Epilogue
The past five months have been the happiest of my life. Despite losing most of the main barn and some tack we’ve already replaced, loving Sadie is the easiest job in the world.
The job I was built for.
Somehow, we survived the winter, coming together in more ways than one. And with the help of everyone on the ranch, Lone Pine is beginning to feel like the way it was before all the chaos. Plus, with the snow melting away, I can finally get to work on rebuilding better. Stronger.
Lone Pine is nothing if not resilient.
But with melting snow comes shitty roads. Sloppy and slushy. Not a great combo when you’re dating a woman with a truck from the seventies who’s as reckless as they come.
Until now, that is. Because currently hiding in between the pines is a brand new Ford truck, in her favorite color, of course. All that’s missing is a big bow wrapped around it, but I thought that would be too much.
“This is one fancy birthday present.” Ryker stands near the front end, inspecting it. “Are you sure this won’t offend her? She seems to like old things. Which, funnily enough, is probably why she likes you, old man,” he adds with a grin.
I frown. There’s a small chance she’ll be offended by the replacement, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting her take that old truck into town anymore. It’s too dangerous. Today’s rendezvous to Aspen Hollow will be her last.
Unless she wants me to have a goddamn stroke.
“That’s why it’s blue,” I defend.
“Right,” he smiles. “And how much did you spend on it?”
“It’s a tax write-off,” I rock on my heels.
Or that’s what I’m going to claim it as when I talk to my new accountant.
With all of Cole’s cancer treatments and radiation therapy appointments, Annie has been preoccupied.
So, I hired a new accountant to take the stress off her shoulders.
And now that calving season is almost over, she’ll have the proper time to train her.
“So, you invited me here for my approval?” Ryker arches a brow. “Or did you just want me here as a backup in case Sadie refuses and tries to dump your ass?” he muses.
Well, he’s not far off.
But I invited him here for an entirely different reason, and it’s not about the truck. I’m just scared shitless to even mention it. To pull out the small velvet box in my pocket because I’m damn sure he’s going to laugh at me. “No, I uh…” I clear my throat. “That’s not why.”
He stares at me, confused.
“I sort of… did something.”
“Illegal?” he perks up.
“Not entirely.” I pause, reaching into the pocket of my flannel coat. “Can you just promise not to laugh?”
He grins. “That depends. Is it funny?”
I sigh, quickly pulling out the box and opening it up like ripping off a Band-Aid. Ryker’s eyes go wide, snagging on the oval, two-carat aquamarine halo ring, set in gold with accent diamonds, sparkling in the evening sunlight.
“Holy shit,” he exclaims with a bright smile. “When did you—” he stops mid-sentence at a loss for words.
“Last month,” I answer, closing the box and shoving it back into my flannel. I’d gone into the shop just to look, and the ring was too perfect. I had to have it. “I just need to find the right time to ask her.”
Which is a hard ask. Any man getting down on one knee to propose to Sadie Lane is most likely insane or asking for a swift hit to the face.
Which maybe I am crazy. But I was raised right.
Raised on tradition by a traditional cowboy.
Call me territorial, but I want my damn ring on her finger, and I want her to have my last name.
I want the promise of forever and everything that comes with it.
Tears build in his eyes.
“Don’t you dare start crying, Ryker.” If he cries, I’m going to cry.
Ryker wipes a tear from his cheek. “I’m just so happy for you, man. This is—” his words cut off as he meets my eyes. His facial expression deflates. “Oh shit.”
It seems that realization finally hit him.
“Has she changed her mind about marriage?”
I rub the back of my neck. “No, not exactly.”
Because of Ryker’s constant jokes about our relationship, Sadie snapped at him three months ago. He’s been quiet about wedding jokes ever since.
He glances at the truck, crinkling his mustache. “So, this is a peace offering?”
“No.” Only partly. She needs a birthday gift, and the gift of a new truck would set my mind at ease. “This is for her own good.” To keep her safe from her own recklessness.
“Right,” he laughs.
Sadie’s truck appears over the ridge.
Bandit and Foxie perk up their ears, watching Sadie from the window inside the house. Not wanting to come out into the cold. There’s a loud enough engine in her old truck that you can hear it from miles away. Another reason it needs to be replaced.
“It was really nice knowing you,” he pats my shoulder.
“Just keep your mouth shut,” I warn.
“This is one of those times that I agree with you, brother. All that rage is reserved for you.” He pauses. “When are you going to propose?”
“When the moment’s right.”
“Mister and Misses Harlow,” Ryker muses.
“Shut it,” I snap, and he smiles.
Sadie’s vintage Ford truck pulls up, brakes creaking as she comes to a stop. My shoulders tense at the sound.
She jumps out of the truck with shopping bags balanced on her arm. A successful trip by the looks of it.
“You’re not going to believe what I got today,” she smiles with excitement. Soft caramel waves drape over her shoulders, brushing against one of my favorite flannels she stole.
“What did you get?” I ask as she approaches me.
She smirks, pulling out a red ensemble with see-through lace. “An outfit for later,” she winks at me.
Goddamn, I love her. I’m doing my best to stop my dick from tenting in my jeans.
“And this bubblegum flavored—”
“Dude!” Ryker waves his hands, using one hand to cover his eyes. “I’m standing right fucking here.”
Sadie shoves it back in the bag. “Yes. Why are you here?”
Guess it’s my time to shine. I clear my throat. “I got you something.”
“Something fun?” she fires back with a glint in her eyes.
Fuck me, my hands are sweating.
“Well… I guess it depends on how you look at it.” I hand her the keys to her new truck. “Happy Birthday, Tequila,” I add with a smile.
She stares at the keys in confusion before making the connection that the blue truck sitting in between the pines is hers. Her mouth falls open in shock, taking it all in.
“Before you object, I—”
“You bought me a truck!” she exclaims with glee, cutting me off as she runs full blast towards it. Opening up the driver’s door to examine the leather interior. “It’s absolutely gorgeous, Kit. How did you afford this?”
I come up beside her. “Don’t worry about it,” I smile. I’ve had money saved up for a while anyway, and the smile on her face is priceless.
She wraps her arms around me, kissing me intensely. “I love it so much,” she says in between kisses. “Thank you.”
“Well, go on, start it up,” I say.
She jumps in, throwing her shopping bags in the backseat before turning the key in the ignition.
Ryker comes up beside me. “I saw that going a whole different way.”
I chuckle. “Yeah. Me, too.”
“Oh,” Ryker murmurs, reaching into his coat pocket for his phone. “Alaska wanted me to show you these. I met her baby girl for the first time yesterday.” He shows me a photo.
“She’s so small.” The smallest creature I’ve ever seen.
“She’s just shy of seven pounds.”
Alaska gave birth back in March, but with calving season, needing special vaccinations and everything else… I haven’t had a chance to visit her yet. But I’m looking forward to meeting her. “How is she?”
“She’s good,” he nods. “Healthy, but tired.”
Sadie rolls down the window. The sound of the radio station fills the air. “And what are you boys looking at?”
“Babies,” Ryker admits proudly, showing her the photo.
“Oh, my gosh, how cute is she?” she croons. “We should be good to see her next week—”
The sound of a familiar voice cuts her off, and she smiles.
She turns up the stereo on full blast, singing along to Averie’s new song.
A song that’s been on the radio a lot lately.
I’m not a huge fan of her new direction, but Sadie loves her music all the same.
Ryker tries to smile for Sadie’s sake, but I can tell that just the sound of Averie’s voice tugs at his heartstrings.
“Well… Happy Birthday, Sadie,” Ryker waves before walking off towards his horse that’s tied to the post.
Sadie turns the music down. “Where are you going?” she calls out to him. “You love this song. You’re going to miss the best part!”
And he did. For weeks, he’s been singing the same damn song around the ranch, driving us all crazy.
He chuckles. “I’ve probably just listened to it too much.”
Sadie levels her eyes at him. “Rye—”
“I’m good,” he fakes a smile. “Now I need to start getting ready for cowboy camp. Lots of people are counting on me.”
Lone Pine Cowboy Camp officially starts next week. Ryker agreed to run and oversee it, taking the stress off my shoulders. But I think a part of him needs it as a distraction from the things he can’t control.
“Enjoy your lingerie and bubblegum stuff you plan on using to do unholy things to my best friend. My nightmares have reached a new level,” he tips his hat and walks away.
“You’re welcome,” Sadie smirks at him as he goes.
Ryker hops on his horse, nodding at us before taking off in a gallop, leaving a dust cloud behind him.
“Well, Cowboy?” she arches her brow. “Are you coming for a ride with me?”
“Always,” I smile, walking around to open the passenger’s door.
She puts up her hand. “Before you enter, I have rules.”
I smile. “Alright.”
“First rule,” she holds up one finger. “You will do everything I say while you’re in my truck.”
A smirk tugs at my lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Second,” she holds up two fingers. “For today’s adventure, you are not allowed to wear a seatbelt.”
Absolutely not. “Sadie—”
“My truck. My rules,” she grins.
Tension builds in my chest. “Fine, but just for today.” For her birthday, I’ll make an exception. But she’s definitely fucking wearing one.
I put a boot in her truck.
“Wait,” she stops me. “Remove your shirt.”
“My shirt?” She nods, biting her lip. “You’re pushing it today, Tequila.”
Fire glints in her brown eyes. “Small price to pay for what I’m offering, don’t you think?”
With a rough sigh, I take off my flannel coat and T-shirt. Leaving me in a pair of blue jeans, boots, and a ballcap. After finding a safe place for my clothes in the backseat, and most importantly, Sadie’s engagement ring, I hop in.
Her eyes graze my body, surprising me as she reaches over and straps the seatbelt around me. Fingers drifting over my lower abdomen to the waistband of my jeans. My dick hardens in response to her gentle touch.
She smiles as it clicks in place.
My voice is low and gravelly as it leaves my mouth. “I thought you said…”
“I just wanted to be the one to do it,” she smiles and puts her truck in gear. “Let’s have some fun, Cowboy,” she grins, heading off-road into the wilds.