Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
It doesn’t take me long to get him saddled and ready to ride.
I lift Keaton in the seat again before sliding on behind her.
This time she’s not wearing a skirt so I don’t have to make sure she has something to cover her.
Leaving the barn, I guide Bandit in the same direction we took before.
I watch Keaton take it all in once again as she excitedly points out things here and there.
She gets truly excited over taking in the sights of nature around us and I realize how much I’ve taken these same views for granted over the years.
What she finds new, I discover I’ve overlooked the same things she points out to me.
Like the creek running through our property as it slowly flows and ripples with the gentle breeze blowing today.
Or the deer as it runs across our land and disappears into the forest at the very edge.
When we get to the same spot we watched the sunset in, I get off of Bandit and lead him to the creek so he can drink while I do what I’m planning. Bandit’s a good horse and he’ll stay where I leave him for a little while so I don’t have to worry about him disappearing on us.
“I love it here, Tucker. This is the perfect spot in the world when you need to just sit and breathe without the weight of everything sitting on your shoulders. Thank you for sharing this with me,” she says, resting her head on my chest as I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head.
“There’s no one I’d rather share it with than you, Songbird,” I tell her before releasing my hold on her and looking down for a minute.
“I actually brought you here for a reason. I know this is way too fast and everyone in our lives might believe we’re crazy, but I don’t care.
This is our life and we’ll do things in our own time regardless of what anyone else thinks.
I’m not honestly sure when it happened, but I know without a doubt that I love you, Keaton.
You make me feel things I’ve never experienced before and have given me so much in our short time together.
“When I learned you were kidnapped after that call, I realized I couldn’t wait much longer to make you mine in every way possible.
I want to spend the rest of our days learnin’ every single thing about you and makin’ so many memories.
I want to be there for the good and bad days, the chaos and peace, and when you’re Ruby for the world while still bein’ Keaton for Bridger and me.
I want to share every part of my life with you and open you up to new experiences you never got the chance to have.
But most importantly, I want to spend every single day showin’ you how much I love you and Bridger.
Will you do me the honor of becomin’ my wife and ol’ lady in the eyes of the club? ”
Keaton doesn’t say anything for a minute.
Her hands cover her mouth as I remain standing in front of her.
There’s really no particular reason I’m not kneeling in front of her, I just didn’t do it.
While I wait for her to get over the shock of this moment, I pull out the ring my grandma gave me so long ago.
“Are you sure you want to be with me for the rest of your life, Tucker? I might not know much about the club, but I do understand what it means for you to ask me to be your ol’ lady.
That’s for life and we can’t just walk away from one another if things don’t work out.
Have you truly thought about this?” she asks me even as excitement and happiness fill her eyes and the smile brightens up the world around us.
“I’ve never been more sure of anythin’ in my life, Songbird.
I don’t say ‘I love you’ lightly and have never before said those three words to a woman who wasn’t family.
I do love you, Keaton. And I love Bridger like he’s my own son instead of Nora’s son.
I want to adopt him with you and raise him as our own while makin’ sure he knows Nora is his mom and you share stories of her when he’s old enough to understand.
Bein’ my ol’ lady is for life and it’s a journey I don’t want to miss havin’ with you,” I assure her as Keaton allows the tears to fall from her eyes and roll slowly down her cheeks.
“I love you, too. Yes, Tucker, I’ll marry you and be your ol’ lady,” she finally whispers as she holds out her hand and I slide the ring on her finger. It’s a perfect fit as she looks down and takes it in.
“This is beautiful and so perfect,” she tells me as I lean down to kiss her deeply.
“It was my grandma’s ring. She gave it to me shortly before she passed away.
I always knew I’d give it to the woman I fell in love with.
I do have to mention one thing before we head to get Bridger.
You do have to get a ‘property of’ tattoo.
It doesn’t matter where you get it or how big it is, but all of our ol’ ladies have to get one.
Wren hasn’t gotten hers yet to my knowledge but I know Judge will be takin’ her soon since she’s no longer pregnant.
We can put it in a place no one will see so fans don’t put two and two together,” I warn her, not taking my eyes off of her so I can gauge her reaction to this news.
“Okay. We’ll figure it out in a few days,” she says, reaching up and giving me another kiss as Bandit stands not too far from us. “Let’s go get our boy and take him home. I’m ready to collapse. Not before you have your way with me though.”
“I’ll give you everythin’ in me, Songbird.
Tonight, don’t plan on gettin’ much sleep,” I say as I lead her back to Bandit and help her in the saddle before joining her.
Keaton points out more things as we head back to the barn and I laugh as she almost falls out of the saddle despite my arms being around her when she sees a deer almost run into us as it races across the land.
After picking Bridger up from her parents, we head straight to her house where I watch her feed him before I give him a bath and put him in a fresh diaper and pajamas.
I rock him in the nursery while Keaton reads him a story.
She tries to do voices for each character but it doesn’t always work the way she wants it to.
Still, it doesn’t take Bridger long to fall asleep and I lay him in the crib before covering him up with a light blanket.
Now, it’s time for Keaton and I to celebrate the rest of the night together.
I do have a rag for her at the clubhouse and I’ll give it to her in a day or two.
I’m not sure if she’ll wear it, but she’ll have the option to like Wren does.
For now, all I can think about is tasting every single inch of her and making her mine while my ring rests on her finger.