The Rancher's Adopted Family (13 page)

‘Of course.’

‘Ever since, I’ve been thinking about the way I want to live the rest of my life.’

‘H-have you found an answer?’

‘I’m working on it.’ He rubbed his lips softly against hers and she thought she might explode with wanting him. ‘That’s why I’m here,’ he said. ‘I was hoping maybe we could work something out. Together.’

Now she was smiling. In fact she was grinning so hard she thought her face might grow stretchmarks. ‘That sounds like a plan.’

T
HE
trail of frangipani and gardenia petals was Hans’s idea. The flowers led along the garden path and up the steps to Serenity’s big veranda, where the wedding would take place.

For many weeks Hans had spent every waking moment working hard to make sure that Serenity’s garden was at its best. Now, pots of romantic, trailing wisteria adorned the veranda. Chinese paper lanterns glowed warmly in the grape-purple twilight, and the romantic strains of a string quartet drifted into the gathering dusk.

Flowers trailed along the edges of the long trestle tables that would soon groan beneath the weight of the fabulous food that Ming and two friends from Cairns had prepared.

Wedding guests were gathered on the veranda, talking in hushed whispers.

At a nod from the visiting bush padre, Seth, who was waiting in the wings, turned to his best man. ‘That’s our cue, mate.’

Barney’s white teeth flashed in his dark face as he grinned. ‘I’ve been waiting a long time for this day.’

Minutes earlier, Celia had pinned tiny orchids on their lapels and told the men they looked ‘seriously dashing’ in their dark formal suits.

Now, the men stepped together onto the veranda, and there was an audible collective gasp. Seth smiled at his guests—at Amy’s family, at Celia and her children and the various friends from both Melbourne and the Far North. They’d all been accommodated right here on Serenity, either at the homestead, or in the stockmen’s quarters.

‘Hi, Daddy,’ called Barney’s little daughter, and everyone laughed, breaking the tension.

The padre, the same sympathetic and worldly-wise man who’d come here to bury Seth’s uncle, smiled at Seth now, then he gave Seth a kindly wink. ‘Your bride is on her way.’

Your bride
.

The two words set off happy explosions inside Seth.

Amy, his bride, his warm-hearted, lovely bride, his friend, his lover was coming to him.

Truth be told, she was only coming from the back of the house, making her way on her father’s arm, through the garden, following the trail of flower petals, but Seth was impatient to see her.

Over the past three months they’d spent as much time together as possible. In Melbourne they’d enjoyed trips to the theatre, and to restaurants. They’d taken Bella to the zoo, and the three of them had driven up to the Dandenong mountains for picnics.

They’d spent a weekend at Queenscliff, enjoying the cold southerly sea breezes as much as the seals and fairy penguins. Seth had been to dinner with Amy’s parents, and to a Ross family barbecue, where he’d been
given the once-over by Amy’s brothers and apparently had passed muster—no easy thing to achieve.

Back on Serenity, both Amy and Bella had started riding lessons. Amy was keen to learn every last thing about Seth’s cattle business, and she’d hatched all sorts of exciting plans.

Each day, Seth had grown happier and surer that he and Amy and Bella were meant to be together as a little family, and he’d felt the certainty and rightness take root deep inside him.

Now, his heart gave a lift as he saw Bella coming along the path that wound between the shrubs and ferns. Her dark curls shone in the light of the lanterns and her dress was of palest pink tulle, and she looked like something from a fairy tale. His smile widened as every so often she stopped to pick up flower petals, which she solemnly placed in the tiny white straw basket she carried.

Behind her, in elegant pearl-grey silk, came Amy’s bridesmaid, Jane, and then, on her father’s arm, was Amy.

Misty-eyed and smiling Amy.

Beautiful in white.

Seth remembered the first time he’d seen her in the Tamundra pub, hurrying after Bella, and his heart gave the same unexpected lift he’d felt that day.

Now she reached him, and with a smiling nod her father stepped back.

Amy slipped her arm through Seth’s and smiled at him. He smelled the delicate scent of the flowers in her bouquet, saw her love shining in her warm, dark eyes and he was terrified he might cry with happiness.

‘Hi, Sef,’ called a small voice.

He looked down and there was Bella, reaching up to hold his free hand.

To have and to hold.

Seth grinned, and Amy laughed, and he felt his tension melt away.

The ceremony began, and the reassuring clasp of a small, warm and slightly sticky hand remained with Seth as he and his bride promised to be together for ever.