Epilogue | Five years later
I bend down, pattingTiny on the neck. He still makes every pasture check with me. Reba, Izzy and George take every step as well. I sit on top of our mountain and look around and down at our kingdom below. It is cooler outside this time of the year as fall is in the air. The trees are turning beautiful shades of orange, yellow and red. It’s honestly my favorite time of the year.
The wind blows just enough that mine and Tiny’s hair floats in it, effortlessly. Mine and Logan’s home is perfect. A beautiful, white farmhouse, just like we both love, in the perfect spot. I have pictured that house in that exact location since the first time I visited the pond. We still swim in the pond often, and Collin stays in the main farmhouse.
Megan was so happy with the way her favorite colt, Crackerjack, was doing that she decided to geld him and enter the rodeo circuit to get back into barrel racing and roping. She is not at home as much and that is a bummer, but we talk often on the phone. She sends me videos of her runs every chance she gets. When we break our colts, she will train them on certain events and sell them while she is on the road.
Logan and I continued with the plans we agreed on for the breeding program, and it has been a grand success. So successful that Rylee’s ranch has reached out a time or two to do business with us.
I took my Nana’s advice and decided to forgive Rylee for the way she treated me that day in her barn. We work with them closely now and have been successful getting our bloodlines out into the world.
I also forgave my parents. I did not want to at first, but after reading Nana’s words the day they passed, I knew she was right. No matter how much I did not want to admit it- I am seeing more of her traits in me as the days pass.
I do not see my parents often, but they did show up for our wedding. We had it on the farm, of course, a year after Logan proposed. I wanted it to be on the pond under the Magnolia Tree. Four red Cardinals stayed for the whole ceremony and then flew away as Logan and I exited on horseback. Some may believe otherwise, but I would like to think they were my parents and grandparents, present for my big day.
My father walked me down the aisle and it was a bittersweet moment as he gave me away to Logan. He is the man of my dreams. This man still gives me butterflies at how he loves and appreciates me both physically and mentally. I think I finally have the love my biological parents and grandparents talked about.
I hear hoof beats coming up the hill and see Logan as his mare tops it. He is the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on and sometimes, I have to pinch myself to remember that he is mine. He is wearing his cap backwards and a sleeveless t-shirt with his dirty jeans.
“Hey my girl.” He says as he rides up beside Tiny and I, kissing me on the cheek.
I am a basket of emotions as I look over the mountains below us. I do not look at him. Instead, I take deep breaths to calm my nerves.
“Maggie?” he searches me, “Is everything okay?” he asks, looking nervous.
I smile and turn to him reaching into my pocket and pulling out a pregnancy test. He sees it and his eyes widen, “Maggie?!” He searches my eyes and tears fill his.
“We can’t dodge this curve ball.” I laugh and he pulls me into him, kissing me fiercely.