A huge round of applause and hoots and hollers went up as the boys put on their miniature cuts. Sam looked so much like a younger Slider that Cora could only shake her head. Some girl was already in so much trouble in another ten years, and she didn't even know it. What an amazing gesture it was for the club to make to these boys who had witnessed so much these past months. Teary again, she met Haven's smiling gaze and nodded. Thank you, my friend. Because Cora had no doubt that Haven had had a hand in this.
"And the last blessing I'd like to count is a more personal one." Dare reached out a hand. "Haven, would you join me?"
A grin came immediately to Cora's face as she watched her friend stand by her man in front of the entire club.
And then Dare Kenyon went down on one knee.
Cora sucked in a breath as Haven's mouth dropped open, and you could've heard a pin drop in the room as the club's president began to talk.
"Haven, you have literally saved my life. But even before you did that, you'd saved me in a different way-you made me face that I was only ghosting through the life I had and dared me to want more. And even more than that, you made me believe I deserved it. For a man who spent most of his life certain he didn't deserve anything, you've given me everything. And so, I want to give you everything back. My heart, my love, my name. I don't want to ride alone anymore. I want you in my saddle and at my side, always. So, Haven Randall, will you do me the greatest honor of my life and be my wife?"
Cora pressed a hand to her mouth, her heart so full she had no chance of keeping her emotions in.
"Nothing would make me happier, or prouder, than marrying you, Dare," Haven said.
Grinning bigger than Cora had ever seen before, Dare slipped a ring on Haven's finger, then rose and took her in his arms. While the club clapped and cheered, their friends kissed and laughed and started a life together.
Just like the life Cora and Slider were starting. Just like the little life growing in Cora's belly.
"Someday soon that's gonna be us," Slider whispered in her ear.
Cora smiled and wiped happy tears from her eyes. "Yes, it is, Mr. Evans. Yes, it is." But Cora wasn't in any rush.
For all the craziness, she'd only been together with Slider for less than three months, and they had the boys to consider. So she and Slider were focusing on settling in together, adjusting to having a new family member arrive soon, and helping Slider start a new business. Not to mention spending time as a family with the boys-and with Bosco the Lovable Basset. Whose nametag now read Bosco T.L.B. Campbell-Evans.
The rest? It would come when they were all ready.
In the meantime, Cora already knew where she belonged. And Slider already knew she was his forever. And they both knew love. So much love.
And in this life, what more was there?
They all brought out the desserts, and then Dare raised his glass one more time. "To brotherhood, club, family!" he called out, his arm around his new fiancée's waist.
"To brotherhood, club, family," they all cheered back, bringing to a close the best Thanksgiving Cora had ever celebrated.
But that was just a start to the celebrations that brightened her life these days.
Because Slider proposed at Christmastime, and baby Jackson Dare Evans was born in June, and Cora Campbell became Mrs. Slider Evans in September. And for the first time in her life, the girl who nobody wanted learned to believe in happily-ever-afters, and found hers, too . . .
A Note from the Author
One of the most challenging things about writing this book was researching dogfighting and the abuse and neglect that animals face every day. I'm a huge animal lover and a dog owner, and reading about (and seeing) how so many dogs are treated and what they endure-especially those involved in dogfighting-truly broke my heart. That is why I'm donating a portion of the proceeds from Ride Wild to Noah's Arks Rescue, a real nonprofit organization that supplies emergency medical, surgical, and rehabilitation services to abused animals. The injured dog Cora witnesses on her first day at the animal shelter, whom I named Otto, is in memory of Noah's Arks' Otto, whose story you can find on their site, www.noahs-arks.net.
Acknowledgments
Some books are a trial by fire, and this was definitely one. Of necessity, this book had to be written fast. But the most amazing thing happened-Slider and Cora were so right for each other that the words often flowed faster than I could get them down. This couple surprised me at every turn-with the depth of their emotion, their profound connection, their amazing humor, the way they loved the boys. And I found myself falling in love with the Raven Riders all over again. They have certainly come to feel like my home, too.
I have a couple of people who absolutely must receive my words of appreciation, because when life made finishing Ride Wild difficult, these people helped make sure it could happen. My first thanks must go to my editor, Nicole Fischer, for the incredible support she gave me in letting me finish on a less-than-ideal schedule. Knowing an editor has your back that way means the world, and I really appreciated it. Similarly, a huge thanks to my agent, Kevan Lyon, who was my biggest cheerleader-and my reality check-throughout the entire process. It's amazing to work with such supportive women every day.
Next, I have to thank my bestie, Lea Nolan, for always being available to plot and brainstorm, including at least one midnight phone call when I'm convinced she got back out of bed to help me. That's true friendship, and I couldn't have finished without her. Also, an incredible thanks to another amazing friend, Christi Barth, who put her polishing touches on the book, posing probing questions that made me go deeper right when it counted, and giving me the confidence in a crazy writing situation to know that Slider and Cora were as awesome as I hoped. These two ladies made this book possible, and to have them as my bestest friends makes me the luckiest girl ever.
I can't miss thanking my amazing husband and daughters, who really sacrificed to support Mom on the world's craziest deadline ever. I couldn't do any of this without their constant love and support, and it means the world to me.
Finally, I must thank my Heroes and my Reader Girls for being constant sources of encouragement and motivation. And I have to thank each of you for taking my characters into your hearts and letting them tell their stories again and again.
~LK