Page 59 of Hearing Little Hadley

She giggled as she helped him undress her.

“This is so beautiful,” Hadley said, looking out over the snow-covered Ranch as the sleigh slid across the ground.

“Are you disappointed that we didn’t get to ride in the carriage?” Finn asked, knowing she’d been looking forward to it.

“Are you kidding, Daddy? I’m riding in an old-fashioned sleigh pulled by a pair of actual Clydesdale horses across snow on Christmas Day,” she said. “I’m having so much fun and everything is so sparkly and pretty. This is way better than a buggy.”

The sleigh, the snow, and the jingle of the bells on Atlas and Hercules’ harnesses did give the Ranch an extra bit of ambiance that both Finn and Hadley appreciated.

“Just think, in less than forty-eight hours, we will be a married couple,” Finn said.

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Having a wedding surrounded by friends?” Finn asked. He could understand that. She’d wanted a community for a long while.

“No, silly. Being your wife. You’re the most important person in my life. I’m so lucky you chose me.”

“I’m the lucky one, Peeps. I get to spend the rest of my life waking up to your gorgeous face and living inside of your beautiful heart.”

She flushed and looked down. “You always say the nicest things, Daddy.”

“I only tell the truth, baby.”

Chapter Twenty-One

“I’m so honored that you asked me to walk you down the aisle,” Nate said, looking very grown-up in his suit and tie. When she’d thought about who could give her away, she’d known Nate was the best choice.

Hadley squeezed his hand tight.Best friend.

Nate cleared his throat. “You’re my best friend too.”

“There, all done,” Mindy said, stepping back from Hadley to look over her hair. “You look so beautiful.”

“Stunning,” Lori agreed. “That dress is perfect.”

Hadley wore a cream-colored knee length dress and brown cowgirl boots. Both the dress and the boots had been purchased from the Ranch Gift Shop. Her hair was curled and partly pinned back with a sparkly hair clip. She held a bouquet of poinsettias, which Eloise had made her. Apparently Eloise had taken a liking to watching florists on TikTok. She was really talented.

The whole Ranch had come together to help both Eli and Georgie make her and Finn’s day extra special. Chef Connor had made a beautiful cream-colored wedding cake with poinsettias piped on the sides. Sadie, Lori, and Mindy had helped Georgie decorate the Big House. All of her friends had done something to help make Hadley and Finn’s day extra special.

Nanny J had the preschool class make snowflakes and paper chains to hang around the Big House. Master Derek was officiating the wedding. Wren and Master Travis had brought Alfie to be her flower alpaca. He had on a pretty red bowtie. Hadley thought he looked very dapper. Miss Samantha had given her “something blue,” a felt heart pinned to the inside of her dress, and Nurse MacIntosh had given her “something borrowed”—the earrings she’d worn on her own wedding day.

For the reception, Nate had helped set out a multitude of choices including all sorts of syrups, sprinkles, and shaved chocolate to go with the hot chocolate Chef Connor was famous for. Hayleigh had added spoons made out of peppermint that would dissolve when stirred into the mugs of cocoa. Another table held bowls and platters with other snacks the kitchen staff had prepared. It was perfect and everything Hadley wanted. She was surrounded by people who wanted and supported her. She couldn’t have asked for anything else.

The music started and everyone but she and Nate cleared the foyer of the Big House. She couldn’t believe they’d pulled this off. Apparently last-minute Christmas weddings were something Rawhide Ranch was well known for.

“Thank you for including me today. Sometimes I get overlooked because I’m a Little boy or because trouble somehow always finds me. Your kindness means a lot to me.” Nate said. “Sometimes I feel like everyone already has these tight groups of friendships and I’m tolerated in them, but never welcomed in. You welcomed me in and I’m so grateful for that.”

Hadley wrapped him in a tight hug. She knew what it was like to be left out and she vowed nobody in her presence would ever feel that way with her. There would always be room at her table. She cleared her throat and held his arms. “I really hate to talk, and this might be the only time you actually hear my voice in our entire friendship, but it’s important. You have wonderful friendsat the Ranch. Everyone in the Caterpillar Room adores you. I know sometimes it can be hard to accept that you’re worthy of good friends, especially after someone hurts you, but you have to try and trust them. Mindy and Lori don’t just tolerate you. They love you very much. So do I. So does Master Derek and Nanny J and all the Bigs at the ranch. Don’t let the unkind words of someone who didn’t deserve you cause you to miss out on all the good people you have in your corner,” she said, squeezing his arms.

“Thank you, Hadley.”

The music changed and Nate grinned. “Let’s get you to your Daddy,” he said before opening the front door of the house as the rest of the wedding party joined them.

Master Travis held Alfie’s harness as Wren carefully removed the pair of buckets of flowers the alpaca had proudly carried on his back. She, in turned, handed them to Eli who gave them to Mindy and Lori.

“Ready?” he asked and when the two Littles nodded, Georgie motioned for Eloise and Sadie to move down the hallway toward the living room. Her flower girls smiled at Hadley then proceeding slowly, began to toss flowers onto the floor for the bride to walk on.

“Here we go,” Eli said, giving Nate’s tie a last minute adjustment.

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