The Marine's New Family

by Roz Dunbar

  Finally, Tess was standing next to Luke. He reached over and took her hand in his as her brother, Adam, winked at her and Caleb grinned. Reverend Fulcher asked who gave her in marriage, and the aunts answered proudly, “We do.” They each kissed her cheek before settling in the front row.

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together in the sight of God to join this man and woman in holy matrimony.” Reverend Fulcher spoke loudly and clearly.

  “Today is truly a glorious day the Lord hath made,” he continued, “as today both of you are blessed with the greatest of all God’s gifts—the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today—and those present in heart—wish both of you all of the joy, happiness and success that the world has to offer. As you travel through life together I caution you to remember that the true measure of success is to be found in the love that you hold within your heart. I ask that you hold on to that key very tightly. According to the Bible, nothing is of more importance than love. God is love. It is love that brings you here today, uniting two hearts and two spirits. As your lives continue to interweave as one, remember that it is love that makes this a glorious union. It is love that will cause this union to endure.”

  Taking a small breath, he looked out at the assembled guests and smiled. “Luke and Tess have asked to read vows to each other that they have selected especially for the occasion of their marriage. Luke, will you begin?”

  Luke nodded and took both of Tess’s hands in his own.

  “I take you, Tess, to be my wife, loving you now and as you grow and develop into all that God intends. I will love you when we are together and when we are apart. When our lives are at peace and when they are in turmoil. In times of rest and in times of work. I will honor your goals and dreams and help you to fulfill them. From the depths of my being, I will seek to be open and honest with you. I say these things believing that God is in the midst of them all and with us always.”

  Mike handed Luke a plain gold band that he slid onto Tess’s waiting finger.

  “Oh, how lovely!” Aunt Annie sighed from the front row, a tissue held to her eyes.

  “Annie, shush.” Katie nudged her sister sharply.

  “Ouch!” At her disgruntled reply, several guests laughed aloud.

  “Tess would now like to read her vows to Luke. I believe they are from the Book of Ruth.”

  Tess looked up into Luke’s eyes as she spoke clearly and sweetly.

  “Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, for where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do with me and more if anything but death parts you from me.”

  Livie handed her a gold band that matched the one Tess was now wearing, and she slid it onto Luke’s finger.

  “Now, unless anyone objects…” The reverend paused and glanced around at the guests, some of whom were peeking for the most part at Sarah, who in turn was looking at Luke and Tess with a terse smile fixed on her lovely face. “Very good, then.” The pastor seemed relieved that his daughter hadn’t said anything. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he intoned solemnly, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Loud cheers erupted as Luke took Tess into his arms and kissed her soundly. The smaller pair of twins, who had been sitting with a box near them, looked at Aunt Annie, who nodded with a broad smile. They opened the lid of the box and hundreds of multicolored butterflies winged their way skyward, enveloping the bride and groom in a soft cocoon of flickering color. Tess laughed with delight and held a hand out to touch the beautiful insects.

  I’m Mrs. Luke Barrett, she thought with wonder as she gazed up at him again, as if to make sure it all hadn’t been a dream. She received a loving look in return as he took her hand and faced the crowd.

  “Folks, thank you all for coming to help Tess, Caleb and me celebrate our special day. Each and every one of you holds a special place in our hearts. We truly thank God for putting you in our lives. Please enjoy the reception. Plenty of good food, drink and music are waiting for you all just fifty feet away. My bride and I will join you shortly.”

  The guests began to make their way to the large area set up for the reception as Luke led Tess and Caleb around the house to the ivy-covered moon gate. The legend, long life, prosperity, good luck. Happily-ever-after. Tess believed in them. She had found hers.

  Great minds think alike, she thought as they stood together under the arch. She reached out and touched a curved portion, just as Luke raised his hand and touched the same section, above her hand. They were each silent for a moment before he scooped her up in his arms and carried her through the gate.

  “You are now officially a moon gate bride,” he said, looking into her eyes.

  “And I am so happy to be one. You seem to make a habit of carrying me places,” she said with a laugh.

  “Darling, I’ll always carry you, through good times and bad. You are my heart, my soul, the very breath that I take each day.” His voice was low, his look earnest. She caught her breath at what she saw in his eyes. She had no doubt that he meant every word.

  “Just love me, Luke. Just love me.”

  “My darling Tess, how could I not love you? It would be like asking the sun not to rise each morning and set each evening.”

  “Hey! You forgot me!” Caleb’s blue eyes, so like his father’s, were shining with laughter.

  “Never in a million years,” Tess said, as she and Luke walked back to him, each taking a hand and leading him through the moon gate.

  “We hate to interrupt, but we wanted a minute alone with you three.” Adam had come up behind the couple, joined by his wife, his daughters and the aunts.

  “You’re not interrupting at all,” Tess said.

  “The aunts and Liv wanted to give you your gift away from prying eyes.”

  “There’s no need for a present. You all have done so much for us, we couldn’t possibly expect anything else. Besides, our gift is that you are our family. What more could we ask for?” Tess looked at them all with love, and Luke nodded in agreement.

  “She’s right, brother,” he said, addressing Adam.

  “No, she is not right.” Katie came forward with an envelope in one hand, her sister’s elbow clasped in the other.

  “Please accept this gift,” Annie said. “It is what we want to give you, and we did think long and hard before we made the decision, so don’t ask us if we did. Actually, it was Livie’s idea and we agreed to it. It does, after all, belong to her. Or rather, it did.”

  Annie gazed at the newlyweds with such a serious expression that Tess became a little nervous. The aunt had never looked so intent. What could the gift be? Tess looked at Livie questioningly. Her sister-in-law just shrugged and smiled. Luke took the envelope and held it for a minute.

  “Please open it. We have a reception to get back to and you have to change your clothes. We haven’t got all day, dears.” Katie tried to make her voice firm, but Tess noticed…was that a quiver of emotion?

  “All right. Open it, Luke.” Tess watched her husband’s expression change from smiling, to surprised, then shocked, all within the space of a few seconds.

  “No,” he said firmly. “We cannot possibly accept this.” He shook his head and tried to give the paper and envelope back to the aunts and Livie.

  “You can and you will. You and Caleb need to get out of that rental house and into a real home.” It was Annie’s turn to be firm, before she added, “By the way, Luke, did I tell you how handsome you look in that uniform?” She gave him a dreamy smile that had the rest of the family laughing.

  “Yes, ma’am, you sure did.” He gave her a loving smile before getting back to the matter at hand. But Katie cut him off.

  “Oh, pish. I for one don’t have time to stand here and argue back and forth. Moon Gate Cottage is yours now. You both love it and it certainly l
oves you. Besides, you’re doing us a favor. We don’t have time to keep up with it and neither does Livie. It is hers to give, you know, and it was her idea. We have plenty of other cottages around here. We also have many obligations in this town. I’m running for mayor next election.” Aunt Katie announced the last part with a calculated smile. “If Clyde Woods can run this town, a monkey can. Not to say that I’m a monkey, but, well…you know.”

  “Oh, Aunties and Liv…” Tess felt her eyes flood with tears. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just say yes, so we can go eat, stat! I’m starved. It’s time to carpe diem! Besides, you belong here. You’re a moon gate bride now.” Annie’s brown eyes were filled with so much love as she looked at Tess and Luke.

  “Thank you from our hearts,” Tess whispered. Luke and she hugged both aunts, Livie, Adam and the girls. Everyone had tears in their eyes. “Oh, Livie, are you sure? You love this place so much.”

  “Positive. I love this place because it’s home, not necessarily because of the cottage. As Aunt Katie said, there are plenty of places for us to stay when we come home.”

  “Just get changed and get to the reception. You have guests waiting.” Katie took control again and led everyone but Tess and Luke through the moon gate toward the joyful crowd.

  As they watched the family go back to the party, Luke glanced down at Tess.

  “I love this family, almost as much as I love you. We are truly home now, sweetheart.” Tess heard him sigh with satisfaction as he steered her toward the house to change clothes.

  “Luke?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Will Mike be all right?”

  “You have such a soft heart, Tess. Worried about him, are you?”

  “Yes, I am. I know what it feels like to be wounded in a war zone.”

  “We’ll make sure he’s all right. He’s a strong man, my love. We’ve known each other for years, and have lived together for the last three. He’s home now, here at our wedding, celebrating with us.”

  Tess nodded, still concerned for the wounded warrior who was Luke’s best friend.

  “Luke?”

  “Yes, love?”

  “We need to teach Aunt Annie some different slang words.”

  “Agreed. We’ll tackle that next week. For now, let’s go celebrate this wonderful life that God has given us.”

  “Okay. I’ve never felt so blessed.”

  “Neither have I, my love. Neither have I.”

  With those words they walked into the cottage, eager to begin sharing their lives. God is everywhere, Tess thought contentedly.

  “Luke?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I love you.”

  “And I love you.”

  *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A REUNION FOR THE RANCHER by Breanda Minton.

  Dear Reader,

  Love at times comes gently and when you least expect it. This book is about love, kindness, compassion, home and finding faith again, faith that I suspect was never really lost in the first place, just misplaced along the way.

  I hope that you enjoyed and fell in love with the village of Swansboro and the lovely people who live there. I am blessed to be exceedingly familiar with this small town in coastal North Carolina, and want to share it with my readers. I also hope that you enjoyed Luke’s and Tess’s journey to their happily-ever-after and that you came to care for them as I do. I truly believe that God puts you where you were meant to be, as He did them, with each other and in the quaint hamlet they ended up calling home.

  Thank you for reading my story. I would love to hear from you. You can email me at rozldunbar@gmail.com.

  I wish for each of you peace and God’s blessings.

  Roz Dunbar

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

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  A Reunion for the Rancher

  by Brenda Minton

  Chapter One

  Carson Thorn parked his truck in front of the rock-sided building that housed offices of the Little Horn, Texas, chapter of the Lone Star Cowboy League. As distracted as he was, he couldn’t help but think about the history of the century-old group. It had started as a service organization, serving communities and ranchers across the state. Today it felt more like the last line of defense for ranchers who were being hit hard by thieves. The cattle rustling had started a month ago and showed no signs of letting up.

  At today’s meeting the other members were expecting answers. They wanted him to come up with solutions. He wished he had some. And he wished he was anywhere else on a Thursday in October than in town at this meeting.

  He grabbed his briefcase and locked his truck. As he did, he noticed a white sedan pull into another parking space. He didn’t stop to see who it might be. He had paperwork to hand over to the league secretary, and Byron McKay, one of the biggest ranchers in the state, was waiting to talk to him. That wasn’t a conversation Carson looked forward to. He never looked forward to talking to Byron. Knowing that Byron’s ranch had recently been hit by the thieves, Carson knew the conversation wouldn’t be pleasant. This was one of those days when he wished he could live in a community and not be involved.

  Someone must have been looking out for him, giving him one thing to be thankful for. Ingrid Edwards, the league secretary, wasn’t at her desk. He sighed with relief. One bullet dodged. Now he just had to face Byron. The older man was already seated in the boardroom, a stack of papers in front of him.

  “Byron.” Carson pulled off the sport coat he’d worn and tossed it on the back of his chair. He rolled up his sleeves and then poured himself a glass of water.

  “This has to be stopped, Carson.” Byron pushed himself out of his chair and shed his own jacket. The rancher, a little paunchy and with thinning, strawberry blond hair, managed to knock over his own water glass.

  Carson tossed him a roll of paper towels. He wasn’t playing maid to anyone, not even a McKay. He cringed, thinking of Byron’s offspring, twin teenaged boys who were sure to be chips off the old block someday.

  He gave the other man a careful look, not wanting to wade too far in.

  “I’m aware that it has to stop, Byron. I’m not sure what you want me personally to do about it. Do you want me on patrol? Do you want me to guard your livestock?”

  “We need a plan. And maybe some of us do need to patrol. Lucy Benson is a great sheriff, but I’m not sure she’s up to snuff on this case.”

  “Lucy is just fine.” Carson sat down in his chair at the end of the table. Times like this he’d like it if someone else was the local chapter president.

  “Well, I for one think that Derek Donovan should be questioned.”

  “Why do you think that?” Carson asked the question, but he knew the answer.

  “Because he got out of prison and that’s when all of this started.” McKay slammed his meaty fist on the top of the table.

  “Stop blaming my grandson,” a shaky voice said from the open door.

  Carson rubbed a hand over his face and groaned. “Iva.”

  “Yes, Iva.” The older woman pushed her walker into the room. “I’m still a member, Carson Thorn, and don’t you forget that.”

  “No one is forgetting.” Carson stood and went to her side to pull out a chair for her. She was nearing eighty, and in the past few months, Parkinson’s had started to take a toll on her health. But Iva wasn’t letting it stop her, not until she didn’t have a say in the matter.


  She waved him away, not taking the offered chair. “I’m not feeling the best, so I’m not staying for the meeting. I just wanted to confront you all and tell you this neighbor-blaming-neighbor business has to stop.”

  Byron McKay faced the woman, his tone only slightly more gentle. “I’ve lost more cattle and equipment, Iva. My boys lost a couple of dirt bikes. This thief knows us and knows our ranches.”

  Iva shook her head and raised a frail hand that jerked as she pointed an unsteady finger at the rancher. Her arm trembled as she tried to steady the gesture, adding a fierce glare that had Carson smiling. No one could beat down Iva Donovan. Even with her failing health she was a force to be reckoned with.

  “Watch how you talk about my family, you bully in a Stetson.”

  “I’m not running you down, Iva. You’ve had it tough and none of us blames you.”

  “If you blame my kin, you blame me.” She shook her head at the chair Carson offered. “My grandson made mistakes and paid for those crimes. I’ll not have you pointing fingers at him.”

  “Iva, you know we have to look at everyone in a situation like this,” Carson said, hoping he sounded diplomatic and not as suspicious as he really felt.

  “We don’t have to start accusing our neighbors or searching their homes and farms,” Iva argued. She rested heavily on the walker as she looked from Carson to the other members who were trickling in. “Don’t come to my place again unless you have real evidence.”

  Carson shot Byron McKay a warning look that silenced him. “Iva, unless they have a reason, they won’t search your place.”

  “They don’t have a reason,” Iva insisted with a growl. “And you aren’t going to harass my family.”