EPILOGUE
THE NEXT VALENTINE’S DAY
FORD
Dear Cowboy,
I was going to write you a whole scavenger hunt with rhymes and puns. But then I realized I don’t want to waste our time leading you around by the nose.
I’m in the loft waiting for you.
Wait!
My Cowboy, my husband, my Ford.
Happy birthday.
I love you more than I could ever put into words, which is kind of surprising. Thank you for supporting me, for helping me plod along through this life when I don’t have the words, or the patience, or the energy.
We jumped into our life together with our eyes wide open and our hearts full, but then we had to navigate the reality of living together.
It hasn’t been easy every day this past year, but I think we won more often than we didn’t. Even if that weren’t the case, it wouldn’t change anything.
I’m yours and you’re mine.
You are a man I am proud to have our son look up to.
We have been figuring out this life for a year now. We’ve gotten married. We’ve brought our son into the world.
If that’s year one, can you imagine what else is in store for us?
And before you worry about it, I have a blanket in the loft, and I sent everyone home for the day. The ranch is taken care of, and Bo will keep an eye on things.
I’m just waiting on you, Birthday Cowboy.
My thumb brushes over the sunflower sticker at the bottom of the page and I can’t help but smile.
She’s right. It’s been a year of figuring things out, stretching against our roles and each other to find how we fit, how we become better together. We’re figuring it out.
And there really isn’t an alternative. We’re in this together.
I gave my woman the wedding she wanted. When the whole town basically showed up, she seemed surprised, but I wasn’t.
They were there to celebrate with us. Reba threatened me with bodily harm if I ever hurt Arden. It wasn’t easy keeping a straight face as she did it, but I also understood where she was coming from.
Kendrick stood at my side and Eliza stood up for my woman.
It was perfect and my Sunflower, with her precious bump showing, was the most beautiful bride. I think the only bride who might top her is the daughter we may one day be blessed with.
For now, we’re happy with our son, Everton, who is still so small.
I’ve been looking forward to my birthday because I wanted to give Arden time to heal after she brought our son into the world with strength and grit which had me falling in love with her all over again.
Watching her become the mother our son deserves, one every child would be so lucky to have, has been an honor.
Rosalie, Rafael, his wife and baby all came to visit for the wedding, and it was good to see him again. It felt like I healed something in myself, something that let go of close friendships because of the fear of them disappearing.
Rafael is happy and that is what matters. And so is Rosalie. I’ve never seen a more smitten grandmother.
Well, I think Ginger gives her some stiff competition now.
By the time I’m climbing the ladder to the hayloft in the barn, my cock is throbbing and I’m panting from sprinting from our room where I found the letter and straight to my woman. When my eyes land on her, I find her laid out for me on a blanket.
Naked.
Her hair fans out around her head in luxurious waves.
The curves of her hips are one I’ve mapped so many times. I charted how they changed as she gave our son life. I’ve soothed my hands along them and used them to hold her closer.
And between her thighs.
Her pussy lips are glistening with her need for me and I swallow hard.
“Happy birthday, Cowboy,” she purrs.
I drop to my knees and crawl until her thighs are cradling my shoulders and I can dive between her slick pussy lips. The sounds of me devouring my wife are loud, matching her moans and whimpers.
Her fingers twist in my hair and she pulls, making sure I’m right where she needs me. The way my wife chases her pleasure is incredibly sexy. She has no idea what she does to me.
My cock is throbbing and leaking pre-cum, all but begging to be let out and buried inside of Arden’s sweet channel.
I don’t stop until she’s screaming my name and I have to reach up and cover her mouth. Just in case.
She looks so damn beautiful like this.
I hum against her mound, and she pushes me away with a giggle. As I stand up quickly and start pulling off my clothes franticly, I ask, “Where’s Ever?”
“Eliza is watching him for a little while. She also insisted on cooking dinner tonight. For your birthday. She asked about your favorite foods and I told her.”
I look down at my wife and awe fills me. She’s amazing.
One day I’m going to give her a place where she can help women like her mother and children like her. We’ve vanquished a lot of her fears together and over the next lifetime we’ll work on the rest.
I’ll give her everything, all the stars above Nevada and the devotion of a cowboy who only wants to see her smile.
When I cover her body with mine, she smiles at me. Her legs wrap around my waist and my cock slides between her pussy lips. It’s erotic and my eyes practically cross because of how good it feels.
“And after, I have a treat,” she teases me.
I pause, the crown of my cock kissing her entrance. “Oh? What’s the treat?”
She grabs a box of Milk Duds from under the edge of the blanket, and I bark out a laugh as I surge inside of her. When I’m buried all the way, I pause as the gasp that falls from her lips licks up my spine like fire. I don’t want to hurt her, and she’s only just been cleared by her doctor.
“I love you, my Sunflower,” I grit out through my teeth.
“I love you, my Cowboy,” she moans, her hips wiggling and urging me to move.
When I do, we’re lost in the way it feels to be joined together again. It’s too much and perfect in how easy it is, how much bliss we can feel.
I kiss her with gratitude on my tongue, and she gives it back to me in equal measure. Then we’re falling together, holding and caressing, praising and loving.
And as she shares her Milk Duds with me, we both have smiles on our faces. We’re wrapped up in each other and looking toward what could be.