Country Mile

A FOREVER HOME

During the reception that followed one of the biggest family moments for the Prescotts, Genna was twirled across the polished wooden floor with a smile, bright and broad across her face.

Her handsome dance partner gazed down at her with loving eyes, absorbing the warmth of her heavenly shine.

"Look at you... I figured you'd have two left feet," he jeered.

"Shut up!" Genna laughed and gave a gentle slap to Archer's arm. "I'm a great dancer. Perfect, in fact."

"I know," he cheekily conceded. "There ain't a single imperfect thing about you."

"Oh really?"

Archer scrunched his nose and tilted his head to the side as he rethought his previous statement. "Eh... maybe I could do without the sass."

Genna grinned up at him and delicately laced her fingers together at the nape of his neck. "Please, you love it."

Stooping down to pick her up and twirl her once more, Archer couldn't deny it. "You're right," he whispered, "I do."

"Better get used to it."

"Get used to what?"

Genna smirked, "The sass... and me always being right."

Archer chuckled and rolled his eyes as he lowered her to the ground. He stared down at her, watching as she looked around at all the faces who had become her family.

He was grateful for the smile on her face despite the sting of loss that he knew hovered at the edge of her mind.

The strength of the fragile girl in his arms astounded him.

"I love you," he professed softly.

Somewhat startled by the sudden declaration, Genna's eyes snapped to his with a smile.

"I love you, too."

"I know we're young, but I want you to know that this will be us some day."

Genna quirked an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean?"

"This," he gestured between them. "In a different tux and dress, surrounded by loved ones."

He adjusted her in his hold and smiled adoringly down at her. "I'm gonna marry you one day. I've known it ever since the night we ran through them woods... I told Logan, I said, 'I'm gonna marry that girl', and I meant it."

He reached up and stroked her cheek softly. "I meant it."

Tears filled her eyes at the promise shining back at her within his.

"Archer Reid Hindley... all I can say is.. you better."

Their noses were nearly touching as they gazed into each other's eyes. With every sway of her dress, Genna fell deeper into Archer's ocean irises and the feeling of his breath fanning across her face made her stomach flutter.

She pressed her lips upon his after one last lifted twirl, and though he slowly lowered her back onto the ground, her heart was anything but. It took flight and left her feeling as if she were floating on air the rest of the evening.

It was impossible to know exactly what the future held, but Genna was certain she was holding onto a permanent piece of her's in the form of a handsome blue eyed boy.

***

Foregoing a honeymoon abroad due to Anne being so late in her pregnancy, the newlywed couple decided a few nights in the ritziest hotel nearby would suffice.

"Ready to go?"

Adam looked over to his sister and nodded with a grin that had yet to fade. He put the last of the bags in the bed of his truck and closed the tailgate with a sense of finality.