would be asleep before they reached the car.
Another round of kisses and goodbyes ushered the newlyweds out, and soon they were in Nathan’s old truck trundling toward the main road.
“I don’t even know where we’re going.” Rainy said, her stomach turning over with nerves. She was married to Nathan. After all of these years without him, they were now joined in the eyes of man and God.
Nathan reached over feeling the nervous energy pouring from his beautiful new bride. “I booked a bed and breakfast for us near the river,” he said squeezing her hand. “I didn’t want us to be too far from Lucas.”
Rainy turned shining eyes on her husband. “Thank you.”
“That’s our boy honey,” Nathan said, his fingers clasped in hers. “He’s the most important thing in this world, and we’ll do all we can to grow him up right.”
“I love you, Nathan Draper,” Rainy sighed.
“And I love you, Rainy Draper,” Nathan chuckled back. “It hasn’t been an easy path, but I’m thankful that in God, all things are made new.”
For several moments they drove on in silence, a sense of peace surrounding them as they drove through the last rays of the sunset.
“Nathan?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure you’re alright with me not taking a job this year?”
“Honey, I already told you that I think that is a wonderful decision. You can stay home with Lucas for one more year then decide what you want to do.”
“But I don’t want you to feel like you have to take care of me.”
Nathan’s warm chuckle surprised her, and Rainy turned to study his profile in the golden glow at the end of the day.
“Honey, I want to take care of you. I want to give you everything you ever want. You and Lucas mean the world to me, and by God’s grace and provision, I’ll do everything I can to make you happy. Besides, I start my new job in two weeks, and it’s more than I could have ever wanted. If later you want to work, that’s great, but if you don’t, you don’t have to. The choice is yours.”
Rainy felt her heart swell, filling with more love than she knew was possible. “I’m so thankful that God brought us back together.”
Nathan lifted the hand he held in his, raising it to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on each knuckle.
“God knew what was best for us, and he’ll keep giving us the best if we just trust in Him.”
Epilogue
Six months of wedded bliss passed in the blink of an eye, and Rainy had never been happier.
Nathan’s new job was everything he had hoped for, and though there were still stresses and the occasional late night at work, he liked what he was doing. He also liked the fact that Rainy had the choice to stay home with Lucas.
They had moved to a small apartment soon after the wedding, but now they were looking at a little house not far from his grandmother and Rainy’s parents. Lucas seemed thrilled to have his mother home with him during the day, and the small family relished their time together on weekends and holidays, filling them with little adventures and new experiences to be remembered.
“Can we go to the park today?” Lucas asked as his mother packed a bag full of snacks. “Maybe Kaylee will be there.”
Rainy chuckled, Lucas had tried to kiss Kaylee in church this past week, and she knew that he had a little boy crush on his friend.
“The park sounds nice,” Nathan walked in carrying the large picnic hamper and kissing Rainy on the cheek. “The weather’s warm for this time of year. How about a picnic?”
“The park it is then,” Rainy agreed. “Lucas go get your coat and mittens.”
The boy raced off headed for the coat rack at the front door.
“You look tired,” Nathan said, pulling Rainy into his arms. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine, I’ve just been thinking about the future. I’d love it if we can land that house.”
“Me too,” Nathan admitted. “It would be nice to have some extra space for our son.”
Rainy smiled, her eyes twinkling with a knowing light.
“Ready!” Lucas raced back into the kitchen his coat buttoned crooked and his mittens on the wrong hands.
A brisk breeze blew through the park as Rainy walked hand and hand with her two best guys. Tiny buds, the first pink of spring coloring the branches of the once dormant trees.
“There’s a picnic table,” Rainy said pointing toward a table under a large maple tree. “Picnic time.”
Soon the young family was seated at the table, a bright table cloth covering its leaf-strewn top as the food was set out.
“Can I go play on the swings?” Lucas looked longingly toward the tall swing sets.
“After lunch,” Rainy insisted. She had risen early that morning to make the perfect meal for her g
uys and intended to enjoy every moment of this very special day.
Nathan’s phone pinged as they were starting on dessert and he looked up in surprise at Rainy.
“Go ahead, answer it,” she smiled.
“Rainy,” Nathan’s voice was hushed as he looked up from the glowing screen of his phone.
“What?”
“We got it. We got the house.” Nathan’s smile lit up the day and Rainy’s grew brighter.
“That’s the best news,” she sighed. “We’ll need the extra room.”
Nathan looked between Rainy and Lucas, not sure what she was saying. They had discussed the need for Lucas to have more room extensively already.
“Lucas,” Rainy looked at her son, a devilish glint in her eyes. “How would you like to be a big brother?”
“Really?”
Rainy looked up meeting Nathan’s startled eyes, as memories of another age pounded in her head. She had been here before and that time Nathan had walked away.
Nathan stood, stepping out of the confines of the table and walking to his wife, his eyes wide.
“Rainy, are you…?”
“Yes,” Rainy bit her lip as tears threatened. She had been waiting all week for the right time to tell Nathan.
Nathan wrapped his arms around Rainy pulling her to his chest tenderly. “A baby,” he whispered reverently. Then he lifted her in his arms spinning her around as he whooped like a wild cowboy. “We’re having a baby!”
Rainy felt the fear and concern melt away as Nathan held her tight.
“I’m gonna be a bro’der,” Lucas grinned.
Nathan placed Rainy back on the ground, holding her close as he beckoned Lucas into his arms. “You’ll be the best big brother ever.”
“I know,” Lucas grinned sending them into peals of laughter.
“How do you know you’ll be the best big brother ever?” Rainy finally managed.
“Because I have a mommy and daddy who love me and love God.”
The End
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Book in this Series:
Love Letters & Home
Heartstruck and Heavensent
Dreams of Sweetwater River
Counting Kadence
Temptation and Tenderness
Guardian of Her Heart
Marry Me Katie
A Forgetful Heart
Mercy’s Light
No Place Like Home
Melodies of the Heart
Falling Forward
The Bonnets of Rescue Ranch
All That Glitters
Racing Destiny
A Searching Heart
His Wish, Her Command
The Legend of Lollipop
To Win Her Heart
His Heart, Her Love
Baby be Mine
Lessons from the Heart
Holly for Christmas
April’s Angel
Falling for You
Other Books by this Author:
From the Cattleman’s Daughters
Katie Isabella
FionaAlexis
Meg Mae
Cattleman’s Daughters Companions
Cathleen
The Redemption of Rachel
Sean’s Secret Heart
Mel
Sweet Annie
Joan
Tales from Biders Clump
Christmas Kringle
Quil’s Careful Cowboy
Bruno’s Belligerent Beauty
Tywyn’sTroubles
A Teaching Touch
Prissy’s Predicament
Lucinda’s Luck
Ferd’s Fair Favor
The Travels of Titus
Winter’s Worth
Strong Hearts: Open Spirits
Maggie’s ValleySadina’s Stocking
Celestre’s Song Beloved Beulah
The Ornamental Match Maker
Carousel Horse Christmas
Loose Goose Christmas
Pineapple Persuasion
July’s Jubilant Christmas Jumble
Shutter Shock Christmas in July
Brides of Needful Texas
Daliah
Prim
Peri
Beth
Ruth
Rosa
Whispers in Wyoming
Love Letters & Home
Counting Kadence
Mercy’s Light
Falling Forward
Racing Destiny
Baby be Mine
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Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing to read my book. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. If you enjoyed the story please feel free to leave a review wherever you purchased the book. Leaving a review will help me and prospective readers to know what you liked about this book. It is an opportunity for your voice to be heard and for you to tell others why the story is worth a read.
About the Author
Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns and specifically western romance and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met throughout the years into her books.
Danni currently lives in her thirty-six foot RV with her husband and is traveling the United States to see this beautiful country and experience its history first hand.
Danni and her ‘every-day-hero’ have one son who is attending college and finding his own way as his crazy parents experience the author life along with life on the road.
As a Christian Danni, believes strongly that God brings new challenges, and blessings into one’s life to help them grow and she hopes that her words were both and encouragement and inspiration to you.
