51. Epilogue
Epilogue
Wade
So. Many. Babies.
And by next Christmas, mine will be added to the herd.
Elena twists her rings idly while her hands rest on my thigh. It’s hard to believe we’ve been married a full week.
Neither one of us wanted to wait, so I got us in with the justice of the peace in the next county.
I know she’s still a little uncomfortable being around everyone from Black Gulch all at once, but it’s getting easier.
And I don’t mind that she sticks close when we’re here.
I almost prefer it, knowing I can touch her anytime I want.
We were on the fence about even coming tonight, but Mason insisted. He said she’s family now too, and will always be welcome.
“I’m gonna have to build a community center pretty soon,” Mason laughs, bouncing his toddler on his lap.
I swear everyone is holding a baby.
Dixon has his older daughter, Paisley, on his knee and tiny Rosie, against his chest.
Lori has her younger son tucked into her elbow as she delivers another bowl of rolls to the massive dining table.
April and Char hold even more while they chat in the corner.
And I’m trying my damndest not to look at Libby nonchalantly breastfeeding her little boy under a skewed blanket while she talks with Elena across me.
Blue grins at me from near the counter, then wags his finger at me.
I’m sure he can see the sweat on my forehead.
“We can break ground this spring,” Ford grunts as he reaches for some of the fresh bread. “Might need to buy another few thousand acres to run more cows. Can you imagine how much this brood will eat when they’re teenagers?” Dixon snorts as he splits one of the steaming biscuits for Paisley.
“We aren’t that bad.” Devon pipes up from the couch behind us.
“Am I going to eat a lot next year?” Cynthia asks him as she sketches next to him.
“Not like boys,” Hazel McCullough pipes up as she appears from the hall. “I swear that’s why we started the ranch. Three growing young men were hard to keep full.” She moves slowly into the crowded room and finds her empty chair next to her husband, Clyde.
I think she gets around pretty good for being in her sixties.
“We’ve been thinking of adding on to the dairy, so y’all don’t have to worry about feeding them when they’re babies.” Libby smiles and reaches across my lap to pat Elena’s hands. “Believe it or not, the insurance check was enough that we can add another building.”
I watch my wife’s face flurry through expressions as I give her shoulder a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
“I’m glad it worked out,” Elena finally says quietly.
“It did.” Libby nods emphatically. “Family first, right?”
The room erupts in agreement.
“So, speaking of family—” Sawyer drops his elbows onto the counter in the kitchen, a wad of food stuffed into the corner of his cheek. “—I saw a guy the other day that was a dead ringer for Dad.”
Hazel’s amber eyes widen as she turns to look at her grandson.
Mason stills, tilting his head. “You did?”
Sawyer chews, nodding. “Yep. Thought it was you in a different get-up. When I went to ask his order, he took one look at me and left.” He pushes another forkful of pie into his mouth, then pauses.
“Crazy thing is, when he looked back, his face was all messed up on one side. Kinda freaked me out for a second.” He shakes his head and looks down to cut off another piece.
Stepping carefully through the array of chairs, he plops on the couch next to Devon.
“Sounds like Cade,” Clyde says hoarsely.
His voice says he’s been a two-pack a day guy for most of his life.
“But if he’s in town, why didn’t he stop by?” Hazel looks at her husband, then the rest of the room.
“‘Cause he ain’t welcome here,” Mason grunts.
“Wait.” I get a chill running down my spine. “He has scars?”
Dixon nods slowly. “Yep. From the, um, accident.”
The room falls quiet.
“Dixon—” I’m struggling to keep my temper under control. “—you knew that picture could have been Cade and didn’t say anything?”
“Doesn’t matter.” His lips thin beneath his mustache. “You got the guy.”
I glance at Elena, then Dixon, then Mason. “Maybe? But he keeps denying it.”
Max is going to stay in prison for a long time regardless.
Except now there’s a seed of doubt.