Page 11 of Auctioned to the Cowboy

“You okay?” I ask gently, perching on the edge of the vanity stool.

Ben chuckles softly, shaking his head. “I should be asking you that. Big day and all. But yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about things. About my Ruth.”

The mention of his late wife sends a pang through my chest. I know she passed not long ago, and her absence lingers in this house, woven into the fabric of every room.

“You miss her,” I say quietly. It’s not a question.

“Every damn day,” he admits, his voice thick with emotion. “She was the glue, you know? Held this whole family together. Henry gets his stubborn streak from her. God, she was stubborn, butshe loved with her whole heart. Didn’t matter how hard things got, she was always there, keeping us steady.”

“She sounds amazing.”

“She was.” His gaze drifts to the window, where the winter sun streams through the glass. “I met her at a county fair, of all places. She was running the pie contest, and I made the mistake of telling her I’d never had a cherry pie as good as my mother’s. She took that as a challenge. Made me sit down right there and try hers.” He laughs, a deep, rumbling sound that fills the room. “Damn near married her on the spot.”

I can’t help but smile. “And was it better than your mom’s?”

“Better?” He looks at me, his eyes twinkling. “It was life-changing. Told her so, too. She called me a liar, but I think she knew.”

I laugh softly, imagining the scene. “Sounds like she gave you a run for your money.”

“Oh, she did. Every day of our lives. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” His voice softens, and he leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Henry—he’s got her spirit, you know? Tough on the outside, but when he loves, it’s deep and true. Just like her.”

I swallow hard, his words settling in my chest like a warm weight. “He’s lucky to have had both of you.”

Ben shakes his head. “No, we’re the lucky ones. And now he’s lucky to have you. I can see it, Shay. The way you’ve handled yourself these past days, stepping into this crazy life of ours without flinching. You’ve got a strength about you, and I think Henry sees it, too. Hell, I think it scares him a little.”

I laugh, surprised by the honesty in his words. “Scares him, huh?”

“Oh, yeah,” Ben says, his smile widening. “But that’s a good thing. Keeps him on his toes. And that boy needs someone to do that.”

I glance down at my hands, tracing the satin fabric again. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all of this. For him. For any of it.”

Ben leans forward, his hand covering mine. It’s a simple gesture, but it steadies me in a way I didn’t know I needed.

“No one’s ever ready,” he says gently. “Not really. But you’ve got what it takes, Shay. You’re already part of this family, whether you realize it or not. And Ruth? She’d have loved you. I know it.”

His words sink deep, settling into the cracks of my uncertainty and filling them with something I can only describe as hope.

“Thank you, Ben,” I whisper, blinking back the sudden sting of tears.

He pats my hand before standing, his large frame towering over me. “Now, let’s get you married before Henry decides to brood himself into oblivion.”

I laugh, the sound lighter than it’s been all morning. “You think he’s nervous?”

Ben grins, heading for the door. “Nervous? That boy’s a wreck. But don’t tell him I told you. He’s got a reputation to uphold.”

With that, he’s gone, leaving me alone in the quiet room. But somehow, it doesn’t feel so quiet anymore. I take a deep breath, smoothing the satin of my dress one last time. Whatever comes next, I know I’m not facing it alone.

“Ready?” Angus’s voice is a quiet murmur behind me.

I turn, catching the faint smirk on his face and the knowing look in Tom’s eyes.

They’re both in their best jeans and button-downs, which, in this town, qualifies as formal attire.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, my voice betraying none of the jitters dancing a jig in my belly.

In truth, my stomach is a knot of nerves, twisting tighter with each passing second. But I lift my chin, refusing to let it show. I chose this, and I’ll see it through.

Tom and Angus lead me downstairs toward an unknown future. Still, despite my nerves, it feels right.

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