Chapter Twenty-Two – Ensley
Ensley
“This is my favorite family tradition,” Emeline said, as she put everything for the hot chocolate on the trays. We had crushed candy canes, shaved chocolate, cinnamon sticks, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and shredded coconut. It was something our great-grandmother, Lilith, had started.
“Too bad your uncles couldn’t all make it this year,” my mother said, as she poured hot chocolate into one of the three carafes.
Emeline stepped back and looked at her handiwork on the tray as she said, “Caden told me that Uncle David and Uncle Mike are retiring at the end of next year.”
Surprised, I asked, “They are?”
Mom nodded. “They told Caden and Gatlin they’ll be officially handing over the running of the ranch to them. They’ll stay on through the end of next year, but will be taking a pretty big step back.”
Emeline and I exchanged a smile. If I knew my two brothers, they were most likely flying high at the prospect of being in charge of running the ranch.
“And the horse side of the ranch?” I asked.
My mother looked at Emeline, then me. “Well, I mean, Emeline runs it now, but if you’d like a bigger part in—”
“No!” I said, cutting her off. “I don’t want anything to do with the running of the horse side of the ranch. I mean, of course, I’m always here to help you, Emeline. You know that.”
She smiled and nodded.
“But Colt and I are going to merge our businesses and make it one.”
“How exciting!” my mother said. “When did you decide this?”
I shrugged. “A couple of weeks ago.”
“And have you decided where you’re going to live?” Emeline asked.
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
“You know you’re more than welcome to build something on the ranch, Ensley. Once the baby comes, you’ll need more room.”
Moose, Emeline’s chocolate lab, came running into the kitchen and straight to Emeline. She bent down and kissed him on the nose. “Hello, my handsome boy. Looking for me, were you?”
He barked, and my mother and I both laughed.
“He’s come to tell you the men are ready for their hot chocolate,” Gatlin said, as he strolled into the kitchen.
“Well, grab a tray then and carry it in.”
“Just a warning, Dad put a Christmas movie on.”
We all rolled our eyes as Mom let out a groan. “Please tell me it’s not Die Hard.”
Gatlin laughed. “It is not Die Hard.”
“Please tell me it isn’t The Sound of Music,” Emeline said next, as she put her hands together in prayer.
Gatlin winced. “Sorry, sis. Lilibeth was the deciding vote, and you know she voted for TSOM.”
“TSOM?” I asked.
Looking at me like I’d hit my head, Gatlin replied, “The Sound of Music. Duh.”
“Oh, right,” I laughed.
“Come on, girls, let’s get this stuff out there and enjoy our hot chocolate and movie.”
Colt and I settled on the love seat, curled up under a blanket and sipping our hot chocolate. He seemed to be staring off into space, not paying attention to the movie.
I leaned closer and whispered, “Are you okay?”
He nodded and smiled…but it seemed forced.
I raised a brow.
“Thinking of Grady. Wishing he were here for all of this. He would have made a wonderful uncle.”
Lacing my fingers with his, I nodded. “He would have. I truly believe he’s looking down on us, though, and he’s happy for us.”
The corner of Colt’s mouth lifted slightly as he nodded. I squeezed his hand, and he looked at me.
“Do you want to leave?”
Colt glanced around the room, and a more genuine smile appeared on his face as he shook his head.
I followed his gaze and took in the sight before me. My mother and father were on the sofa, snuggled up under a blanket, just like me and Colt. Next to them were my grandfather and grandmother, both passed out cold. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.
On the other sofa sat Caden and Lilibeth, the latter fast asleep as Caden raptly watched the movie he claimed to hate like it was his favorite movie in the entire world.
On the floor, lying on a makeshift bed, were Levi and Emeline.
Surrounding them were three of their kids, all fast asleep without a care in the world.
Jackson and Nellie were asleep in the nursery upstairs.
My heart warmed as I let my eyes roam over my family. Just a few months ago, my heart could hardly bear to be around my family, simply because being with them reminded me of what I didn’t have. Now, with Colt by my side, I had a future full of just as much love to look forward to.
Turning to Colt, I said, “I want to show you something tomorrow, here on the ranch.”
He kissed my forehead. “Okay.”
Snuggling into his side, I drew in a breath and slowly let it out. Life certainly was beautiful. I closed my eyes and thought of Grady, and although it made me sad that he wasn’t here with us, I knew in my heart…he was.
Somewhere in the depths of my soul, I even heard his voice. “Life is beautiful, indeed.”
Christmas morning started with a fresh coat of snow on the ground. I’d woken up before Colt and made blueberry muffins, a breakfast quiche, and freshly squeezed orange juice. We didn’t have to be at my parents’ until nine for our Christmas breakfast with the family.
“Something smells good,” Colt said, as he tried to take a blueberry muffin.
I slapped his hand away. “That is for Christmas breakfast at my parents’ this morning. I was in charge of muffins, quiche, and OJ.”
He pouted and looked back down at the muffins.
Rolling my eyes, I said, “One, and that’s it.”
Smiling, he picked it up and took a bite. Closing his eyes, he moaned. “God, that is good—and it’s still warm!”
“I’m glad you’re dressed. Are you ready to head out?”
I glanced over to see him eyeing another muffin.
“Colt?”
Snapping out of his daze, he looked at me. “We’re leaving for your folks’ now?”
“No. Remember, I wanted to show you something.”
“That’s right. I’m ready if you are.”
“Make sure you bring a hat and gloves. We may have to walk in the snow.”
“Did it snow last night?”
“It’s still snowing.”
Shoving the rest of the muffin into his mouth, Colt walked over and grabbed his coat.
When he turned in a circle, eyes searching, I said, “They’re on the side table.”
Spotting his gloves and hat, he winked at me. “What would I do without you?”
“Pass that table six times looking for your gloves, most likely.”
He laughed as he slipped them into his coat pocket. “Are we driving?”
“Yep.”
Once we got into the truck, I told him where to head. We passed the camp and started toward the side of the ranch where the hands lived.
“Are we taking something to the guys?” Colt asked.
“Nope! There will be a left turn up here. I don’t know if the snow has covered the road yet or not.”
“Someone’s already been up and driving around,” Colt noted.
“Probably one of the ranch hands. I can’t remember who’s working today.” I pointed. “There—right there, see it?”
“Yep, I see it.”
He turned left and we drove a mile down before I spotted the next road. “Turn to the right.”
“Where are we going, Pip?”
Smiling, I said, “You’ll see.”
We drove another half mile before I told Colt to park. “Stop right here. We’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”
He parked in the middle of the road, turned off the truck, and slipped out. He jogged around and opened my door, holding his hand out to help me down. I zipped up my jacket, slipped my hat and gloves on, and drew in a deep breath. The air was crisp and clean.
“Okay, now where?”
Pointing toward a small hill covered in trees, I said, “We’re going there.”
He followed where I was pointing. Without another word, he started walking next to me.
We climbed up the hill, and when we got to the top, Colt stopped. “Wow. This is beautiful.”
Down below was River Falls River, meandering through the ranch like a road headed to the unknown.
In the distance was a mountain range covered in freshly fallen snow.
“After you left, I would come up here and watch the river run. I used to think I was just like that river. Some spots were calm; others were raging, as if in a rush to get somewhere. Like it was being called. For some reason, I felt connected to it. Just flowing through life, drifting toward…something. Or someone. It was when I sat on this very hill, looking down, that I felt the closest to you.”
“Me?” Colt asked softly.
Pulling my eyes from the river, I turned to him and nodded.
“My grandfather was the one who first brought me here. I think he brought each of us to a different spot on the ranch, all his favorites. Now we all have one. Caden’s is this hidden lake where he and Lilibeth got married.
Emeline’s is up in a meadow. And Gatlin… ”
I shook my head. “I don’t know where Gatlin’s is. He’s never told anyone. Or at least, he’s never told me.”
Turning back to the river, I went on. “The first time my grandfather brought me here, he told me that river was drifting toward its destiny, and so was I. Some spots of the river, like life, would be easy. Other spots, I’d be fighting against the current.
At the time, I didn’t understand what he was saying.
But as I got older, his words made more and more sense.
“I never showed you this spot while we were dating because I wanted to keep it for myself a while longer. A place where I could go to feel peace.”
“Did it bring you peace, being here?”
Nodding, I said, “It did. Like I said, it made me feel connected to you.” I let out a laugh. “I’m not sure why, since I never brought you here. But somehow…it did.”
Turning to face him once more, I said, “I also feel closer to Grady here, though he never got to see it, either. Maybe it’s the river below, or the endless views of the ranch for miles and miles, but this place is…special.”
He smiled. “I can feel that.”
My heart started to pound in my chest. What if he thought my idea was stupid? I drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
“Last night, my mother said we could build anywhere on the ranch, if we wanted to.”
Colt smiled once again. “You want to build a house here?”
I nodded. “I do.”
Taking a step closer, he took off his gloves and pushed them into his pocket. I did the same. We took each other’s hands, and Colt looked into my eyes. His were filled with love, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was being lifted off the ground and floating on a cloud of happiness.
“I think this is the perfect spot to start our life together, Ensley Wilde. To raise a family. I can already picture us sitting on rocking chairs years from now, two old people watching the sunset.”
I chuckled. “I can see that, too.”
He placed his hand on the side of my face, leaning down and gently brushing a kiss across my lips. When he drew back, he rested his forehead against mine.
“This journey called life, that you and I have been on, has brought us to this very moment, and this very spot.”
“It has,” I whispered.
“We’re finally home, Pippa.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. When I opened them, I felt the heat of my tears move down my cheek. I said the only word I could manage.
“Home.”