Stables (Black Gulch Ranch #2)

42. Epilogue

Epilogue

Dixon

Pulling out the drawer in the safe, I slip in the finalized adoption papers.

Char wraps her arms around my neck, her baby belly presses against my side. Turning, I lift her onto my lap and let my palm rest over the bump.

“Do you think Paisley will remember him?” I can’t stop wanting to touch my wife.

She’s barely halfway through her pregnancy, but with two little ones vying for space, I can finally feel them moving beneath her skin.

Char covers my knuckles with her warm hand. “I hope she doesn’t. Her nightmares seem to be getting better. She’s going to have so many cousins and siblings to keep her busy, maybe she will forget ever being a Simmons.” Her nose wrinkles as if the name itself was sour.

“It’ll be rough enough being a McCullough.” I press a hard kiss to her cheek, then lift her up as I stand. “I’ll get the side by side loaded. Lori will get cranky if we aren’t there on time.”

Char giggles. “Don’t be silly, she’s a saint. I know you’re hungry. If you’re starving, I have a snack for you.” Her eyebrows wiggle.

“Mmm.” I let my chest rumble while picking her up. “Thanksgiving can wait. My girl has needs.”

She squeals with laughter as I carry her to the bed. “Dix, I was kidding. I know we have to go.”

“Too late.” Kicking the door closed, I hope I have enough time before Paisley comes to investigate.

I love these stretchy pants she wears now. Easy access.

Yanking them down to her knees, I thread her legs over my head. “You know how much I love to have dessert first.”

When my tongue finds its home, circling her hard clit, I’m rewarded with her gasp. I can just see her flushed cheeks over the swell of her abdomen. It makes me so hard, my cock leaks in my jeans.

Soft taps come from the door.

Shit.

“Daddy, I’m hungry.” Paisley’s voice carries through the wood as the handle begins to rattle.

I give Char’s sweet pussy one more lick, then pull myself away to help her dress.

“She’s not the only one. I’ll make sure she gets all the turkey she wants, so I can savor my main course tonight.” Running my hand over my mustache, I wipe the remnants of Char from my chin, then lift her from the mattress.

Paisley manages to open our room and runs towards Char. “I wanna see ‘Phia.”

Char’s fingers run through Paisley’s dark curls. “We’re going, baby girl. Sophia is excited to see you. Libby will be there, too. And Blue, and Wade…”

Paisley grabs her fingers. “Let’s go. Come on, Daddy.” Her chubby hand motions to me until I’m close enough she can reach me.

Guiding us both out of the room, Char grins up at me with a light in her blue eyes that has only intensified as the months go by.

I hope I can always see that shine, her inner glow.

Every day that passes, I love her more.

“Get your coat, Paisley.” Char urges her towards the entry, leaving me free to gather the things from the kitchen that we’re bringing.

After putting the diaper bag in last, we make the short drive through the winter chill to the main house of the ranch.

Winter came early with heavy snows near the end of October. It’s almost like driving through a tunnel where it’s been plowed into berms on either side of the road.

Sawyer is dangling from a long ladder struggling to hang Christmas lights above the porch. “Hey Char, Uncle Dix. I think everyone else is here.” He glances at the extra vehicles filling the parking lot.

“So what are you doing out here?” I ask as I guide Char up the steps.

He laughs. “Did I mention that there’s a bunch of people here?”

Char pauses and looks up at him. “Not a fan of crowds? I’m the same.”

That makes my jaw tick. Is she comfortable doing this?

I’ll keep an eye on her.

“Yea, at least when I’m out here, Dad doesn’t get too grumpy.” He pauses, cocking his hip against the metal frame. “I guess he doesn’t do that much now.” He tucks the tail end of the light string over a nail then hops down.

“Have you tried Lori’s cornbread? It was just about done. It’s worth fighting everyone.” His teeth flash in a broad grin.

“Sawyer, uppie?” Paisley raises her arms in her thick coat.

“Sure thing.” He lifts her over his head to sit on his shoulders.

“I’m hungry.” She pats on his ballcap making it tumble to the floor.

Char giggles. “She’s going to fall in love with a chef one day, I swear.”

“Better than a rancher,” Sawyer grumbles, ducking to get in the door without bumping Paisley on the frame.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Char threads her arm around my waist and she gazes up at me. “There are perks.”

“Damn right cowgirl.” I squeeze her hip before heading into the kitchen to unload the food we brought.

Libby rushes through, gripping Char in a tight hug. Her eyes are red and puffy when she pulls away.

Has she been crying?

I catch a glimpse of Blue watching her pull Char to the hall.

What the hell is going on? Snagging his elbow, I drag him the other direction until we’re out of earshot.

“Did you hurt her?” Anger works its way through me.

I don’t want to pummel my friend, but I will if he did something.

“What? Fuck no. She just found out her dad has cancer.” Blue shrugs out of my grip. “But nice to know you’re watching out for her.” He readjusts his shirt and gives me a lopsided grin before his lip drops to a frown. “She’s gonna need it.”

He pats my shoulder, then works back into the room.

Mason must have seen me, because he appears at my side. “You good?”

I take a deep breath, the rage shifting to concern for Libby. “Yea. Fine.” I’ll have to ask Char tonight for more details.

“Was wishing Ford was here if you and Blue were getting ready to throw down. It’d been like old times.” Mason grins, handing me a glass with amber fluid.

I take a sniff before I sip.

Bourbon.

“Have you heard from him since he’s been up on the hill?” I take another swallow, then set the tumbler down. I don’t want to drink and ruin my chances at dessert later.

Mason shakes his head, then scratches the gray whiskers on his jaw. “He’s been at the cabin since before Halloween. I figure he’ll call down on the sat phone if he needs supplies. I think he only touched in maybe three times last winter?”

Ford’s the only person I know who looked forward to five months without people.

Not that I blame him.

“I guess we’ll find out in the spring if he survived?” I pull out my chair at the extended table and sit, draping my arm over Char’s empty seat.

Wade chuckles between mouthfuls of crackers with cheese. “Ford? I swear he’s impossible to kill. If he could survive that—” He stops mid-chew and looks around, raising his eyebrow when he sees Lori and Sophia listening. “—well, he’s tough as nails. Even if he needed help, he’d never ask, though.” He pushes a square of cheddar into his mouth, then slides the plate towards Sawyer.

“Here, kiddo. Put some meat on your bones and save me from eating it all.” He leans back and runs his fingers through his rusty hair. “Thanks again for the invite. It’s great to see the house full again.”

Paisley appears next to Sawyer, sneaking her hand over the lip of the platter to snag a cracker before running to Caesar and sharing the crumbs with the dog.

“It is nice,” Mason says as he slides into his spot. “Just imagine next year with more kids running around.” He leans over to drop his palm on Lori’s thigh. “I can’t wait.”

I catch his wink toward her.

I know how he feels now.

Char has become the center of my world, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I can sense her return before I see her.

Her lips are flat when she lowers herself to her chair.

It makes me want to wrap her up and pull her onto my lap. But I settle for taking her hand and entwining my fingers between hers. “You okay?” I ask quietly.

She nods, her mouth twisting. “Libby is having a hard time, and it breaks my heart.”

I pull her thumb up to gently kiss it. “You’re a good friend.”

A loud beep comes from the kitchen, jarring everyone gathered.

Sawyer leaps up, picking up the satellite phone from the plug on the counter.

After a few quick words, he strides over to me, holding the blocky device out.

“Uncle Dixon, it’s Ford. He says there’s an emergency.”