Chapter 6
TIM
She said yes!
I can hardly believe it. Cassie Higgins is going to be my wife and make me the luckiest man on Earth. Dreams don’t often come true, not for ordinary people like me. Yet here we are. I want to pinch myself to make sure it’s real.
“We need to tell my parents.” Cassie’s eyes are wide. “And yours. Oh God, what will your parents say?”
“They’ll be thrilled,” I say, though I’m not sure that’s entirely true.
They won’t love us rushing into this. Especially my father.
My parents’ relationship is more a partnership.
It’s difficult to believe they were ever young and in love.
Mom will be happy I’m not alone. But Dad will have reservations.
Not that any of those barriers will stop me.
“Should we tell them now?” Cassie worries her lower lip. I hate the hint of doubt that dampens her earlier excitement.
“No.” I shake my head and reach for her hand. “Tomorrow. I’ll come over after work and ask your parents.”
“What if they say no?”
“They won’t.” I shake my head. “And if they do, we’ll elope.” Nothing will keep me from the future I’ve always wanted with Cassie.
“Okay.” Cassie offers a relieved smile.
“Besides, we have something important to discuss first.” I tug her back into my arms.
“What?” Her eyes drop to my mouth.
“Cass, you gotta name this horse.”
Her sweet laughter wraps around my heart like a warm blanket. Every fiber of my being delights in making her smile.
After Cassie names the colt—Silas—we make out in the barn for a while before I drive her home. By the time I return to the ranch, it’s late. The kitchen light is still on as I walk up the drive, and for the first time since asking Cass to marry me, my gut twists with apprehension.
The conversation with my father is unavoidable. I wish we had the kind of relationship where I am excited to share my good news, but that’s just how how it is. Fuck it. Better to get this over with.
“Another late night.” The judgment in his tone is clear the second I step inside the house. “Out with that Higgins girl again?”
“Cassie,” I say as I remove my boots and hang up my jacket.
“ Mphh ,” he grunts from his chair near the radio. A glass of whisky sits near a half-empty bottle. His evening wind down routine before heading to bed.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about.” I take the seat on the opposite end of the room, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my thighs.
“Here it comes,” he scoffs. “Let me guess. You knocked her up.”
I bite back the urge to tell him to fuck off but instead, I inhale all the patience in the world. I’ll need it for a conversation with this man. “I want to marry her.”
“Course you do.” He rolls his eyes.
“I do. And will marry her.” I clear my throat. “I’m not asking, I’m telling. But I would like your support, and I would like to fix up one of the cabins on the ranch for us to live in.”
“So you want a free place to stay?” He shakes his head.
“Free?” Anger boils to the surface. “I don’t know what your idea of free is, but I’ve been working on this damn ranch since I could lift a shovel.
I work my ass off every day for you, and I don’t complain because I love it here.
I want to continue our family’s legacy, even if that means working for my father and brother the rest of my life. ”
“And you what ? You want a damn medal for that? I put a roof over your head and feed you. You’ve never had to worry about nothing! You ungrateful shit!”
“Hey, what’s going on?” My older brother steps through the front door before I can respond to my father’s insults.
“This lovesick fool wants to get married,” our dad says with a snark of laughter.
“You’re going to marry Cassie?” Bob’s eyes light up and he closes the space between us in quick strides. “Congratulations, little brother.” He pulls me to my feet and clasps me on the shoulder when we embrace.
“Don’t encourage him.” Our father appraises us with a glare.
“Why not? We both know he’ll die a lonely bastard if he lets that girl slip through his fingers.” My brother shoots me a wink before knocking his shoulder against mine.
Our father chuckles, enjoying any joke at my expense.
“Did you ask her yet? When’s the wedding?” Bob asks.
“She said yes.” Heat creeps onto my cheeks as tonight replays in my mind. “I’ll go talk to her folks tomorrow, but we want to wed as soon as possible.”
Bob’s brows shoot high. “Okay, then. I’m excited to have a sister-in-law and become an uncle.”
I don’t even know how to respond.
“He wants to fix up the old cabin. But that’s yours.”
“Oh, I don’t want it.” Bob shakes his head. “Leslie would rather leave me than live on the ranch. She likes being in town. Especially now with two little ones.”
“What about when I retire and you take over the ranch?” our dad asks, obviously hurt by my brother’s answer, and showing a splinter of vulnerability.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” Bob glances at Dad, then to me. “Both of you, actually. That’s the reason I stopped by tonight.”
“Well, spit it out,” our father grumps.
“Leslie’s parents are going to retire. They want to move down to the Valley.”
“No shit,” I swear. Leslie’s family has owned the hardware store for as long as either of us has been alive.
“Don’t tell me you’re moving down there with ’em.” Dad scowls.
“No. But I’m buying the store. Working up a contract now,” he says to our father, then turns to me. “So, little brother. It’ll be up to you to carry on our family ranch.”
“Thank you.” I mouth the words, more than say them.
“Well, I ain’t dead yet,” Dad grumbles. “And you better give me a family discount.”
Bob chuckles. “Oh, I will.” He slings an arm around my shoulder. “And you let lovesick Timmy live his life. If he wants a ball and chain of his own, let him.”
I know what Bob is doing, poking fun to lighten our father’s mood. Making it impossible for him to stand in the way of my decisions. Sure, I’ll have to endure a lifetime of teasing, but that was bound to happen anyway. If my father weren’t in the room, I would hug my brother.
The next day, I head to Cassie’s after work with a smile on my face and a ring in my pocket. When I told my mother my plan over breakfast, she went into her bedroom and returned with a simple gold band—her mother’s ring. It is simple and perfect. I pray it’ll fit Cassie’s finger.
Like every other time I’ve pulled up to the Higgins’ home, Cassie is outside waiting. This time she rushes down the steps, a nervous smile in place as she meets me at the truck when I park.
“Hey, Sunshine.” I can’t help but smile as I take her in. I still can’t believe I get to marry this girl. “How was your day?”
“Fine.” She wraps her arms around my waist and buries her head into my chest. “Better now.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, alarm rattling my nerves. Is she having second thoughts?
“I just want to tell them so I can tell everyone.” She pulls out of my embrace and meets my gaze with a genuine smile. “Did you talk to your parents?”
I nod. Glancing to the big window off Cassie’s porch. Her parents lift their hands to wave when they see me staring. I wave back.
“How did it go?”
“My dad was a grump, my brother smoothed it over, and my mom gave me a ring.” I chuckle. “So, just as I expected.”
“A ring?” Cassie can’t hide her excitement. “For me?”
“Yeah.” I grin, hoping she loves it.
“I wanna see!”
“You will.” I laugh, taking her hand in mine and pulling us toward her house. “After we talk to your parents.”
“Fine.” She pretends to whine but I don’t miss the bounce in her step as we move toward the house.
Inside, Cassie’s parents greet me warmly and invite us to take a seat around the table.
Her mom has prepared a meal, and for a moment I wish we weren’t about to ambush them with big life plans.
Their hospitality is just what I expect after getting to know Cassie.
They’re kind, respectful people, and I only hope I am able to earn their trust after what I’m about to ask.
When the meal is done and the dishes are cleared, Cassie gives me a look and I know it’s time. We can’t put this off any longer.
“Mr. and Mrs. Higgins, I care about your daughter a great deal. She’s kind and smart, and for all of those reasons and more, I’d like to marry her.”
Cassie’s mother contains her gasp, and her father schools his features, but I can tell they’re both shocked.
“Cassie loves you both and we’d love your blessing.”
“Oh, well,” Cassie’s mom begins, then stops as if words fail her.
“Cassie,” Mr. Higgins focuses on his daughter, “Is this what you want?”
“I do, Daddy. I love him.”
Her father nods, then returns his gaze to mine. “That’s all I need to know. You have our blessing.”
“Thank you, sir.” I exhale and all the tension releases from my body. Shit. That was easier than I expected.
“Okay, then.” Cassie’s mother clasps her hands together, her face beaming with excitement. “When are we planning the wedding? The summer maybe? Or would you two prefer a longer engagement?”
“Yes.” Her father nods. “Let’s talk dates so we can book the church.”
“Next month.” Cassie’s smile doesn’t waiver as she reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. This is the moment she’s been dreading. The one she can no longer avoid. “We don’t want to wait to start our life together.”
I squeeze her hand back. I hope she knows how brave she is. How much I admire her strength.
“I see,” Cassie’s father says.
Her mother is no longer smiling, her gaze zeroed in on Cassie’s belly.
“Mr. Higgins, Mrs. Higgins, I know this is rushed, but I love your daughter and I promise to take care of her and give her the life she deserves. The Wilder ranch will go to me when my father retires, and I can provide a good life for us there.”
Her father meets my gaze. “I appreciate you doing right by the situation, son.”
“I will always do right by Cassie. I promise you that.” It’s a promise I intend to keep until the day I die.