Page 109 of Wilde Hearts

Confused, I said, “You planned on asking me to marry you on this trip?”

Winking, he replied, “I had a feeling I needed to bring it with me, and I’m glad I did. Can you imagine what these people would have thought had I not had a ring?”

I threw my arms around him once again. “I’m glad I’m not the only wild one!”

Colt

Ensley and I sat on the sofa in Ladd and Vivianne’s house while both our parents stared at us. It was my mother who finally broke the silence.

“I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s long overdue. But you both just got back together. Are you sure you want to jump right into marriage? I’m sure you’ve both changed a lot in the last ten years.”

“Nonsense,” my father said. “Look at the two of them, Lynn. It was clear the moment Colt came back to town that nothing between them had changed.”

Ensley and I exchanged a look. She reached for my hand, and I held it tight as I turned back to our parents.

“We don’t want to waste another minute of this life. You might think it’s too soon, Mom, but I never stopped loving Ensley once in the last ten years.”

“And I never stopped loving Colt. As he said, we don’t want to waste another moment. Life is too short.”

“Yes, we’ve both changed, but our love for each other hasn’t.”

Vivianne stood and made her way over to us, reaching down for Ensley, who took her hand and stood.

“The only thing we care about is your happiness.” She looked down at me. “Both of you. If this is something you feel like you’re ready to do, we support you one-hundred percent.”

“Of course we do,” my mother added, joining them. I stood and hugged her. “I just want you both to be happy, as Vivianne said.”

Kissing her on the cheek, I replied, “Thank you, Mom.”

Vivianne took a step back and grinned. “Have you thought about a date?”

Ensley beamed. “Well, we were thinking of a spring wedding. Nothing big, just family, and we’d like to get married at the tree, like you and Dad did.”

Vivianne’s eyes filled with tears. “I think that’s a beautiful idea.”

Ensley and her mother hugged while Ladd quickly joined them. My father approached and held his hand out for mine.

“Congratulations, Colt. It truly feels like a new beginning for all of us.”

Mom nodded and leaned against my father. “It does.”

I hugged both of them. “I’m so sorry I was gone for so long.”

Holding up her hand, Mom said, “No more living in the past. We have a beautiful future to look forward to.”

Vivianne smiled as she said, “Is it too soon to start planning the wedding?”

“Yes, Mom. It’s going to be simple. Nothing big or fancy. Small.”

Nodding, Vivianne replied, “Got it. Small.”

Turning to my mother, Vivianne locked arms with her and the two women started walking toward the kitchen. “There’s so much to plan!” we heard Vivianne say. “Flowers, food. Backup plan in case it rains.”

“Reception inside or out?” my mother asked.

“Yes, we’ll need to think about that, as well.”

As the two of them walked away, I glanced at Ensley, who was scowling in her mom’s direction.