“Realsmart. Top of the class and a year ahead, smart,” Isla adds. “She left for college then came back for a few months before leavin’ again.”
“I think she lives near Palmer. I remember Derrick sayin’ somethin’ about that,” Case adds.
Will nods. “Yeah. She’s been stayin’ here since Sully went downhill.”
“Wait. If she’s a Wilson, doesn’t that mean…,” Wyatt, says slowly. He’s our ranch hand and has become one of my best friends since he moved here from Bull Mountain to work with us.
“Adopted,” me, Sutton, and Blair all say at the same time, as if reading his mind.
Isla and Birdie’s eyes widen. “Really?” Birdie says. “I never knew that.”
Isla cocks her head. “Actually, I think I remember hearin’ somethin’ about that years and years ago. The Wilsons wouldn’t have treated her any differently though. If you carry the name Wilson, you’re family. She was always the apple of Sully’s eye. He’d come down the mountain for every school event she was in.”
“I think she was even a cheerleader for a bit in our senior year,” Birdie adds.
I look between them. “You do know you haven’t really told me anythin’ about Em as a person, just surface stuff.”
“Funny that.Usually,you’d find out about a personbeforeyou marry them,” Sutton deadpans.
I pin him with a stare. “Did you know there was somethin’ different about Blair when you first saw her back in Boston?”
Sutton turns to his wife and they make soft googly eyes at each other before he turns back to me. “OK. Point taken.
“Doesn’t mean you have to jump all in at first deathbed request,” Wyatt says.
“The minute I laid eyes on her, Iknewshe was someone I was meant to know. I didn’t knowwhatit was but Iknew. When Sully asked me, there wasn’t an ounce of doubt in my mind. I’mmeantto be in Em’s life. I’msupposedto be there for her, to take care of her. That’s why I didn’t hesitate. I’m not questionin’ it. I’m just?—”
“Freakin’ out?” Case offers.
“He’s definitely freakin’ out,” Wyatt helpfully adds.
“The mutism on the drive back from Wilson Ranch was when he was freakin’ out,” Sutton says. “I think it’s finally sinkin’ in that he just agreed to marry the daughter of our family rivals to fulfill a man’s dyin’ wish and he doesn’t even know his wife-to-be’s full name.”
“I’m not freakin’ out,” I mutter, though now that he’s said all that… maybe I am.
“You’re notnotfreakin’ out though,” Isla asks, brow arched sky high.
I open my mouth to argue but nothing comes out.
Thankfully, Blair clears her throat. “How ‘bout we focus on logistics,” she suggests.
“Logistics?” I ask.
“Yeah, Jude,” she says in aduhtone. “Like how about the fact you’re marryin’ a member of what has been up until now a rival to the Cooper bloodline, and at the request of the man who was plannin’ to challenge Ridley’s estate. I may be a new member of the family, but we should probably think about protectin’ the ranch somehow.”
My brothers look between each other before their three heads pivot my way. “My wife makes a damn good point, Jude,” Sutton says.
Birdie pulls her phone out of her pocket. “Leave it with me.” She disappears into the house with Blair and Isla following behind her, leaving me, my brothers, and Wy on the porch.
“Last time I’ll ask, Jude. But are you sure about this? No one would blame you if you wanted to back out now. Maybe take her out for dinner. Get to know her. You know,datefirst before pledgin’ your life to her?” Sutton says.
Wyatt holds up his hand. “Wait. You mean this would be arealmarriage?”
I stare at him. “I ain’t marryin’ her for show, Wy. She’s my One. I knew it when I saw her, from the moment I touched her hand, I knew without a doubt. I just didn’texpectto meet her today, let alone have Sully ask me to marry hertoday…”And for her to be a Wilson.
I realize then that one of my brothers has been curiously quiet. “Case?”
He stares at me for the longest time. “You felt it just by seein’ her?”