by Amanda Renee
He eased Dante into a canter, and then a run. They flew across the land as if no time had passed between them. Crisp Montana air filled their lungs as they rode toward the ranch’s scenic overlook. They slowed to a walk along the ridge, the rustling song of the western larch’s deep golden leaves accompanying them.
The tranquility of the ranch would help prepare him for the days to come. He’d start with notifying his parole officer of his new job and address. Because regardless of what happened to him, the sooner he moved off Free Rein, the better. Tori and Nate had enough to deal with in the upcoming days without him around. He’d complicated their marriage enough as it was. He would continue to work there until he found and trained a suitable replacement, no matter how long it took. After all she’d done for him, he couldn’t leave her in a lurch.
Now that he’d started working with the at-risk youth program, he wanted to not only continue his involvement but learn all he could about the program’s structure and hopefully one day replicate it. If a program like that had existed when he’d been a kid, maybe he wouldn’t have made so many mistakes. And maybe he would’ve had an adult to turn to for help.
He walked Dante back to the stables, allowing him to cool down. As he dismounted, he thought he saw Chelsea turn the corner, but no one was there. “Oh great, now I’m seeing things.” Not that he wanted to see her. After her betrayal, he could never forgive her.
Dante shifted his body abruptly, almost knocking him to the ground. “Hey, watch it, bub.” When the horse bumped him again, he reached for his halter and stared into his eyes. “You can hit me all you want, but I’m not chasing after her. I’m grateful she returned you to me, but it ends there.”
A few hours later, he stood beside his brothers on Harlan’s front porch in a borrowed suit and tie, waiting for their mother to come outside.
Wes patted him on the back. “This is what she wants. We’ve hired the best attorneys and we just have to hold on to each other and stand by her.”
After decades of dysfunction, his family had finally come together as a solid unit. While he wished it hadn’t taken his mother’s legal drama to do it, he’d never felt closer to his brothers.
“I’ve made a decision.” Ryder tugged at his tie to loosen it a bit. “If Harlan is still willing to join Silver Bells, then I am, too. I’d be honored to work alongside each of you.”
“I’m in.” Harlan grinned. “It looks like the Slade brothers are in business together.”
“That’s awesome!” Dylan slapped him on the back. “We couldn’t be happier.”
“You couldn’t be happier about what?” their mother asked from the doorway.
“Ryder and Harlan are the newest partners of the Silver Bells Ranch,” Garrett said.
“It’s about damn time!” His mother stomped her foot, causing them to laugh.
Despite the fear Ryder knew grew within her each passing second, his mother was genuinely happy for them. He just hoped this wasn’t the last time they were this happy as a family.
The walk to their cars reminded him of the night he turned himself in. One by one they pulled out of Harlan’s driveway like a funeral procession on their way to the sheriff’s department. He rode in the back seat of their attorney’s SUV with his mother on one side and Tori on the other. Nate had wanted to drive her, but Tori refused to leave Missy with anyone except him.
As the SUV came to a stop in the parking lot, his mother gave his hand three quick squeezes before opening the door and climbing out, without bothering to wait for assistance. She’d made up her mind and nothing was going to get in her way.
Ryder climbed out after her and buttoned his suit jacket. This was the moment he had feared would come, and even though Chelsea had set the entire thing in motion, he couldn’t help wishing she was by his side as he walked through the sheriff’s department doors. His family had never been stronger, and he loved her for that. He laughed to himself. Of all times to realize he loved Chelsea Logan. He just couldn’t be with her. Not until he knew he had a future to offer her.
* * *
Chelsea watched the entire Slade saga play out on the news and in the courtroom over the last two weeks. While it was still too soon to know Bernadine’s fate, all charges against Ryder and Tori had been dropped yesterday and Ryder’s record had been expunged.
Tori had forgiven her, crediting Ryder’s mother for helping her realize her motives hadn’t been selfish or malicious. If only Ryder had seen it that way. She had reached out to him a few times but hadn’t heard back. Tori had offered to intervene but the last thing either one of them needed was more interference from an outside party.
That didn’t mean she’d given up. The longer they’d been apart, the more she realized she truly loved him. And she was tired of waiting for him to come to his senses. She clicked off the TV with the remote and grabbed her jacket and keys. It was Saturday afternoon and Peyton had gone to a friend’s house for the day. After cleaning everything in sight and reorganizing her kitchen cabinets...twice, she needed to get out of the house. Even if it was just for a ride around the block. She had to do something, anything to get Ryder out of her head.
She had fully intended to drive to Flathead Lake, but instead found herself turning in to the Silver Bells Ranch. She didn’t know if Ryder would be there, but she had to at least try. Tori had told her he’d already found someone to replace him at Free Rein and he’d officially moved off her ranch. Slowing to a crawl in front of the stables, she scanned for any sign of Ryder. There were a handful of cars and four-wheelers parked nearby, but she had no idea what he drove these days since the Jeep had belonged to Nate.
She braked near the stable entrance and glanced around for someone to ask where she might find him. She didn’t need to look far. The building’s shadowy interior couldn’t disguise the purposeful stride of the man walking toward her.
Within seconds he reached the car. Then he opened the driver-side door and offered her his hand. She shut off the engine and accepted, relishing the feel of his skin against hers. Two weeks had been too long to go without a single touch from him.
“How did you know where to find me?”
“I—I didn’t.” She stared up at him, melting in the warmth that emanated from his smile. She’d expected instant rejection or at the very least residual anger. Not...affection. “Tori told me you moved here so I thought I’d take a chance and stop by.”
“I was planning to call you soon.” He released her hand, burying his in his pockets. “I apologize for not returning your calls, but I couldn’t until I knew what my future held.”
“I saw on the news yesterday that they dropped the charges. I’m happy for you.” Chelsea wanted to hug him, but his posture made her think twice. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“You didn’t.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened them again, the pain of the past had faded, leaving only sincerity behind. “I not only hurt myself, I hurt them, too. I’m just sorry it took me so long to realize it. Now we can finally heal. And that never would have been possible without you. You pushed and pushed—”
“I pushed too hard, I’m so sorry.”
Ryder cupped her chin. “Sweetheart, don’t be. If you hadn’t, my family wouldn’t be here together. I realize now that you wanting to clear my name wasn’t just for you, or me or Peyton. It was for all of us.”
Chelsea reached for his hands and pressed them against her heart. It pounded so hard she was certain he could feel it beneath his palms. “I made a lot of mistakes, Ryder. I put too much emphasis on what other people thought. I lost us and what mattered most in the process. Can you ever forgive me?”
“I already have.” He kissed her softly on the mouth. “You have such an amazing capacity to help people, and I couldn’t see what I had until I lost it. Do you think you might be willing to give this fool of a man a second chance to love you? Because I would really
love to build a life with you and Peyton.”
Chelsea had never imagined loving someone as much as she loved Ryder. The man tested her at every turn, and that made her fight for him even more. “I can’t think of anything that would make me happier. I love you, Ryder Slade.”
Epilogue
It was the third Saturday in May and Chelsea still couldn’t believe that in less than half an hour she’d walk down the aisle toward her groom.
“You look pretty, Mommy.” Peyton signed as she spoke.
“You’re stunning, my love.” Chelsea’s mother fastened the headpiece to Chelsea’s hair and kissed her softly on the cheek. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.”
“Thank you, but I’m sure all mothers say that to their daughters.” She signed, “One day I’ll say it to mine.”
“I can’t wait to get married.” Peyton sang as she spun around in her pale pink flower girl dress. “I want to marry a man just like Ryder.”
And Chelsea hoped she did. Just not for another twenty or thirty years.
The door to the Silver Bells Ranch bridal suite opened, and Jade popped her head in. “Are you ready to do this, soon-to-be Mrs. Ryder Slade?” She giggled.
“Yes, I am, Mrs. Weston Slade.” Chelsea always hated being an only child and loved that she suddenly had four of the sweetest sisters-in-law a bride could ask for.
Tori handed her a bouquet of classic pink roses, white lisianthus and silver brunia, wrapped in a white satin ribbon. “Ryder won’t be able to take his eyes off you. I can’t believe that’s your mother’s gown. It looks so fresh and modern.”
“You’ve always been fresh and modern, haven’t you, Mom?”
“Fresh, modern and four months pregnant when I walked down the aisle,” her mother added.
Chelsea may only be three months along, but she and Peyton had a surprise about the pregnancy to tell Ryder and their guests during the ceremony. She didn’t know who was more excited about her pregnancy...she, Peyton or Ryder. It would be an adjustment for Peyton to have a hearing sibling, but she had faith her daughter would find the right balance. She’d already started interning with Dr. Lydia Presley for a few hours on the weekends. There was nothing her daughter couldn’t do.
Jade led the way to the Silver Bells Lodge as a white horse-drawn carriage pulled up out front. It paid to have a Los Angeles wedding planner living on-site. Her father lifted Peyton into the carriage before helping Chelsea. “My beautiful daughter, I’m so proud of you.”
The slow carriage ride through the ranch gave her a chance to give thanks for all the blessings that had come into her life. When she’d moved to Saddle Ridge almost two years ago, she’d wondered if she’d even have the time to make friends, let alone meet the man of her dreams.
As they crested the final hill, the wedding gazebo came into view. The gazebo Dylan Slade had built for his bride and the place every Slade brother had married.
Her father helped her, Tori and Peyton out of the carriage, as Dylan escorted her mother to the front row. Chelsea hadn’t wanted a large wedding party. She only needed her daughter and Tori to stand up with her. Ryder had asked Harlan to be his best man...and Wes his ring-bearing groomsman. It was just one more unconventional addition to their already crazy lives. And she wouldn’t want it any other way.
A lone harpist began to play Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” as her father offered his arm and they stepped onto the white satin runner together. She checked over her shoulder and mouthed I love you to Peyton. This was it. This was their fairy-tale ending in front of their family and friends.
Chelsea stopped as they reached the front row and pulled two roses from her bouquet, handing one to her mother and the other to Ryder’s mother. The court had found Bernadine Slade not guilty on the grounds she had been under extreme emotional distress in the events leading up to the accident and that Frank Slade had been intoxicated. His mistress of all people had taken the stand in Bernadine’s defense and confirmed his alcoholism.
Slipping back beside her father, she continued to the gazebo where Ryder, handsome as the devil in his dark dress denims, crisp white shirt, black vest and cowboy hat, just about made her heart beat out of her chest.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Reverend Grady asked as an interpreter signed for Peyton and Missy.
“Her mother and I do.” Chelsea’s father joined her hands with Ryder’s and kissed her on the cheek.
“Here we are!” Chelsea squeaked. “I can’t believe this is it.”
“I love you so much.” Ryder squeezed her hands.
“I love you, too.”
“Hey, you two,” Reverend Grady interrupted. “You keep this up and you’ll put me out of a job.” Their wedding guests laughed as he continued. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to officiate over my sixth Slade wedding. And I say sixth because I married Harlan and Belle twice. Over the past two years, I have come to love this family as if they were my own. Heck, I’m usually at one of their houses for Sunday dinners.” That got another laugh from the crowd. “The point I’m trying to make is, the larger I’ve seen this family grow, the more love I’ve seen not only from them, but for them. Let me be the first to thank you for coming as we gather together to join this man and woman in holy matrimony. Ryder and Chelsea have chosen to write their own vows.”
“Chelsea,” Ryder began. “I’ve never been a man of many words, but the day I first saw you and you took my breath away, I didn’t want to stop talking to you. You came into my life like a bull in a china shop.”
“Oh gee, thanks.” Chelsea didn’t know if she should kiss or smack him.
“Give me a minute, it gets better. Keep in mind I’m a cowboy, we think in terms of bulls. What I’m trying to say is you crashed through the door of my heart so fast and so hard, some days I didn’t know which end was up. You challenge me as much as you excite me, and I hope that never changes. I look forward to spending every day of the rest of my life with you as my wife and Peyton as my daughter.” Ryder gestured for Peyton to join them. Releasing Chelsea’s hand, he turned to her daughter and signed, “I promise to always be there for you, for as long as I’m alive. I love you and I’m honored to be your father.”
“I love you, too.” Peyton threw her arms around Ryder as he bent to kiss her cheek. Taking her hand in his, he faced their guests and motioned for the interpreter to stand in front of him so Peyton could see what he was about to say.
“This is my daughter. With her mother’s permission and Peyton’s blessing, I am adopting her and offering to give her the Slade family name. She is my child, body, heart and soul.”
He gave Peyton another hug as Chelsea swiped at her eyes with the tissue Tori handed her. She had known Ryder would make the announcement, she just hadn’t known when. She adored that he’d included Peyton in his vows.
“I don’t know how to top that.” Chelsea gave her daughter a hug and kiss before taking Ryder’s hands in hers. “I don’t have a bull analogy, but I thought you were quite the stud when I first saw you. I may have even drooled a little. Looks aside, I quickly learned that you put everyone else above yourself, regardless of the cost. I’ve met many honorable men in my profession, but I’ve never met one as honorable as you. You put love and family above all else and I couldn’t ask for a better man to call my husband and the father of my children.” Chelsea held out her hand for Peyton to join them once again. Placing her daughter’s hands and Ryder’s on her belly, she signed, “It’s no secret I’m pregnant. But Peyton has something special she wants to tell you about our baby.” She nodded to Peyton.
“Mommy’s having twins. A boy and a girl.” Her daughter sang loudly.
Ryder dropped to his knees and stared up at her, tears streaming down his cheeks. “Twins?” He signed, “I’m the luckiest man alive.” He hugged Peyton with one arm and tried to hug Chelsea’s belly with the other.
<
br /> She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as Wes and Harlan pulled Ryder to his feet.
“I think we need to get wedding rings on these two before we run out of tissues,” Reverend Grady intervened. “May I have the rings please?”
Wes handed Chelsea’s ring to Ryder and he slid it on her finger. “Chelsea Abigail Logan, with this ring I profess my never-ending love and commitment to you.”
Wes handed Ryder’s ring to Peyton who helped Chelsea slide it on Ryder’s finger. “Ryder Thomas Slade, with this ring I profess my never-ending love and commitment to you.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, by the power vested in me by the state of Montana and the Lord above, I present to you, Ryder and Chelsea Slade. You may kiss your bride.”
Their guests erupted into applause and shouts, but the only words she heard, the only words that mattered were Ryder’s. “I love you, with all my heart.” His lips crashed against hers and in that moment, she had truly become his.
For their first dance, a pianist accompanied by a cellist played Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years,” and Chelsea, Peyton and Ryder danced together as they had eight months ago. Chelsea loved the way Ryder included her daughter in almost everything they did. They still had their private moments that called for a babysitter, but most of the time they enjoyed just being a family. If anyone had told her last year that she’d be a member of the biggest family in town with two more on the way, she would’ve bet a million dollars against it. All the money in the world couldn’t buy the happiness she’d found in Ryder Slade.
She’d never felt incomplete, but having Ryder in their lives completed her and Peyton. Her daughter finally had a father. A man she looked up to and respected. A man who understood not only her needs but her words. That alone was something most hearing people took for granted. The challenges of blended families with deaf children were greater when so few hearing people spoke sign language. And while Ryder may not be Prince Charming, he came pretty darn close. She had no doubt in her mind they would live happily ever after in their new house on the Silver Bells Ranch with Marmalade, Jam Jam, Dante...and Cactus, too.
