79. Ep Mason
Ep Mason
When we pull in, I park next to Dixon’s rig and start unloading kids.
I don’t think any of us expected there to be twenty-something children running around in just a few years, but it’s the highlight of my life seeing all of them running and playing in the grass.
Cynthia waves, calling the older ones over.
Jack looks to me for permission while Ben takes off at a dead run.
Oh yes, he’s going to be that kid.
“Go on and play, she’s in charge when you can’t see us.” I drop my chin towards Jack, giving my okay for him to be young for a little while longer.
As Sawyer approaches with Sophia next to him, all I can picture is them when they weren’t much older than Jack.
How their eyes looked that day I told them their mom wasn’t coming home. They had to grow up that day, I didn’t give them a choice.
It hurt too fucking bad to try.
But despite me, they’ve both turned into the most amazing adults that I’m not only proud to call my kids, I’m honored that we can be friends as well.
When Wade pulls in, followed closely by Cade, Lori squeezes my hand.
She knows.
There’s still a catch in my throat every time I think about the years I lost with my brother.
I let her fingers slip and cross the fresh gravel as his car comes to a halt. Well, my SUV. It’s the least I can do since he’s the one who’s been taking on the effort of visiting us every summer.
“Mason.” He pushes open the door.
Before he’s unfolded himself, I’m pulling him in.
“I missed you,” I grunt as I hug him tightly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you at the airport.”
He squeezes me too.
The pain and heartache we’ve both experienced has been slow to strip away.
Thankfully, it’s shifted into a bond greater than anything we had before the accident. There’s a new level of trust that exists unspoken.
Regret has a way of welding over old scars into something stronger.
I want to make it up to him for the time he missed with our parents. The milestones he was absent for can’t be replaced, so I’ll be damned if any more pass without him.
“It’s good to see you again,” I choke out, finally letting my arms fall.
“Fuck, Mas, it gets harder to leave.” His unscarred cheek lifts as he looks past me to the kids running in the field.
I follow his gaze to see my two oldest walking towards us, with Dixon wandering over too.
“Dad, Cade, Soph and I have been working on this for a while. Ollie is coming up next week to start breaking ground on the new foundations.” Sawyer points past us to where the old house and barn sat.
“For what?” I blink, raising my brows.
Cade puts his hand on my shoulder, pulling me close. “We’re moving back. I’m tired of playing catch up. Our kids should grow up so close they get sick of each other.” He snorts with the shine of tears in his eyes.
My chest feels like it’s going to burst.
“That’s why we added on to the guest house until this one is done.” Sawyer’s grin stretches from ear to ear.
Sophia looks like the cat that ate the canary. “Isn’t it awesome?”
“Dix, did you know?” I find my towering brother who’s leaning against the front of the car with one of his very rare grins.
“Yep. Just a couple of weeks ago. It’s been hard as hell to keep quiet.” Dixon’s mustache twitches as Char joins him.
Blue and Libby, Ford and April, Wade and Elena, my kids, my family. They’re all here with beaming smiles.
“There’s one more thing,” Sophia pipes up.
Her limp is almost invisible as she moves to the heavy pipe holding the sign over the driveway. When she tugs a cord, the canvas falls from the thick steel lettering spanning the entrance.
It takes me stepping back a few feet before I can see the whole thing.
“It’s a new chapter, Mason. Part of you, part of us.” Cade drops his arm across my shoulders and Dixon joins from the other side.
The brand in the middle is different. The letter ‘B’ and a ‘G’ but with an ‘L’ between it.
I remember the words Lori mentioned just a few moments ago as I read the name.
“Shit,” I mutter with tears stinging in my eyes. “It’ll be a whole new adventure at the Black Gulch Legacy Ranch.”