the special day. In a matter of minutes, Betsy would walk down the aisle, and they would start their lives together.
After the reception, they would honeymoon in Belize, then they would return to the ranch, where they would make their home and a raise a family. Thanks to Jason’s donation, the hospital’s financial woes were over, and Betsy could stay on the day shift and work a normal, forty-hour week.
As the organ began another tune to indicate that the processional would soon begin, Jason watched his brother Mike escort their mother down the aisle, followed by their father. Jason’s parents hadn’t understood his decision to move to Brighton Valley and buy Doc’s ranch, but they respected it. And they adored Betsy.
As his mom and dad took their seats, Barbara Nielson came next, wearing a beautiful green dress she and Betsy had picked out. Barbara couldn’t look prettier-or more delighted-as she rode down the aisle in a wheelchair decorated with gold ribbons and white roses. Jim Kelso stood behind her, maneuvering the chair. When they reached the front row, where she would sit, Jim helped her to her feet and get settled in the pew. Then he pushed the chair to the side of the church, out of the way.
Once seated, Barbara glanced across the aisle at Jason’s mother. The two women smiled at one another, their eyes misting over.
Betsy’s biological family had been invited to the wedding and had taken a back-row seat. In spite of Betsy’s fears that meeting Carla would complicate her life, it had turned out to be a blessing instead.
Again, the organ segued to another tune, and Molly Mayfield started on her way to the front of the church, where she took her place as the matron of honor and looked out at those who’d gathered. When her gaze lit upon her husband, Chase, who sat in the third row with their daughter in his lap, she beamed.
As the wedding march began, Jason tried not to crane his neck, looking for Betsy. When he spotted her on her father’s arm, his heart skipped a beat.
Dressed in a strapless, full-length gown, Betsy was a sight to behold. Jason had attended a lot of weddings and seen many beautiful brides, but none of them would ever compare to his.
As their gazes met and locked, he had to tell himself to breathe.
Moments later, Pete Nielson handed his daughter over to Jason, and within minutes, they’d made their heartfelt, lifelong vows to love and cherish each other forever. Then, they shared their very first kiss as husband and wife-sweet and gentle and loaded with promise.
Jason thought his heart would burst with happiness as he led his wife down the aisle.
“You have no idea how happy I am,” Betsy whispered.
“I’ve got a pretty good idea.” Jason gripped his wife’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
As a camera flashed, his feet slowed, and he turned to her. “Thanks for taking a chance on me when I had no idea who I was.”
“It wasn’t hard to do. The only thing I didn’t know about you was your name. Your strength, your honesty, your integrity, were all there. All I had to do was open my heart and let you in.”
There, in the back of the church, he gave her another kiss-this one spontaneous and unrehearsed.
JUDY DUARTE
always knew there was a book inside her, but since English was her least favorite subject in school, she never considered herself a writer. An avid reader who enjoys a happy ending, Judy couldn’t shake the dream of creating a book of her own.
Her dream became a reality in March of 2002, when Silhouette Special Edition released her first book,
Her stories have touched the hearts of readers around the world. And in July of 2005, Judy won the prestigious Readers’ Choice Award for
Judy makes her home near the beach in Southern California. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she’s spending time with her somewhat enormous but delightfully close family.
