Page 64 of Heart of Mystic Valley
As they emerged from the church, the brisk Montana air nipped at their cheeks, a stark contrast to the warmth of the ceremony. Joshua, his heart brimming with joy, couldn’t contain himself. In a swift motion, he swept Faith off her feet, her wedding dress billowing around them as he spun her in a circle.
Her laughter rang out, clear and melodious, echoing off the nearby buildings.
Joshua grinned, setting her down gently but keeping his arms around her waist. “Just the happiest day of my life, Mrs. Beckett.”
Faith’s cheeks, already pink from the cold, deepened in color. “I quite like the sound of that.”
Making their way toward the town hall, the festive atmosphere enveloped them. The streets were alive with celebration, the air filled with the crisp scent of autumn.
It seemed all of Mystic had gathered in the town hall. Tables groaned under the weight of a veritable feast. Golden-crusted pies cooled next to cakes dusted with sugar, while pots of hot coffee and warm cider stood ready to ward off the chill.
Standing there, holding hands, the sounds of the celebration faded into the background. For a moment, it was just the two of them. Joshua and Faith, no longer just childhood friends, but partners in life, ready to face whatever the frontier might throw their way.
Across the room, Sheriff Brodie Gaines stood near the punch bowl, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. His gaze, however, kept drifting to Annalee Beckett, who was busy slicing pieces of pie at a nearby table.
His broad shoulders tensed as he wrestled with his thoughts.Annalee’s not just Cody’s little sister anymore, he mused, watching her graceful movements. Her easy smile as she chatted with townsfolk made his heart skip a beat.
He took a step forward, then hesitated. Brodie’s hand unconsciously moved to his badge, a nervous habit he’d developed over the years.
Annalee turned, catching his eye. She waved, her eyes filled with mischief. “Hey, Sheriff. You planning on guarding the punch bowl all day?”
He felt his face flush. “Just making sure no one spikes it,” he called back, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
Annalee laughed. “Well, come over here and make yourself useful. These pies won’t slice themselves.”
As he made his way over, his heart pounding, he couldn’t help but marvel at how Annalee had grown into such a capable, vivacious woman. Gone was the pigtailed girl who used to trail after him and her brothers. In her place stood a woman who could hold her own on the ranch and in town.
“I, uh, I’m not sure I’ll do the pies justice,” Brodie admitted as he reached her side.
She grinned up at him. “Oh, come on, Brodie. I’ve seen you wrangle outlaws. Surely, you can handle a few tins of pie.”
As they worked side by side, Brodie found himself relaxing. The easy banter between them felt natural, yet charged with an undercurrent of something more. He stole glances at her, admiring her deft hands as she cut large pieces of cake.
Maybe it’s time to stop seeing her as just Cody’s little sister. Maybe it’s time to see her for who she really is,he thought to himself, a glimmer of hope kindling in his chest.
Annalee’s gaze swept across the crowd, her natural charm drawing others into her orbit. She caught sight of her brother, Nathan, struggling with a heavy punch bowl and excused herself.
“Nate! Hold on, I’m coming to help,” she called out, hitching up her skirts as she hurried over. Without hesitation, she grabbed one side of the bowl, matching her brother’s strength.
In a quiet corner of the celebration, Joshua and Faith found a moment of respite. Joshua’s gaze met Faith’s, a shared look of wonder passing between them.
“I can scarcely believe any of this,” he said, nodding toward the groupings of family and friends.
“It’s been quite a journey, hasn’t it, Josh?”
He nodded. “From chasing you around the schoolyard to chasing you down the aisle. Who would’ve thought?”
Faith laughed, the sound warm and full of joy. “I seem to recall it was you who needed the chasing. You were always so quiet, so serious. It took me years to get you to notice me as more than just Annalee’s friend.”
“Oh, I noticed you,” he admitted, a hint of a blush coloring his cheeks. “I was just too shy to do anything about it. If it weren’t for that day at Diamond Canyon…”
Her eyes softened at the memory. “When my horse threw a shoe and you came riding to my rescue? I remember. You were so gallant, offering me a ride back to town on Jupiter.”
“And you were so stubborn, insisting you could walk. That was when I knew you were something special. A woman who could hold her own, yet wasn’t afraid to accept help when she needed it.”
Faith squeezed his hand. “We’ve come a long way since then. The ranch, the newspaper, all the challenges we’ve faced. But I wouldn’t change a thing, Joshua. Not if it led us here.”
Joshua pulled her close, his strong arms encircling her slender frame. “Nor would I, Faith. Nor would I.”
