42. Epilogue
Epilogue
Cash
“Cash!” Abi shouted from the kitchen. “They’re going to be here soon, right? I mean the hospital’s not that far away?”
I stepped into the kitchen, watching as Abi frantically ran from side to side, putting plates on the counter, taking her famous baked mac and cheese that she somehow had time to make out of the oven, getting the drinks from the refrigerator—her mind moving a million miles a minute.
“Abs?”
“Have you seen Grace? She said she would make it here before them.”
“Abs?”
“Wyatt’s with Stet. They are feeding the horses before everyone gets here.”
“Abs…”
“Mom and Dad are setting up the cabin for them.”
“Abs.” I stepped in front of her, lightly touching her shoulders. She met my gaze and let out a long breath as her eyes fluttered closed.
“I’m going crazy, aren’t I?”
I shrugged a shoulder and then brought my forefinger and thumb up to her, showing just a pinch. “A little.” I kissed the tip of her nose.
When I first moved into the Hartwell Hills main house, Leo Hartwell pulled me aside. I had known this man for a long time, but if I would have said my heart rate didn’t pick up, it would be a lie. I was moving into his home. I was dating his daughter. I was—for all intents and purposes—taking over while he took his wife around the world. I had to remind myself that he didn’t carry his shotgun everywhere, and this was not one of those talks. I had never talked to Carolyn’s dad; he didn’t even say hello to me at our wedding. Leo though…Leo was a man who I respected, and I would shut up and listen.
“She deserves more than five percent of this place,” he began, “but I can see where her heart is, it’s with you and Stetson. She may not think it, but she’s the center of this home. Her mother and I have just been living here…she’s been shaping it. This home is the heart of the ranch, it always has been. I trust you with it, I trust you with her. Give her the life she wants, the life she needs. Give this home the life it needs. The life you need. You belong to this family, Cash—love it.”
And love it, I have.
During the first few months of living here, I trained. I built back up my stamina, and then after the Fourth of July, Abi, Stet, and I traveled in the Western Circuits with Quinn and Wyatt, my name finally back on the boards. I had won more than I lost, and I was loving every second with my new family. Not even seeing Carolyn again could ruin it. During that time, I talked to more cowboys who hoped to have their shot in the circuits. With training gigs in my future, it looked like fall and winter were going to be spent back at home.
With me training Quinn, two saddle bronc riders, one bareback rider and three other barrel racers, home became busier—but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Every morning, we wake up together, make breakfast for Lachlan and the ranch hands. Abi would start in the stables, and I’d prepare the arena. My clients would show up, and Abi would give their horses the care they deserved. Basically, the Nova Luna Stable and Arena was home to the most spoiled horses in Idaho. Once the day was done, we would eat dinner with Lachlan, sometimes Wyatt, sometimes Quinn if she were in town, but mainly it was just us three. The house had grown calm in the season.
But now with a new addition heading our way, I could see Abi worried about the calm being stripped away. Grace had flown in a few days ago, Kyla’s mother was due any minute, and Leo and Lottie were making sure Rhett and Kyla’s cabin was one hundred percent ready for the new baby. The house was going to become chaos soon, and even though Abi was the grounding force of the home, the fact that people were encroaching on what has become our space, was getting to her.
“A little?” she repeated. “More than a little. Do you even think anyone will eat the mac n cheese?” she pointed to the dish sitting on the kitchen island.
“Once the newness has worn down, yeah. They will want to eat…especially Kyla. She loves your mac n cheese.”
She inhaled again. “Okay. This is fine. I’m used to people in this house.”
“Not recently.”
She stepped into me. “True. It’s just been us in this little bubble, hasn’t it?”
“I like our bubble.”
“Me too.” She leaned in closer, her arms wrapping around my waist as she let out a deep sigh, melting into me.
So much in fact, the small box that sat in my pocket was burning a hole through my sweater. I knew the moment I came back to Hartwell Hills that I was going to marry Abi. I had just been waiting for the right time to propose. My thoughts went from the Fourth of July Rodeo, stupidly having it in my pocket while I rode, to a rodeo on the road, to Thanksgiving dinner—but no time felt like the right time to ask her. I had to remind myself that we didn’t need a ring or piece of paper to prove we loved each other.
The front door opened, pulling our attention from our bubble to Grace—who was carrying way more bags than she should be—barreling through the front hall. Lachlan stepped in behind her, closing the door, keeping his chin down.
“I told you I’d beat them here.” Grace smiled at Abi. “I got all the basic supplies…”
“Pretty sure they got all of that already?” Abi raised up on her tip toes, pulling on the bag to peek inside.
“Well, now they have more.” Grace beamed, looking at the pile of baby supplies that now littered the kitchen island. “You can never have too many onesies. I guarantee you that baby is going to poop through all of them.”
Lachlan cleared his throat as he passed us, his eyes avoiding Grace completely. “An Uber just pulled up, too. Kyla’s mom I’m assuming?”
“Oh, okay.” Grace looked at Abi. “I’ll go greet her. The dinner smells delicious. Kyla will be excited.”
Abi gave a soft smile, her body relaxing. “Thanks, I bet she will be.”
Grace gave Abi’s shoulder a squeeze before turning back to the front door, opening it only to have to step aside to let Wyatt and Stetson in. Wyatt slipped off his hat, took an inventory of the room surrounding him, and looked at his twin. Wyatt came up to stand next to his sister, stealing a noodle from the mac n cheese before opening his mouth to speak. Stetson, however, beat him to it.
“Mommy!” Stetson bounced. “They’re here! They’re here!”
“Wait, what?” Abi turned to her brother, who gave her a single nod.
Abi didn’t even hesitate. She rushed to the door, flinging it open and letting the cool air inside. I followed, placing my hand on the small of her back, delighted to see Rhett, opening the back passenger door to let Kyla out, then pulling out a car seat next.
Abi gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t believe she’s here,” she whispered.
Kyla had given birth early yesterday morning to a perfect baby girl. As much as everyone wanted to rush to the hospital to visit and meet the baby, Rhett had requested they keep it just the three of them, but now that they were home, I could see the love flooding them. Kyla set the car seat down on the coffee table and slowly pulled her daughter from the car seat. Rhett’s hand never left his wife’s back as he watched his baby do the infamous baby curl. Her hands were by her ears, her back arched, the perfect restful expression on her face once she settled herself into the crook of Kyla’s arms.
“Everyone”—Kyla smiled, her cheeks glowing with so much love as she looked at her daughter—“this is Poppy.”
“Poppy Grace Hartwell,” Rhett added, kissing Kyla’s temple.
After a few moments, Poppy was passed from Kyla’s mother to Grace and then finally to Abi. Tears welled in her eyes as she took in her niece, her tiny fingers wrapping around Abi’s. She walked over to me, slowly, her lips in the perfect ‘o’ and she cooed to Poppy. Seeing Abi hold this small baby pulled at my heart, tugging it in ways I’ve never felt before. I took a deep breath, trying to stop this new sensation.
“She’s beautiful,” Abi whispered, a tear falling from her cheek.
“She is. You did good, Rhett.” I looked up at my friend, noticing how crackled my voice was.
“Nah, it was all Kyla.” Rhett chuckled.
“Well, you helped.” Kyla smiled, kissing her husband’s cheek.
“Look at her.” Abi looked up at me, her voice still soft. “Can you imagine…” she began, her eyes drifting back to the baby.
No…I couldn’t…
Suddenly—the sensation made sense.
“Excuse me.” I kissed Stet on the crown of his head before leaving the room.
Not knowing quite where to go, I went to the stables. I could brush and prepare Nova for the night, even though she was most likely already settled in, but at least the time with her would allow me to think.
The longer Abi and I tested fate by not using any method of birth control only proved to me that having a baby of my own with her was completely out of the question. And seeing her, holding a perfect baby girl, only made me want that more and more.
The box in my pocket burned hotter.
Abi had told me months ago that I was all she needed. She had a family with me and Stetson, and that was enough for her. It didn’t matter that we couldn’t expand and fill this huge house with more kids. Little miniature versions of myself and Abi, our skin tones blending together perfectly. That would never happen. We wouldn’t be the ones greeted by family and fresh mac n cheese as we came home from the hospital. It would never be real.
I licked my lips. It was more than that.
That feeling of being a father…
Thawp.
“Shit…”
A sharp pain hit the back of my head, a grunt leaving my lips as I looked on the ground to see…a horse brush.
Holding the back of my head, I turned and saw Abi, standing next to the open tack shed, her hands on her hips.
“You just threw a brush at me,” I grumbled, attempting to keep the smile that so badly wanted to come out away.
“It was the only way to get you out of your head,” she teased. She put her hands on her hips and waited for me to come to her. I took a few steps, still rubbing the back of my head.
“I think you drew blood.”
“I threw it harder last time and you didn’t bleed.”
I snorted. “You should be inside.”
“So should you. Your niece is in there.” Abi pointed to the house. “So why the hell did you come to sulk out here?”
“I’m not sulking.”
“There’s only room for one brooding cowboy on this ranch Cash Callahan, and I hate to tell you that Lachlan owns that title.” She smiled, bringing back yet another memory from what seemed like so long ago. I couldn’t help but grin. I grunted and looked down at my boots, closing my eyes tight.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her arms sliding around my waist.
“You look beautiful holding a baby,” I whispered.
“Do I?” She raised a brow.
I nodded. “I know you don’t care but…I’ll never be able to give you that. I’ll never get to feel what Rhett feels…I’ll never…”
“You came out here to sulk about not having kids?” She arched her back. “Are you comparing our perfect life to Rhett’s?”
“Well…” I twisted my lips. “When you put it that way, it sounds childish. I’m not meaning to…I just…want that. With you. And seeing you hold a baby made me remember just how impossible it is.”
“Impossible?” Abi parroted.
Lowering my chin, I nodded.
Abi moved, catching me off guard as she began feeling my body, her hands moving rapidly as they began to rummage through every pocket. Her hair moved from side to side as she put her hands everywhere, and I mean everywhere .
“What are you...” I watched as she pulled the pockets inside out.
“Yes!” Abi cheered, pulling out the small box from my pocket.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at the box. I bit the inside of my lip.
“You’ve been carrying this around for months, Cash Callahan.” She waved the box in front of my face.
“I…” I stammered. “Have…”
“I have something to ask you, but I need you to ask this first.” She grabbed my wrist and put the box in my hand. “My answer is yes so…” She urged me on with her fingers. “Go ahead.”
“You’re taking over your proposal?” I raised an eyebrow, keeping my chin low.
She nodded. “Yep.” She popped the P. “Because I have something for you, and I was going to wait until Christmas because I was hoping you’d ask me then, but…you are dragging your feet.”
I barked out a laugh and spun the box in my fingers.
“So…ask me.” She took a step back, creating distance between us. Clasping her hands behind her back, she gave me a small twist with her hips, a sexy smirk coming with it.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Don’t make me throw another brush at you.”
“Marry me?” I said instantly, closing the gap she created between us. “Marry me Abi Acosta, let me be your husband and love you forever.”
She kissed me. “Yes, yes…Cash…yes.”
I opened the box, revealing the white gold band with a single diamond. Abi watched as I placed it on her finger, chewing on her bottom lip before wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you.” I kissed her, relishing in the moment that Abi was and always will be my forever.
Breaking the kiss, Abi arched her back slightly. “My turn.” She inhaled, her breath shaky. She pulled away, new tears welling in her eyes. “I was talking to Stetson the other night and I…well we…” She swallowed and glided her hands down my chest. The diamond caught the light from the stables and glistened, drawing her attention for a second. “Stetson wants you to adopt him.”
I widened my eyes. Sure, I thought about it, but I never wanted to replace Sylas for him. I never wanted to strip that away just so I could legally be his father. I loved that little man as much as I loved Abi. The three of us made a family, and I could feel my heart swell with just thinking about being his dad. I just searched her eyes, completely speechless.
“Say something,” she finally said.
“I don’t…I don’t know what to say.”
“He calls you Dad when he’s with me, but he’s nervous about calling you Dad to your face. He wants to. He really wants to. You mean so much to him, and when I asked him, he got so excited. It was his decision. He wants you to be his father.” Her voice was soft, and when I failed to come up with words she filled the void. “So, none of this you won’t ever be a dad bullshit because you already are one. You have a little boy who loves you more than you know, and he wants to call you Dad. You are his dad, Cash.”
I opened my lips, finally, but she stopped me, placing a fingertip on my chin. “I know what’s going through your mind. You’re not replacing Sylas. You are only filling his world with more love. He loves you. I love you.”
Tears fell from my eyes, harder and faster than I expected them to as I reached to cradle Abi’s face, bringing her to me in a deep kiss. This sealed everything, making my entire life whole. My family. My fiancée…my wife…and my son.
I broke the kiss and leaned my forehead against her. “I’d be honored,” I whispered, relishing the way her lips came to me once again.