Epilogue 2
WILL
5 years later
"Daddy, Daddy. Can I ride the donkey? Pwease!" our three-year-old, Betsy-Bell aka Beebee, asks.
She's climbed up on a stool at the kitchen island so that she can be closer to my height. Then I wait, because I know what she's about to do next, it's a bad habit she's learned from the other woman in my life.
Beebee waits until I look down at her, then she smiles, pulls me down so she can squish my cheeks between her little hands, then the little mischief maker bats her lashes and leans her round, cherubic face into mine. That would be enough to make me fold but add in her bright blue eyes that match her moths, and I'm an easy target. Every damn time…
When I take too long to answer, she moves her hands to jerk my head up and down, making me give her the answer she wants. "Yay. Tank you, Daddy. Wuv you." Then, just as quickly as she arrived, she's gone, carefully hopping down off the stool and running off in search of her next victim–I mean, loved one.
"You do know that she's never goin' to meet a man who'll live up to her expectations," Jude muses from the kitchen island where he's reading on his tablet while enjoying a cup of coffee from our now upgraded fancy machine.
A lot of things have changed in the past five years.
Six months after our engagement, Birdie and I were married in the only church in Timber Falls, officiated by Randy Barnes thanks to the power invested in him by the World Wide Web. We decided to go big or go home–since this was going to be a once-and-done deal–so it turned into a Cooper family reunion, as well as everyone from Bear, Eagle, and Bull mountains.
Then, having put all of our time and effort into getting stage one of Case's tree farm planted, Jude's vegetables and herbs set up in his second-hand, upcycled greenhouse, as well as Sutton's Feng Shui reflection garden, we were left wondering what to focus on next–the guest accommodations and all that has been entailed with that side of the ranch. Something that has turned out to be even better than any of us could have imagined.
Something else that happened was Case surprising me and Birdie with plans for another house to be built on the ranch. One with room to grow–as well as all the smart features one could ever need. It was everything we could've ever wanted–bar the request from my wife for a bathtub big enough for two. There was just one problem... Birdie and I didn't want to move away from my brothers.
We loved our alone time, but we also loved spending time with the ranch family.
That's when we sat everyone down and came up with a compromise that gave us the best of both worlds, our own space, but also being close enough that we could just walk down a corridor, through a door, and we'd be in the main house again.
That was when the Cooper family compound was born.
Gramps's original ranch house has been kept as true to its history as possible. The only drastic renovation we made was to the kitchen, living, and dining areas which are now twice the size and a hell of a lot more modern.
Off the side of what was the original lounge is now a door leading to our part of the house. Eventually, we will all have our own space but that is very much a work in progress since the ranch and my brothers' 'town' jobs keep all of us busy.
As of right now though, Case and his wife's apartment which comes off what was my old bedroom, is set to be finished in the next few months. Then it'll be Sutton's turn.
The best thing about the new layout is that with Beebee running around and another baby girl on the way in just a few months, they'll still be able to have free rein around the house to find their uncles and aunts.
Which is exactly what I suspect Beebee is doing right now.
A squeal, the stomping of feet, a growl, and then a shriek later, my suspicions are confirmed as my gleefully giggling daughter reappears, riding the shoulders of Case, who is braying like Grumps the donkey, much to Beebee's delight.
"More, Unca Casey. More ."
"That'll keep them two entertained for a while," Jude says, not even glancing up from his tablet. "Why don't you steal some time and go find your wife? I'll babysit the children until then."
I snort and shoot him a grateful chin lift–even though he doesn't see it. Clapping him on the back, I set off outside to find my wife.
When I finally track her down, she's in the barn, watching over our newest animal, a baby dall sheep that was brought into the animal rescue. The hope is that we can bring her back to good health and move her in with our small Alpacas herd–Birdie's project on Cooper Ranch along with Case's wife.
Coming up behind her, I wrap my arms around her waist and frame her round belly with my hands. "Thought I'd find you here," I say just before I press a soft kiss below her ear.
She leans back into me and together we watch the lamb circle a hay bed covering the floor before lowering herself down and curling up into a little ball. "She's so sweet. Don't know how anyone could leave her be on the side of the road," she says.
"She doesn't have to worry about a thing now. Not with you lookin' after her," I reply. "How are you doin', honey? Is our baby girl bein' nice to her mama?" I rub soothing circles over her stomach and smile when a little foot gives me a healthy kick for my troubles.
"She's always good. Wait–" She turns in my arms and tips her chin. "Where is our other baby girl? The one you're supposed to be watchin'."
"Currently ridin' a donkey through the house," I reply like it's an everyday occurrence. Leaning in, I run my nose gently along hers. "Jude told me I should steal some time away with my wife while he watched the kids."
A tremble courses through her, her hands grabbing hold of my biceps. "Oh really …"
"Mmm hmm…" I brush my lips whisper-soft against hers. "So, you know what I was thinkin'..."
"I'm hopin' you're thinkin' what I'm thinkin'..." She shifts her head to the side, giving me space to drag my lips over her jaw and down her neck.
"Sleep?" I murmur.
She sighs happily. " Sleep… "
Stepping back, I grin at her and hold out my hand for hers before leading her out of the barn and toward the door leading to our home.
Birdie's lips twitch when we get to our bedroom and I shut us in. "You know I did mean sleep, right?"
I gasp, feigning offense. "I hope you know that I'm a married man, Mrs. Cooper. My wife doesn't like me takin' 'naps' with other women."
"Is that so?" she says slowly, her voice husky and all sorts of hot as she slowly starts stripping down to her bra and underwear.
"Ye–yep!" My voice sounds a hell of a lot stronger than I feel right now because as much as I did want to nap with my wife, her standing there half-naked with her beautifully rounded stomach on display and a tempting sassy smirk on her lips has me rethinking my plans.
I lose all thoughts about plans and best intentions when she crawls toward me on the bed, rising onto her knees in front of me. Resting her hands on my shoulders, she melds her body with my boxer-clad one. "Hey. City boy."
"Hey, honey," I breathe, lucky to even be able to do that.
"Did you really want to nap?" she asks, batting her lashes like butter wouldn't melt. See what I mean!
I nod… then shake my head.
"Good, then kiss me sweet."
Snaking an arm around her back, I gently pull her closer, cupping her cheek and watching a slow-growing smile curve her perfect pink lips. "Bossy," I murmur against her mouth.
"Just how you like me."
"Yep."
For a good while after that, I kiss her sweet–amongst other things.
And then we nap.
Next up is Case’s story in Mountain Needs an Anchor.