‘How’s that arm doing?’ Sawyer asks warily.
‘It’s okay.’ Noah holds it out between them for Sawyer to see, pulling up the sleeve of his pyjama top to reveal the bandage. Sawyer’s shoulders hunch as he chances a glance at Noah’s expression, but he finds a simple smile there, as opposed to pain. ‘The doctor said I might have a scar, butMomma told me you have lots of scars and that’s what made you strong. She told me scars can be beautiful.’
Sawyer’s head whips around to me, a shine taking residence in his eyes. They search mine, and I see it then—the belief that blooms in him as that damn handsome smile dances on his lips. The belief that he is worthy of us, finally. His hand filters beneath the sheets to intertwine with mine.
I love you, he mouths.
I love you too, I silently say back, knowing it’s time.
‘Noah, baby. Come here.’ I hold my arms out and Noah shuffles over into them, wiggling his butt around to get comfortable as he settles in my lap. Sawyer watches him with overflowing joy.
Gently, brushing Noah’s hair back first, I press a kiss to the top of his head, and he tilts his head back, blinking those big eyes up at me, all swimming with delight
‘How’d you like to stay at Lucky Star forever?’ I ask Noah.
His eyes go as round as saucers, bottom lip dropping and revealing all the gaps in his teeth along with his excitement.
‘Foreverforever?’ he asks, double checking, head volleying between Sawyer and I like he can’t quite believe what I’ve just suggested. ‘With both of you? And Trixie? And Kentucky?’
‘Yup,’ Sawyer says, ruffling Noah’s hair and making him giggle. ‘All five of us. The whole family.’
‘Hell, fucking yeah!’ Noah squeals, springing up from my arms and dancing about on the mattress, bouncing everywhere.
Laughter barrels out of Sawyer, so much it makes him wheeze, and I can’t quite believe what I just heard. WhenI turn to Sawyer, he merely grins at me, all cheeky and not one bit apologetic for what his language has led to. I know I’m going to regret letting him be a dad to my son, and all the other babies we have, but I also know I’m going to love it even more.
Epilogue
Sawyer
Fifteen months later
‘There you go, buddy,’ I say as I finish adjusting Noah’s bolo tie. I brush my hands over his shoulders, then give his suit jacket a tug at the bottom to straighten it out. Though, no doubt he’ll be running about outside the minute I take my eyes off him, and it’ll be creased and messy in no time. But what can I do? He’s a cowboy at heart. Never going to try to tame him.
I twist him in my hands so he’s facing the mirror behind, and he shoots me a gappy, beaming smile at the sight of us both—matching black suits and bolo ties, and there are two brown cowboy hats waiting for us on the table downstairs.
‘You know,’ I start, filtering my fingers through his bangs that really needs a cut to try to make it neater and keep it out of his eyes. ‘I think you might look more handsome than me.’
Noah giggles at that and just smiles even brighter, theamount of confidence he’s built over the past fifteen months shining through. I know Rory and Wyatt’s wedding today will be a big deal for him, but he’s getting much braver at speaking to new people. Even has a couple of friends now that come over to the ranch for playdates, one of them he’s managed to recruit to attend the bull-riding school that I set up this year.
Teaching a bunch of kids how to put their lives at risk—sounds about right for me, given that even after a bull snapped my leg in half, I still went back for more. Got my World Champion title back, though, didn’t I? As if anyone ever doubted me.
The business is still new, but it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. Me and Honey made the long distance work when I was travelling again for bull riding, but I couldn’t be happier to leave all those empty hotel rooms and bad signal phone calls behind for waking up each day to a house filled with laughter and love. With Honey and Noah.
‘Okay, buddy.’ I stand up, still not used to how quickly he’s growing, how his baby face is already becoming more lean. ‘Go show Grandma your outfit downstairs and I’ll check in on how your mom’s doing.’
Rory and Wyatt’s wedding has been a long time coming, but they wanted to host it at Sunset Ranch and decided to convert a dilapidated barn at the edge of their property into a space to hold the wedding. A trial run for possibly running weddings as a business idea to add to the retreat in the future. I hope I can be their first real customer if they do decide to.
Noah runs out of the room, the sound of footsteps tumbling down the stairs echoing along the landing as I seekout Honey where she was getting ready in the bathroom. The door is ajar, so I adjust my tie and suit, then carefully ease the door open.
There my golden girl stands. A lilac satin dress drapes over her beautiful body, slipping over each curve like the smoothest of streams. Her long blonde hair is pinned half up with pearl-like clips, the rest hanging loose in soft waves. I have to fight the urge to run my fingers through them because I know she’s spent too much time getting ready this morning.
She’s fucking breathtaking and I lean against the door frame to stop myself from falling to my knees. I’ll save that for later tonight when Noah sleeps over at May’s and we’re back late from the wedding.
‘You look beautiful,’ I admit, and she whips her head around to me from where she was standing over the sink, staring into the mirror. I wonder what she was thinking about. When she might be the one walking down the aisle …
Her smile is sweet and instant, eyes immediately roaming over me in my suit. The way she bites her bottom lip says enough. But it’s as I step into the room that the sunlight pouring through the window catches her eyes and I notice the silver rimming them.
I know I look handsome, but enough to make a woman cry? I’m no Elvis. It has me kicking the door shut and rushing towards her.