Chapter 35
“Your phone is blowing up.” Edith held up his device, but Finn couldn’t take it from her right now.
“I’m dirty, baby.” He tossed down the oily rag he’d been using to work on his tractor. “What’s going on?”
“Rock and Clover had their baby.” She looked down at his phone again.
Finn stepped over to the utility sink in the shed and used his elbow to turn on the water. It gushed out, and he braced himself to put his hands in the ice-cold stream. “Don’t read them to me. I’m sure he sent pictures, and I want to see them.”
He quickly scrubbed his hands clean, his skin stinging with the soap he had to use in the icy water. When he’d deemed it good enough, he grabbed a paper towel, and then reached for his phone.
“Dinner’s going to be ready in twenty minutes,” Edith said.
“Okay.” Finn sank onto a crate, already absorbed in his rancher’s text string.
He’s here!
Finn’s smile exploded onto his face. “They had a boy.” His heart beat with happiness, as he enjoyed his three boys so much. Tate and Clara Jean were also having a boy, but Rock and Clover hadn’t learned the gender of their baby previous to him being born.
Clover is doing well, and I’ll send a picture as soon as she’s done feeding him. We’re naming him Deveraux Benton Glover, and he’ll go by Denim. (My grandma used to give us all our assumed names, and we talked with my momma about this one.)
As far as Finn knew, only Smiles and Rock had an assumed name in their generation, but apparently, that tradition would continue.
Congratulations had started to pour in then, with most of the Glovers leading the way. The news was about twenty minutes old now, and Finn saw every name from every man and every woman in their little group of farmers and ranchers—except for him—had responded.
His heart grew ten sizes in that moment, because every single person on this thread was extremely busy. Heck, Rock was probably in over his head right now, as Market Day for everyone came in October, and Shiloh Ridge had over a thousand head to load up and get to market for the season.
That required every hand, even if Rock normally only worked with and cared for the horses at Shiloh Ridge.
Catching up, Finn said. You caught me while I was under my troublesome tractor.
Congrats, Rock! Tell Clover congratulations too, and please let me know what you two need so I can coordinate our efforts.
Finn sometimes found himself at a loss for how to organize meals or help, but Edith could hold ten times the details he could, and he relied on her to help him make charts and spreadsheets when it came to helping those he loved.
His shoulders slumped forward, but Finn consciously told himself to straighten up. This was a happy occasion, and he didn’t need to fix anyone.
He scrolled back up and found where he’d left off.
So many boys, Conrad had said. He and Glory Rose had a little baby boy too.
Boys are the best, Link said.
How are things going for you, Clara Jean? JJ asked.
Still pregnant, Clara Jean said. But it’s my last day at the grocery store.
It’s her last day doing anything, Tate said, and Finn wasn’t sure how close together the texts had come in. Fast enough to have the same timestamp.
I’m pretty miserable, Clara Jean said. But my momma says I’m going to make it.
You will, JJ said. Ruby’s feet were huge during her last week of pregnancy.
Glory Rose is bringing you dinner tonight, Conrad said.
Finn remembered those last couple of weeks of each of Edith’s pregnancies, and it was no wonder they were both hesitant to have another baby. She did want a little girl, and Finn thanked the Lord Above that his friends were having boys.
I’m heading up to Brandon’s tonight, Dawson said. I can stop on the way there or back with anything you need. Just say the word.
Here he is.
The next text was of the cutest little boy in the world, and right after that came a picture of Rock, Clover, and Denim.
The air rushed out of Finn’s body, because he’d never seen a more beautiful family in the world.
And Rock had been crying.
Stoic, dark, quiet, grumpy Rock.
Finn chuckled to himself and all the equipment in the shed. “Babies can work miracles,” he murmured.
Look at you guys! Libby said. He’s the most beautiful thing in the world, Rock. I can’t wait to hold him. Give Clover a hug from me.
And me, Alex said. Really, Rock, I’ve never seen a more perfect baby.
Did she have a regular labor? Henry asked. Because my babies had misshapen heads and looked like aliens. He really does look perfect.
It was a regular labor, Smiles said. It just went very fast.
Like, less than an hour fast, Link said. I’m not even off the ranch yet, mostly because it’s a traffic jam of Glovers trying to get to the hospital to meet Denim. He’d included several laughing emojis, but Finn didn’t think he was kidding.
Good thing you were in town already, Lenore said. Isn’t that bank of long-term family housing amazing?
He looks just like you, Rock, Mitch said.
Look at all his hair! Lacy added.
Sorry, guys, but I’m gonna win Best Uncle this year. Smiles sent the text with a picture of him holding baby Denim, and Finn would give him the award, hands-down.
I’m gonna be up for that too, Gun said.
Same, Wilder said. Though I’m still on the ranch too, so I have some ground to make up. The twins can’t wait to see him.
She went into labor around 315, Rock said. And yes, he was born at 401. He came so fast, Clover didn’t have time to get any drugs. But she did great, and her momma is sneaking in a cheeseburger for her dinner.
Boys FTW! Colt said. Congrats on becoming a boy-dad, Rock. It’s the best.
This is all amazing, Jake said.
Finn, are you organizing meals or anything? Ty asked. Winnie’s volunteering if so.
Lila Mae and I can help too, Trap said.
We still have food from when Shepherd was born. Mitch sent laughing emojis and then praying hands. And I’m grateful for it when none of us have slept and we need something to eat.
I still have leftover wedding cake. Wilder sent a smiley face with the tongue sticking out. We’re in the truck now, and Gal is already singing lullabies. She wants you to know that she’s ready to babysit anytime.
Finn chuckled, because Wilder’s step-daughter was only six years old.
I love everything about this, Trevor said. Baby boys are so much fun, Rock. You and Clover are going to be the best parents ever.
Finn loved that even though Trevor and Janey were a bit removed from the Three Rivers crowd, he still fit. He still belonged. He came to about half of their meetings, but he hadn’t been in the past few months, due to his own wife having their baby boy.
How’s Wick? Henry asked. Last you told us, he wouldn’t sleep through the night.
He’s doing so much better, Trevor said. It was a rough three or four days, but Janey worked really hard to get him on a schedule.
Misty went out there and helped, Link said. And she was so tired when she got home, but Wick, Janey, and Trevor are all doing great.
We really are.
Congrats! Paul said. Sorry, I’m just getting out of an appointment with a client. Babies are the best, aren’t they?
Finn’s heart squeezed for a moment, because he knew his cousin had tender feelings about this particular subject. He and his wife, Brielle, had struggled mightily to get their baby boy, and they probably wouldn’t be able to have more.
Do let us know if we can bring food or help with babysitting so Clover can rest up, Angel said. Finn, put my name on the list.
He loved how they all assumed he’d be the one to organize and coordinate, but he’d done it so many times in the past—and he’d continue to do it until the very last breath he took. He valued his friendships with his cowboys and their wives so, so, so much.
He got to his text, and noted that several more had come in after that, all of them asking after his tractor.
I bet I can fix it, Brandon said. I’ll come through the woods tomorrow and look at it if you want.
Pick me up on the way, Alex said. I’ve got a new toolkit, and I bet we can tame the tractor with something in it.
I’d like that, Brandon and Alex, Finn said. And yes, let’s let Rock and Clover get home, and then I’ll figure out what they need and we’ll coordinate from there.
My momma has been cooking for three weeks, Link said.
And none of us are complaining about that, Smiles said.
I sometimes wish I was a Glover. Trap sent big-smiling emojis along with his text.
Yeah, because my momma hasn’t been cooking. JJ added eyerolling emojis to his text.
I’ve seen none of that food.
That’s because you’re eating every meal at Lila Mae’s, Ty said.
That’s not true, Trap said.
It so is, both Ty and Colt said.
I third that, Jake said, and Finn laughed right out loud.
“Finn!” Edith called. “Dinner’s on.”
“Daddy!”
He got to his feet and exited the shed to find his wife and his little boy standing on the edge of the back porch. His heart filled with love all over again, and he started toward them in a fast stride.
“They named him Denim,” he said as he jogged up the steps. He swept his arm around his wife and pulled her close. “I love you, Edee.”
She leaned into him and watched him in the semi-standoffish way she had. “Dusty’s not too old for us to have another baby,” she said.
“Daddy, I hungry, and you in the barn too long,” Dusty said in his cute little three-year-old voice.
Finn grinned at her and swept their son into his arms. “They’re all having boys, Edee. What makes you think we’ll get a girl?”
“Prayer?” she guessed, and he laughed and took her hand in his.
“We’ll talk about it after dinner,” he said, and then he led the way into their farmhouse, once again on the teeter-totter of whether or not they should expand their family or not.
Can’t I just be happy for my much-younger friends when they have their babies? he asked himself…and God. But I’ll do whatever will make my wife happy and what You want me to do.
And Finn would, just as he always had. Now, if they could just come to an agreement on this topic once and for all, Finn would be happy—no matter which way the Lord told him to go.