Chapter Twenty-Two – Levi
Levi
Rhett opened the door to my truck and climbed up into the back seat, tossing his backpack to the side.
“Well? How was your first day of first grade?”
Giving me the biggest smile I’d ever seen, Rhett replied, “It was the bestest day ever, Daddy!”
“I’m so glad it was. Buckle up, buddy.”
He quickly buckled into his booster seat as he talked. “Ms. Kennedy said me and Timmy can sit at the same table! And I had three other friends in my class! Jimmy and Katie, and Luke.”
“Timmy and I.”
“You? You’re too old to be in first grade!”
I laughed. “No, the proper way to say that is ‘Timmy and I.’”
When he scrunched up his nose in confusion, I decided to leave it. “Did you learn anything today?”
“The rules of the class. And we got to pick our reading spots. Me and Timmy picked the spot by Ms. Kennedy’s desk.”
“How fun.”
“It was lots of fun!”
“Well, the fun isn’t over. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Really? What is it?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
“Where’s the surprise?”
“It’s at home.”
Rhett clapped. “Hurry home, Daddy! Hurry home!”
The entire drive from school to home was filled with Rhett talking a mile a minute. He told me what I swore was a play-by-play of his day, from the time he got out of my truck to the moment he got back in.
“Then, Ms. Kennedy told us that we can have guests come eat with us, but they have to go to the office first to make sure they’re allowed to come see us. Will you come eat lunch with me?”
Before I had a chance to answer, Rhett added, “I want Ms. Emeline to come to lunch.” Then, after a moment, “Is it bad that I want her to pretend to be my mommy?”
I looked at Rhett in the rearview mirror. His little innocent face seemed so hopeful. “But Emeline isn’t your mommy, Rhett,” I said gently.
He looked down. “I know. I just wish she was.”
Caroline had made good on her word. She moved to Italy, and I hadn’t heard a single thing from her since. I couldn’t have cared less…but I knew Rhett did. He acted as if he didn’t, but she was still his mother. I’d never forgive her for hurting him the way she had.
I wasn’t sure what to say, so I focused on the road. I’d have to ask my parents for some advice in this particular area of parenting.
I clicked the gate remote and waited for it to open.
“I can’t wait to see my surprise! Daddy, can you drive faster?”
Laughing, I said, “No, I cannot drive faster.”
We finally pulled up to the house, and I parked outside the garage. Emeline was parked inside, so Rhett wouldn’t know she was here.
I got out and opened the back door for Rhett. He clambered out as I grabbed his backpack.
When he headed for the side door that led into the mudroom, I said, “We’re going to the barn.”
“What about Pip and Bull?”
Pip was Rhett’s kitten, and Bull was his chocolate lab puppy, who was as crazy as hell. He gave Moose a run for his money. They both shared the same father, and they seemed to understand they were brothers. When they were together, they were two peas in a pod.
“I just need to check one thing in the barn, then we’ll go see them.”
Rhett frowned. “Is my surprise in the barn?”
I laughed. “That’s a silly question. Just this one quick thing, I promise.”
Kicking at nothing on the ground, he folded his arms and started walking toward the barn.
“Are you pouting, Rhett?”
“No, sir. I’m just mad.”
I bit back a laugh and walked next to him. “That’s okay if you’re mad.”
“Grammy would tell me to… I can’t think of the word.”
“To be patient?”
He looked up at me. “That’s the word.”
This time, I did chuckle.
We walked into the main entrance of the barn and turned to go down the aisle with the stalls. Once Rhett saw Emeline, he ran toward her.
“Emeline!”
She bent down and caught him right as he launched at her.
“My goodness! You almost knocked me over!”
Rhett laughed.
A warmth spread through my chest as I watched them together.
She was so damn good with him, and I knew she’d make a wonderful mother to my son.
The thought wasn’t something new. As each day went by, I became increasingly sure that Emeline was the one.
The woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
“How was your first day of school?”
Rhett jumped for joy when she put him back on the ground. “It was so fun! I got a star for being fast and quiet when Ms. Kennedy told us to get on the rug for story time!”
Emeline gasped and put her hands to her chest. “You already got a star?”
He nodded. “Yep! Sure did!”
She was down on his level, like she always was when she spoke to Rhett. “Well, I think that alone deserves another hug!”
Rhett wrapped his arms around her neck, and she stood, lifting him with her. “My goodness, pretty soon I won’t be able to lift you!”
“Grammy said I’m growing big because I eat all my broccoli.”
Emeline giggled. “I bet that’s one reason for sure.”
“Are you ready to see your surprise?” I asked.
Rhett grinned. “Yes! Come on, Emeline, we need to go back to the house!”
“The house?” Emeline asked. “But your surprise is right here.”
Walking down to the next stall, she opened the top door—and a stunning white and chestnut paint gelding poked his head out. A soft nicker came from the horse…and Rhett just stared at him.
“This is your surprise, Rhett,” Emeline said as I opened the lower stall door and brought the horse out into the aisle.
Emeline put Rhett down, then ran her hand over the gelding’s neck as she said, “His name is Orion, but you can change his name if you want.”
Rhett looked from the horse to me, and when I saw the tears build in his eyes, I almost fell to my knees.
“He’s mine?” he asked, wiping at his tears.
I nodded, unable to speak.
He turned to look back at the horse. Emeline reached down and picked him up, placing him on the back of the gelding as I held the reins.
“Look at you up there.” Her voice cracked, and I watched as she wiped her own tears from her face.
“Are you sad, Emeline?” Rhett asked. “Is he your horse, and you’re letting me have him?”
She let out what sounded like a laugh and a sob. “No, baby, these are happy tears, just like yours. He’s your horse, Rhett. Your daddy bought him for you.”
Rhett looked at me, and my throat still felt like it was packed with cotton. All I could do was smile and nod. My eyes stung with unshed tears.
“But was he your horse?” Rhett asked again.
She patted the horse’s neck and kissed him. “He was one of our horses, yes. But don’t tell the other horses—he’s one of my favorites. You’re going to have to take good care of him and feed him. You know how to clean out his stall, right?”
He nodded. “I sure do! Daddy taught me, and I took care of my other horse. I’ll love him always, I promise!”
Emeline smiled up at Rhett. “I know you will, bud. I know you will.”
Rhett looked at me, tears still slowly moving down his cheeks. “I love you, Daddy. Thank you for Orion!”
“I love you, too, bud, and you’re more than welcome.”
Then my son looked down at Emeline. “Thank you, Emeline. I love you!”
Another sob slipped free. “Oh, Rhett, I love you too. So very much.” She took the reins from me and said, “Let’s see how he feels, shall we?”
“Yes!” Rhett exclaimed.
I watched as Emeline walked Orion out of the barn and to an enclosed paddock, chatting softly to my son. That was the moment the last part of my broken heart healed.
My therapist told me after Brooke’s death that she hadn’t died for no reason.
That her death would change the journey I was on…
and she was right. Not that her loss isn’t at the forefront of my mind every day, Brooke’s death had led me back home and brought Emeline into our lives.
I’d never been as happy as I’d been over the last few months. And Rhett was thriving more than ever.
Glancing back over her shoulder, Emeline asked with a smile, “You coming?”
Nodding, I replied, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
I leaned over the railing as I watched Emeline ride a stunning thoroughbred filly around the pen. A dusting of snow was on the ground, making the black coloring of the horse stand out that much more.
Caden walked up and stood next to me. “Gorgeous, isn’t she?”
“She is. The horse is pretty magnificent, as well.”
Caden chuckled, then grew serious. “I don’t know how she does it. She gets these crazy-ass horses who won’t let anyone near them, let alone ride them, and she climbs on and makes it look effortless.”
I watched as Emeline slowed the horse down to a walk. “Where did she come from?”
“A trainer friend of Gatlin’s was telling him about this horse that he’d saved from the previous owner.
The guy wanted to race her, but she couldn’t stand to be loaded into the gates.
He was going to shoot her until the trainer told the guy he’d take her.
He said trying to get her into a trailer was almost impossible. They had to sedate the poor thing.”
“From Colorado?” I asked.
“Yeah, he has a horse ranch east of Denver.”
Emeline rode up and stopped right at the fence. I held out my hand for the horse to smell. When she let out a soft nicker, I smiled. “Seems like an angel to me.”
“That’s because she has one sitting on her,” Caden teased.
“Want to go for a ride?” Emeline asked.
I pointed to the filly. “Are you going to ride her?”
“I am. I’d like to see how she does with another horse riding alongside her.”
Caden clapped my back. “And this is where I leave. Good luck.”
I frowned as I watched him walk away. “Thanks a lot.”
Waving his hand, Caden said, “You’re welcome!”
Turning back to Emeline, I asked, “Which horse did you have in mind?”
“Marshall was saddling up Comet. He was going to ride with me, but since you’re here…”
Right then, Marshall appeared with Comet trailing behind him.
“Levi’s going to join me if you don’t mind, Marshall.”
He tipped his cowboy hat. “Don’t mind at all.”
Marshall and I were the same height, so I knew I wouldn’t have to adjust the stirrups. I climbed on, and he handed me the reins.
“Thanks, Marshall.”
“Sure thing.” He turned and opened the gate for Emeline, who walked out with the thoroughbred.
“What’s her name?”
“Starlight. It’s like she was meant to be with us with a name like that.” She walked up next to Comet and let the two horses smell each other. “It looks like a storm is going to be moving in, so it’ll be a short ride.”
“Sounds good. Shall you lead the way?”
Emeline started toward a trail, and I followed behind until she motioned for me to come alongside her. Starlight reached over and nipped at Comet, who simply ignored her.
“Smart boy,” I said, giving him a soft pat on the neck.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were working all day at the clinic?”
“I was until my father came in and asked if he could see some patients.”
She laughed. “So much for retiring.”
“It’s only been three weeks since he officially retired. He wanted to be done by November first, and he was. Couldn’t even make it to Thanksgiving.”
Starlight reached over and bullied Comet once again, and he ignored her. Again.
“I’d say you paired up the right horses for this ride.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, I figured she was going to have a bit of attitude, and Comet’s the most laidback horse we have on the ranch. He has zero fucks to give.”
It was my turn to laugh.
“Speaking of Thanksgiving, what are you and Rhett planning on doing, since your parents are going to Las Vegas?”
“We’re going to make a turkey.”
“You’re going to make a turkey?” she asked, clearly surprised.
“Why do you sound like you don’t think I can make a turkey?”
“Can you?”
I shrugged. “How hard can it be?”
“A whole turkey?”
“Nah,” I said as I moved Comet away from Starlight just a bit. She looked like she was ready to take a chunk out of him again. “Maybe just a breast. Some stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and a pumpkin pie.”
“You’re going to make all of that?”
Looking at her, I flashed my sexiest smile. “I was hoping for some help.”
Her head tossed back as she laughed. Fuck, it was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.
“Is that a no?”
She looked at me, and the way her eyes sparkled made my heart skip a beat in my chest. “I would love to help you make Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve never missed one at my parents’ before, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. Unless you and Rhett wanted to come over to my folks’ place?”
“I appreciate the invite, but I really want to start some traditions. We always went out to eat on Thanksgiving because Caroline never had the desire to have a traditional family meal at home.”
“I’d be honored to join your first Thanksgiving Day meal then. And I have to tell you, I make a mean stuffing.”
“Do you?” I asked, my brows lifting.
“Yep!”
“Okay, then you’re in charge of the stuffing.”
“And the pumpkin pie.”
I laughed. “And the pumpkin pie.”
We rode in comfortable silence for a bit longer before I looked up at the sky. “Mind if we stop a minute?”
“Not at all,” Emeline said as she brought Starlight to a stop.
I slid off of Comet and tossed the reins over his saddle. Emeline did the same. I walked up to her and cupped her face in my hands.
“I love you, Em.”
Her eyes grew wide—then immediately filled with tears. “I love you too.”
Pulling her to me, I looked into those blue eyes. “I kept trying to find the perfect place and time to tell you, and this suddenly felt like it was the right time. Just the two of us, with one spirited horse and one calm as hell.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck. “You could have told me anywhere, and it would have been special.”
I ran my finger down the side of her beautiful face. “You have no idea how much you’ve healed us. Your love is something I will never take for granted.”
A tear slipped free and slowly made a trail down her cheek.
I leaned in and kissed it before pressing my forehead to hers. “God, this feeling, Emeline.”
Her hands came up to my face. “I know. I feel the same. You were so worth the wait, Levi.”
We drew apart, and thunder rumbled across the meadow. We both laughed.
“We should turn back before this storm moves in.”
“I agree.”
We climbed back onto the horses and turned them around. Starlight kicked at Comet, but he simply sidestepped. I was beginning to think his indifference pissed Starlight off. She snorted, and Comet answered with a snort of his own.
“Guess he’s tired of her shit and is telling her so.”
Emeline laughed, then looked at me with a mischievous grin.
“Oh no. I don’t think I like that look.”
“Let’s see how they do in a trot.”
Before I could reply, she and Starlight were taking off, leaving me and poor Comet in the dust.
Smiling, I said, “Come on, boy. Let’s put her in her place once and for all.”