Chapter 38
Val
Shit, there’s a lot of people here.
“Are you related to half of Montana?” I mumble, wrapping my arm around his elbow. “There’s more cars here than at the bar on Saturday nights.”
“I think everyone’s showing off their babies,” Sawyer grumbles.
“Yea? What happens when you have one?” I poke him in the ribs. “Gonna be a proud papa?”
His blue eyes widen under the glow of the lights. “That’s different.” But he stops, pulling me to him. “Are you?” he chokes.
“No. But as often as I trip and fall onto your dick, it’s a very real possibility.” I laugh as I push his jaw closed. “I do remember you saying it was on your list of wants.”
His lips purse and a cloud of steam falls from his nostrils with his long exhale. “I want to show you something.”
Turning on his heel, he leads me away from the massive main house towards a small knoll, opposite from where the barns and shops are arranged.
“You’ll see it better from here.” He guides me up the slick incline until the lights from the buildings are behind us.
“What am I looking at?” It’s so dark, it’s difficult to make out much.
He pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “Give your eyes a moment to adjust.”
A drifting cloud moves away from the bright moon, washing the valley in front of us with a soft glow. It reveals a rolling set of hills that feed into a craggier mountain behind it.
The frozen outline of a stream breaks up the smooth meadows that are outlined with thick trees.
“What am I supposed to see?” I’m not sure, but I’m enjoying the moment in his embrace.
“Dad promised each of us our own spot. That he’d build us a house if we wanted to stay on the ranch.
That out there is my chunk. I picked it out after my mom died.
That plain stays dry, and the hills block most of the wind.
The creek has a pool deep enough for swimming in.
” He ducks his head to bury his lips into the hollow under my ear.
“It’d be as good of a place as any to raise a family, if you wanted? ”
My breath catches.
“What about the bar?” I don’t know if I’m ready to give everything up to play house.
I can feel him shrug against me.
“It’s only fifteen minutes from here. I know how much you love it.” He presses a kiss to my neck. “There isn’t a hurry. I just wanted you to see the future I dream of.”
I tilt my head against his chest, staring at the stars in the dark sky. “I thought you hated the ranch? Why would you want to stay here?”
His hands clasp over my lower belly. “It wasn’t this place I hated. It was that I never found my purpose. I thought I needed to leave to find that because I always just felt like I was drifting here.”
“What did you find?” I ask quietly.
“You.” He raises, setting his chin gently over my head. “I found happiness in your arms. That’s all I want.”
I blink back the tears that are threatening to fall. “What about if we fight? You know that’s gonna happen sometimes.”
Abruptly, he starts to shuffle us in a slow spin. “See those big ass barns? I gotta shovel those bastards out like once a month. I can promise that you’ll never give me as much shit as I have to clean out of them.”
We both shake from his laughter.
He runs his hand down my arm, lacing his fingers with mine to lead me back towards the house. But before we step inside, he pauses. “You know, there’s not a hurry. I don’t want you to feel rushed over this.” He chews on his lower lip. “I promised to be patient and I will be.”
He pushes the door open before I have a chance to answer.
The warm rush of air laced with the heavy fragrance of delicious smelling food hits me like a wall.
Heads turn, then smiles and waves call from the room full of people I’ve known as friends for years.
No one gives a weird look, just acceptance.
I didn’t know I was carrying the weight of that worry until it lifts.
I guess if I stay with Sawyer, they won’t just be acquaintances, they’ll be family.
Going from just my mom and brother, to this house bursting at the seams might take some getting used to.
An elderly lady pulls from the crowd to move closer.
“You must be Valerie, dear. I’m Sawyer’s grandmother, Hazel.” Her warm hand reaches out to grab mine as Sawyer hangs up my coat. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.” Warm caramel eyes peer at me through the lenses of her thick glasses under a puff of white hair.
“It’s nice to meet you too, thank you.” Oh my gosh, she’s adorable.
And he wasn’t lying about so many babies.
Everyone is bouncing one on a knee.
Except the two surly looking teens on the couch, thank goodness.
“Come in, find a seat.” Hazel takes my elbow, leading me through the maze of toys on the floor. “I’ll show you where the food is, then I’d love to sit and chat.”
“Grandma,” Sawyer groans. “How about you sit, I’ll bring you both something?” He fidgets with the chain around his neck and slips me a smile.
“Oh, yes. That’s a lovely idea.” She glances around at the full room. “How about we go somewhere private?”
Shit, am I about to be interrogated?
“Val? There’s seats here.” Libby holds up her arm to point at two empty chairs around the table, while the other is holding her sleeping infant.
Saved.
It’s strange being on this side of the bar.
I’ve always been the one serving everyone here.
To be sitting with them is…different.
Wade leans back in his chair to catch my eye behind Libby. He runs his finger up his own throat, then glances at Sawyer.
Pursing my lips, I smirk as I nod.
Yep, Sawyer’s my good little boy.
Wade grins and leans forward chuckling.
He’s one to laugh as his bratty sub rubs her growing belly.
Would it be so wrong to be a part of this family?
The laughs, the teasing.
Hell, I’ve known most of them forever.
Ford is the next to give me a chin drop of approval.
Did I pass some sort of test?
Hazel pats my shoulder. “I’ll be back, I have to find the little girl’s room.”
On the other side of where she would be, an older, heavier, version of Mason is smiling at me.
He reminds me a bit of Santa with his rosy cheeks and squinting eyes.
“I’m Clyde.” Reaching out, he extends his palm. “Sawyer has told me so much about you.”
“Good things, I swear,” Sawyer adds, sliding a plate in front of me.
Then he sets down an overflowing dish and slides into the chair.
It’s loaded with more food than I could eat in a month.
“What about your grandma?” I whisper to him.
“I promise, she already ate.” He grins at me. “She was just wanting to get you off alone somewhere.” Picking up a biscuit, he tears off a piece and chews thoughtfully. “Pretty sure she was a detective in a past life.”
Clyde laughs, slapping Sawyer on the back. “He’s right. She likes to find out all the tidbits.”
“I’m gonna grab drinks,” Sawyer whispers, pushing himself back up.
“Nosy Nelly,” Dixon grunts from across the table. “Mason, remember that time we all got in a fight at school, and she knew about it before we were even in the principal’s office?”
Mason leans back, his smile reminding me of Sawyer’s. “Yep. Boy, she tanned all our hides when we got home.”
“Can you imagine all the scraps this lot will get into?” Blue asks from the corner, although his eyes never leave his wife.
“I’m gonna have to build a community center,” Mason laughs.
As they all slip into banter about all the kids, Hazel brushes in, her hand landing on my shoulder to sit next to me.
Sawyer grins from the kitchen and rolls his eyes.
“Family first, right?” Libby pipes up.
There’s a mutual rumble of agreement in the room.
“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 that was a dead ringer for Dad.”
Mason stills, tilting his head. “You did?”
Sawyer chews, nodding. “Yep. Thought it was you in a different get-up. When I went to talk to him, he took one look at me and left.” He 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.
I know it upset him. I’m glad I was able to distract him for a few hours.
But this morning he was still dwelling on it.
“Sounds like Cade,” Clyde says hoarsely.
“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.” Wade glances between them. “He has scars?”
Dixon nods slowly. “Yep. From the, um, accident.”
Everyone falls quiet.
“Dixon—” Wade’s face goes through several shades of red. “—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.”
Wade glances around. “Maybe? But he keeps denying it.”
“Cade is a good boy,” Hazel says quietly next to me.
“Bullshit,” Mason coughs. “Hell, it was him that started that fight in the schoolyard. His scrawny ass picked at the biggest kid there, then he ran to us to squash it.”
I catch Lori’s fingers tighten slightly on Mason’s shoulders, then he takes a deep breath.
“Anyways.” His palm raises as if he’s waving the subject away. “There’s other news.”
Sawyer appears behind me, reaching over to steal a piece of ham off his plate.
“Another baby?” Sophia calls out from the hall.
Lori’s cheeks flush with pink.
And then she nods.
Sophia’s squeal tops everyone’s as she pushes through to hug Lori.
I love how close they are, more like sisters.
Shit, if Sawyer and I got married, that’d make Sophia my sister in law.
Would she be this excited if I was pregnant?
Sawyer’s hand tightens on my hip subtly, although he doesn’t say anything.
I know he would be a good father.
Am I ready for that step?
It was never a question with Chris. We both knew neither one of us were prepared for that.
Yet here I am just a few months into being with Sawyer, and I’m already heavily weighing it as an option.
That has to mean something, right?
Or is it this full house of family that has me desperate to join?