Chapter 33
Thirty-Three
“ W hat are you thinking about over there, Cowboy?” Evie’s question pulled Sam’s eyes off the Christmas movie they were watching. Was it weird to be watching a holiday-themed show while it was nearly a hundred degrees outside and the middle of summer? Yeah. Would he tell that to Evie and risk her pregnancy wrath? No. No he would not.
Especially not when he had big plans for them that night. One that would hopefully end with a ring on her finger. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re rubbing my belly quite vigorously. I’m sure Jellybean is enjoying it, but I feel like you’re jittery about something.”
Sam stilled his hand on her bump, sighing. “Not jittery. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Is it the wedding?”
He steeled his face, not wanting to give anything away.
“The wedding? ”
“Yeah. I thought you were ahead of schedule with building the arch John and Abby want to get married under.”
His heart rate slowed. She hadn’t figured out his plans. “Everything with that is still good. I got the final measurements for it. So yeah, I should be able to get it done in time. Oh, Abby triple checked with the company that’s installing the AC in the barn and they swear they’re going to have it done next week, so it’ll definitely be nice and cool in there.”
“I, for one, am grateful for that. I feel like I’m going to be a giant melted puddle.”
“But you’ll be the most beautiful giant melted puddle there.” Evie slapped his arm. “I mean, eh, it was smart of them to think of that?”
“Right answer. Okay, so it’s not your sister’s wedding. What is it then? If something’s wrong?—”
“It’s not.” He stopped her as soon as he saw worry cloud her eyes. “I’m just thinking through a lot of things right now and got lost for a second. I’m back now.” He bent down and kissed the top of her belly before capturing her lips in a kiss. “Why don’t you go take a shower and change into that really pretty blue sundress you love. I’ll start on dinner.”
“That does sound nice, but I can help.”
“No ma’am. I don’t want to end up eating radishes and ice cream or chocolate covered Brussels sprouts. Go. Relax. And when you’re done, dinner will be waiting.”
“My cravings aren’t that bad. I swear, I’ve never heard of a dramatic cowboy before.”
“Evie, you had me make you a bowl of cookie dough ice cream last night with sweet onions cut up on top.” He feigned a playful gag. “I’m not being dramatic.”
Her shoulders shook with laughter. “You’re right. You’re spoiling me, and I’m so grateful, Sam. I won’t know what to do when this all ends.”
Sam shook his head. Soon enough she would have the concrete evidence of his feelings towards her. The water turned on in the bathroom and Sam grabbed the small bag he’d hidden under the kitchen sink.
It’s taken some stealthy negotiating to get the items, and his sister had been a Nosy Nelly trying to find out why he needed paper lanterns and battery operated candles, but she settled for the little white lie that he was trying to test something out for her wedding and couldn’t spill the beans. Heck, if it worked out how he was thinking, he’d happily put them back up for Abby and John over on their own trees.
“Dinner was so good, but if you keep filling my plate like that, I will burst.”
“You need the protein for Jellybean.”
Evie laughed. “What I need is for us to take a big walk tonight so that I’m not up with killer indigestion later tonight.”
“We need to stop down to the office. Then we can continue our stroll.” A question flashed through her eyes, but he just laughed. “I left my hat down there. A cowboy can’t properly stroll without it.”
Two minutes later, they made their way out of the barn and around the building. Her hand tightened in his a second before she stopped, staring at his secret project.
“Sam? What is all this?” The large white oak tree was covered in paper lanterns, all of which were illuminated, casting a beautiful glow onto the grass beneath the branches.
It was now or never. Sam pulled his hat off his head, got down on one knee, and handed the hat to Evie.
Her eyes grew wide, immediately glistening with tears, as she looked inside .
“ Bluebell and Jellybean .” Her whispers were filled with awe as she crushed the hat to her chest. “Sam…”
“I love you, Evelyn Williams. I didn’t know how good my life was about to get the day you pulled onto the ranch and I tried to force you to leave, but I’m so happy you fought me to stay. I meant what I said. I’m not going anywhere. And I want to make sure you and Jellybean don’t either. You both belong here with me. You’ve found home. I want to be your husband and Jellybean’s dad more than I want my next breath.” He pulled his great-great-grandmother’s ring box from his pocket.
“For so long, I wasn’t sure why I survived my cardiac arrest. There was all this responsibility, but it didn’t seem like the ranch should be everything I poured my life into. I kept moving forward because I knew there had to be something bigger. Something that I was missing before. Something worth continuing on for. And I was right. The ranch, this land, it was all a means for the universe to bring my family to me. And that’s what you are, Evie. You and this baby are my family. I want to show you every single day how thankful I am for you. I want to cherish you, and show you the love you deserve. And god, I want to hold your hand as Jellybean comes into this world. I can’t wait to change her diaper in the middle of the night before you nurse her. And to see her walk for the first time into our open arms. I want to braid her hair and chase away every boy who looks in her direction until she’s thirty-five.”
Evie laughed, and he reached up to brush the tear away from her skin.
“Evie, will you do me the greatest honor of my life, and allow me to be your husband?”
“Sam.” Her head shook slowly from side to side and his heart sank into his stomach. “You didn’t have to do all this. It’s incredible and I know this must have been so much work. But Cowboy, I love you, just for you. Even if you had set your hat in front of me at my desk, and asked me on a random morning, I would answer the same way I’m going to now. Yes. Yes, yes, a million times, yes!”
Her hands moved to the bottom of her belly and he laughed as she jumped up and down as best she could.
“This is the most incredible ring, Sam.”
“It was my great-great-grandmother’s.”
She stilled as he took her hand in his. “Are you sure you want to give something so precious to me? Shouldn’t Abby have it for Katy?”
His fingers stopped pushing the ring onto her finger.
“Bluebell, you are precious. This ring has been yours since my family started this ranch. Every eldest son has proposed with it, and every wife has worn it, including my mom.”
“She gave it to you?”
“With her complete blessing.”
“I can’t believe it fits. We might have to have it sized down after she comes. I think my fingers are a little swollen.”
Sam laughed. “You would not believe how stealthy I had to be to measure your finger a few weeks ago in order to make sure it would fit.”
“A few weeks? Even before… Garrett?”
“Of course.” He kissed her finger. “I branded your names into my hat after the solstice.”
Evie’s cheeks flooded with a shade of pink that could rival the sunset they were standing under. “That was a great night.”
“Yeah, it was.”
“What if we never have a son?” she whispered, worrying her lip between her teeth.
“Whether we have a son or not, whether there are ten kids that follow after her, or she’s our only baby, that ring belongs to you and Jellybean. When you’re ready for her to have it, then we’ll pass it down to her. I’m happy to make a new tradition for this family. Our family. ”
Jellybean was a miracle to him. No one would ever take her place in his heart, and it was about damn time that she accepted that.
“Sam…”
“No tears yet, baby. I have something else I want to show you.” He finished slipping the ring onto her finger, and pressed his lips to the diamond before wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
“More?” Her voice muddled as her arms wrapped around his back, deepening their embrace. “I’m not sure I can handle it. I’m pretty much a blubbering puddle at this point.”
“It’s just something small, but I really want to show you tonight.”
Sam laced his fingers through hers and pulled Evie towards his truck.
“We have to drive there?”
“It’s not far, and we aren’t leaving the ranch. I just didn’t want to make you waddle through the fields.”
Evie laughed, looking down at the ring he’d just placed on her finger. “I guess I can let that comment go tonight.”
“Good girl.”
It only took a few minutes to reach their destination.
“This is where we had our first date!”
“It is. My favorite spot on the ranch. Come on.”
Sam helped her down from the truck and slipped his hand around hers and he led her to the final surprise.
There, in the middle of the field, was a new stone pit for campfires and a place for them to sit as a family.
“A bench? Did you make this?” Evie asked as she ran her hand over the wood.
He nodded. “All the guys helped me finish it the night of the baby shower. I know how much you loved having campfires with your parents. I’m going to plant a big bluebonnet field right here, so we can come out here with Jellybean and make our own memories as a family.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Want to take it for a spin?” He took her hand and twirled her under his arm, taking care to place his hand on the small of her back as she swayed and laughed.
“Of course!”
Sam helped lower her down to the seat, smiling as she placed her free hand over her belly. “I can’t wait to sit out here with the baby. She’s going to love it.”
Evie’s eyes wandered the length of the seat, and then up to the wood that made the backrest. He knew the instant she saw the last part of his surprise. A brass dedication plate sat in the middle of the wood.
For Bennett, who only knew his mother’s perfect and pure love while on this Earth.
“Sam,” she whispered as he watched tears wash over her lashes. He hauled her over into his chest, wrapping her up in a hug.
“I wish we got to know him. I wish you came here with your son in your arms and Jellybean in your belly. I wish I got to be his dad like I’m going to be hers.” His hand slid over Evie’s and he smiled as he caught a kick from his sassy girl. “You and Jellybean are in my hat, but Bennett needed a place to be, too. And I can’t think of a better place than right where my family started all those years ago. Where our family officially starts today. He’ll always be with us. And we can come out here as a family to sit and be with him.”
“I love you so much. Thank you for loving us exactly how we need to be loved, Sam. ”
He laced his fingers with hers. “I want to go down to the courthouse tomorrow and get everything sorted.”
“Okay.”
“And then we can get married right away.”
Her hand squeezed his. “We can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Your sister’s wedding is in two weeks and I don’t want to take any of that spotlight away from her. It’s already stressful enough knowing I could go into labor that day and have to give birth on my own.”
His mind went blank. “Evie. I would never, ever leave you to have Jellybean on your own. Yes, it’s my sister’s wedding day, but it’s the birth of our daughter. I’m not missing that for anything. ”
“But you’re supposed to walk her down the aisle. And fill in for her father-daughter dance at the reception. I can’t ask you, or her, to give that up for me.”
“Good thing you’re not asking. And besides, as soon as Abby knew things were serious between you and me, she told me she asked John’s dad if he’d be willing to step into that role if I needed to be with you.”
“She did?”
Sam nodded. “Abby would never forgive me if I sent you off to have the baby on your own. And it would never be something I’d be willing to miss. You and our daughter will always be the priority.”