Epilogue
PAIGE
Did I say I wanted to have lots of babies? Holy shit, contractions hurt like a bitch. One might be enough. At least we got our driveway regraded, so when Rhett races down the road, my guts don’t fall out.
I shut my eyes and grit my way through another contraction. “How much longer?”
Rhett hums. “Might be a few minutes. Don’t worry. I’ll get you there in time.”
He’s remarkably calm. It’s hard to believe this is the same man who didn’t want more children. In the last few months, he cleared out his father’s office, painted it, set up the crib, and even had his friend Brady paint a field of wildflowers across one wall.
Thanks to that video I took of Harlan, we were able to get the Texas Livestock Commission out again to give our cattle a bill of clean health two weeks after he was arrested. We got them to auction and repaid our loan.
Harlan, his son Jimmy, and Eugene Dods are awaiting trial for conspiring to defraud several ranchers out of their property, which they planned to lease for mining rights.
Apparently, we have a huge high-quality quartz reserve on our ranch, which the Calhouns discovered when they were scouting the Gibson property two years ago. These kinds of gems are in demand for manufacturing semiconductors.
But Harlan definitely played the long game, offering Rhett’s father the second mortgage through an affiliate bank and then making sure the statements went to the nursing home. While we’re not totally sure what Gus did with those funds, we suspect he blew them gambling online.
I try not to dwell on what happened because it still upsets me. The lengths the Calhouns went to acquire our property are jaw-dropping. Jimmy even messed with our trailer last spring so Rhett couldn’t take any animals to auction.
Because Jimmy didn’t want to go down for attempted murder when he chased me, presumably to throw me in a damn trunk, he spilled the beans on all the dastardly things his father was doing. Including why Harlan offered Rhett the bridge loan when he already had the Walkers in so much debt. Harlan thought the second mortgage might be contested since Gus was in a nursing home when he signed off on that paperwork, but getting Rhett wrapped up in financial trouble would close that final loophole.
However, the investigation cleared Prescott of any wrongdoing. As far as I know, Marcus wasn’t involved either.
On a side note, the younger Calhoun brother recently fired Kacey after he received an anonymous tip that his employee was banging his wife Tiffany. Cough, cough.
Once the dust settled from Harlan’s maniacal attempt to steal our ranch, Rhett and I settled into married life. We’ve been doing a better job communicating, especially when we’re stressed or worried. I found a few marriage podcasts that we listen to that have been helpful, and we always make sure to discuss anything that’s been bothering us before bed so it doesn’t fester.
Between coaching at All-Star Cheer and sewing custom outfits for the NFL wives that Abby introduced me to, I’ve been pretty busy. I’ve saved up quite the nest egg from all those custom jobs. I’m so happy to not be that penniless girl I was a year ago. I can buy all the chickens I want.
Or, in this case, sheep.
Rhett agreed investing in sheep is a fantastic way to weather downturns in cattle prices. Since I have the funds, I’m buying the flock. In return, I’m becoming an official co-owner of the Walker Ranch with my husband and his brothers.
We crawl to a standstill, and I growl. We’re stuck in traffic. There’s never traffic in Wild Heart, but there is today. “Don’t tell me today’s the cowboy parade.”
He squeezes my hand. “Okay, I won’t tell you.”
“Rhett.”
My husband chuckles, then lifts my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss to my palm. “It’ll be okay. I promise. Do you know how many calves I’ve delivered over the years? It’s gotta be hundreds.”
My expression goes flat. “Am I the cow in this analogy?”
He laughs. “Sweetheart, I would never say such a thing. Swear to God, you’re all baby. Well, and tits. You’ve got really big tits now.”
He makes a face to show me how excited he is about my boobs, and I chuckle. “Don’t make me laugh. My guts feel like they’re going to explode.”
His eyes grow serious. “If I could take that pain away from you, I would do it in a heartbeat. But since I can’t, let’s focus on the moment we meet our daughter. She’ll have your beautiful eyes and cute little nose. All your sweetness and sass. She’ll have her brothers and uncles wrapped around her pinky. I’ll probably have to threaten the boys who come sniffing around her with bodily harm if they touch her.”
He’s so sweet. I love my husband. I’m about to tell him that when a contraction tries to split my body in two, and I cry out.
He curses under his breath. Then he rolls down the window and yells, “Hey, y’all! Paige needs to get to the hospital. The baby’s coming!”
A cheer rises up from the sidewalk, and I peer out to see our neighbors and friends waving at me. They pause the cowboy parade so we can cross the street.
Panting, I wipe my sweaty forehead. “I don’t know whether I should be embarrassed or impressed.”
He smirks. “Impressed, definitely.”
Once we reach the other side of the street, he guns it, and we barrel through town.
I glance at my phone where I’m tracking my contractions. “Um. So this is weird.”
He glances at me as he takes a turn. “What’s weird?”
“My contractions were coming every five minutes, but now they’re a minute apart.”
He growls. “I knew we should’ve left sooner.”
“I thought it was false labor again.” He’s already rushed me to the hospital three other times. “I need to push.”
“Hang on.”
“No,” I groan. “I can’t fucking hang on. Our baby is tunneling her way through my vagina right now .”
“We’re almost there, Paige. One more minute.”
I don’t think I have a minute. Tears stream down my face as I prepare myself to deliver this kid in my husband’s truck.
But then he stops the vehicle, hops out, and starts yelling. My door opens and he scoops me up.
I wave at my body. “She’s here. I feel her head.”
His eyes widen, but he somehow manages to keep his cool. He sets me down. “Hang on to the truck.” After he closes the door, I grip the handle.
“Can I pull down your shorts?”
“Do it.” I glance around. The parking lot is pretty empty, and my t-shirt is on the long side, but I’m in too much pain to care.
He pushes down my shorts and undies as I curse myself for not leaving for the hospital sooner.
A nurse runs toward us with a wheelchair, but she’s too late. I squat and push because my baby is coming right the fuck now. I screech, “She’s here!”
My husband reaches between my legs with one hand, holds onto me with the other, and looks in my eyes. “I got you. And I’ve got her. Do your thing, sweetheart. Breathe through it, like we learned in Lamaze class.”
He mimics the breaths, and I breathe with him. My husband did every class with me and read all the baby books even though this is his third child. The confidence radiating from him calms me down immediately.
I can do this.
I push again.
My legs shake with the pressure and pain. I blink, and a second later, there she is, our sweet, precious baby, who lets out an angry howl.
“Oh, my God. She’s beautiful.” A sob escapes me, and Rhett presses a kiss to my sweaty forehead.
“You did great, Paige. She’s perfect.” My husband whips off his shirt, wipes her little face, and then wraps it around her. The nurse takes a minute to check on the baby and then helps me into the wheelchair.
“Why do you look like that”—I wave a hand around my thirst trap of a husband—“and I look like this?” A limp strand of hair hangs in my face, and I blow it away.
Rhett gives me a crooked grin. “You’re gorgeous and so fucking strong. I’m so proud of you.” He kisses me.
The nurse covers my lap with a blanket and wheels me inside while my husband carries our daughter.
After the doctors check me and the baby, we get admitted and moved to a room so we can be observed for two days.
Rhett’s perched on the bed next to me as we watch our little sweetheart. I kiss her fuzzy head. “Welcome to the world, Daniella.”
I glance up at my husband, who beams a proud smile. “You did good, Mama. She’s incredible. Just like you.”
An hour later, my best friend blows through our door. She’s carrying a tower of balloons, a basket of mommy gifts, and an armful of flowers. The moment she sees Ella, she bursts into tears.
“I can’t believe you had a baby. I love her already.” She leans over to hug me and kiss the top of Ella’s head.
When Rhett ducks into the hallway to make a phone call, she whispers, “I have a secret.”
“He proposed!”
“Sadly, no.” She sighs.
I take her hand in mine. “Give it time. Y’all just moved in together.”
Baylee nods slowly. “It’s just… I don’t have that much time… before the baby arrives.”
My eyes widen. “You’re pregnant?”
“Shh!” She glances at the door. “I haven’t told anyone. You’re the only person who knows.”
I tilt my head. “Except Sean, right?”
Her eyes go squinty. “I haven’t gotten the nerve to tell him yet.”
“Baylee Reyes. Since when have you ever wussed out on a confrontation?”
Her shoulders slump. “Once or twice, I’m afraid.”
She looks so dejected, it breaks my heart. I pull her into a hug. “Don’t squish the baby.”
My best friend chuckles. “I would never squish our princess.” She coos at Daniella. “On the bright side, we always said we wanted to have kids at the same time.”
A knot forms in my throat. “Our children will grow up together.”
We both make a silly squeal just as Rhett pops back into the room. He lifts a brow. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“Don’t ask,” I agree. “I’m sworn to secrecy.”
Baylee nods. “We’ve got the sisterhood of silence over here.”
He chuckles. “I would never do anything to infringe upon the sisterhood.”
Leaning over, he kisses me, and I swoon. “You did good today, husband.”
He kisses me again. “You kicked ass today, wife.”
Baylee rolls her eyes. “Y’all are kinda disgusting. No wonder you got preggers weeks after your wedding. Now give me this baby so she can get to know her auntie Bay.”
An hour after Baylee’s visit, Ty busts through the door. “Where’s my beautiful niece?” His whole face lights up when he sees her. “She’s gorgeous, Paige. You did good.”
In the last few months, Ty and I have spent more time together, grabbing lunch and hanging out. Rhett’s invited him over several times for dinner, and we’re finally at a place where Ty feels like family should. It helps that he never brings Irma around.
No sooner does Ty leave than Rhett’s brothers stream in one at a time, carrying flowers and stuffed animals and chocolate. I make grabby hands for the sweet treats as they pass my daughter around.
“She’s a beauty,” Beau says as he runs his finger over her crown of auburn hair.
Gabriel, who’s sitting on the hospital bed with me, tugs on my gown. “Can I hold her?”
“Sure.” I hug him. “I’m sure she’d love to be held by her big brothers.”
Austin jumps up and down. “I wanna hold her too.”
I pat the bed. “Come sit with me, and I’ll show you how to do it. You always have to hold her head.”
His brows furrow adorably. “Why? Does it come off?”
I snort. “No, but she’s delicate.”
Gabriel’s shoulders slump. “So we can’t take her fishing yet?”
“Not yet, but soon.” I glance at my husband, who’s giving me that look, the one that makes babies grow in my belly. “Soon, she’ll be chasing after y’all and wanting to do all the things that you and your friends do.” I remember the long days of running after Danny and Rhett. How they never made me feel unwelcome. How Rhett used to make me crowns of wildflowers.
The thought makes my eyes burn.
My husband lifts Austin and the two of them sit on the other side of me. He wraps me with his strong arm and kisses the top of my head. Then he whispers, “I have a feeling Danny is really happy today.”
I swallow past the knot in my throat and lean into his strong chest. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
Later, when it’s just me, Ella, and Rhett, he stretches out next to me as I feed the baby.
“She’s a hungry little thing,” he says as she grips his finger.
“The nurse says she has a great appetite.”
When she’s done eating, he places her on his shoulder and burps her like a pro. After she lets out a sleepy yawn, he wraps her like a burrito and tucks her in the bassinet next to my bed.
“Nice job, Daddy. You’re a natural.”
His eyes go hot. “Daddy, huh?”
I chuckle. “We’re gonna have to hold off on some of our shenanigans for a while so my lady parts can heal, but I do love oral TLC.”
He laces our hands together. “As much as I would love to take you up on that, doesn’t seem fair that I should be getting some while you have to recuperate.”
“But if I offer, that’s my way of telling you I’m happy to do it. And personally, I think if your wife wants to go down on you, you should let her.”
He chuckles. “How about I keep track of all the head you give me so I can reciprocate when you’re up for it?”
My laughter joins his. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
Content, I lean against him and close my eyes. But then he clears his throat, and I turn to look at him.
“I have something for you. I’ve been waiting for everyone to leave.”
There’s a seriousness in his tone that has me worried. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” He brushes the hair out of my face. “I just want you to know how much I love you. How building this family with you makes me happy in a way I didn’t know was possible.”
Cue the tears. “I’m really happy too.”
“Oh, baby, don’t cry.” He pulls me closer. “I told myself I was gonna do this right, so you gotta stop crying.”
I sniffle. “Okay. I’m good.”
Gently, he wipes my tears. Then he gets up out of the bed, reaches into his back pocket, and pulls out a little black box.
When he goes down on one knee, my mouth drops open.
“Paige, I know we’re already married, but I don’t feel right about how we did things. You’re the mother of my children, and you’ve opened your heart to Austin and Gabriel and my idiot brothers.” I chuckle, and he smiles and grabs my hand and kisses it. “You’ve always been important to me, but in the last year, you’ve become my entire world. You helped me save the ranch and my family’s legacy. You brought me back to life when I didn’t know I wasn’t really living. You’re the bravest, sweetest, and most caring woman I’ve ever known, and I’m so fucking honored you’re mine.” He clears his throat. “I bought you an engagement ring because we didn’t get to do that the first time around.”
He takes it out and slides it up my finger, where it sits against my wedding band. “It’s beautiful.” I’m choked up, but somehow manage to keep it together. “I love it, but you didn’t need to do this. I’m already yours.”
“I wanted to give you something to know that I’m all in on this with you. Every step of the way. I was hoping we could renew our vows. Maybe at our one-year anniversary this summer. Not for the town or our neighbors or the gossip column, but something for you and me. Something the boys can be a part of because they love you. Something just for us and our closest friends.”
A tear slips down my cheek, and I tug on his arm. He slides up next to me on the bed. “You’ve been stealing my heart at every turn since I was a girl. It’s always belonged to you.” I sniffle. “I’d be honored to marry you again.”
He smiles and kisses me. “Good. ’Cause you’re stuck with me now.”
Thanks for reading Stealing Hearts!