Epilogue
Six Years Later
“ T his little cow is getting far too big for her britches. Ever since she got that contract with Blue Horizon Milk, she’s demanded that I peel and core her apples before serving them to her.” I hold up a freshly peeled Granny Smith apple and place it in front of the snooty mouth of Maribel, a four-year-old Red Angus who must believe she’s the prize of Black Dog Ranch.
"Give old Maribel a break. She's had a long day traveling back from a Denton studio after being filmed prancing around some godforsaken field in Tyler." Silas winks at me, assigning a humorous backstory to his favorite cow.
Probably the most affectionate and agreeable, Maribel is everyone’s favorite and the best choice for this campaign. We won’t work her too hard, though. Cyrus insists on all the animals living a peaceful life of leisure. As if on cue, Maribel lets out a contented moo and strides away, probably in search of her mother.
In a distant field I spot Suzette walking hand in hand with her son, Owen and our little boy, Eli. Born days apart, they recently celebrated their fourth birthdays and received miniature ponies as gifts. I assume they’re on their way to visit them in the new state-of-the-art stable. Their cousin Cotton has been trying to teach them how to ride, but my overprotective mama instincts have hindered his progress.
“You really need to trust Cotton. He knows what he’s doing.” Silas narrows his gaze and shakes his head with amusement. He swears boys are built differently, but I’m unconvinced. My mind races with all the potential dangers and risks involved in what they're about to do. I can't bear the thought of my precious baby being put in harm's way while I'm not there to protect him.
“I don’t know why Cyrus had to buy them ponies. There are about six dachshunds living their best lives in that fancy kennel. Each one would have made a far better birthday present than one that can run twenty miles an hour,” I huff and offer him my hand, clasping his tightly as he accompanies me toward the stables.
He knows I’ll never shut up if he doesn’t.
As we stroll through the rolling green fields surrounding the ranch, Silas pauses to place a gentle hand on my growing belly. "How is our girl doing?” he asks, his blue eyes shining with love and excitement. His touch sends a comforting warmth radiating through me, and I can't help but smile back at him.
“Does she get a pony when she turns four?” I ask, wondering if he’d be so cavalier concerning our future daughter’s safety.
Silas’s eyes grow wide as the thought settles into his brain. “I’ll teach her to ride myself.” He stops to consider his words. “After I secure her in twenty feet of bubble wrap.”
“I spoke to Cyrus about starting a ranch website to sell merchandise and perhaps start an adoption page for his rescues. I know he wants to find them good homes, and the more he rehomes, the more he can rescue,” I suggest, hoping to get his opinion on the matter. Ever since I graduated from UT, a year after we married, I’ve put my business degree to good use. I help Silas and the boys run the ranch, and Cyrus prefers to pass the business negotiations to me, preferring to deal with the animals instead.
“I think that’s a great idea, but good luck getting him to relinquish a dog. He’s hopelessly attached to each one and unless it’s someone who lives nearby and open to surprise home visits, I’m not sure he’ll agree.” Silas makes a good point, but I plan to bring it up anyway.
I nod and we continue our walk, hand in hand and relishing every moment of our lives together. We both agree three years was enough time to waste and we won’t take another minute for granted.
“Do you know what the worst part of the time apart was for me?” Silas surprises me with his impromptu question.
I shake my head and lift his hand to my lips as I try to push that awful memory from my mind. “What was it?”
“Knowing I’d love you forever even if you never came back. No matter how many years passed, I never once considered moving on. I couldn’t. I knew you were the only girl for me.” He gives me a soft smile as his gorgeous eyes mist. “Kiss me, Kate.”
With an unsteady breath, I whisper those three words that hold all of my love and devotion: "I love you, Silas." As I lean in, I can feel the warmth of his skin against mine, the slight scratch of his stubble under my fingers as I caress his chiseled jawline. My lips meet his in a gentle kiss that he quickly deepens. It's a familiar dance between us, one that we've perfected over time. I don't remember when or how I first fell for this man, but I know with every fiber of my being that I will never stop loving him.
Thank goodness I came to my senses.