“Who is that man?” Clara asked in a breathless voice. Her lips were swollen and her skin glowed.
“Maybe we’re presuming a lot…” Bear said, anxiously examining her expression.
“He’s Reverend Wainwright.” Ben smiled down at Juliette. “We hired him to bury Villette and marry us.”
Tom pressed his lips to Zoe’s forehead. “Our plan was to ride in here, get rid of Villette, then marry you before you could say no. We’re about to commence the marrying part.”
Reverend Wainwright waved them forward. “Mrs. Wilson has agreed to act as witness. Will the brides stand here, please, and the grooms over here.”
“I’m not certain we’ve discussed everything that happened in the detail it deserves,” Juliette said. But her gray eyes flashed and danced.
“Darling, we have the rest of our lives to discuss anything you wish to discuss.” Holding her arm to his side as if he would never let her go, Ben led her forward.
“Honey girl? Tell me you love me.” Bear pressed Clara’s hand against his big barrel chest. “I’ve waited all my life to hear a woman like you say those words.”
“I love you,” Clara said softly, gazing into his brown-bear eyes. “I’ve loved you from the minute I saw you.”
“There is going to be some house-wrecking tonight,” he promised gruffly, gazing happily into her eyes before he led her forward.
“Zoe? I’ve wanted to marry you for half of my life.” Tom clasped his hands behind her waist. “But you have to know—no matter where we end up, I’m Newcastle through and through. I’m not a prince promising you a rainbow.”
“Oh, yes, you are,” she said softly, blinking at tears of happiness. “I’m Newcastle, too, Tom. Nothing more and nothing less.”
“That’s all I ever wanted.”
“Me, too. It just took me longer to know it. Oh, Tom. I love you so much!”
He kissed her deeply. Then, grinning broadly, he led her forward to join the others.
Reverend wainwright smiled at three radiant brides and nodded to three impatient grooms.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of this witness to join…”
“Do you, Juliette March, take Benjamin James Dare to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do!”
“Do you, Clara Klaus, take Bernard T. Barrett to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do!”
“Do you, Zoe Wilder, take Thomas John Price to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do!”
