She had to blink back tears, because Mac had given her the most wonderful gift for Christmas. With Sole Pleasure's worth hugely reduced now that the racing world had been rocked with news of his very low sperm count, the syndication offers had evaporated. It was possible Pleasure could sire a foal, but it was such a small possibility as to be negligible. He still had worth as a racehorse, and Ronald Stonicher might have gotten more for him than Mac had offered, but huge legal expenses had been staring him in the eye, and he'd jumped at the chance to sell the horse. Maris had worried so about Pleasure's future that Mac had made the offer for him without telling her, because he didn't want her to be disappointed in case the deal fell through.
'Dad can hardly wait to ride him,' she said. 'He's said several times that he envied me because I got to work with Pleasure.'
They fell silent, simply enjoying the feel of being in each other's arms. Their wedding hadn't been a stately, solemn affair, Nick had seen to that, but it had been perfect. People had laughed and enjoyed themselves, and everyone for years would smile whenever they thought of Maris Mackenzie's wedding.
'It's time to throw the bouquet!'
The cry went up, and they swung around to see a crowd of giggling teenage girls gathering for the tradition, flipping back their hair, throwing sidelong glances at the older Mackenzie boys. There were more mature women there, too, giving Chance measuring looks.
'I thought you were supposed to throw it when we're ready to leave?' Mac said, amused.
'Evidently they can't wait.'
She didn't mind hurrying things up a little; after that dance, she was ready to be alone with her husband.
Nick had been having the time of her short life, stuffing herself with cake and mints, and being whirled around the dance floor in the arms of her father, her grandfather and all her uncles and cousins. When she saw Maris get the bouquet that had so fascinated her earlier, with all the 'pwetty' flowers and lace and ribbons, she squirmed away from Sam's grip on her hand and moved to where she had a better view of the situation, her little head cocked to the side as she intently watched.
Maris climbed on the dais, turned her back and threw the bouquet high over her shoulder. Cries of 'Catch it! Catch it!' filled the reception hall.
Almost immediately there was a collective cry of alarm. Maris whirled. The crowd of girls and women was rushing forward, eyes lifted, intent on the bouquet sailing toward them. And directly in front of them, also concentrating on the bouquet as she darted forward, was a tiny figure in pale pink.
There was a surge of black-clad bodies moving forward as seventeen males, one MacNeil and sixteen Mackenzies, from six-year-old Benjy up to Wolf, all leapt for the little girl. Maris caught a glimpse of Zane's face, utterly white as he tried to reach his baby before she was trampled, and somehow she, too, was running, leaping from the dais, heedless of her dress.
Two crowds of people were moving toward each other at breakneck speed, with Nick caught in the middle. One of the teenage girls looked down, saw Nick and emitted a shrill scream of panic as she tried to stop, only to be shoved forward by the girl behind her.
Chance had been standing back, avoiding any contact with that wedding bouquet business, but as a result, his movements were less impeded. He reached Nick two steps ahead of Zane, scooping her up, enfolding her in his arms and rolling with her out of harm's way. Zane veered, putting himself between Chance and anyone who might stumble over him, and in another second there was practically a wall of boys and men protecting the two on the floor.
The bouquet hit Chance in the middle of the back.
Carefully he rolled over, and Nick's head popped out of the shield he'd made with his arms. 'Wook!' she said, spying the bouquet. 'Oo caught de fwowers, Unca Dance!'
Maris skidded to a stop beside them. Chance lay very still on the floor, with Nick on his chest. He glared up at Maris, his light, golden-hazel eyes narrow with suspicion. 'You did that on purpose,' he accused.
The MacNeils and the Mackenzies moved forward, smiles tugging at stern mouths. Maris crossed her arms. 'There's no way I could have arranged this.' She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at his outraged expression.
'Hah. You've been doing spooky stuff all your life.'
Nick leaned over and grasped one of the ribbons of the bouquet, pulling it toward her. Triumphantly she deposited it on Chance's chest. 'Dere,' she said with satisfaction, and patted it.
Zane rubbed the side of his nose, but he was less successful than Maris at hiding his grin. 'You caught the bouquet,' he said.
'I did not,' Chance growled. 'She hit me in the back with it!'
Mary walked up and stood beside Wolf, who automatically put his arm around her. Slowly a radiant smile spread across her face. 'Why, Chance!' she exclaimed. 'This means you're next.'
'I, am, not, next.' He ground the words out, sitting up with Nick in his arms. Carefully he put her on her feet, then climbed to his own. 'Trickery doesn't count. I don't have time for a wife. I like what I do, and a wife would just get in the way.' He was backing away as he talked. 'I'm not good husband material, anyway. I'
A little hand tugged on his pant leg. He stopped and looked down.
Nick stretched on tiptoe, holding the bouquet up to him with both hands. 'Don't fordet oor fwowers,' she said, beaming.
***** The End *****
