20. Birdie
20
BIRDIE
It's Monday morning, a week after Wyatt arrived, and I'm sitting in the passenger seat of Will's truck, with Case and Sutton in the back, as we head out on an overnight trip to Woodward Valley.
It also happens to be the town where their Moose Mountain Cooper cousins live too. Two birds, one stone… Jude decided to stay back at the ranch with Wyatt to keep working. Besides, Will's truck is big, but it ain't 'three Cooper wide in the back' big.
Will, Sutton, and Jude brought Wyatt down to meet me over a diner dinner during the week. He's a sweet kid, younger than I thought, but a genuinely nice guy with a good–even wise–head on his shoulders. Better yet, he has an eagerness to get the ranch back to where it used to be, having had to do the same to their land back at Bull after it had been neglected and razed by its previous owners.
With Wyatt's help, things at the ranch have sped up since he arrived. He's taken over the fence repair project from Will, which has meant Sutton and Jude have been able to focus on their garden beds, the orchard, and Sutton's Zen garden on the north side of the property. All the while, my boyfriend has been putting his construction skills to good use repairing and upgrading the barn.
After weeks of them working here and there, it's been amazing to see all of them direct their efforts into their passion projects.
Case has been flitting between helping his brothers and hiding away in his room trying to finalize his Christmas tree farm plan.
Will told me he's been worried about Cayson's mood but as I reminded him, none of them are alone anymore. They're back living together–albeit in a big house–but they're closer than they've been for years. If this is the start of Case spiraling due to his seasonal affective disorder, then we all will be here for him. When Will passed on my thoughts to Sutton, he asked if I was tryin' to steal his job as a therapist.
It's then I reminded him that he said he wanted to find a job in town, and that if he wanted one, I had an in with the head of the District Hospital since he's best friends with Dad and just happens to be my godfather too.
Yes, I'm determined to do whatever I can, whenever it's needed to help Will and his brothers settle in Timber Falls.
Yes, I desperately want them to stay on the ranch and not leave, and yes that means my desire for them to settle down and forge a connection to the land, the mountain, and the town could be seen as selfish. But the way I see it, it's for the good of everyone , not just me.
And the mountain spirit wants Will and I to be together. We're soulmates, even if I'm the only one who knows it right now…
The main purpose of our visit to Woodward Valley is to meet with the farm owner Dad contracts with every year to sell Christmas trees in Timber Falls. When I told Dad about what Case wanted to do, he went ahead and called the guy, asking if he'd mind mentoring Case and his brothers so that the town could have its own tree farm in a few years.
"You guys finished those books yet?" Sutton asks from behind me.
I scoff. "You're jokin' right? Aster started writing years ago and seems to release new books all the time. We're still only up to Bear Mountain, which has nine books. After that, we'll move on to her cowboy series. There's still a lot of readin' left to do."
"Doesn't help that Will is a one-word-at-a-time guy, right?" Sutton says, getting a laugh from Case and a gasp from the man driving.
"Hey! I'll have you know it's three words at a time now. So there ," he replies, poking his tongue out at his brother.
Case snickers. "Such a good boy, William. Soon you'll graduate from picture books to big kid novels."
He seems a little brighter today, but that could be because of the change of scenery more than anything else. Then again, after today, he should be able to move full steam ahead and order saplings to plant the first stage of Cooper's Christmas Trees. Whatever it is, it's good to hear him razzing on his brother like he usually does.
"You should read them too, Case. You might learn some things that get you a woman like Birdie," Will says.
"You have to stop sayin' the right thing all the time, City Boy. You're settin' yourself up for a fall," I tease, loving the way his lips curve up into a sexy, slow-growing smirk.
Hooded eyes full of mischief and somethin' more slide over to me before returning to the road. "I'll get workin' on that then."
"You do that," I say, turning toward the back and resting my chin on the seat. "Has Will told you about your cousins at Moose Mountain?"
"Just that they sent him the books you're readin' and that one of the wives writes them. I looked her up," Sutton says. "She's got a lot of fans."
"I know. I'm one of them. I've even been to one of her reader retreats before. The family owns a bunch of cabins up on the mountain, and once a year, they hold a gatherin' in the town and some people get chosen to stay there, close to where she set her first two series."
Case studies me. "You really are a big fangirl, aren't ya?" His lips tip up and I grin back at him.
"I think you should read one."
He narrows his eyes. "You don't think I would?"
"It is a romance novel, Case. You don't strike me as the romance type."
"I'll read anythin'."
I snort. "I think you say you'll read it but you actually won't…"
"Wanna bet?" His smile morphs into a smirk and I know I've got him hook, line, and sinker. Sutton grins too, shooting his twin a surprised look.
"You're bettin' with Will's girl about readin' a book she wants you to read?"
"Yep," Case replies, popping the P. "Because she doesn't think I'll do it."
"Startin' to think you want to read it and are just usin' Birdie as an excuse," his twin muses.
Case arches a challenging brow. "How 'bout you read it with me then? We can 'buddy read' like the two lovebirds do."
"As long as you don't expect me to 'cuddle' you afterward. You're on."
I angle my head, switching my eyes between them. "Why did you say it like that? We do cuddle while readin'."
"Yeah, 'cuddle'," Case says, air quotes and all while shooting me a knowing stare.
" Anyway …" Will pipes up from the driver's seat. "You two goin' to read the first book or not? You've both got tablets. Buy the e-book and get started. Then you'll have finished it by the time we arrive at Woodward Valley. We could even have an impromptu book club in the truck before we get there."
"Damn, Will. Have you always been like this or is this a whole new side of you you've been keepin' hidden?" Case teases.
"Don't knock it until you've tried it, brother. A book is a book, whether you're readin' coding manuals, therapy guides, or a feel-good romance about two strangers discoverin' they're soulmates and fallin' in love." I don't think I've ever wanted to grab my boyfriend's face and kiss the life out of him as much as I do right now. But alas, he's driving.
Sutton slides amused eyes to the rear-view mirror. "Well, when you put it like that, we have to read them now. What are they about anyway?"
I hesitate for a moment because Will has read at least half of Aster's books with me now. A big part of me is eager to hear his explanation.
He hasn't once mentioned anything about the mountain spirit, the prophesy, or how we both feel when we're together–and more so when we're apart–could be proof that we're hearing the Call.
Surely he can't think the heart palpitations, butterflies, tingles, body flushes, and aches are all normal ? Even being able to sense when the other person enters the room is weird–not bad weird, just… different . None of it is easy to ignore, and yet still, he hasn't mentioned it much.
When I asked him last week about how we don't like being apart, he said it wasn't strange to him, just something he hadn't felt before. Of course, that won him extra points because it made me swoon. If there's one thing my man knows how to do, it's saying the right thing to make me go all gooey inside.
Obviously, I don't know that he hasn't at least considered it. Maybe he has seen the similarities between the characters in the books and what's been going on between us. But the Will I've come to know and am falling in love with has proven he isn't the kind of man to keep things to himself. Communication is one of his superpowers. That's how I know he would have said something if he'd connected the dots.
I've got hopes that this trip will achieve many things. Most importantly, help Case with his tree farm project and give him something to focus on and pour his energy into. But since we're also meeting up with Gray and Aster up Moose Mountain, maybe she'll be able to offer some guidance to all of us moving forward. Regardless, it'll be good for Will, Case, and Sutton to meet their distant cousins.
You never know, maybe meeting Aster and Gray will help Will see what's right in front of him. I'm trying hard to honor Ridley's wish for Will and his brothers to discover the prophesy on their own. But the longer it takes, the harder it is not to help the process along…
Will squeezes his fingers in mine where they rest on the seat between us. "What are you thinkin' about so hard over there?"
"Nothin'," I say, resting my cheek against the headrest to look at him. "Should we stop for a rest soon? We've been drivin' for a good few hours and we've still got three to go."
"Nah, I'm good for now." He meets my eyes when he says that, and I feel a warm feeling course through me at his words. Seriously, how can't he feel this?
His brows bunch. "Feel what, honey?"
"This," I say, squeezing his fingers again. "I'm just happy."
He lifts our hands to brush his lips against my skin. "Me too, honey. Me too."
Case makes gagging noises behind us. "OK. No need to rub it in our faces, guys. We've already said we'll read the book. Downloadin' it as we speak."
Will looks into the rear-view mirror, shooting Case a smirk. "Just you wait, brother. Your turn will come. Then it'll be us ribbin' you."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, big brother."
And all I can think of is 'famous last words.'
After a brief pit stop for a bathroom break and snacks, three hours later we're driving past the 'Welcome to Woodward Valley' sign at the edge of the small mountain town that's just as cute and quaint as I remember.
"Wow, this place looks just how I thought it would," Will says, leaning forward in his seat as he drives us along the street running straight through the middle of the town. I spot Scoops, the ice cream parlor I went to with my retreat friends six months ago along with the Little Shop of Borrowers bookstore next door.
Then there's the florist and knick-knack shop, Bits and Blooms. "Hey, isn't that from one of Aster's books?" Will asks.
"Sure is. Lottie and Amber work there."
"Let me guess, they're married to more of our long-lost family members?" Sutton asks from the back seat.
I swivel around. "Yep. Seriously, how did y'all not know about your big extended family?"
"Now that's somethin' I can answer," Case says. "We did know about them, and I remember all of us meetin' somewhere for a big family reunion when we were kids. But there comes a time when the children grow up and spread out across the continent, and it's just too hard to get everyone together in one place."
"That makes sense, I guess. Now, should we check in to the BnB before headin' out at Snowy Spruce Farm?"
"Sounds good to me," Case says with a smirk. "Think you've picked the perfect woman for you, Will. She's just as bossy as you are."
I narrow my eyes on the now laughing brothers. Will joins them, squeezing my hand and making it impossible to keep up the charade of being annoyed. "Ha!" Case says, pointing at me. "Knew you weren't offended. Besides, I did say you were the perfect woman for my big brother. That's a compliment."
"Some might say one of the highest you can get from a family member," Sutton adds. "For the record, I agree. Bossy needs bossy."
Will arches a brow in the mirror. "Is that your professional opinion, Dr Cooper?"
Sutton laughs. "Yeah. Let's just go with that."
Unable to help myself, I grin at Will, waiting until he slides his amused gaze my way. "You picked me?"
"Nah," he replies, lips twitching. "More like you picked me , in the furniture store, lookin' clueless and in desperate need of your help."
Case snorts from behind me. "Ah, so you like a dude in distress, Birdie. Interestin' ."
" Now I get it," Will jokes. "I'm a project. Like on one of those reality TV makeover shows, but a mountain man edition."
I gasp, loudly . "Oh my gosh, no. Definitely not."
"Hmm. She is the helpin' type. Maybe she saw a lost cause and wanted to give it one last shot with you, Will. Didn't want to let you wallow in your bachelor chic ranch up on the mountain," Sutton adds, all of us laughing along now.
"OK, stop, I wheeze. "Your brother is not a charity case."
"Oh look, we're here now," Will says. "Y'all can stop teasin' my girlfriend."
"And there's the perfect companion to a man who's a dude in distress, the knight in shinin' armor," Sutton announces.
Tilting my head, I turn to him and arch a brow. "Are you sure you don't read romance?"
"As of right now, I've read two total, and they've all been on this trip," Sutton explains.
"What did you think?" Will asks.
"They're not bad. Not super realistic though. Who believes that there's a mountain spirit waving an imaginary wand and goin' 'bibbity boppity boo, here's a soulmate for you' and miraculously that person turns up on their doorstep?"
I do …
Will's brows furrow as we arrive at the Woodward Doze Bed & Breakfast, but he doesn't say anything until he's cut the engine. Then he looks at me, staring deep into my eyes as if searching for something before he rolls his thumb over the back of my hand and turns back to his brothers. Then he floors me.
"Not sure about a wand, or if it's real. What I do know is that I've never felt anythin' like this before, not till I met Birdie. Because of that, I'm not worried about how quick it's been. Instead, I'm focusin' on how right it feels. If that's the Call, then so be it. Whether Birdie is 'chosen' as the one for me doesn't matter because I already know she is." He slides his eyes back to mine and that's when I know deep in my bones that he and I are on the same page. " I choose her and will do so until she stops choosin' me back. That's all that matters."
We must sit there staring at each other for so long, that Case and Sutton must start to feel like third and fourth wheels. Soon enough, they mutter excuses and get out of the truck, leaving us alone.
"I choose you too. Just so you know," I whisper.
"Thank fuck for that," he replies before my belt is released and I'm hauled across the seat into his arms. Then he's laying a hot and heavy kiss on me that I feel everywhere .
When the need for oxygen becomes a necessity, we lean against each other, catching our breath. "Once we're done with the farm and the family meetin', you and I are goin' out," he says.
"Goin' out was not what I thought you'd say," I reply.
"Believe me, I'm takin' you out because you deserve to be wined and dined, I want to treat you like a queen before we come back here. And if we stay in, then we won't leave for a good long while. I want to do right by you, honey." OK, swoon… Clean up, Aisle nine.
"And then what?" I whisper.
"Then, honey," he murmurs, kissing me one more time. "I'm goin' to make you mine."