shook his head before Ford could give Austin a hard time about the bride magazine. His older brother had been pushed enough for the day. “Hey, I heard the sheriff is back.”
“Yeah, but he wants to retire and thinks I should take the job.” Austin reached for a flask and downed a healthy swallow, handing it over to Trent. “I’m kind of interested, since it’d keep us involved in the town. I’m thinking about it.”
Ford read the face of his phone. “Just heard from our contact in Boise. Silas, his sons, and Marc Lewis all pled guilty to homicide and embezzlement after reaching deals for long prison sentences. There was no mention of Wyoming or Hallie Rose.”
Austin nodded. “You did a good job with them.”
Trent shrugged. “I just made it clear what would happen to them if they talked, and they believed me.”
Zeke stood. “Enough focus on the past. Let’s go work on the future.”
Trent took another deep breath and followed Zeke outside and down the path to the gazebo, smiling and nodding at the townspeople as he did so. It had been so long since he or any of his brothers had tried to live with normal people. No doubt Hallie would help them all with that. It was a good town, and he wanted to stay here.
He tugged on his tie again as he stood next to the preacher and Austin, with his brothers in the audience giving their full support.
The music started, and Hallie walked out of the other side of the house.
A hush came over the crowd.
He couldn’t breathe. She was the most beautiful woman in the entire world. Her dress was white and flowy, and little flowers were dotted through her hair. Her eyes were the bluest of blue, and they were laser focused on him, with love shining in them.
Austin tried to grab his arm, but it was too late. Trent hustled toward her down the aisle, ignoring the twitters of laughter until he reached her. “You’re beautiful.”
She faltered, and her smile chased away any clouds that would ever exist. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you don’t change your mind.” He was being an idiot, but he didn’t care. He lifted her and swung around.
“You go, Trent,” Zeke called out.
Yeah. Zeke got him. Trent carried her all the way to the altar and then stood there in front of the preacher. “I do, she does, so say we’re married.” His mouth moved toward hers.
Austin smacked him on the nose, halting his progress. Trent snarled, for the first time wanting to hit his older brother.
Then Hallie laughed, the sound sweet and free.
He paused and let himself bask in the sound. She was his. All of that joy and kindness, and he’d protect it and her with everything he’d ever be.
She settled against his chest and put an arm over his shoulder, tossing the bouquet. Trent watched to see where it landed.
Ford caught the flowers and his eyes widened in what looked like horror.
Then Hallie turned to the preacher. “I think we should get right to the vows before this cowboy tries to get right to the honeymoon.”
The preacher, an older gentleman with a kind smile, nodded. “That’s a good idea.” He rattled off the vows and Trent answered quickly, holding his breath until Hallie said I do.
The second she did, he took her mouth in a kiss, even as the preacher dubbed them husband and wife. She filled parts of him he hadn’t realized were empty. He kissed her again and then leaned back, still holding her securely in his arms. “I love you, Hallie Logan.”
She nipped his bottom lip in that way he adored. “I love you, too. Always.”
Yeah. He had an always now. He kissed her again, giving her the same thing.
Always.
Please turn the page for an exciting peek at:
THE SNOW MAN
by
Diana Palmer
Available at bookstores and e-retailers
Meadow Dawson just stared at the slim, older cowboy who was standing on her front porch with his hat held against his chest. His name was Ted. He was her father’s ranch foreman. And he was speaking Greek, she decided, or perhaps some form of archaic language that she couldn’t understand.
“The culls,” he persisted. “Mr. Jake wanted us to go ahead and ship them out to that rancher we bought the replacement heifers from.”
She blinked. She knew three stances that she could use to shoot a .40 caliber Glock from. She was experienced in interrogation techniques. She’d once participated in a drug raid with other agents from