Owen shrugged. "Some things are meant to be, I guess." He smiled wearily. "And others aren't."
"Well, I'm hoping you'll do one last thing for us before you completely give up the things that 'aren't'."
"You know I will, Brandon." He turned to look at Allie. "A wedding by moonlight it is. If you're ready, Miss Allie?"
"Are you a preacher, too, Owen? As well as a doctor?"
He chuckled at her question. "My mother had it in her mind that one of her boys was going to be a man of the cloth. I was next to the youngest. But although I was ordained, I never gave up my dream to be a doctor. Er…you may have noticed, I'm a bit older than the average new physician, just coming from my studies."
"I didn't know this was your first practice," Allie said.
"Well, Marcus, here, has kindly taken me to raise – although he doesn't realize it yet." He winked, and Allie laughed.
Doc gave him a complacent stare. "You'll do well here, Owen." He cleared his throat. "But we have a patient that's been up far too long. Let's get these vows repeated so he can get to bed."
"Amen to that," Brandon said quietly, squeezing Allie's hand.
She squeezed back, heat rushing to her cheeks as Owen turned to hide a smile and Doc cleared his throat.
"Do you have a ring, Brandon?" Owen asked.
Brandon pushed away from the porch support where he leaned and took a step forward. "No. I guess I wasn't…nearly prepared." He smiled uncertainly at Allie. Before she could say anything, Owen covered the moment by reaching into his own pocket and pulling out a small circular object that gleamed in the moonlight.
"Here." He handed it to Brandon. "It's a brass nail ring. The smithy made a few of them for me before I left Boston. Lot of young people up there trying to get a start in life. No money for jewelry of any kind." He grinned. "I tell you, I was a mighty popular preacher."
"Because you furnished the rings?" Doc asked.
"No. Because I didn't charge a fee." He quirked a brow. "And I furnished the rings." He nodded at Allie. "You ready? This won't take long."
She looked at Brandon. "I'm ready."
Brandon's lips curved faintly. "You're sure, Allie?"
She nodded quickly. "I'm sure. I've always loved you." Her breath caught at the expression of dawning belief in Brandon's eyes. Hadn't he known before now? He should have. "I always have, and I always will." Her voice was low on the night breeze.
He put his fingers under her chin, tilting her head back to look at him. As her eyes held his in the silver-streaked darkness, the raw vulnerability she saw in his expression made her heart pound against her chest. Would she promise him forever? He was not a man to ask anyone for anything – to take without giving.
"I love you, Allie. I'll be here for you – from here on out, if that's what you want."
She nodded, unable to find her voice. Finally, she whispered, "Yes. That's what I want, Brandon."
"Dearly Beloved…" Owen intoned in a rich baritone.
They both turned to look at him, as Brandon moved to stand closer to Allie. He slipped the ring in his shirt pocket as Owen continued.
"Do you, Allison Taylor, take this man…"
It was happening. Finally, it was happening. She realized that the words she'd spoken earlier were true. She had always loved Brandon. She didn't believe there was anything in this world that would ever change that.
They were waiting for her responses. Brandon took her fingers with his left hand.
"I do," she said quietly. He brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them.
"Do you, Brandon Gabriel, take this woman…"
Brandon disengaged his hand, reaching to retrieve the ring and place it on her finger. As Owen said the final words, Brandon turned to kiss her.
"I'll never let you go, Allie." His lips were demanding and firm on hers in a brief, hot kiss that let her know he meant to possess her fully – that she was his for all time. He lifted his head, looking into her eyes, as if to read her thoughts. "You're mine."
"I always have been."
They stood in hushed silence for a few seconds, then Doc Wilkins cleared his throat. "Well, it's time for me to hit the sack—"
Allie jerked, coming out of the moment with a start. "I'll – uh—"
Doc chuckled. "Just go on, Allie, you and Brandon. Owen and I will make ourselves comfortable."
"Congratulations, you two," Owen said, putting a hand out to Brandon. "I'll write you a certificate tomorrow."
"Thanks, Owen," Brandon said, clasping his hand.
****
Doc met his eyes as Allie and Owen walked inside ahead of them. "This seems right, son," he said in a quiet voice.
Brandon's lips curved. "Well, Doc, after what you told me, seemed like if I'd waited, I might've had a true contender in Smith for Allie's hand."