Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The Ranch
I knocked gently on my father’s bedroom door.
“Come in,” he called.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
“Salem,” Dad said.
“I know that tone,” I groaned.
“Tone? There’s no tone.”
“There was definitely a tone.” I closed the door and moved into the room. “That was the I’m very disappointed in you, young lady tone.”
Dad’s lips flickered like he wanted to smile. “Even if that were true, when has that tone ever worked on you?”
He patted his bedside.
“Cas came to talk to me,” he said.
“Yeah, I heard,” I muttered. With heavy feet, I trudged to the vacant side and curled up at the foot of the bed.
“Come closer.”
I inched up the bed coverlet.
Dad reached his hand out, searching for mine.
I gave it to him.
“You and your sister are determined to turn my hair gray,” he said.
“You’re blaming Hadley too?” I beamed. “That’s a first.”
Dad chuckled. “It’s true you’ve caused more turmoil over the years, but lately, Hadley’s held her own.”
“You’re disappointed, aren’t you? In me?”
“I’ve never been disappointed in you.”
“That’s not true.”
“It’s very true.” He squeezed my hand. “You’re making me a grandfather. How the hell am I supposed to be disappointed with that news?”
“But the timing,” I said.
“Timing’s a bitch. And babies work on their own time. Ask me how I know.”
I cleared my throat. “So, Cas talked to you?”
“He did.”
“About what?”
“Many things,” Dad said with a smile. “Important things.”
“Things like weddings and such?”
“Hmm. Yeah. There was talk of a wedding.”
“I’m not getting married because I’m having a baby. That’s antiquated,” I said.
Dad shrugged.
“What, no fight?”
“I think I’ll let Cas field this one,” Dad said. “He’s stubborn and determined.”
“What happened to you?” I demanded. “You were such a beast when it came to Hadley and Declan.”
“Declan worked for me and Hadley had come home heartbroken. It was different. You’re different.”
“You mean I’m not worth the effort of finding your shotgun and threatening Cas to marry me?” I snapped.
“Who has to threaten?” Dad asked. “As for the shotgun, Muddy hid it again. Not from me this time—from Declan. Declan’s pissed as hell. And I’m not supposed to get upset or stressed.”
“Then I’d better leave,” I muttered, dropping his hand and attempting to get off the bed.
“You’re a black sheep, Salem. Always have been, always will be.
I learned my lesson. I won’t put you in a box or try to make you anything other than what you are.
I love you exactly as you are. And so does Cas.
Which is why I gave him my blessing. Not that it would matter anyway.
Because you’ll do exactly what you want to do, when you want to do it.
So, as it turns out, the person who needs to say yes is you. ”
“Oh, Dad.” I launched myself at him and embraced him a bit too hard.
He kissed the top of my head. “I just want you to be happy. Are you happy?”
I pulled back to look at him and nodded.
“Then that’s all a father can ask for. Now go see Cas. And try not to give him too much shit.”
“Then I wouldn’t be me, would I?” I asked with a laugh.
I climbed off the bed and headed for the door.
“Same goes for you, you know,” I said with my hand on the knob.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I want you to be happy.”
“I am.”
“With Jane?”
“Yes.”
“Good. She’s young. She’ll keep you young. Can’t have you getting too old to take your grandkids on trail rides.”
He smiled, his eyes bright with the idea. “Ah, just another reason to heal.”
“Rest up, Dad. We’re not going anywhere.”
Cas was sitting in a camp chair at the fire circle, his expression sullen. He picked up a bottle of beer and took a sip.
I approached, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at him.
“Not in the mood, woman.”
“Don’t woman me, you scoundrel. You told my dad I was pregnant before I got a chance to do it.”
“I—”
“No, I’m talking,” I snapped. “You told my father I was pregnant.”
“We’re not speaking.”
“You and I? Oh, we’re speaking. We’re going to be doing a lot of speaking.”
“Not you and I. Declan and I. Declan and me? Whatever. We’re not talking.” He sighed. “I feel like an ass.”
His shoulders slumped and my anger vanished. I went to sit in the chair next to him and scooted it closer.
I put my hand on his knee. “This is a fucking mess, you get that, right?”
“Yeah.” His hand covered mine. “My best friend isn’t talking to me.”
“And you’re not talking to him,” I pointed out. “Mutual anger, it would seem.”
“What about you and Hadley?”
“We’re fine. Turns out, she knew I was pregnant all along.”
“Did she? Nice of her to say something,” he muttered.
“She was trying to trick it out of me. Raw steak, Declan’s wedding brew . . .” I shook my head.
“And how did everyone else react to the baby?”
“Once everything died down, they were all really happy for us. My dad was a big surprise, actually. I expected a lecture.”
“No lecture?”
“None. He just wants me to be happy. And,” I added, looking at Cas, “he said, his blessing didn’t matter because it was my blessing you needed in order to marry me.”
“Well, sure.” Cas nodded. “I know that. But there are societal norms, traditions, that are expected. If our daughter’s future husband doesn’t ask for my blessing, I’ll be very unhappy.”
“What if we have a son and he comes home married from an elopement?”
Cas’s eyes widened. “Are you trying to kill me already?”
“No, darling,” I teased. “Our child will be the source of all your gray hair. I promise you.” I raked my fingers through his locks. “You’ll look good gray. Sexy.”
“I have a few more years before that happens . . . hopefully,” he murmured.
“Declan was ready to punch you. And you were going to let him.”
“Seemed only right. I did fuck his wife’s sister.”
“And get her pregnant,” I added.
“No apologies for that, tater tot.”
I fell silent for a moment.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Why does Declan think you’re not a family man?”
“Because I’m not. I don’t have a family.
I don’t know what a healthy marriage looks like.
I don’t have a shining example of what a normal family is.
He doesn’t think I’m good enough for you,” Cas said, his tone soft, somber.
“And so even though he considers me his best friend, he doesn’t think I deserve someone like you. He thinks I’m no good for you.”
I kissed his hand and rose.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To have some of my own words with Declan.”
“Salem, don’t. He’s not wrong.”
“Not wrong? Of course he’s wrong. He’s so fucking wrong I can’t even believe he’d—look, I know he warned me away from you when we first got here.
But to say you’re not a family man? That’s bullshit.
You were the one that decided to stick around when Muddy needed help, when we needed help.
Don’t you get it, Cas? You’re a family man who never got a chance to have a family.
And we’re your family. You’re my family. ”
Cas grinned. “Okay, tater tot. I’ll marry you.”
“What?”
“That was a proposal, wasn’t it?”
“No.” I scoffed. “That wasn’t a proposal.”
“Felt like a proposal.”
“You’re an ass.”
“But I’m your ass.” He chuckled. “Now come back here and kiss me.”