Dean
“You ready?” I glance away from the window at Owen who ties his tie in the mirror. Turning back to the window, I watch Hannah hold onto my mom’s arm and laugh about something before they go back to chatting back and forth in front of the tables set up below.
It’s been eight months since I chased her down in Amarillo and fucked her over the saddle in the tack room.
We packed up her trailer and I drove us home.
She tried to put up a fight, asking what I’d do with my truck parked beside hers.
But I’d simply tossed my keys to one of the ranch hands and told him, “Sell it. We only need one now.” Her jaw hit the dirt and her eyes were as wide as a full moon.
I just shrugged, swiped the keys from her hand, and hopped in the driver's seat.
We spent the drive home talking about everything and anything, sometimes nothing at all.
The silence between us has never felt uneasy or out of place.
About half way back to Green Haven after we’d stopped for dinner, she’d climbed in the passenger seat and broke down in tears.
I still remember how I pulled her over into my lap and let her tears soak my shirt.
After a long moment, she told me through watery eyes that she would give up racing so she could raise our baby.
“Why the fuck can’t you do both?” I’d asked her.
She told me that she didn’t want me to quit riding, and trying to juggle two schedules would be too hard with a kid, so she’d give it up.
Those brown eyes looked so full of conflict.
Without thinking, I spoke the truth that had been weighing heavy on me for a couple summers.
“I’m ready to be done, darlin’, I’ve been riding for a long time.
Not sure how much more my body can take, and I don’t want to be the dad who is too broken to run around with my kids.
I’m done.” That only made her cry more. I did my best to assure her that I had made my decision and I was sticking to it.
I was ready to hang up my rigging and be the dad I never thought I’d get the chance to be.
“You’d do that, for me, for us?” she’d asked as she slid off my lap and back into her seat, tear streaked cheeks shining in the parking lot lights.
I’d tipped her chin up and leaned into her space. “Darlin’, I’ve killed a man for you, not much I wouldn’t do for you both.”
“It’s your day, not mine,” I finally answer Owen, walking from one window to the next to keep an eye on them as they walk across the lawn, adjusting a few chairs as they go.
The country club is only a few miles from the hospital in Denver, but I still feel uneasy being far from Hannah’s side for too long.
Even at eight months pregnant, she still looks drop dead gorgeous in her bridesmaid dress.
When she stepped out of our room in that green satin dress, my fingers froze on my shoelaces.
I was grateful I was sitting on the couch; if I had been standing, I would have passed out just from one look at her.
I tried to tug her back in the cabin to change out of her heels when I finally made my legs work, but in true Hannah fashion, she pointed a finger at me and gave me a look that would cause any weaker man to tuck tail and run.
“I mean, are you ready for all that?” Owen bumps my shoulder, looking down to where Hannah stands.
I feel his eyes on me, but can’t look away from the woman below me who has stolen my heart since that night two and a half years ago.
He doesn’t wait for a response, just gives my arm a squeeze, chuckling under his breath as he turns back to the other groomsmen.
“Alright boys, it’s time!” Owen raises his glass, ice clanking against the sides as he downs the last of his whiskey.
We all lift our own drinks then follow him out the door and down the steps of the large barn the country club rents out for weddings.
My feet miss the bottom step and I nearly fall on my face when I get to the bottom of the staircase and see my woman waiting for me.
Her brown hair is down and wild, just how I like it.
She gives Owen a hug then catches my eyes over his shoulder.
A huge smile fills her face and her dress hugs the swell of our growing baby.
I have to rub a hand over my chest to ease the fullness that makes my heart feel like it’s about to explode.
Together, we walked down the aisle after Owen and my mom, Hannah’s hand nestled in the crook of my elbow.
I don’t hear one word of the vows, my entire focus stuck on Hannah standing across from me.
Her eyes narrow on me before she looks back at the bride and groom, her eyes misting over as they exchange rings and lean in to kiss.
As the autumn sun sets and a cool breeze makes its way down to the valley from the mountains around us, I take my time spinning Hannah around the dance floor, her heels long since forgotten.
“My feet are killing me,” she leans up and whispers in my ear. I stopped dancing, letting the other couples move around us.
“Here.” Shuffling my boots, I lift her toes and slide my feet under hers, all her weight resting on me.
“I’m not done dancing with you yet.” I carry her with me back into motion, letting the laughter and music of the reception swallow us.
Slowly, the song fades out and Nate Smith's voice starts to sing the beginning of my favorite song, Not of this Earth .
“I love this song.” Hannah’s breath fans across my cheek.
I tuck her head under my chin, looking around the dance floor for Owen.
His eyes catch mine and I watch as he places a hand on Vivi’s lower back, moving her towards the dance floor.
He gives me a wink and a quick thumbs up before turning his attention to his wife.
Dropping my hand, I reach for hers and hold it tightly, leaning down to whisper softly, “Come somewhere with me?” Confusion flashes over her face, but she nods slowly, looking around as I lead her to the parking lot.
“Shit, I forgot my shoes,” she yelps when her tender feet reach the gravel.
Just as she spins to head back towards the crowd, I snatch her arm and spin her towards me, lifting her easily into my arms and carrying her to our truck.
“Where are you taking me, cowboy?” She laughs as I place her gently on the seat and reach over her belly to buckle her in.
Not saying a word, I give her nose a kiss and close her door, rushing around the hood to get in.
She eyes me suspiciously the whole drive back to the ranch, my fingers tapping anxiously against the steering wheel.
I loosen my tie the second my feet hit the ground in front of our cabin, suddenly feeling like it's strangling me. I’ve faced death a few times in my life—riding broncs isn’t necessarily the safest career choice—but never before have I felt nerves quite like this.
I duck in the front door quickly and as I’m bounding down the steps one of the ranch hands walks around the side of the house with Ghost and Queen walking behind him.
No saddles, just blankets on their backs.
“Here ya go, boss.” I give him a nod and walk the pair over to Hannah’s door.
Her eyes narrow at me when I pull the door open.
I let my fingertips linger on her knees as I turn her to face me, then slide my hands down to her ankles before slipping the boots I grabbed from inside onto her bare feet.
Hannah breathes a soft laugh at how Queen nuzzles against the baby bump, rubbing the spot between her eyes that makes Queen push further into her touch.
“Let me help you, darlin’.” The evening breeze sends tendrils of her hair wrapping around her neck and I catch them in my hand, leaning in to kiss her exposed skin.
Carefully, I lift her up and over Queen’s back.
When she reaches for the reins, I snatch them back, giving her a raise of my eyebrow.
“Promise you won’t take off on me?” I ask, my words serious but intertwined with humor.
Hannah has been itching to ride these past few months, and I know deep down in my wild tornado of a woman she wants to spin Queen around and race off across the open pasture.
I can’t help but smile at the way she drops her head back, groaning in annoyance.
Then those brown eyes catch mine and she whispers, “Yes, Daddy,” before turning and walking, Queen slowly fades into the light of the dipping sun.
“You comin’?” Her voice breaks me from my trance, and in an instant, I push off the ground and turn Ghost towards her.
We ride in comfortable silence, Queen carefully navigating around large brushes and rocks, as if she knows she’s carrying more than just Hannah on her back.
Every now and then, I point us in the direction I want us to go, sneaking glances over at my woman.
Her smile is a balm to every worry and fear I’ve ever had.
Any wound or mistake I’ve made in my past seems to be remedied just by her presence, the mere fact that she’d choose me putting it all to ease. At least I hope she chooses me.
I’m about to find out.
Once we crest the hill that overlooks our wildflower field, I stop us, reaching up to help Hannah down once I’ve landed on my own feet.
Together, we stand looking out over the never ending orange meadow that almost seems to radiate brighter than ever before under the sky painted in unnamed shades of pinks and reds.
“I love it here,” she whispers, leaning deeper into my hold.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt as at home as I do right here.
” Looking away from the field beneath us, I turn towards her, feeling her eyes on me.
“As at peace as I do when I’m with you, Dean.
” My heart slams against my chest so hard I’m sure she can feel it.
Slowly, I pull away from her and drop to one knee.
“Hannah.” I look up into those honey brown eyes, seeing a whole lifetime flash within them.
“When I met you, I was a broken man.” My nose stings with the threat of tears, and I let them swell and spill down my cheeks.
“You picked up all my shattered pieces and put them back in place. Darlin’, you’re like saddling the wind.
You’re wild and free, and I promise you I will never try to tame that.
But I promise I will hold on for a hell of a lot longer than eight seconds.
” With the hand that isn’t holding tightly to hers, I wipe at my face.
“You’ve got me hung up, baby, and I never want to let go.
I want a lifetime with you.” I rest a hand against our baby.
“A lifetime with Lily Mae and all the other babies I plan to put in you. Marry me?”
No eight second ride, no top spot check will ever compare to the way my entire body fires up when she bobs her head up and down, feet lifting off the ground in excitement.
Hastily, I pull the ring out of my pocket and slide it on her finger.
It wasn’t long after Hannah and I got back to Green Haven from Amarillo that I had pulled my mom and dad aside and told them that I planned to ask Hannah to marry me.
My mom instantly ran upstairs, and a few moments later came back with a small box in her hands.
Inside was a pear shaped diamond on a simple gold band.
She smiled and told me that over the years she’d mention to my dad that for their anniversary or her birthday she wanted a new ring.
Secretly, she’d put those aside for Owen and I to give to our wives one day.
I made a few adjustments, like adding pink diamonds on the band.
And the way it shimmers with the last rays of the sun sinking down behind the mountain peaks matches the light that fills Hannah’s eyes when she leans down to kiss me.