Epilogue
A s Brigit pulled the pickup into the parking lot of the farm and supply store, the inset diamond on her engagement ring winked in the light.
The band was perfect and simple, and while she’d have to take it off to go shoulder-deep into the back end of a cow, she didn’t otherwise have to worry about it hindering her work.
She’d insisted she didn’t need one, but Caleb was stubborn that way and had surprised her with a ring that was perfect for her.
They hadn’t gotten out of bed for hours after he’d presented her with it. That was two months ago.
She parked. It was the middle of August and she’d used the pickup more than Caleb, since she was running the ranch.
He often drove the car Brock had given her—a cheap buy at a car auction that he refused to let her pay him back for.
But she didn’t feel guilty. As much knowledge and experience as her cousins had running their operation, they’d consulted her several times, and not just for show.
She was their personal consultant and she charged them nothing—because she was finally in a place to give back.
Plus, she offered free babysitting for all of them and none had failed to take her up on it.
Caleb had the time of his life watching kids and they spent much of their time reminiscing about when they were younger.
Then talk turned to starting their own family, but since their wedding was this weekend, neither was in a hurry to get started expanding.
She wanted to oversee one calving season before she dealt with her own pregnancy status.
Caleb pointed to another familiar truck. “There’s Justin. He’s already here with your parents.”
“Great. They’ll just come home with us.” Justin had gotten them from the airport so she and Caleb could run a few more last-minute wedding errands. Mom and Dad would stay at their place for the night, but after the wedding, they’d be with Justin.
They wanted the full experience of the new house Caleb and Brigit had moved into a week ago.
The place was done a month early. Unprecedented, the builder had said, but it wasn’t like she and Caleb could afford all the extras.
It was still a nice two-story ranch home.
The design was similar to the previous house, but a century more updated.
She climbed out. Caleb hooked his arm around her shoulders and they walked in.
Teddy smiled and waved at her. She’d made sure there were no repeats of that first time, and she’d done the same at the auto parts store and the repair garage she took projects to that she couldn’t fix herself—and only if Jesse was too busy to be hired out.
Thanks to Farah, Brigit had a best friend she could talk to about both wedding plans and calving rates.
When she spotted her parents chatting with someone concealed behind a tower display of watering cans, she changed direction, Caleb moving with her.
She leaned over to whisper to Caleb. “Farah’s coming over to help make the birdseed sachets Mom insisted on.”
She would’ve been fine with a small wedding, or even a courthouse wedding, but she’d told Caleb that she didn’t want to fly under the radar marrying him. She wanted the world to know. It was going to happen, even on a budget. And birdseed was cheap enough.
Caleb snorted. “I’d say something like ‘I can’t wait to get a load of you two getting all crafty,’ but I know my ass is going to be stuck beside you getting them ready.”
Her laughter drew the attention of customers. The man her parents chatted up leaned around the watering cans.
“Look at that,” Brigit said under her breath. It was Oliver. He was dressed in what he usually wore to the office.
“Oh, Brigit. Caleb.” Mom stretched her arms out, and she wasn’t putting on a show. Mom loved Caleb, and while Caleb might have tried to maintain some distance out of fear of rejection, it hadn’t lasted long. He talked on the phone more to Mom than she did.
“Mama.” Caleb hugged her, lifting her feet off the ground.
“Oliver,” Brigit greeted coolly before shifting her attention to her dad. “How was the flight?”
“Can’t wait for the straight shot to open up again.” Dad shook his head. “I can do without the cardio racing to the opposite end of the Minneapolis airport for the second leg.”
Mom gave her a quick hug and stepped back. “I was just telling Oliver how exciting it is to add another son to our brood.” She playfully elbowed Caleb. “And a local hero at that.”
Caleb had driven his fire engine—apparatus, if she could ever get used to calling it that—in the local Fourth of July parade.
Mom and Dad had made sure to come back for it.
The parade was typically a family affair with Travis and her cousins driving their tractors and Kambria riding horse for 4H, so Caleb had been the icing on the cake.
Oliver’s gaze swept her body. She had never dressed like this when she was with him—a simple T-shirt and dusty jeans with her cowboy boots. Her hair was in a ponytail and she had her Walker Five hat on. Caleb liked how it brought out the yellow in her eyes.
“Uh, congratulations on the wedding.” His eyes dipped to her breasts again and the male interest was clear. He caught Caleb’s steady stare, swallowed hard, and looked away.
Oliver liked how she looked? So all those pointed comments about her weight and her ass had just been about control? She’d known that, but still. What an ass.
“Thank you.” She’d never been the type to whip out the perfect catty comment. Now would be an ideal time, but she had no more energy to waste on Oliver.
“So, what are you doing now?” he asked. She tensed. She knew that tone. A mixture of smug and fake curiosity.
“I run Circle Cruise Cattle Ranch and give workshops on financing in the industry and new trends. In my downtime, I write freelance articles for magazines.” Her downtime in the winter, but she didn’t add that yet.
Oliver covered his surprise with the faint sneer she knew too well.
“And,” she continued, “the best part is that the only bullshit I have to deal with anymore is from the cattle.” Look at that. The perfect catty comment, thanks to no longer caring what he thought.
Caleb tried to cover his laugh with a cough, but her parents didn’t bother. Oliver pivoted on his heel and stalked away.
“Solid burn,” Caleb said.
Mom clapped her hands together. “Now that the ass has been dealt with, let’s get to wedding festivities.”
Mom cupped Dad’s elbow and dragged him along. Caleb’s arm remained around her shoulder. She twined her fingers through his. As they rounded a corner, they had to sidestep an older woman.
The lady smiled at them and gestured to their interlocked fingers. “Oh my heart. Seeing couples like you makes my day.”
The barista’s words from nearly a year ago ran through her mind. “I just love seeing couples so into each other. And when the man dotes on his woman like that…”
“Thank you,” Brigit said. “He’s all mine.”
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Are Caleb and Brigit right: Should Justin have fallen for Priya? Is it too late? Find out in White Collar Rancher .