THERE WAS A WEDDING GOING ON IN THE BIG LOG RANCH HOUSE. IT seemed as if half of Eagle County had shown up for the event. The overflow streamed in and out of a big white canvas tent set up outside, with heaters to keep the place warm against the dusting of snow that covered the ground. The mountains and pastures surrounding the ranch house sparkled with last night’s snowfall, making it look like something out of a fairy tale.

Beneath twinkling lights, guests sat at round, linen-draped tables decorated with bouquets of white and pale peach roses sprinkled with white lilies. The fragrance of gardenias drifted in the air.

Along one wall of the tent, a beautiful buffet served Diamond Bar Hereford beef, with every side dish Maria and Dolores could think of. A three-piece western band played a Brad Paisley slow song.

It was time for the bridal dance. Ellie’s heart did a soft flutter as Kade looked down at her, and she couldn’t miss the love reflected in his whiskey-brown eyes.

For the wedding, she had chosen a pale peach silk gown, street-length, with a square-cut bodice. Cream lace flirted with the swell of her breasts, while butter-soft, peach-leather cowboy boots with roses on the front carried out the western theme.

When she’d mentioned wearing her hair swept up with pearl combs, Kade had grumbled something that made her laugh. She hadn’t told him she’d left it down especially for him, but the heat in his eyes when he looked at her said she’d made the right decision.

Kade reached for her hand, drew her onto the dance floor and into his arms for their first dance as husband and wife. He was dressed like the rest of the men in the wedding party, in a black, western-cut tuxedo, black felt hat, and black alligator boots. The guys all looked delicious, especially Kade.

She thought of the wedding gift he had given her, the little sorrel colt that reminded her of Rusty, the horse she had loved and lost. In a sweet moment, he had given Billy an early Christmas present, Sunshine, the palomino filly he had been training. “For helping save Ellie’s life,” Kade had told him.

As she’d watched the two of them together, she’d thought what a wonderful father Kade would make, and smiled at the decision they had made to start a family sometime soon.

A few weeks after the incident at the mine, Kade had taken her to the old Diamond Bar homestead to finish her recovery. She had loved the old cabin on sight. While they were there, she and Kade had talked about the future, what she wanted to do after they were married.