The last chapter. What can I say? MD was especially good in the US last night. Hope you enjoy, thanks for your feedback, and I should start on another one soon. Any ideas? ILN
P.S.: The charge of the wedding is not mine, obviously; it's 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a. The vows aren't mine either; they're from Alex and Claire's 'contract' when they started the horse program (Brave J). I loved them and I just had to 'borrow' them. All right, on with the show.
Alex woke up, his chest hurting, glass all over, enough blood to start the flashbacks of the bull again. "Nick! Nick!" He unbuckled his seatbelt and managed to go over to where his brother was laying before passing out from the heat and the pain.
Claire was nervous when the guests got there and there wasn't a sign of the groom or best man. Tess kept exchanging worried and secretive looks with Meg and Harry had been downstairs on the phone the whole time since he'd arrived. "What? What is it?"
Tess knew she couldn't put it off any longer. "Claire...the boys are missing."
"What?" She looked at her sister, not believing her at first. "Tess..."
"Harry's trying to find them. Liz doesn't know."
Claire ran out to the stables and Tess looked at Meg. "She wouldn't. Not in that dress."
"Go. I'll keep an eye on Charlotte and come get you if there's any word." Tess nodded, getting a blanket to sit on top of in the ute, not wanting to take any chances, and driving after her sister.
She found her at the cabin, her head in her lap, sobbing. "Shh." Tess sat beside her sister, rubbing her back. "There's an explanation. He's coming. He's coming." She paused, trying to think of something to make her feel better. "I heard once, the worse the wedding, the better the marriage."
"I'm not worried about the wedding, Tess."
"I know. They'll find him. He's okay." She held her sister, rubbing her back again.
Harry paced, not able to think of anyone else to call. "I'm going out to look for them," he said to Liz, since Meg wasout talking to the guests and trying to take their minds off the fact that there was no wedding party present.
She nodded. "I'll take care of Charlotte, stay by the phone."
He left, driving the same road his man had. He stopped abruptly, seeing his sons stretched out in the road, thanking whoever was listening that they hadn't been run over. The red ute was a mangled mess into the tree, but he could move the boys to his ute and he drove them to Drover's, knowing the doctor could come to them.
Tess and Claire looked up as Meg came riding up, having changed into regular clothes. "They found the boys. They mangled the ute. They're not in serious condition, but we cancelled the wedding. The doctor's on his way. Alex is in the bedroom and, Tess, Nick's in yours. Take the ute, I'll bring Phoenix back." Tess nodded as the girls piled into the ute, Meg leading Phoenix back.
Claire held Charlotte, Tess sitting beside them. Meg and Terry waited together as Harry paced and Liz sat there helplessly. The doctor finally came back out. "Nick's head got cracked by the steering wheel, but he's okay. Alex's chest is going to hurt; he's got a bruised rib from the seatbelt and airbag. Both of them are stable and I think the best thing for both of them would be to stay here."
"What about all the blood?" Harry asked.
"They're cut up pretty good; the glass was in a few of the cuts, but I got it out."
"Are they awake?" Liz asked quietly.
He nodded. "But I'm not sure how long. I'm sorry about the wedding, Claire." He talked to Harry privately.
"Do you want us to take Charlotte?" Meg asked.
Claire shook her head. "Alex will want to see her too. I can do both." She paused. "Thank you though."
She nodded. "I'll clean up outside then. Call if you need us." She hugged Claire and then Tess, going outside with Terry.
Liz went to Nick first, leaving Tess out cold, and Claire carried Charlotte upstairs to the bedroom. "You look beautiful," Alex told her as soon as she came inside. "You both do."
"I didn't have time or really even think about changing."
"Good." She sat on the bed and he kissed her lips, Charlotte's head. "I'm so sorry, Claire."
She put her finger to his lips and kissed him again. "It's okay. We can get married anytime."
"As soon as I don't feel like I got hit by a tree."
"Actually, you and Nick hit the tree, from what I understand."
"Nick." He paused. "How's Nick?"
"He's good. He had a concucssion; that's why he passed out. You both had glass in your cuts, but you have a bruised rib from the seatbelt and airbag."
He patted her spot on the bed. "Come here." She lay beside him, Charlotte in the middle, and he was able to close his eyes, finally letting the medicine take effect.
Tess saw the bandage on Nick's head and struggled not to cry. "How's Alex?" Nick asked first.
"Bruised ribs, some cuts. You were both really lucky. Harry saw the ute..." She choked up.
"Come here, chilly woman." He teased, trying to get her not to cry.
She smiled, walking to him, as he held her. "You okay?" He kissed her waves of curls.
"Yeah."
"Claire? Charlotte?"
"Upstairs with Alex. She's still wearing her wedding dress." She looked down at her blue maid of honor dress. "I guess weall forgot to change."
"Don't. You look amazing." He kissed her forehead.
"Alex isn't supposed to see her in her dress."
"Tess, I'm not sure it'll make that much of a difference now. How much worse could their luck be?" Tess started sobbing and Nick took her in his arms. "I'm sorry, Tess."
She shook her head. "You scared me so much, Nick. I couldn't figure out where you were, and...then when Meg said you'd been in an accident..."
He held her, his cheek in her blonde hair, rubbing her back. "I love you, Tess."
She thought about what her sister had told her the evening before. "I love you, Nick." He looked at her and kissed her forehead.
Around two hours later, Liz went to Nick's room, Harry went to Alex's. Nick and Tess were both asleep, Tess's head on top of his shoulder, Nick's head on top of hers. Claire was asleep, her cheek on Alex's arm, and Alex opened his eyes when his dad came in. "How are you?" Harry asked.
"Sore. How's Mom?"
"Shaken, but not as bad as last time."
He nodded and Harry picked up his granddaughter. "How's Nick? Claire said he hit his head."
Harry nodded. "He had a concussion, but you're both okay." There was a different tone in his father's voice, relief that his sons had escaped relatively unharmed, both of them. "Tess is with him and your mother."
"I ruined the wedding." He looked over at Claire, still in her dress.
"No one's worried about that." Alex nodded and Harry stood there until his son fell back to sleep, taking his granddaughter to her room and reading her a story.
Tess appeared the next morning, dressed into regular clothes, and saw her sister had changed as well, to a pair of jeans and her tank. "How's Nick look?" Claire asked softly.
"He's pretty guilty about what happened, apparently he was driving, but they're both going to be okay." Claire nodded. "Meg's cooking breakfast for everyone."
Claire shook her head. "I'm not hungry. He's not been awake for awhile; the medicine makes him tired."
Tess nodded, hugging her sister. "I'll bring you up something when he's awake." She left.
"What? No hug for the groom?" Alex asked without opening his eyes.
"You'll be a groom later," Claire said, kissing his forehead as he opened his eyes.
"You missed." He leaned up to kiss her lips, brushing his hand against her cheek. "You okay?" She nodded. "Claire, I'm so sorry about the wedding."
"What if we get married tomorrow? Open presents, have family lunch, get married, and slip down to the river while Charlotte's taking a nap."
"Perfect." They shook on it and he pulled her down to lay beside him again. She smiled, nestling her head against his arm.
They started Christmas late, giving Alex and Nick a little more time to recover. The tree was in the living room, already decorated, and Meg had a fresh plate of cookies and lemonade. Liz and Harry were back and, of course, Terry was there. Claire got Alex settled on the couch, going back up to bring Charlotte down. Nick and Tess came out together, Nick's arm around her. They exchanged cards and presents, opening the letters and packages from Becky and Jodi.
They had an outside barbecue, hamburger made from a calf from Drover's, chips, and cold drinks, nothing heavy or fancy. Tess had been shocked her first Christmas as the lack of tradition, but Claire hadn't had a 'traditional' Christmas since Tess and Ruth had left. The chocolate wedding cake with layers of fudgy icing got partially ate and the homemade chocolate ice cream went fast.
The girls cleaned up and went back upstairs. Claire wore the denim shirt and jeans that were her trademark, making the concession of wearing the boots Tess had given her. Tess wore a sundress and Charlotte wore one of her new outfits. Meg and Liz dressed in their normal clothes, as did Harry. Nick wore the green shirt Tess liked so much and Alex wore a denim outfit that matched Claire's.
The officiant arrived and Tess carried Charlotte downstairs, to where the others were. Nick came up and smiled. "Leave it to you and my brother to marry in denim."
"I'm wearing the boots Tess gave me." She looked at the wedding dress. "And I'll clean that; Charlotte can have a choice when she's ready." She paused. "Thank you for doing this."
"It's my pleasure." He extended his arm and walked her down the stairs, outside, and to Alex and the others. Claire held her bouquet, Tess had given hers to Charlotte.
The officiant read the same words that had been read at Claire's parents wedding from the Bible Jack had hidden for her. "Love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." Tess held Nick's hand as they stood together, Charlotte between them.
"Do you, Alex Ryan, take Claire McLeod to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for as long as you both shall live?"
Alex looked at Claire, holding her hand. "I do." She smiled at him.
"Do you, Claire McLeod, take Alex Ryan to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for as long as you both shall live?"
Claire looked at Alex, still smiling. "I do." He smiled back at her.
"Who blesses this wedding?"
Instead of Meg and Terry or even Liz and Harry, Tess and Nick spoke up. "We do." Claire smiled at them before turning back to Alex.
Alex looked at Claire. "You're not going to pull a pin on me, are you Claire?"
"No. Are you?"
"Not a chance."
They shook hands. "So we're in this together?"
He smiled. "You bet."
Tess, Nick, and Meg exchanged smiles at their choice of vows while the rest remained puzzled.
Claire and Alex exchanged rings and Alex gave Claire a small necklace Charlotte could wear when she was old enough. "I now pronounce you husband and wife." As they kissed, they barely heard the cheers and applause coming from their family.
They broke the kiss and Alex held Charlotte, smiling, as Claire kissed her forehead. Nick and Tess retreated to the barn, coming back with Blaze and Alex's horse.
"Be good," Claire whispered, reluctantly giving Charlotte back over to Liz.
Tess hugged Claire and then Alex, then Claire again. "Have fun."
"You'll come get us if she needs us?" It was the first time she'd been out of earshot of Charlotte since she was born.
Alex put his head on Claire's kissing into her hair. "Tess, Meg, and Mom can manage." She nodded, kissing Charlotte again before riding off down to the river.
She spread out the blanket on a spot that was less likely to attract snakes. "Some wedding, huh?"
Alex looked at her. "You liked it?"
"Yeah." She paused. "You didn't?"
"Of course I did, but it was a bloke's wedding. Short and simple. With all the plans you had, I just..."
"When we have our next baby, don't let Tess plan the shower or the room, okay?"
He laughed. "Okay." He kissed her. "So when can we start on that?"
"On having our next baby?" He nodded. "Right now's good." He laughed, kissing her again.