Epilogue

EPILOGUE

J ake stood in front of the rose arbor, the white banner threaded through the slats fluttering in the breeze, the smell of roses permeating the air. He looked out at the guests assembled in front of him and felt a surge of love so profound, it made his heart skip a beat. It was a small group, mostly Evie's family, soon to be his family, too. A few friends, again, all Evie's, though they had accepted him into their fold. He was both honored and humbled for that privilege. His fellow bunkmates were there as well, men he'd come to admire and formed a kinship with in the past few months.

Father O'Malley stood beneath the framework of intertwined roses, the well-worn Bible Jake remembered from long ago open in his hand. He smiled briefly before he turned serious.

Dressed in his best suit, a blood-red rose pinned to his lapel, Teddy beamed in his position of best man. Who would have thought the person who objected the most to him courting Evie would become his staunchest ally?

Teddy cleared his throat. "Are you ready?"

Jake's heart thumped steadily in his chest, filled beyond comprehension with indescribable joy, something he never thought he'd have. "More than you'll ever know."

He stopped speaking as the first strains of a violin filled the air. A silence descended over the crowd as the guests rose and turned toward the back of the house. The door opened and Savannah stepped through, dressed in pale yellow, carrying a basket full of yellow roses. It was obvious she took this honor to heart as her expression ran the gamut from somber to animated within seconds.

Lucy followed, also in yellow, though the bouquet in her hands contained roses of white, pink, and coral, all gathered from the bushes around the garden. A few moments later, Evie appeared in the doorway, Antonio and Charley beside her, linking their arms through hers.

Jake held his breath as she slowly walked toward him, the small bouquet of ivory roses in her hand matching her dress. She was a vision of beauty, an angel on earth who helped him see what he could be.

Pride made his chest swell, and love filled his heart to bursting that this strong, intelligent, compassionate woman would be his. Antonio kissed her cheek when they brought her to a stop in front of him. Charley did the same then placed her hand into his. Evie squeezed his fingers as she gazed into his eyes. Her thick, dark lashes were spiky with wetness, but the confident smile on her face and the warm glow in her gray-blue eyes let him know she'd shed happy tears.

"Dearly beloved," Father O'Malley began, his accent seeming to be more pronounced.

It was over in moments, the words the good Father intoned striking deep within his heart, a commitment he would spend the rest of his life trying to uphold.

"You may kiss the bride."

Jake didn't move, too caught up in drinking in Evie's beauty, seeing the love she had for him shining so clearly in her eyes.

"Kiss the bride, boyo ," the priest repeated, his voice laced with humor as he nudged him a bit.

Startled, Jake laughed then lowered his head, and brushed his lips against hers, the taste of her mouth sweet with the promise of forever. "I love you, Mrs. Hannigan," he murmured, his voice tight with all the emotion of this moment.

"I love you, too, Mr. Hannigan." She sighed as she repeated her new name. "Mrs. Hannigan." She smiled up at him, despite the tears spiking her lashes. "I like the sound of that, though it might take me a little time to get used to it."

"Take all the time you need." He reached out and wiped the wetness from her cheek with his thumb, reveling in the softness of her skin. "We have the rest of our lives."

"Yes, we do." She gazed at him, her eyes so warm, her smile so beautiful, it made his heart beat faster.

He laughed, unable to help himself, as they stepped away from the rose arbor. He escorted Evie down the aisle between the rows of chairs, nodding to those who had witnessed their vows, shaking the hands of those who extended them, while Evie accepted warm hugs and kisses to her cheeks even as lively music began to play, and the guests meandered toward the makeshift dance floor. "Dance with me."

Her eyes opened wide in surprise as a blush blossomed on her cheeks. "We've never danced before. I didn't think you knew how."

"Of course I do." He grinned, so damned happy he could hardly believe it. This couldn't be happening, could it? Was it a dream? An elaborate fantasy? If so, he hoped no one would pinch him and wake him from it. "Let me show you." He took her hand and led her to the dance floor, then pulled her close, his heart thumping hard in his chest.

They'd barely made a full rotation around the dance floor when Jake felt a tap on his back.

"May I cut in?" He turned, Evie in his arms, to see Teddy.

"Of course." Though reluctant, he relinquished Evie into her nephew's arms and left the dance area, though he didn't go far, just to the end of the first table that surrounded the space. His gaze followed her every graceful step as she went from each one of her nephews to Charley then finally to Antonio. Her face glowed, her smile wide with all the love she had, and it struck him, like a mule's kick to the chest.

How did I get so lucky?

He felt a presence beside him and glanced to his left. He didn't recognize the man. He wasn't one of Evie's friends or an acquaintance of the family. "Hello. May I help you?"

"Forgive the intrusion. I seem to have come at the most inopportune time, but I'm looking for Miss Everleigh Miller."

Jake pointed to his wife, swirling around the dance floor, once more in Teddy's arms, her laughter filling his heart. "That's her." He tore his gaze away from Evie and glanced at the man, whose focus was on Evie. "Seeing that she's a little busy at the moment, is there something I can help you with? Are you interested in one of the horses for sale?"

The stranger didn't answer the question, simply stared at Evie, his expression holding not only disappointment, but embarrassment as well. A flush colored his cheeks when he turned toward Jake. "Again, I ask for your apologies, but I seemed to have intruded upon a wedding."

"You have."

His gaze settled on Evie. "And is she the bride?"

Jake smiled, his heart bursting with pride. "She is."

"I see." The man gave a small sigh as regret filled his pale green eyes. "I'm Henri Robicheaux. I received a letter from Miss Miller, asking to meet, but I see I am too late."

"Ah, I understand."

"I should have…never mind. I've never been a man who lived with regret." Henri let out another sigh as his gaze shifted back to the dance floor. "Who's the lucky man?"

Jake's smile widened. "That would be me."

Once more, Henri ripped his focus away from Evie and settled it on Jake. "Well then, I won't interrupt. I wish you both well."

"No, please stay and enjoy the party. Help yourself to a cup of coffee and piece of cake." He leaned forward a little, lowered his voice and gestured to Marisol's oldest daughter, who'd been widowed a little more than a year ago, sitting alone at one of the tables, her head bobbing to the music. He'd been told she had recently enlisted Lucy's help in finding a husband. "If you're looking for a wife, I'm told Aricely over there might be agreeable to getting to know you. If you'd like, I could introduce you. At the very least you could ask her to dance. I'm sure she would enjoy that."

The man brightened, the flush disappearing from his cheeks. "I think I will. Ask her to dance that is. Thank you."

"Not at all." Jake grinned, wondering if his future included matchmaking, as Henri moved toward the table where Aricely sat.

After a moment, he strode toward the makeshift dance floor and tapped Heath on the shoulder. "May I cut in?"

Heath relinquished his hold on Evie and took a step back. "Of course."

Jake took her hand and smiled, then whirled her around. "Hello again, Mrs. Hannigan."

"Hello, Mr. Hannigan." Evie laughed, her eyes glowing before they turned serious. "Who were you talking to?"

"Oh, just another one of your mail-order husbands."

"Really?" Color blossomed on her cheeks.

Jake nodded.

"Did you tell him he was too late?"

"I did. I also told him how lucky I am."

"Lucky?"

"Yes, ma'am." He kissed her lightly on the lips, then smiled as he whirled her faster. "So incredibly lucky to have found such an enchanting woman with such a beautiful heart." He glanced toward the horizon and caught the sun beginning to set in the distance. Already, the sky was turning pale pink with just a hint of magenta.

"You know what I want to do right now?"

Evie wiggled her eyebrows at him, mischief dancing in the bright glow of her eyes. "I think I know."

Jake burst out laughing. She'd never ever done that before and he loved it. "Yes, that, too." He drew her closer, so close he could feel her heart beating in rhythm with his. "But right now, I want to sit on the porch with you, hold your hand, and watch the sky turn colors as the sun sets. That's what I want—today, tomorrow, and every day after that." He smiled down at her, anticipation coursing through his veins. "What do you say?"

Tears of happiness shimmered in her eyes. "I say yes."

The Beginning