Chapter 15
Wrath
M y alarm goes off at four-thirty. I turn it off and go take a quick shower. Millie is still sleeping when I come back. As I gaze upon her sleeping form, my heart swells with love. The mere sight of her brings a smile to my face, and I can’t help but think I’m one lucky son of bitch.
With each breath she takes, her soft, rhythmic breathing fills the room and makes me feel like home. She’s, my home. The day I found her is the day I found my home. A place to call my own. I didn’t realize how much I’d been missing that until Millie came into my life. I was happy with my bachelor life. Happy to screw the dolls and hang-arounds. I didn’t need or want more.
Meeting Millie changed all that. Her blonde hair spills onto her pillow and cascades around her face like a golden halo. My finger itches to reach out and run my fingers through the silken strands.
As I stand there studying her, a mixture of nerves and excitement courses through me.
Yes, I can’t help but worry a little about the carefully planned surprise I have in store for her. It’s a biggie, a life changing one.
Yesterday, I reached out to my parents, siblings, and a few club brothers to involve them in the surprise.
In fact, they’ll be there by now. Everyone but us traveled yesterday. With care, I pack all her belongings while she sleeps. At quarter after five, I lean in and kiss her cheek. Her eyes flutter open. Bright green orbs regard me through sleepy lashes.
“Good morning, Nightingale.”
“Morning,” she says. Her voice husky from sleep.
“We’ve got a big day today?”
“We do?”
I nod.
“You have several surprises in store today starting with....”
Someone pounding on the door interrupts me from telling her about Gatlinburg.
“I’ll get it.”
I run down the stairs and open the door to find Millie’s family waiting on the door with big smiles on their faces.
“Is she up yet?” Brain asks.
“Does she know yet?” Lisa inquires.
“MIL GET YOUR ASS OUT OF BED WE ROLL IN FIVE,” Micah shouts.
“What?” I hear her cry out.
“I’ll be right back,” I say with a laugh and a shake of my head.
I take the stairs two at a time. Millie is out of bed, searching through the dresser I just packed.
“Where are my clothes?”
“I packed everything, but an outfit Lisa picked out for you.”
She looks at me and smiles before hurrying across the room and throwing herself in my arms. I’ve noticed she’s slow to wake up in the morning. She’s often quiet for an hour or so until she fully wakes up.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re going to Gatlinburg and taking horses and bikes. I think we’re bringing motocross bikes and sleds. Your parents are even bringing their touring bike so we can ride in the mountains.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Can you get a few extra days off work?”
“I can. Why the sudden change?”
“What, you don’t like surprises?” I ask, my heart trying to beat out of my chest.
“I love them. My brain isn’t awake yet.”
“I’m driving so you can go back to sleep if you want. I haven’t packed your toiletries yet.”
“I better shower and get on it. Micah means five minutes.”
“I’ll load while you shower.”
“Good plan,” she says, standing on tiptoes and dropping a quick kiss on my lips.”
As soon as she’s in the bathroom, I grab our suitcases and hurry downstairs. Her brothers head up the stairs.
“We’ll get the rest,” Micah says.
“Let your sister shower in peace,” Lisa says with a smile.
“Don’t worry, we’ll save our pranks for the honeymoon,” Tyler says with a wink.
Fortunately, the boys listen to their mother and leave Millie alone to shower in peace. While Millie gets ready, I hook up the trailer and load my sled to the back of our SUV. In that time, the Barnes load motocross bikes into a covered trailer and the horses into the biggest horse trailer I’ve laid eyes on.
Eight horses in all, but not Soldier. Lisa told me the horse doesn’t like to travel, and since he’s twenty, he’s earned the right of refusal. She told me they loaded a mixture of geldings and mares. And assured me Millie would get first pick of which horse she’d ride. Lisa also told me the family has ridden in the Smokies for years and it’s one of her favorite things to do.
I foresee a lifetime of fun family vacations in my future. I wonder how my family will take to the horses. Lisa surprises me by handing me a cooler and Millie a picnic basket.
Millie laughs after we get settled into the SUV and explains.
We only stop to pee on the way down because of the horses. Lisa always packs enough food to feed an army. Then again, my brothers eat enough for a squad.
We’re on the road and rolling before six in the morning. If things go as planned, we’ll arrive around noon.