Then it was my turn. I crouched beside him, steady, my handful settling over his. Together, we closed the lid. Pastor Spencer laid a hand on it. “From this ground, roots will deepen. From this love, life will grow.” When he looked up again, his eyes softened. “Now, the vows.”
My throat went tight, but the words came. “Hudson… you came into my life four years ago and turned it upside down. I’ve done a lot, but nothing ever felt right until we got together. You give my life meaning. The ranch, Ivy, you—this is my home. You’re my home. I promise patience, even when we argue. Laughter, even when the days are hard. And always, always, a space for your heart in mine.”
Hudson’s grip crushed mine, his eyes swimming. I nearly lost it just seeing him.
“You’re a terrible liar,” he said on a watery laugh. “You said your vows would suck, and that’s a lie.”
Everyone laughed.
“Papa, why are my daddies crying?” Ivy asked Dad.
“Because they’re happy, sweetheart.”
Hudson swallowed hard, his gaze direct with mine. “I never thought I deserved a second chance with you. Truth is, I still don’t know if I do. But I promise you this, Matty. I will love you every day I get, fiercely and faithfully. I’ll guard your heart like it’s my own. I’ll cherish you, never take you for granted, and I’ll tell you every single day how much I love you, so you never have to doubt it.
“You loved me when I didn’t even know what love was, when I didn’t know what to do with it, when I was too broken to believe I could hold it. Thank you for giving me the space to grow, for showing me that everything I was searching for was right here, in you.
“There’s no man alive I’d rather raise our daughter with. No better partner, no better love, no better home than the one I’ve found in you.
“I love you, Matthias Magnuson. Today. Tomorrow. Always.”
Sniffles carried through the small crowd. I tuned out the noise and focused on Hudson. “I love you too, Huddlebug.”
Pastor Spencer nodded, solemn and gentle. “The rings, please.”
Opie guided Ivy forward, his hand tight around Ms. Cluck’s. Just in case. Ivy held the little pillow with utter seriousness, her cast tucked close.
“Good job, Ivy.” I ruffled her hair, and she beamed a smile. I took Hudson’s band and slid it on his finger. “With this ring, I promise to make you laugh, even when you’re the most stubborn man alive.”
Hudson’s lips trembled as he slid mine on. “And with this ring, I promise you’ll never doubt how loved you are. Not for a single day.”
Pastor Spencer’s voice lifted. “You have joined hands, exchanged vows, and bound yourselves not only to each other but to this land, your future. By the love you carry, I pronounce you partners. Hudson, Matty, you may now seal your vows with a kiss.”
Hudson didn’t hesitate. He hauled me in and kissed me hard, deep, nothing held back. Cheers erupted, blending with the sound of Ivy’s tiny voice. “My daddies!”
Laughter broke through tears, the sound pure joy.
Guests showered us with petals as we turned, hand in hand. Behind us, Cameron quietly set the little box of earth at the “altar.”
And with Hudson’s fingers locked in mine, I knew every word we’d spoken today would live in that soil, steady as the mountains, forever.
44
MATTY
The reception had gone late, the lanterns on the Magnuson ranch burning low and golden by the time we slipped upstairs. Ivy was out cold, her curls fanned across the pillow, her little ring glinting on her finger as though she’d been waiting all her life for this day.
So have I, Bug. So have I.
Hudson brushed a kiss across her forehead and murmured something only she could hear. I tucked the blanket higher and pressed my lips to her temple. She didn’t stir, just sighed, like she knew she was loved and had no care in the world.
“She’s out,” I whispered.
“Big day,” Hudson said softly, lingering a moment longer, then finally straightened. “Did you see how much fun she had?”
“If you’re worried about her staying with Dad and Ozzie, we can take her with us.” I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. We’d prepared Ivy for our honeymoon by talking to her about what to expect.She’d slept over with my dad and Ozzie so many nights that the ranch felt like home to her, so she should be fine, but I knew Hudson worried.
“No, we’ll have a lifetime of family vacations all three of us, but we’ll only ever have this one honeymoon. It’s just three days and we can always drive back if she gets anxious. Gray promised her camping out in the yard, and she’ll never forgive us for making her miss it.”
