Epilogue

"I promise to love and support you, to stand by your side, and to face together all the ups and downs that life may bring."

"And I promise to love and support you , to stand by your side, and to face together all the ups and downs that life may bring."

"By the power invested in me by the state of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Cheers erupted and a trumpet fanfare heralded the bride and groom's exit down the aisle. Harper and Ryker rose to stand with the rest of the guests as Hannah and Jake paraded past their family and friends. Ryker slipped his arm around her. "Were you taking mental notes for our wedding?" he asked.

Harper looked down at the diamond solitaire on the third finger of her left hand. She had only had it a few days, and she couldn't stop admiring it. "Maybe a few." She grinned up at him. "Charlotte has been giving me ideas, though."

"Charlotte has ideas for our wedding?"

"I told her I wanted her to be a bridesmaid, so she asked if she could wear a fancy pink dress. And she thinks I should wear flowers in my hair, like a picture in one of her favorite storybooks. And we should serve pizza at the reception, because everyone likes pizza."

"I like pizza," he said. Then he burst out laughing when he saw her expression. "Okay, no pizza at the reception, but how do you feel about pink dresses and flowers in your hair?"

"The idea is beginning to grow on me. What do you think?"

"I don't care what we do, as long as you and Charlotte are both there. You two are all I need."

"I think it was worth waiting to marry you to hear lines like that one." She kissed his cheek. "You were never this smooth in high school."

"I like to think I've learned a few things over the years." He slid his hand down her hip.

She caught his wrist and directed his hand to her waist. "Let's make our way to the reception."

"Are you in a hurry?" He followed her out of the chapel. The reception was being held at the Alpiner Inn, a short walk down the street.

"I was just thinking," she said. "Your mom isn't expecting you home until late, right?"

"My mom isn't expecting me home at all." He grinned. "Another nice thing about not being a teenager. I don't have to pretend I'm not spending the night with my fiancée."

"In that case, let's leave the reception as soon as we politely can."

"Something urgent you need to do?" he teased.

"Yes. I have a map I need to work on."

"Must be a special map."

"Oh, it is." She laced her fingers with his. "It's going to take me a lifetime to draw, so I need to devote myself to it."

"We should put that in our wedding vows," he said, and pulled her to him.

The guests who exited behind them had to veer around them while he kissed her, but Harper didn't mind. Not that many people in life got a second chance, and she and Ryker weren't going to waste this one.

Look for more books in Cindi Myers's miniseries Eagle Mountain: Criminal History, coming soon!