Epilogue
Amanda lookedfrom Jeremiah to Tanner. “Are you so sure Brody is going to be accepted into the Peace Officer and Standards Training?”
They both nodded, Jeremiah speaking first. “Damn kid is the smartest of us. Took after his mom.”
“It’s true.” Tanner set his napkin on his now empty plate. “He’s the one who figured out where you were staying, so I could drop your car off at the Lucky Lasso. He got online and found that Sheila Langley had bragged on social media that you were in her shop buying clothes for Pioneer Days. Then Mrs. Barker said she saw you checking in at the hotel. When Brody sets his mind to something, he figures out a way to accomplish it, even if it means going behind our backs. Like he did with the trick riding lessons and getting his small plane pilot’s license.”
“And the soccer team, and project manager certificate, and the fire suppression course.” Jeremiah sighed.
She took another sip of iced tea and put the glass down. “Then it sounds like he’s going to become a game ranger unless you can come up with something here that you desperately need.” Silence greeted her, so she popped the last bite of Tanner’s homemade flatbread pizza into her mouth and chewed.
Jeremiah’s eyes suddenly widened. “I got it.”
“What?” She hadn’t actually expected an answer. She thought they would just need time to accept Brody leaving.
The grin Jeremiah turned toward Tanner actually made her nervous.
“If Brody can get the Harpers to accept an offer, then he can be a game ranger.”
She looked to Tanner who frowned. “We already know they won’t sell.”
Jeremiah just kept grinning.
Giving Brody an impossible task didn’t seem fair. She rose from the table. “But Brody is twenty-seven. He can leave anytime, right?”
Tanner finally looked at her. “Yes, but after Mom died, Dad asked us all to promise to stay and help him with the ranch. We have taken the promise to heart. Brody could break his promise, but that’s not how he was raised. Dad would have to release him from it.” He turned to Jeremiah. “We have Ernesto back and with his mom doing well, he’s not going anywhere. Plus we can see how these two new hands Brody found work out. It’s only their first day. If being a wildlife manager is the career Brody wants, I don’t think we should stand in the way. After all, we have Amanda now.” He wrapped his arm around her hips as she piled empty plates on the tray.
“Yes, and I’m happy to help. Besides, you may not need that land if you become a dude ranch. I have to say I’m very excited at that prospect.” She transferred Jeremiah’s empty plate to the tray. “Jeremiah, you keep eating like this, your boys are going to insist you start cooking, too.”
“Not happenin’.”
Tanner laughed. “Dad, why do I have the feeling you’re going to be completely capable of doing the things you like and not able to do the things you don’t like?”
The older man shrugged, his shoulders perfectly even now. “Age has its benefits.”
She picked up the tray of dirty dishes. “And that includes a nap, doesn’t it?”
“Damn, right.” Jeremiah wheeled back from the table, forcing Tanner to step aside as he collected the glasses.
“Whoa, Dad. What’s the rush?”
Jeremiah pointed to the corner where the sun was hitting. In another week, it wouldn’t even hit there, but he wouldn’t need it anyway as his strength was growing daily. “I’ve got to get me a piece of that.”
She smiled, completely happy to be among some of her favorite men. She turned away from the table and strode out and into the kitchen, Tanner right behind her. No sooner had she set down the tray then he opened the dishwasher.
She shook her head, but had learned over the last couple of days that it was worthless to argue with Tanner about the chores. So she moved around to the stools on the other side of the island and hopped up. “You know, when we get married, I’ll need to take on some of the responsibility of the house. It’s only fair.”
He rinsed out a glass but didn’t look at her. “I know. But today you’re on the clock, which means no time for chores.”
She gave him the side-eye. “Why do I get the feeling you’re just delaying having to move Lulabell and her calf out of the birthing area?”
His mouth twitched, but he just shrugged. As he set the last dish in the dishwasher and closed it, he looked at her. “Maybe I’m delaying riding back out so I can have a little dessert.”
As his gaze moved to her breasts, a thrill went through her. If only she was on sabbatical. “What happened to me being on the clock?”
He grimaced, wiping his hands on the hand towel. “You would have to remember that.” He walked around the island and turned her stool so she faced him. “But your patient will be asleep soon for at least an hour.”
How could she have forgotten that? They did have some time, especially since Brody had hired the two new hands to help with the ranch. She grasped him by the waist and spread her legs so he could come closer. “This working from home does have its perks.”
Tanner’s head lowered just as the front door opened.
“Hey Tanner, I gotta go.” Brody strode into the kitchen. “Sorry to break this up.” He waved his hand at them before placing both palms on the counter. “I know you don’t have to be married to gift me with a niece or nephew, but it would be nice.”
Her whole body warmed at the thought of having a baby. She’d always expected to, but had given up on them with Claude, who had been almost afraid of kids. “Do you like children, Brody?”
He grinned from ear to ear. “Love them. As long as they aren’t mine.” He straightened, slapping one hand on the counter. “You’ll have to get out there, Tanner. I have to go to the vet.”
She loosened her hold as Tanner stepped back. “The dog is ready to come home?”
Brody nodded while grabbing a water bottle out of the refrigerator. “Yes, but she’s going to have to remain in the house for a while until she regains her strength.”
Tanner stiffened. “I don’t want Dad falling or tripping over her.”
“Seriously, Tanner. Dad’s not even walking yet. By then, she’ll be in and out.”
“In and out?” Tanner’s brows raised.
Brody started for the entry. “Just until I get my own place. I know you and Dad aren’t excited about her.”
Amanda’s heart melted. “Yes, they are. You just wait.”
The only answer they got was the front door closing. She looked at Tanner. “I’m thinking if you want Brody on the ranch a bit longer, then you two are going to have to make an effort to like this dog. He said it’s a Great Pyrenees. Those dogs are sweet and very protective. Maybe she can keep your dad company when he starts working in his office again.”
“I don’t know. Apparently when Brody told Dad about the dog, the only response was a grunt.”
That wasn’t great but it wasn’t bad either. “Maybe I can help everyone get adjusted.”
His shoulders finally relaxed. “You are quite good at that.”
She grinned, taking the compliment for what it was worth. “Thank you. I try to be.”
He moved back in front of her. “I’m speaking for myself when I say that adjusting to you living here has been easier than getting a kiss from Lulabell.”
She raised her brows as she pulled him closer again. “Do I need to be jealous of that heifer?”
“Well, I wouldn’t get too close to her. She has a way of sensing things and if she thinks you get more attention than she does, she’ll try to eliminate the competition.”
She pretended to ponder that. “I’m not sure I do get more attention than she does.”
Tanner growled at her even as he titled her head up. “I’ll―”
A knock at the door interrupted him, and he stepped back. “Now who the hell could that be?”
She couldn’t help smiling at his frustration and was so pleased his “hell” was not for her anymore. “Are you going to answer it?”
“Fine.” As he turned and walked out of the room, she enjoyed looking at his ass. It really was perfect.
“Bill?”
She tensed. Her father was here?
“Mind if I come in? I have news for you and Jeremiah.”
She slid off the stool as her father walked into the kitchen. “Dad?”
“Hi, Mandy. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to be the one to tell you all.”
Tanner walked by her dad and stood next to her, looping his arm around her waist. She was quite sure he wasn’t even conscious that he did so.
Her dad looked at them both and then smiled widely. “The Town Council has approved your rezoning.”
“What?” She stared, her heart racing.
Tanner shook his head. “How can that be? The environmental inspector is supposed to be here Wednesday.”
Her dad grinned, clearly pleased with himself. “I withdrew my complaint then showed the Town Council the report from the environmental engineer. I knew there had to be one because Jeremiah is always thorough. Some of them are not up-to-speed on these things. So I explained not only how there would be very little impact, but took my daughter’s argument and sold them on how great it would be for the town.”
Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Tanner. A stream of emotions crossed his face from disbelief to relief to uncertainty. But when he held his hand out to her father, she couldn’t hold them back any longer.
“Thank you, Bill. We appreciate your help. Would you like to tell my father?”
Her dad’s smile faded. “I would be honored to, if he’s willing to talk to me.”
Tanner turned to her, and she nodded. This was worth waking up for. As Tanner walked into the den to tell his father he had a visitor, she stepped up to her dad. “Thank you.” Then she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug, something she hadn’t done since she left home for her first wedding.
He returned the hug, squeezing hard for a moment. “I may not understand your job or your choices in life, but I’m proud of the woman you’ve become. Don’t change for me or anyone.”
When he let go, she stepped back, wiping the tears from her face. “I don’t think I could change if I wanted to, any more than you can.”
He raised his eyebrows and opened his hands to the side. “I’m here. That’s a pretty significant change in my book.”
“You’re right, and I’m proud of you for it.”
Tanner strode back in. “Dad’s awake. If you―”
“Hayden, get your arrogant ass in here.”
Her father winced. “Wish me luck.” Then he turned and strode through the archway.
“Luck.” She spoke to his retreating back before turning to Tanner, who looked anything but happy. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know. It’s a lot of responsibility. I don’t want to mess this up. It’s our last chance to remain a ranch.”
She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It is a lot, but the best part is you now have me to help you navigate it.”
He gazed into her eyes. “I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
“And you’ll have it. Your father is getting stronger every day and I’m sure he’ll be able to take over office operations in no time. Your brother, though anxious to leave, may stay to help until everything is ready to open. And of course, I’ll be here to help in any way I can.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “What about your three-month sabbatical?”
Even as she thought of all the plans she had made, she couldn’t imagine leaving Tanner behind now that she had him. “I was thinking about that. If you’ll go away with me for three weeks, I’ll spend the rest of it helping to set up the new dude ranch.”
His brows shot up. “Three weeks? I can’t leave here for three weeks in the middle of all this. Maybe one week before everything really gets going.”
He had a point. “Two weeks. One week as soon as my sabbatical starts and one week for our honeymoon, no matter when that is.”
He cocked his head, studying her, probably gauging how determined she was. “Okay, but I get to choose where we go on one of those weeks.”
She was about to say yes when she noticed the shrewd look in his eye. No doubt he’d want to stay right on the ranch. “As long as it’s not anywhere in or around Four Peaks, you have a deal.”
His disappointment showed, but he quickly recovered. “Good. I always wanted to see Alaska.”
She widened her eyes. “I did not expect that. And I’ve always wanted to relax on a beach in the Caribbean. Do we have a deal?”
He smiled, pulling her closer. “We have a deal, soon-to-be Mrs. Dunn.”
“Grandchildren!” The shout from Jeremiah made it clear he’d been listening and pure joy bubbled up inside her as Tanner chuckled.
“I second that.”
At her father’s agreement, Tanner turned his head toward the archway. “Working on it now, Dad!”
“Well damn.” Surprised, she just stared.
Tanner quickly turned back to look at her. “What is it?”
Her eyes filled with tears of joy. “Jeremiah made the L sound.”
His lips quickly lifted as he recognized his dad’s accomplishment. “I can make the L sound too. I love you, Manda.”
A shiver of happiness whispered through her just before his lips took command of hers. If she had to choose between a rock and a cowboy, she’d choose her cowboy every time, as long as the cowboy was Tanner Dunn. But even as the thought filled her head, it drifted away and nothing but love filled her.