Run Wild Horses

Epilogue

July

All the wonderful words in my head I've been thinkin'
You know I wanna say 'em all just right
I lift your veil and angels start singing
Such a heavenly sight, yeah
Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feeling's so absolute
There's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waited my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you

"Oh honey, you look so beautiful." My mom exclaimed, with tears in her eyes.

"Don't you dare make me cry." I teased. "Courtney spent hours on my makeup."

"It was not hours." Courtney argued with a grin.

"Well, it felt like it." I laughed, then rolled my eyes slightly as Courtney adjusted my veil for a least the hundredth time. I think she was more nervous than I was.

"I wish your father could be here today to see you." Mom sniffled, and I could feel my eyes well up.

I blinked back the tears in my eyes and squeezed her hand. "He is Mama. I can feel it. I know he's here with us."

"I want you to have this as your something old. I wore this when I married your father." She pulled out the strand of pearls that I had admired ever since I was a little girl. I couldn't blink back the tear this time, as I felt it roll down my cheek. I gently dabbed it away with a tissue.

"Well, we've covered something old, the dress is new, now you need something borrowed." Courtney said, handing me a small box containing a pair of pearl and diamond earrings.

"Something blue." Erin chimed in as she handed me a baby blue garter.

I shared a few moments with my mom and my bridesmaids before Courtney told me it was time. I had butterflies in my stomach, but I was not nervous, just excited to marry the love of my life. I took my place next to Uncle Randy, who was walking me down the aisle.

"You look so beautiful. I know your dad is smiling down on you right now." He gave me a gentle smile.

"He is." I smiled back.

"Ready?" He asked.

"I'm beyond ready." I took his arm, as we awaited our turn, and then the wedding March began.

I could feel Ryan's eyes on me the entire time as I walked down the aisle. He looked absolutely amazing in his tux. His soft smile and love and adoration radiating in his blue eyes made my own eyes well up again with emotion.

Uncle Randy lifted my veil and kissed my cheek before taking a seat next to my mother, who was already dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Ryan and I stood facing each other as the minister began.

"Through marriage, Ryan and Samantha make a commitment to love one another. To face their disappointments and follow their dreams. Accept each other's failures, and embrace each other's hopes. This is a celebration of love and commitment to which this man and woman unite and begin their life together. Ryan and Samantha, you may begin your vows."

"Sam, I promise to love you for who you are, and for who you are yet to become. I love you' means that I accept you for the person that you are and that I do not wish to change you into someone else. It means that I will love you and stand by you even through the worst of times. It means loving you even when you're in a bad mood, or too tired to do the things I want to do. It means loving you when you're down, not just when you're fun to be with. 'I love you' means that I know your deepest secrets and do not judge you for them, asking in return that you do not judge me for mine. It means that I care enough to fight for what we have and that I love you enough not to let go. I promise to be patient, and to remember that all things between us are rooted in love. I promise to nurture your dreams and to help you reach them. I promise to share my whole heart with you, and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you, no matter the challenges that may come our way. I promise to love you loyally and fiercely, and to protect you from spiders and ice your bruises for as long as I shall live." Ryan spoke his vows clearly and a collective chuckle arose over the last sentence. He cleared his throat and continued, his voice choked up with emotion. "I Ryan Michael, take you Samantha Claire to be my wife. To have and to hold. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. For as long as we both shall live."

"Ryan, I always knew that someday, somewhere, someone would walk into my life and make me realize why I was meant to be. At the time, I did not know that it was you. I wish I could say it was love at first sight, but it was the exact opposite. The first time I saw you, you got under my skin, you make me question myself, but we just couldn't get away from each other. Who would have thought that the last thing I was looking for turned out to be exactly what I needed. You were there for me. You showed up for me. You proved me wrong, and never in my life have I been so happy to be wrong. You not only accepted me as I am, but you encouraged me to let go and to embrace life. With you, I am happier and more free than I've ever been. I promise to love you always. I promise to support you wholeheartedly, to celebrate with you on a good day, to console you on a bad one, and I promise to watch Star Wars with you during rain delays. I will be the Leia to your Han Solo. In victory or defeat, I will always be by your side. I Samantha Claire, take you Ryan Michael to be my husband. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. For as long as we both shall live." I recited my vows, and chuckled over the twinkle in his eyes from the Star Wars reference.

"You have for each other a ring. This most precious of metals symbolizes that love is the most precious element in your life together. The ring has no beginning and no ending, which symbolizes that the love between you will never cease. You place these rings upon each others fingers as a visible sign of the vows which, this day, have made you husband and wife." The minister spoke, and Courtney and Chase handed over the rings.

"Samantha, I give you this ring as a pledge of love and faithfulness to you. Today, tomorrow and always." Ryan said, sliding the ring onto my finger.

"Ryan, I give you this ring as a pledge of love and faithfulness to you. Today, tomorrow and always." My heart nearly burst from my chest as I slid the ring onto his finger. It was almost official.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Now it was official.

The kiss nearly brought me to my knees. Our first kiss as husband and wife.

When he pulled away, my head was spinning with that intoxicated feeling I always got when he kissed me.

"I love you." He mouthed to me.

"I love you more." I mouthed back.

*********

Pictures, cutting the cake, me pretending to drink champagne. More pictures. Throwing of the bouquet (caught by Erin), the garter (caught by I don't remember who), more pictures, and it was finally time for Ryan and me to dance our first song as husband and wife.

"You have just made me the happiest man alive. I love you so much." Ryan murmured against my ear as we danced.

"The feeling is mutual, racer boy. This is the happiest day of my life." I gushed.

"Just wait Tiger. This is only the first of many." His blue eyes stared deeply into mine and he pressed his lips sweetly to mine.

I was swooning. It was the happiest day of my life, but it knew it was only the beginning. I had found my happily ever after with the most perfect man by my side. I couldn't wait to see what life had in store for us.

The End

A/N: And here I go getting weepy because it's over just like I do every time I end a story. I had a lot of fun writing this one. I loved the chemistry between Sam and Ryan, and how their love story grew from initial dislike to love and marriage. I'm really going to miss these two. I'd like to thank everyone who read,  voted and commented. That meant the world to me. I have some new projects in the works, so stay tuned. I hope everyone is continuing to stay safe and healthy. Happy reading. XOXO 💋 Layla.