9. Chapter 9
Graham
I always thought that I enjoyed the solitude that was my life.
I would talk to the animals and plants and didn’t mind that the conversation was one-sided.
I hadn’t ever noticed feeling lonely despite only interacting with people if I bothered to go into town, and even then, it was few and far between.
The most interaction I had was with the people at the feed store or the hardware store, and that was all usually on the same day, since I kept my trips to town to a minimum.
If someone had told me that was what my entire life would be like, I’d have told them that was perfect.
I liked my life. I truly did. It wasn’t until I met my mate that I understood what I’d been missing.
People talked about how much better their lives were with a partner and actively sought them out.
I was the odd man out, not wanting that.
It wasn’t that no one showed interest. They did, but I didn’t see a point if I wanted my life to continue how it was.
Then I got the highest bid and everything I thought I knew about myself had been proven false. I hadn’t wanted to be alone. I was waiting for the right person to arrive. I just hadn’t known it yet.
My life had changed and all for the better thanks to some poison ivy and a quest to find a goat herd.
I loved having my mate working by my side and in my bed every night.
And as a bonus, he was a package deal and came with a whole herd of cousins.
Literally. Many of them lived in the city, but once they found out about our pasture, they came and visited often.
They hung out in their animal form, munching away on the clover.
Then they’d shift back, help with a few chores, and then stay for dinner or not.
Either way, we seemed to have a revolving door of people visiting.
Ewan’s cousin, Micah, was already putting plans together for building a few cabins on the land next to us. For now, we had two campers set out there, and as soon as the right permits were approved, we’d break ground on the cabins. I couldn’t ask for better neighbors.
You would think that two hands would make the workday shorter.
And it might’ve… if we could focus long enough to actually get all of our chores done.
Of course, we got the necessary tasks accomplished—animals fed, fences mended, that kind of thing.
But if I had a choice to start the less needed items on my to-do list or to smooch my mate, smooching would win every single time.
The big thing we’d been putting off, because we had been too busy spending our time in bed, was the vegetable garden.
At one point in time, it had been a priority for me, and I wanted to make it one again, which was why we were out here now, midday, despite the heat, both of us with a hoe in hand.
We were weeding out the things we needed and the things we didn’t want.
We already had a wheelbarrow full of weeds. Much less remained in the ground.
My vision for the garden was to provide delicious food to eat, and so far, it had provided weeds to compost. That was going to change.
“Maybe my cousins should just come here and eat the weeds,” Ewan said.
I smiled at that. “I thought you said they weren’t very good.”
“They aren’t, but they owe us. They get to enjoy the hay, they can suffer through some weeds.”
“I think they’d be more apt to trample over everything. We wouldn’t have any vegetables left.” As it was, our crop had probably taken a hit due to the overgrowth of weeds. “Composting it will be better.”
I slammed my hoe into the ground again, picking up the clump of weeds that I had chopped down and tossing them to the pile. I was shirtless and was due to put some sunscreen on.
Ewan was bent down inspecting one of the tomato plants. “We ought to come out here tonight with one of those flashlights, see if we can’t find any worms.”
“Any signs of them?” I hated those suckers. I didn’t mind shoveling shit, moving spiders, or any of the other “gross” tasks of the farm, but those worms were like aliens and a hard pass for me.
“A few. I’m not good at spotting them.”
“I’m decent at it,” I said. “I hate touching them, though.” Or seeing them. Or remembering they existed just as I was about to fall asleep.
“Are you kidding? That’s the fun part.” He laughed and then stood up.
“Another reason to add to the list of why you are the perfect mate for me. I don’t have to touch those worms ever again.”
I turned to look at him. Lucky I did, because just as he was standing up, his eyes rolled backward, and he floundered to one side. I rushed to him, catching him just before he hit the dirt.
“Ewan, Ewan! Are you all right?” I swung him into my arms and carried him to the shade. Thankfully, the hose was there, and I got a little bit of water on my hands and touched his face. He was warm but not overheated. His eyes fluttered open, and he stared up at me with a dazed look on his face.
“What happened?” he said, his voice weak.
“You passed out.” At least that was what I assumed happened.
“I did?” His eyes went wide. “How long was I out?”
“Just a few seconds.” Which was far too long. “Fuck. You scared me.”
“Oh shit,” he said.
“Is everything all right? Has this happened before?”
He shook his head. “No, but—”
“But what? Do I need to take you to the hospital?”
He shook his head. My mate was stubborn as a bull.
“We should take you to the doctor for sure. No arguments.”
He sat up so that he was cradled in my arms. We were both sweaty, dirt clinging to our skin. We’d been working hard all day. Maybe too hard. Had my mate overworked himself? Had I forced him to push too hard?
“I think our time together may have resulted in something.”
“What? Are you sick? What is it?”
He smiled and shuffled closer to me. We still sat in the dirt. “No, not sick, although that might come. I’m pregnant.”
My heart skipped and my breath caught in my throat, making me choke. “You’re… you’re pregnant? Are you sure?”
I’d known it was a possibility. We’d definitely been doing the things one does when wanting to make a baby. Heck, we’d had sex during his heat. Still, it never crossed my mind that we would be starting a family so soon. Now that I knew we had, I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more.
I was going to be a dad with the person who made me feel whole. What could be better than that?
“Well, not a hundred percent certain, but all signs are pointing that way. Passing out, being tired—”
“That’s amazing,” I said. I ignored the part about there being a possibility he could be wrong. He was pregnant. Not only had he passed out, but he’d been wanting to sleep earlier, and yesterday when he asked me to take a nap, he meant to actually sleep, not have bedroom fun.
“Yeah, you think so?” He squinted up at me. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his eyes shone with happiness. I helped him to his feet and hugged him against me.
“Yeah. This is…” I kissed him soundly on the lips. “Yes, that’s—I’m so happy!” I wanted to twirl him in the air, but I was afraid to hurt him.
“Me too. I’m going to text Micah to ask him if he’ll bring us out a test. Is that all right?” And once he did, his entire family would know. I was okay with that. Having so many people in our lives supporting us was everything.
“It saves us a trip into town, and they’re always coming out here anyway.” I kissed his cheek. “Let’s get you inside, you should rest.”
“No, I can finish this.” Stubborn bull.
“Not on my watch,” I said. “You should be resting.”
“I can still help with the garden.” Ewan put his hands on his hips and planted his feet. My mate could be a little bull-headed at times. This was one of them.
“You can, but you won’t now. You can help tonight when it’s cooler out and you’ve had time to rest.” I could be just as stubborn as he was.
He sighed but finally listened to what I said. I helped him into the house, even though he could definitely walk there on his own. I wasn’t willing to risk it.
I watched as he drank down two glasses of water. Then I made him sit. Was I being overprotective? Probably. But how could I not be? He was carrying our baby. Maybe. Probably.
“Do you need anything? Are you hungry at all?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I promise I’m fine, mate. Really, I am.” He yawned, holding his hand over his mouth. “Not going to lie, I might nap, though. Snuggle me until I sleep?”
“I’ll do one better. I’ll snuggle you until you wake up.”
The rest of the chores could wait.