Elizabeth and Nathan's wedding day dawned bright and beautiful over the Grant ranch. The sky was a clear blue with a few scattered clouds; it was warm but not hot; the air was stirring lightly but not too much. They couldn't have designed a better day to get married.

Rebecca stationed herself in the kitchen and created a progressive breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, homemade jams, fresh fruit and plenty of juice, coffee and tea. Rebecca asked for help when she needed it, and true to her birthday request, everyone cleaned up after themselves and she didn't have to wash so much as a teaspoon.

The early risers got to sit at the large harvest table in the kitchen, and those who slept in a little took their breakfast to the porch. People chatted, walked out on the property, took turns in the porch swing and just lazed through the morning.

Elizabeth and Nathan joined them through all of this until mid-morning. They glanced at each other across the table and would catch each other's eyes, knowing that their hearts were perfectly aligned. Both were excited, anxious, wanting to pay attention to every detail, fully aware that this day would forever be one that would change their lives.

After breakfast, Nathan and Elizabeth took their coffee out to the porch and Fiona and Kevin gracefully gave up the swing for them. They sat mostly in silence or spoke in whispers. Every once in a while, one or the other would shake their head or laugh softly in amazement at the journey that had brought them here.

Bill rode out from Airdrie early, and the wagon with Lucas, Ned, Henry, and Pastor Grady arrived soon after. Nathan and Elizabeth had a quick conversation with their officiant and then Elizabeth gave Nathan one last unmarried kiss.

Rosemary, Clara and Elizabeth picked up Allie at the pasture road in the wagon laden with dress boxes, flowers, shoes, petticoats and potions. Their destination was first the pergola and then the Summer Cabin where Elizabeth and Allie would get ready.

"Oh, Elizabeth!" Both Clara and Rosemary were in awe as they walked into the clearing. Allie and Elizabeth simply stood by proudly, feeling a kind of ownership of the space. They got to experience the wonder of it all over again as Rosemary and Clara used the same words that came to the mind of anyone who first set eyes on the flower-covered pergola, the stone floor beneath it and the perimeter of wildflowers bursting from the edge of the clearing. Fantastic, magical, fairy-like, paradise, heaven.

The white camp chairs for the guests were arranged in a perfect circle around the center pergola. The benches held an abundance of white candles in varying sizes, and there were lanterns hung around the circle, ready to be lit for the reception that would follow the short ceremony and was expected to last until after dark.

There were long tables with pure white tablecloths on the far side of the clearing. They were ready and waiting for the mountains of finger sandwiches, salads, fruit, and cookies that were being made and wrapped happily by the guests themselves right now in the large ranch kitchen. Rebecca directed and organized with the skill of a drill sergeant, and the Hope Valley residents talked and laughed side-by-side; every one of them feeling the joy of the day.

Pastor Grady sat by, seeing first-hand the happiness that this marriage was bringing to so many. It was truly God in action, he thought, and he felt grateful to be a part of it.

Finally, everything was loaded into the wagons that had been decorated by Charlie and the ranch hands while the guests dressed for the ceremony. The side boards and the buckboard in front of the wagons were now draped with yellow honeysuckle garlands, purple iris, and pink morning glories.

After everyone found their place in the wagons, the three-tier wedding cake, baked with love and care by Rebecca, was gently lifted into the center of the wagon driven by Charlie. It was watched and guarded vigilantly by the occupants, in particular by Rebecca herself.

Nathan was resplendent in his red serge uniform. Instead of his leather belt and cross-strap with holster, he wore the formal gold striped web belt and no hat, but everything else was just as everyone knew him on the streets of Hope Valley.

Nathan held Jack on his lap, wearing a snow-white shirt ruffled down the buttons in front, and navy suspenders atop the long pants that Rosemary had made for him. They were exactly the same navy blue of Nathan's Mountie jodhpurs, and Rosemary had sewn a thin line of gold fabric down the sides. Jack was so adorable, people could hardly bear to look at him, and Fiona was in danger of exhausting her film supply taking pictures of Jack and Nathan together.

Finally, the wagons got underway. Bill, Kevin and Mike rode horses alongside. When they met the road to the campground, another wagon, similarly decorated, joined them. It was filled with the children and the families that had camped on the long pasture.

The half-hour ride seemed shorter somehow, with lively conversation and the anticipation of the mystery location for the ceremony. Only Nathan, Rebecca, Charlie and Julie were fully prepared for the ethereal beauty of the place.

One by one, the guests ducked under the two large oaks that marked the entrance to the clearing, forty or so feet in diameter. The oaks, pines and hemlocks that surrounded them rustled in the light breeze, and the yellow, white, pink and lavender wildflowers around the perimeter were exploding in their summer abundance.

And there, at the very center, the rustic pergola made from four straight, sturdy pine posts, topped with open beams. The vines of clematis and honeysuckle that curled up the posts and along the beams were in perfect order, forming the latticed roof under which Nathan and Elizabeth would be married. The stone floor on which they would stand was speckled with the soft afternoon sunlight.

One by one the guests stepped in and smiled, eyes wide with wonder. And one by one, they found their seats in the circle surrounding the pergola.

There was no music because it wasn't necessary. Nathan and Elizabeth had spent many hours out here in silence, but it was never silent, and their choice for the ceremony was to listen to the nature around them. A large variety of birds lived in the surrounding trees; chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows and doves among them, and they were all singing today. The rustling leaves and buzzing of life around the flowers made for a natural accompaniment to their songs.

Pastor Grady took his place within the pergola. "Good afternoon," he said to the assembled guests. He turned to Nathan and said, "Nathan, will you and Jack join me, please?" Rosemary and Rebecca were at the ready just in case Jack fussed, but he was calm, as he usually was when he was happily in Nathan's strong arms. He toyed absentmindedly with the brass buttons on Nathan's tunic as he looked solemnly around the circle.

Pastor Grady called to his left. "Elizabeth and Allie, will you join us, please?"

Elizabeth stepped out first from under the flowering elder and she and Allie laughed as they were rained on by its blossoms. They walked hand in hand, carrying wildflower bouquets, into the circle.

Allie wore a peach-colored chiffon dress that fell just to her ankles, with sleeves like rose petals over her shoulders. Her hair fell long and curled at the ends and she wore a garland of wildflowers around her head. She couldn't stop smiling.

Elizabeth's dress was simple and informal except for the tiny seed pearls that Rosemary and Clara had painstakingly sewn into the neckline and down the long skirt like tiny, brilliant waterfalls. The dress was cream-colored with a fitted bodice, full chiffon skirt and rose petal sleeves that matched Allie's.

As Elizabeth stepped into the dappled sunlight of the pergola, the pearls on her dress sparkled and shone. Her hair was long as well, and she also wore a garland of flowers. She laughed softly as she saw Nathan, because she was already crying, and she'd told him she would be.

Nathan could hardly breathe. He had never seen anyone more beautiful than Elizabeth, and his little Allie looked more like a young woman than a child. Jack pointed to Elizabeth and said, "Mama," which caused everyone to release the collective breath they were holding as they truly took in the family they saw before them. Everyone laughed in pure happiness.

Elizabeth took Nathan's hand, keeping her other hand in Allie's, and they stood in front of the pastor.

In a strong and joyous voice, Pastor Grady began. "Nathan and Elizabeth would like to thank you all for coming here today to witness their joining as husband and wife."

He looked around the circle, "Many of you have traveled far to be here, and you are welcomed with the deepest joy and the warmest gratitude."

Jack started to wiggle a little, and Nathan leaned close to him, nuzzling his neck and making him laugh softly and settle back in his arms.

Pastor Grady smiled at them and continued. "You can see that you are all in a circle. Not only does this symbolize God's love, which encircles everyone and everything, but in a practical sense, there is no bride's side or groom's side. Elizabeth and Nathan wanted it this way because they know you are all here for both of them."

The pastor placed his hands on Nathan's shoulder to his right, and on Allie's to his left, enclosing them all in a smaller circle. "Here in this beautiful place which is a testament to God's exquisite creation, we give thanks for the love that has grown not only between Nathan and Elizabeth, but also with Allie and Jack, and we bless the family that is formed with their joining today."

Then Nathan turned and handed Jack to Rebecca, and Allie stepped back a little and sat between Bill and Fiona.

"Please face one another," Pastor Grady said.

Nathan and Elizabeth turned and joined hands, for the first time really looking into each other's eyes. Elizabeth's tears had slowed, but her eyes glistened in the happiness she felt. She could see that Nathan's blue eyes were shining as well. She smiled at him, wondering how either of them would make it dry-eyed through the ceremony, and not really caring if they did.

"Nathan, do you take Elizabeth, whose hand you hold, as your wife? Do you stand before God and promise to love her with humility, gentleness and patience until death do you part?"

Nathan's voice was strong and clear. No one in the circle could doubt how deeply he felt it as he said, "I do."

"Elizabeth, do you take Nathan, whose hand you hold, as your husband? Do you stand before God and promise to love him with humility, gentleness and patience until death do you part?"

Filled with love for the man who stood before her, Elizabeth's voice was as sure as Nathan's had been. "I do."

Pastor Grady looked to his left. "Allie, do you have the rings?"

Allie stepped forward again, holding the pillow that Rosemary had made out of the same fabric as Allie's dress. Elizabeth smiled at Rosemary, noticing that she had chosen the contrasting ribbon of deep coral. And Jesse's warning had been heeded. The rings were held, but loosely, by the ribbon.

Allie handed Elizabeth's ring to Nathan and Nathan's to Elizabeth, and then she stepped back again and was seated.

Elizabeth turned to Nathan, holding his ring halfway on his finger. Now her voice broke a little as the beauty of this day became overwhelming. But she spoke clearly and slowly so that everyone could understand how deeply she felt the words she was saying. "Nathan, I will hold you always in my heart. In this circle of family and friends, surrounded by the love of God, I pledge myself to you with this ring." She pushed the ring all the way onto his finger and looked back up into his eyes.

Nathan took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure, at least for a little longer. His eyes, always Elizabeth's bellwether for his emotions, were the bright blue that she loved the best.

Nathan looked down and put his mother's and his great-grandmother's ring halfway onto Elizabeth's finger, and it became hers. He, too, spoke clearly, knowing the importance of the words he was saying. "Elizabeth, I will hold you always in my heart. May I be your devoted love, your partner in parenthood, and your constant friend. I pledge myself to you with this ring." As he pushed the ring gently on to Elizabeth's finger, he looked up at her again.

Knowing this was the moment they had waited for, both of them smiled radiantly at each other, and the tears began to fall down Elizabeth's cheeks.

Pastor Grady said jubilantly, "Go in love, Nathan and Elizabeth. It is my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

Nathan took Elizabeth's face in both of his hands and whispered, his voice shaking with emotion, "I love you," and then he bent to kiss her. They held the kiss for a long moment. When they pulled away Elizabeth looked up at Nathan and said, "I love you."

They kissed again and the circle erupted in smiles, laughter and applause. Everyone was expecting Nathan and Elizabeth to walk out of the circle, but they stayed. Nathan turned and lifted Jack from Rebecca's arms, and Elizabeth took Allie's hand and brought her back to the center. As she did, Bill handed something to Elizabeth.

Nathan looked around the circle, smiling at each person in turn. They were all standing now, and Nathan motioned for them to be seated. "Again, thank you for coming so far and sharing this day with us." He looked at Elizabeth in absolute bliss, and continued. "Today is our wedding day, but as Pastor Grady said, it's also the beginning of a new family. Now that we're married, we can do something we've been wanting to do for a long time." He looked at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was starting to cry again, but she would let nothing stop her from saying what she needed to say. "We know that on wedding days, gifts are usually given to the bride and groom. Today we want to give a gift to someone else. Someone we love very much." Elizabeth looked at Allie beside her. She handed Allie a sheet of paper, rolled up and tied with a beautiful peach-colored ribbon and bow.

Allie looked up at her and then at Nathan, bewildered. Elizabeth said, "Open it, Allie."

Allie untied the ribbon and looked at the paper. Her breathing changed and her eyes filled with tears. She looked up and waved the piece of paper in delight and said, "I'm adopted!" Then she turned and was enveloped by Nathan, Elizabeth and Jack. The four of them stood together while everyone stood again, cheering, clapping, crying and hugging each other.

Rebecca and Rosemary from one side, and Julie and Clara from the other, couldn't help themselves. They hugged Nathan, Elizabeth and Allie, and kissed Jack delightedly. Permission granted to the rest of the group, everyone was suddenly in the center of the pergola, a living, breathing, crying, laughing embodiment of the love around them.

In the very center, Nathan and Elizabeth had found the place that was most peaceful for them, in each other's arms. So solemn was this peace, that even with the crowds around them, they were given a space inside it, completely loved but left alone together.

There would be time. Everyone knew that when the food was brought out, the cake was cut, the sun went low and the lanterns were lit, there would be time to congratulate the happy couple, to exchange kisses, hugs and stories, to take photos and talk about the future.

But for right now, Nathan and Elizabeth Grant were allowed solitude. They were in their own universe, complete and committed to one another for as long as they lived. As they stood holding each other, their breath slowed, and their hearts calmed.

They pulled away and looked into each other's eyes. Nathan said softly, "Happy?" Elizabeth answered, "Deliriously." They shared one more kiss before turning and opening the love they felt to everyone celebrating around them.