Bonus Epilogue
BONUS EPILOGUE
MATTHEW
TEN YEARS LATER
Z ach and Haley have made the house their own, but it still exudes an at-home feeling. The twins are teenagers now, and when they aren’t at school or with friends, they’re on a horse. And that makes my heart happy.
“Grandy, look at me!” Trixie rides up to Tandy, showing off her new horse.
“What a beautiful horse!” Tandy smiles. “Let me see you ride.”
Eli beams with pride as Trixie rides around the paddock. “She’s a natural, isn’t she?”
“She is. Takes after her daddy.” I keep an eye on Tandy. It’s warm, and both of us are starting to show our age. “Sweetheart, what do you say we head up to the porch?”
“Good idea.” She loops her arm around mine, and we amble our way to the rocking chairs in the shade.
There are lots of other kiddos running around, friends of the boys from school, children of Haley and Zach’s friends.
Tandy flashes a wide grin. “In another decade all these young teens will be looking for love.”
“Maybe they’ll come seek out your help at Matchmaker Ranch.”
“ Our help, not just mine. But ten years is a long time from now. I think maybe we should retire. Soon. For real this time.” She lays her hand on mine. “We could travel. Or just sit on our porch and watch the butterflies flit from flower to flower.”
“I like that idea. But what about the matchmaking?” I have an idea about what she’s thinking, but she hasn’t actually said it out loud. Yet.
“Dallas can run the ranch. He’s proven that. But I think Colt and his sweetheart should take over the matchmaking. They’re naturals.”
I squeeze her hand. “I knew that’s what you were going to say. And you’re right. Little did you know when you hired him.”
She huffs. “And I can’t even take credit for finding him a sweetheart. Well, I can take a little bit of credit.”
“Where will we go? You want to get one of those maps where we fill in every state with a picture of us in that place?”
“That would be so fun! We can get a motorhome. Scratch that, I like the idea of hotels better. Luxury hotels. The kinds with the thick cotton towels and super soft sheets.”
“I’m sold. When are we going to tell Colt and Dallas the good news?”
“Tomorrow. Let’s just enjoy today. Everyone is in town. The whole ranch smells incredible. How many briskets is Zach smoking?”
“Several. The entire family is here and lots of friends, and now the littles are bigger and eat like horses.”
“And there are more of them.”
“Yep. We’ll still live in the same house after we retire, won’t we? I hope so because I love the pitter-patter of little feet on our porch when Dallas’s children stop in for a visit.”
“We’ll stay in the same house and keep a large stash of popsicles in the freezer, just like we do now.” Tandy grins at something behind me.
I turn to see little Lucy running down the porch, a purple popsicle dripping down one hand and two others—still in the wrapper—in her other hand.
“Grandy and Grampy, Aunt Haley gave me a popsicle, and I got some for you too.” She hands Tandy one of them, then stands in front of my chair, waiting for me to pull her into my lap.
I’ll end up sticky, but that’s the price of being a good Grampy.
When I unwrap mine, she holds hers up beside it. “We both got purple. That’s my favorite.”
I’m not sure what gave Dallas the idea to name his little girl Lucy, but it makes me laugh. This little one is full of spunk, just like Tandy, so it fits.
Rose walks out the front door, a wet rag in her hand. “There you are, sweetie. I’ve been looking for you. Don’t get Grampy all sticky.”
Lucy grins. “He doesn’t care, do you?”
“Nope. Just leave the rag here. She can stay here with us for a bit.”
“Awesome. Want me to grab y’all something to drink? Food should be ready in a half hour.”
“Sweet tea for me.” Tandy bites into her popsicle, then winces.
I bite back a chuckle. “That doesn’t happen if you only lick it.”
Tandy waits until Lucy isn’t looking, then sticks her tongue out at me.
“I love you too.”
Retirement with Tandy will be a blast.