18. Chapter Eighteen
Three weeks later, the big day finally arrived. Maya, Sarah, Olivia, and Eve, couldn”t help but ogle from the sidelines as the men in their lives flexed their muscles and showed off their skills on the field. There was a large crowd, with some market stalls and food trucks set up on the sidelines. People from both counties had come out in support of the women’s shelter. Or maybe just to see men roll around in the mud with a football.
”Oh, Lord, have mercy!” Olivia gasped, fanning herself dramatically. ”I don”t know how you girls manage to keep yourselves decently clothed around these men.”
”Tell me about it,” Sarah added, her eyes glued to her own husband, Kane, as he fumbled the ball but recovered quickly. ”Even after a year, I still get butterflies watching him.”
”Kane”s got you wrapped around his little finger.” Maya teased, nudging her friend.
Sarah blushed, but her eyes didn”t stray from her husband as he winked at her from the field. ”What can I say? The man”s got a way with words... and other things.”
The three women erupted in a fit of giggles, and even Eve, who was usually reserved, couldn”t help but blush. ”Don”t say it too loud, ladies. Our husbands might get even more cocky than they already are.” She said as her eyes tracked her husband Luke on the field.
”Speaking of cocky,” Maya started, adjusting her sunglasses. ”So, Jackson and I have settled into his house, but I don’t want to waste any more time. I feel like years have past where we could have been…enjoying one another. Now I want it all.”
“So, what does all look like for you?” Sarah asked as the others nodded.
Maya’s eyes glazed over as she looked at the field where Jackson was currently getting tackled by one of the man mountains. “Well, if he survives today,” she grinned, “I’m going to propose. I want Jackson as my husband. I want his baby. Babies really. As many as possible.” Maya turned to the others. “I want a life with him.”
Sarah teared up as she took Maya’s hand. “You would have me saying yes to you if you told me that.” Olivia and Eve leaned in and hugged Maya.
“I can cook the cake,” Eve offered, as Maya nodded to her. The others all started to plan, but Maya held a hand up.
“First, I have to propose, and if I know Jackson, he won’t want to wait. It will be a run down the aisle and me pregnant within a month,” she said, crossing her fingers it worked out that way.
They broke apart at the sound of a cough. “Permission to enter enemy camp,” Amy grinned at them, before Sarah stood up and dragged her down on the ground with them.
“You’re safe, but I think if the men from Bear Ridge come over, then we might have a fight on our hands.” Sarah laughed.
“I noticed your men are a bit protective.” Amy said, wiggling her fingers in a small wave to Ethan who had stopped in his tracks when he saw her.
Amy grimaced as Colt’s tree trunk arms caught Ethan around his waist and threw him to the ground. “Hey Colt. He didn’t even have the ball,” Amy called out as Colt grinned and started to run down Jackson who took off faster down the field.
“So, Ethan has been helping you set up the shelter? He reports back that all is going as planned.” Olivia asked Amy.
“Yeah, he’s been a good help. Colt and the others have been giving him a hard time, but he is holding his own, earning their respect slowly.”
“And nothing between you too?” Maya asked. “I’m sure I see steam between you whenever you are together.”
“Nothing yet.” Amy groaned. “Colt has definitely scared him off, so if he doesn’t make a move soon, then I will.”
“Colt is enough to make anyone have a second thought.” Olivia said. “Maybe you should try to set him up with someone so he keeps out of you love life.”
“The thought has crossed my mind, but there is no one in Bear Ridge that would be suitable.” Amy shrugged. She looked at Olivia. “Unless you’re offering?”
Olivia laughed. “Nope. I have my sights set on someone else,” she said as she pointed out Alex on the field. “Same problem though. But I’m working through it. I still have my “auction date” with him.”
“Thats right. You bought him. Why so slow going on the date?” Sarah asked.
“Well, between Maya and Jackson going missing, my two ten-year-old terrors and this football game, there’s not been a lot of time. But I’m planning on it being soon.” Olivia grinned as wiggled her eyebrows.
“Well, you know I’ll happily babysit the twins for you, so just say the word,” Eve said.
The women looked up as a loud grunt came from the field.
“That’s going to leave a mark,” Amy said as Jackson dug his elbow into Colt’s shoulder, pushing him further into the mud. Kane was bent over in laughter as Jackson stood up and danced around like a boxer. “I think he better start running,” Amy said as Colt struggled to his feet.
“So does anyone know the score?” Eve asked. “Considering we’re supposed to be keeping track.”
“Nope.” Sarah grinned. “I’m just going to say it’s a tie and then everyone is happy.”
The women watched as both teams tried to tackle each other. The brothers having the upper hand as they were faster against their bigger Bear Ridge rivals. Kane and Jackson ran over to the women, dropping sweaty kisses on them.
”Come on, Ethan! Show ”em what you”re made of!” Kane bellowed from the sidelines.
”Look at him go,” Amy exclaimed, ”like a gazelle. If gazelles were into contact sports and had killer quads.”
”More like a gazelle being chased by a pack of lions,” Alex muttered.
”Shh, watch him score,” she retorted, while the corners of her mouth betrayed her with a smile.
Kane and Jackson ran back onto the field to help Ethan, before he was once again tackled by a Bear Ridge player.
“That’s enough boys,” Sarah called out. “I think you have both proved your point.” Sarah grumbled to the others, “and I’m hungry. These food trucks are calling my name.”
The crowd clapped as they came off, lots of good-natured ribbing happening on both sides.
“Remind me not to do another fundraiser like this again,” Kane groaned as Sarah hugged her husband.
“Its all for a good cause, so harden up,” she said as she slapped his butt. He caught her arm and pulled her to him, rubbing his sweaty body over hers. “Now I have to shower again.” She complained.
“That’s the plan I was hoping for,” Kane said as he leaned down to kiss her. “Food first though. I have to feed you so you have stamina.”
“I wouldn’t worry about my stamina” Sarah whispered as she watched Jackson gather Maya to him and whisper something that made her blush.
“What did you just say to her?” Sarah asked Jackson as the others stopped talking and turned to them.
”That she’s the only one for me.” Jackson glanced at Maya, his voice softening. ”I should”ve said that from the beginning.”
”Wait, what are you—” Maya began, but was cut off as Jackson suddenly dropped to one knee, pulling a small velvet box from his gym bag.
”Maya Thompson,” he declared, his gaze locked on hers, ”will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?”
A chorus of gasps and excited whispers erupted from their friends, but all Maya could focus on was the look in Jackson”s eyes. Without hesitation, she exclaimed, “But I was going to ask you!” Maya said as Sarah reminded her she hadn’t answered yet. ”Yes, of course I will!”
The crowd around them burst into applause as Jackson scooped her up in his arms, spinning her around. ”We”re going for a hike,” he announced, beaming at their friends. ”And don”t come looking for us if we go missing!”
“Let’s see if you can last more than a few minutes,” Maya whispered in his ear.
Jackson growled. “Woman, you will pay for that remark.”
Maya chuckled, “I’m hoping I will.” She said as Jackson walked off towards his car.
”Maybe that will be you and Amy next,” Sarah teased Ethan good-naturedly.
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. ”Do you really think I have a chance with her?”
”Absolutely,” Sarah replied. ”And when you do see her again, just remember to be yourself. That”s all any of us can do. But hurry up and make your move. A women cannot wait forever you know.”
“Now I just need a way to get past Colt.” He shrugged as he walked away.
”Alright, team,” Kane shouted, clapping his hands together as he refocused their attention on the task at hand. ”Let”s eat.”
The two groups exchanged grins; their spirits lifted by the recent proposal. As they all left the stadium arm in arm, laughing and reminiscing about the night”s events, Sarah couldn”t shake the feeling that the best was yet to come.
Stoney Ridge was filled with love, laughter, and the promise of second chances. Maybe Bear Ridge will as well.
So, what happened to Ethan and Amy?
Find out in the new Bear Ridge series coming end of 2024.