She made her way slowly to the small table that functioned as a podium, set up with a mic borrowed from The GateCrashers. “Hi, everyone,” she began. She raised her glass. “To my friends, neighbors and family.” Glasses in the audience were raised in return. “You know me as Carly Shannon.” Silence. “But today I’m officially Carly Hollister.” There were gasps of surprise and bursts of applause. She glanced over at Eli and J.P., standing off to one side, near the large front window. Trooper, of course, lay beside them. “I’m Cord’s daughter, Cord and Reba’s. Many of you will remember my mom. The DNA tests we had done, with Katie Fairfield’s help, proved that Cord is my father, proved it once and for all. I love the men I used to call ‘my three dads’—Cord, Eli Garrett and J.P. McCall—but now I have one dad and two uncles.”

The three met her at the front of the room and bowed, and the applause brimmed over.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you!” With a cautious sip, mic in one hand, she told her audience, “I also love this ranch, this town—and the people here.”

Then she moved back into the crowd, receiving hugs and best wishes.

Cord and Shallie allowed about ten minutes for Carly’s reception before they went to the podium. “We want to thank you all for being here,” Cord said. “First, though, let me say we’re very, very proud of Carly.”

“And we hope to see you all at our wedding next month,” Shallie finished. People were cheering and raising their glasses again.

Carly leaped up to join Cord and Shallie, grabbing the mic from him. “You know what this means, right? Cord’s my dad and Shallie’s my mom!”

The ovation seemed unending.

She lifted one hand. “We’re about to be upstaged by Holly Lewis, the cutest dog in the world.” Holly, off her leash, was trotting toward them, lovable ears flapping, tail wagging. Oohing and aahing from the audience. “She wants to congratulate me, too!” Carly and the dog walked to the back of the room, where they met the Lewises.

Eli and J.P. had asked to say a few quick words, as Cord’s best men and best friends; he and Shallie had agreed. The two of them advanced toward the microphone, and Eli spoke first. “Cord has been one of my two best friends for most of my life—and here’s the other one.” He placed his arm around J.P. “Now, Shallie is best friend number three. She’s one of us. And Carly is my honorary niece.”

Eli leaned toward the microphone. “Same goes for me. And Carly’s my niece, too!”

Surprisingly, Eric Worth pushed his way to the front, begging to have his say. Cord glanced at Shallie; she nodded.