Page 45 of Chance
The next day was Sunday, and Kelly went to church with the Cross family. When people asked why Chance had come back so soon, Chance just said it was time to come home. Of course, there were already rumors swirling about the Cross family being involved in something with the gold. All of them, including Ms. Connie, had decided to “deny, deny, deny.” Even the hospital staff didn’t know the whole story. They just knew that Kelly had been beaten up and a guy had died.
That was how small towns were: there was gossip, and there were cover-ups. It was easier to cover things up when the sheriff was in on it. The story hadn’t hit national news, and with the Stone family FBI agent making sure none of it got on the internet, things were pretty good.
Many of the townspeople reached out and greeted Kelly. A lot of them knew her from when she’d grown up here. She was surprised at how many things had stayed the same, even though there had naturally been changes. People told her how much they missed her grandmother. That meant a lot to her, even bringing her to tears a few times after the service.
As she and Chance made their way to Porter and Sadie’s for Sunday dinner, Chance turned to her. “Do you care if I tell my family?”
She let out a light laugh. “I don’t know why you haven’t. I thought if they knew, they’d all be congratulating us, but I don’t want to pretend to know how to navigate big families.” She’d always been an only child.
As everyone was getting seated for dinner, Kelly tried to help, but Sadie kept shooing her to sit. Sierra checked her vitals several times, much to her embarrassment. It was fun to have Sierra’s parents and aunt there as well.
After they said a prayer and everyone started eating, Chance cleared his throat and said, “I have an announcement.”
Everyone got quiet, and Kelly knew she was blushing. When Chance took her hand, she couldn’t help but grin at all of them.
Porter nodded to him. “Go ahead, then.”
“I proposed to Kelly last night, and she said yes.”
The whole table erupted with roars of approval. Sadie squealed, and then everyone was hugging and laughing.
When Blaze hugged her, he said, “I can’t believe there’s another second-chance romance. I wonder who’s going to come back into my life? I can’t decide if this gold is a blessing or a curse.”
Those words were interesting to Kelly. Would she have met Chance again if they hadn’t been searching for the gold? No. He wouldn’t have been in South Port.
After they’d done the congratulations and everyone settled down again to eat, Sadie turned to her. “So when’s the wedding?”
Chance shrugged. “I guess we haven’t talked about that.”
Kelly had thought about it last night after she’d said her prayers, something she’d been doing again thanks to Chance. She smiled at him. “Well, this might seem ridiculous, but I don’t really want a big wedding. I want all of you there, and that’s it. What if we just went down to the courthouse tomorrow? Are you all available?”
There was complete silence at the table, and Chance leaned in and kissed her. She laughed, and then the whole table exploded again. Cheyenne said, “I want to sew a dress for you. Let’s go measure you.”
Sadie, Sierra, and the men started planning for the party tomorrow night.
As Cheyenne measured her for the dress, Kelly met Chance’s eyes. She had always loved him, and she was so grateful to be home. She missed her grandparents, and she would miss their ranch, but she was starting a life with Chance, and that was all that mattered.
Chapter 35
If someone had told Chance three weeks ago that he would be waiting for the judge at the courthouse, getting married to the woman who’d broken his heart ten years ago, he would’ve told them they were writing fiction. Yet here he was, holding Kelly’s hands and staring deeply into her green eyes. She looked stunning in her dress, which Cheyenne had somehow created for her perfectly.
Surrounded by his family and friends, he was so grateful and happy. “I love you,” he whispered. Everyone was still taking their places beside them. The judge wasn’t even in the room yet.
She grinned back. “I love you.”
Warmth filled him. He would never let this woman go. Maybe the vows were cliché—in sickness and in health, for as long as they both shall live—but it was true. It was an immutable fact that he would never leave her side. He loved her so much.
The door flew open, and Judge McIntosh entered. Of course, the family knew him. A big grin on his face, he said, “The Cross family. And I heard Chance, our own sheriff, is getting married to his longtime sweetheart.” He looked at Kelly. “We’re so happy you’re home. Do you know that? Your grandparents were the best people. And you’re the best people. This is a happy day.”
The family surged with excitement, and everyone fell into place around them. Porter and Sadie’s daughter, Little Rock, moved to Chance’s side and the rest of his brother’s filed behind him. Sadie and Sierra and Marissa were behind her.
The judge took his spot in front of them, and he went through the vows.
Chance didn’t pay attention to what the judge was saying. All he could do was stare at this beautiful woman. She would be his, and he would be hers.
After Kelly said, “I do,” he let out a little whoop and kissed her.
Everyone laughed, and the judge said, “Hey, wait till this is over, Sheriff.” He gave them a grin as Kelly giggled. “And now I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Chance Cross.”