Page 69 of Eighteen Bowties and Counting

She waited while the wedding party went ahead of her, Pepper and Ruby—adorned with floral collars—leading Bennett and Ellie at the front of the pack.

Charlotte kept her arm in her father’s, so glad she had a solid anchor to hold to. She wasn’t going to pass out. She really wasn’t.

Her eyes met Beau’s again now that the wedding party had made it to the altar and then taken their seats.

As she began her walk, each guest looked at her, their smiles wide and welcoming, adding warmth to her fluttering heart. At the end of the aisle, she stepped into the strong, gaping embrace of her brother.

“He is perfect for you,” he whispered. “I’m sorry it took me so long to see it, but I do, Char.” He stepped back, his intense gaze burning hotter than ever. “I really do.”

She nodded, and moved to hug her mother and Felicity, though they’d embraced several times already. She stepped back to her father, who took her the last couple of steps to Beau. He passed her hand from his arm to Beau’s, and now she had her forever anchor.

Her forever love.

Her forever cowboy.

Charlotte took a deep breath, looking into Beau’s eyes. He smiled and whispered, “Are you freaking out?”

She shook her head, and said, “Just my heart is.” She looked down at his bright blue bowtie. It matched the thread in her dress, her belt, and her heels, and he looked like a million bucks wearing it. “Nice bowtie.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I think I’m gonna keep this one.” He chuckled and together they faced the pastor. His presence was her rock, his love the steady force that had guided her to this moment.

“Weddings are my favorite part of my job,” the pastor began, his voice resonating in the barn’s open space. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of Charlotte and Beau, a couple whose love story is as vibrant and enduring as the ranch they call home.”

Charlotte listened, her heart swelling with each word, each promise of a future together. When it was her turn to speak her vows, she drew a deep, steadying breath. The crowd faded away until it was just her and Beau under the arch.

Just her and Beau in that cabin.

Just her and Beau, ready to tackle life together.

“Beau,” she began, her voice trembling not at all. “Standing here with you, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. You are my partner, my protector, and my best friend. I had no idea what love was or what it felt like, but you were so patient with me as I learned it’s more than a feeling—it’s a commitment, a decision to support and cherish each other through every sunrise and sunset.”

Beau’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she continued, her voice growing stronger. “I vow to love you for who you are and who you will become, to respect you, and to grow with you. Together, we’ll build a life with dogs and cats and horses that feels like a never-ending adventure, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next. I promise to stand by your side, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow. And most of all, I promise to be true to us, to our dreams, and to our family here at Three Rivers Ranch.”

As she spoke her vows, the tension melted away, replaced by a profound joy. She saw mirrored in Beau’s expression the depth of his love, an unspoken promise that they were in this together, forever.

Beau took her hands in his, his voice steady and sure. “Charlotte, from the moment I saw you standing in my cabin, you changed everything. You brought light into my life and joy into my heart. I promise to cherish you, to protect you, and to be your partner in all things. I vow to make you laugh when you’re taking life too seriously and to hold you close on the cold nights.”

He grinned in that self-assured, sexy, flirty way he had and said, “I love you, my little bird, and I will with my whole heart, my entire soul, for today and all of my tomorrows.”

He nodded, and she was surprised her vows were a little longer than his. Still, he’d said all the right things, and they faced the pastor to finish the ceremony.

The pastor pronounced them husband and wife, and as Beau dipped her for their first kiss as a married couple, cheers erupted around them. Pepper barked joyfully, adding to the celebration. A surge of happiness so intense it seemed to lift her off her feet bolted through Charlotte, and she couldn’t quite kiss Beau—not with her smile so big and laughter leaking from her mouth.

He finally righted her, and they faced the crowd. Beau bellowed—of course—and he lifted their joined hands in victory. Charlotte laughed along with him, and she stepped over to his momma and gripped her in a hug while he double-embraced his two sisters.

They went down the aisle and out into the evening sunshine. They’d head over to the pasture for dinner and dancing, where tents had been set up to protect them from the elements. She’d wanted dinner with donkeys and horses, and Beau had spent the past week cleaning the pasture and making sure no animals used it. He’d mowed it himself last night, and the wedding rental company had set up every table, chair, and tent.

The wedding guests followed them, and as Charlotte looked out over the land that had brought them together, a deep sense of belonging strung through her, hooking her heart to Beau’s. “This is just the beginning, isn’t it, cowboy?”

Beau pulled her close, his voice full of promise. “Yes, little bird. The beginning of a beautiful, lifelong adventure.”

She beamed at him as Sprout cried her excitement to see them. “I love you, Beau.”

He kissed her properly this time, and Charlotte absolutely adored the touch of his lips against hers. “And I love you, Charlotte,” he whispered.

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