Gabe sat motionless in some underbrush. Nathan and Bill sat beside him. All three men held their hunting rifles at the ready. Carson and Lee were a stone's throw away, also waiting patiently for game to wander by. The men were talking in low voices in order not to scare away any animals that might come around.

"This was a great idea, Nathan," Gabe said, giving his friend a grateful smile. "I haven't been hunting in ages."

Bill snorted softly. "I never would have thought hunting to be appropriate for a bachelor party, but somehow it seems to fit."

Nathan nodded. "I figured Gabe would like this more than a traditional party," he said. "So here we are."

"It's perfect," Gabe proclaimed.

A comfortable silence settled between the three men. All was calm and still. At one point, Nathan raised his rifle to check something, and Gabe noticed a white bandage on his friend's left thumb.

"What happened to your finger?" he asked.

Nathan froze. "Nothing," he said quickly. Too quickly. The response told Gabe that Nathan wasn't being truthful. But before he could say something, Nathan amended his own statement. "I cut it with a knife." Drawing a deep breath, he continued. "At Elizabeth's."

Gabe was impressed. Nathan had voluntarily offered that information, something he might not have done just a few weeks ago. Apparently their talks in the evenings were producing fruit. Bill knew much of Nathan's story as well, though he listened quietly now as Nathan and Gabe talked.

"Did she bandage that for you?" Gabe asked, unable to help a smile.

Nathan nodded. "She did." He paused, his cheeks flushing as he looked between Gabe and Bill. "I came so close to kissing her afterward."

Gabe sat up a bit straighter. "Why didn't you?"

Nathan raised a brow. "If I'd kissed her and then said I only wanted to be her friend, what would that make me?"

"A jerk," Bill supplied, though he seemed to be fighting a smile.

Gabe shot Bill a look, then shook his head. "But why tell her you only want to be her friend? We all know that's not what your heart truly wants."

"He has a point," Bill said, leaning back comfortably against a tree. "You're in love with her, she's in love with you. Why continue to fight it?"

"Take a chance, Nathan," Gabe encouraged. "I know you're scared, but sometimes the best way to get past fear is to take the leap and do exactly what you're afraid to do."

Nathan inhaled sharply. "What did you just say?" he asked, his voice raspy.

Gabe frowned, wondering at his reaction. "Do exactly what you're afraid to do?"

Something akin to awe reflected on Nathan's features. "Emerson," he murmured.

"What?" Gabe and Bill asked the question in unison.

Nathan shook his head briefly. "Just something Elizabeth quoted to me recently," he said, sounding thoughtful. "It was almost word for word what you just said."

Gabe smiled. It made him happy that his friend was finally talking. Nathan hadn't shut anyone out since the morning he confessed everything to Gabe. Except maybe Elizabeth. But with Gabe and Bill and even Colleen, Nathan was open about his feelings and his fears. He wasn't trying to hide anything. Gabe just hoped his friend would let go of his fears and give Elizabeth a chance. "Maybe you should listen. Love is knocking at your door, Nathan. I think you should open it."

"As do I," Bill said. "Elizabeth knows her own heart. She's been through a very trying period in her life. She easily could have shut herself off to love. But she hasn't. She wants to take a chance again, even though her heart was broken when Jack died." He placed a hand on Nathan's arm. "I know you're afraid, Nathan. You have good reason to be. But you need to consider good and hard what your next move will be. I love Elizabeth. She's the daughter I never had. I don't want to see her get hurt."

"Neither do I," Nathan said quietly. He was silent for a few moments, then sighed. "I'm thinking of letting her go, friendship and all."

Heart sinking, Gabe pressed his lips together. "Are you sure about that?" he asked. "Why not act on your love instead? Ask to court her. See where it takes you. Don't let your fear win, Nathan. You're stronger than that."

"Am I?" Nathan asked wryly. "I feel like these blasted fears have me trapped. I've never felt this way before. I don't think I can give her what she wants. I'm not strong enough."

"Yes, you are," Gabe insisted. "You can do this, Nathan. You are stronger than your fears. Let Elizabeth in. I have a feeling she is the key to your healing."

Nathan looked at him for a few moments. "I'll think about it," he said finally. Gabe wasn't sure if that meant he would actually think about it or if he was trying to bring an end to the conversation, but he let it be for now. Nathan was a thinker. He was probably turning everything over in his mind constantly. Maybe he just needed some time. Gabe was confident that with the right push, Nathan would come around and overcome his fears. Gabe wasn't sure what that push would be, but he had a feeling it would be related to Elizabeth herself.

"So, how are you feeling about marrying my sister?" Nathan asked, steering the conversation to a topic Gabe knew he considered to be safer. "I'm thrilled that we're finally going to be brothers."

Gabe smiled. "I feel like I've been given the world," he said, love for Colleen welling up inside. "I can't wait to start a life with her and the girls." He grinned, shoving Nathan's shoulder playfully. "And yeah…I suppose I'm glad we're going to be related."

Nathan grinned. "Glad to hear it." His face softened. "Colleen is a fortunate woman, Gabe. It does my heart good to know my sister and nieces are going to be cared for by you. I have no concerns about her future." He laid a hand on Gabe's arm. "That's the first time I can honestly say those words. I'm so relieved and thankful that she made a good choice in marrying you. It was hard watching her run to those jerks in her past."

Grimly, Gabe nodded. "I know," he said, his heart pinching as he remembered Colleen's search for love in all the wrong places. "I promise you I will treat her right, Nathan."

"I already know you will," Nathan said seriously. He smiled. "I think she's already halfway in love with you. She just doesn't know it yet."

Bill had been quietly listening to their conversation, but now he spoke. "From what I've seen, Nathan is right. Colleen trusts you, Gabe. Even an old coot like me can see that she lights up when you're around."

Gabe flushed. "Does she?"

"Yes," Nathan and Bill said in unison.

A sense of hope filled him. "As happy as I am to be marrying her, I can't deny that my heart desires her love. I'll accept it if she never falls for me, but I long for her to love me as much as I love her." He looked down, fiddling with his rifle. "Does that sound silly?"

"Not at all," Nathan said. "It's perfectly natural to want the woman you love to love you in return." He nodded firmly. "I know my sister, Gabe. I think she'll be in love with you before long." His eyes softened. "Colleen doesn't yet know what love is. Once she discovers it, I'm pretty sure she'll realize she's in love for the first time in her life, and it will be with you."

Gabe held onto those words with everything he had. He hoped Nathan was right. His friend was a good judge of character. Maybe he had more reason to hope than he'd thought.

A deer wandered into the clearing. All three men went still, their conversation momentarily forgotten.

"Would you like to do the honors?" Nathan whispered to Gabe.

Gabe nodded, lifting his rifle to take aim. Soon, they made their way into the clearing along with Lee and Carson.

"Nice shot," Lee said, grinning at Gabe.

"Thanks," Gabe said. "I plan on gifting it to Abigail. She mentioned wanting to put venison stew on the menu at the café."

"Sounds good to me," Bill said. The five men set about preparing the buck for transport. Gabe enjoyed the easy banter and camaraderie with his friends. This was the best bachelor party he could have asked for.

Colleen thoroughly enjoyed her bachelorette party. It was pleasant spending time with Elizabeth, Abigail, Rosemary, and Faith. The five women drank pots of tea and ate sweet treats galore, laughing and talking the whole time about anything and everything. It was the most lighthearted Colleen could remember feeling in a long time. She'd forgotten what it was like to spend quality time with friends. Dylan had isolated her from other women until she felt like she was alone in the world. If she hadn't had Allie, she may well have gone crazy. But now, in Hope Valley, she had friends again. She was a part of a community.

That was evident over the next week as preparations came together for the marriage ceremony. Nathan built an arbor by the church, beside the pond. Rosemary filled it with flowers, making it a splendid backdrop for the wedding. Chairs were set up, enough to hold the few people who would be in attendance. Colleen was thankful it was going to be a small gathering. It felt more manageable that way.

She thought she was ready for what was coming. She was at peace with her decision. Gabe continued to visit every evening, spending time with her and the girls as they prepared to join their lives together. She knew what she was getting into, and she was ready for it.

But on the morning of her wedding, Colleen nearly had a panic attack. The magnitude of getting married again weighed on her heavily. She couldn't help the plethora of images and memories that came back to her about her time with Dylan. She couldn't help remembering how her boyfriends had changed after they got what they wanted from her. While she knew Gabe wouldn't be like that, the fear that gripped her heart was strong.

Apparently it was hard to unlearn bad experiences.

Nathan found her shaking like a leaf in the kitchen. Concern lit his eyes. He quickly walked toward her, taking her shoulders in his hands. "Breathe, Colleen," he instructed.

She tried to listen. With Nathan exaggerating his own breaths in an attempt to help her calm down, she was able to follow his breathing pattern. Eventually, her anxiety lessened. She sank into her brother's chest, closing her eyes. "Can I really do this?" she asked, clutching his shirt in her hands. "Can I really trap Gabe in a marriage where he isn't guaranteed to be loved?"

Nathan gently kissed her head. "I think you're halfway to being in love with him already," he said softly. "Just give it some time, Colleen. Gabe wouldn't have asked you to marry him if he didn't mean it. He's happy. Very happy. I haven't seen him like this in a long time." He lifted her chin with a smile. "And that's because of you."

Colleen tried to wrap her mind around that fact. "I don't deserve his love," she whispered.

A reflective look filled Nathan's face. For a few moments, a far-off look entered his eyes. Colleen instinctively knew her brother was thinking about Elizabeth. She'd heard the same things from his lips regarding the young schoolteacher that she was voicing about Gabe. He shook himself and returned his attention to her.

"You are worthy of love," he said. "Gabe will give you that. And I think you'll return it before long."

A sliver of hope pierced her. Could she believe him? She looked into her brother's eyes, knowing that he was facing the same struggle she was. What would she tell him about Elizabeth? That he should take a chance on love, that he shouldn't let his fears and the ghosts of the past haunt him. She'd indeed told him that over the past weeks, and it hurt her heart to see him continue to run from the love that Elizabeth offered. How could she continue to call herself unworthy when she tried telling Nathan exactly what he was telling her?

She knew why he struggled to accept his own worthiness. It was the same reason she struggled. What a pair they made. She drew in a breath, strangely comforted by the fact that Nathan knew what she was going through and spoke words of hope anyway.

"You're worthy too," she whispered.

Nathan smiled at her fondly, though he deflected the words. "Today is about you, not me," he said gently. "Elizabeth and Rosemary are here to help you get ready." He kissed her forehead. "I'll see you at the ceremony." He smiled again, cupping her cheek. "Have courage, big sister. This is one of the best decisions you have ever made."

Colleen clung to his words as her friends descended on her small room to help make her wedding day special. Even she couldn't deny that marrying Gabe was the best choice she could have made for her girls. Maybe it was even the best choice she could have made for herself.

Time would tell.

Gabe stood by Nathan under the arbor, trying to draw in a full breath. "I can't believe I'm getting married," he said under his breath. "This feels surreal."

Nathan chuckled. "I agree. The fact that my best friend is marrying my sister is rather surreal in itself." He clapped Gabe's shoulder. "Have I mentioned how strange it was to watch you kiss her back when she first woke up from her coma?"

"Yeah, you might have brought that up a time or two," Gabe said, shooting his friend a smirk. "Better get used to it, buddy."

Nathan groaned. "I don't think I'll ever be able to 'get used to it'," he said good-naturedly. "I'd prefer it if you kept that to yourselves, please and thank you."

Gabe laughed. "In a little bit, you're not going to be able to get away from it," he said, grinning. "I do believe 'you may kiss the bride' is a traditional part of the ceremony."

"I might just close my eyes," Nathan muttered, making Gabe laugh harder.

Bill chose that moment to take his place beside them. "I hear we're almost ready," he said, looking at Gabe. "Are you ready?"

Gabe nodded. "Absolutely."

"Good," Bill said. He raised his voice so the small crowd could hear him. "If you all would take your seats, we'll begin momentarily."

The gathered guests found their way to their seats. Gabe was thankful for the tiny wedding. It felt intimate and yet still celebratory. He liked that. As he waited for his bride, he took in his surroundings.

The arbor was beautiful. Nathan had done a wonderful job with it, and Rosemary's flower arrangements were tasteful and elegant. The day was light and breezy, with clear skies and warm temperatures. The soft breeze rippled through the trees. The sound of quacking filled the air as a family of ducks floated by on the pond. The moment felt peaceful, and Gabe felt a sense of calm wash over him.

A piece of fabric waving from the church caught Gabe's attention. Nathan took a few steps down the aisle. "That's my cue," he said, winking at Gabe. "Here we go!" His friend hurried toward the church, where he would be the one to escort Colleen down the aisle. As Nathan went up the steps to the church, where the women had been putting the finishing touches on Colleen and the girls, Rosemary came out and took her seat beside Lee.

Elizabeth came out of the church first. She looked stunning, and Gabe could only imagine what Nathan's reaction had been when he walked into that church and saw her. Elizabeth held baby Daisy in the crook of her arm. A pillow was nestled in the sleeping baby's lap, holding the rings. Allie held Elizabeth's other hand, along with a basket of flower petals. Elizabeth gently guided Allie in front of her, instructing the toddler to toss the petals into the air. Allie happily complied, giggling as the weightless petals drifted slowly to the ground with each step she took. Gabe watched with a lump in his throat. Soon these two precious girls would be his daughters. Legally, they already were. Allie's adoption had gone through quickly and easily. Now, as he watched her walk toward him, Allie saw him and grinned, waving one chubby hand at him. "Hi, Daddy!"

The title caught him off guard. Tears immediately formed in his eyes. Colleen had told him she was going to teach Allie to call him that, but he hadn't expected the small child to do so this soon. When Allie reached him, he scooped her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Hi, princess," he whispered, kissing her soft cheek before setting her on the ground once more. She took her place beside Elizabeth with a little guidance from Bill. All eyes then moved to the church, where the bride was set to make her debut. Colleen came out on Nathan's arm, and Gabe forgot how to breathe.

She was wearing a beautiful white dress, a silky-looking garment that fell gracefully to her feet, with a short train trailing behind her on the ground. A crown of daisies rested against her honey-colored curls in lieu of a veil, and she carried a matching bouquet of daisies in her hands. A yellow sash was tied around her waist. She looked nervous, but a smile graced her lips anyway as her eyes met Gabe's.

She was an absolute vision. Gabe couldn't take his eyes off her. In a few short moments, she would be his wife. It would be his job to provide and care for her, to love and nurture her, for the rest of their lives. A sense of anticipation filled him. He couldn't wait to start on this journey with her. He was under no illusions that it would be easy. It would probably be one of the hardest things they ever did. But he couldn't wait to walk with her through life.

As she reached him, a loud quack interrupted the moment. People looked around quizzically. Gabe's eyes followed the sound, and he gasped as he took in a baby duck nestled in the train of Colleen's wedding dress. It had made itself quite comfortable and was quacking its contentment.

Nathan burst out laughing, bending over nearly double. Gabe looked at him in surprise, wondering at his reaction. When Nathan straightened, he wiped his eyes and wrapped Colleen in an embrace. Though his words to her were whispered, Gabe could hear them.

"Perhaps this is confirmation that you do indeed have more sense than a duck," he said quietly, laughter dancing in his eyes.

Gabe remembered Nathan's comment months ago, when he said if his sister couldn't see that Gabe was a good match, she didn't have the sense God gave a duck. He chuckled, looking fondly at Colleen. She was smiling as well, giving Nathan a playful push.

"Glad you think so, little brother," she said, amusement on her face. The nervous look was gone. Apparently the baby duck incident had been enough to crack the tension. She was all smiles as Nathan placed her hand in Gabe's, then took his place beside his best friend. The duck remained in Colleen's dress, its downy yellow feathers matching the centers of the daisies in her hair as Bill began the ceremony.

It was short and straightforward. Gabe repeated his vows with all his heart, and he could hear the sincerity in Colleen's voice as she repeated hers. Their eyes were locked on each other, the significance of what they were doing not lost on either of them. Pledging their lives together before God and man was an enormous undertaking. Gabe knew Colleen would need some time to adjust to this new life. Her first marriage had not been good. The little he knew about her time with Dylan was enough to make his blood boil, and he had a bad feeling there was more to it than he currently knew. He vowed silently to always be a listening ear, anytime Colleen needed it. He would do his best to show his wife that marriage could be good and happy and loving.

His wife. As Bill pronounced the words that officially bound them together, Gabe felt tenderness sweep over him. When the judge invited him to kiss the bride, Gabe took her in his arms and did exactly that. Colleen's response gave him hope. When they parted, Gabe smiled at her gently, taking her face in his hands.

"We did it," he whispered, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs.

Colleen's eyes softened. "We did," she murmured.

A quack punctuated the words. Soft laughter rippled through the gathered crowd as the little duck caught sight of its mother and began running as fast as its tiny legs would carry it for the pond.

Gabe laughed quietly, pulled Colleen to his side. She nestled against him willingly, smiling at the people there to witness their union. Gabe felt nothing but happiness inside as Bill announced them to their friends.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Constable and Mrs. Kinslow."