Page 74 of Rancher's Heart

CHAPTER 40

ELLE

As the sun dipped behind the mountains, I looked around at the people gathered on our porch. My parents were holding hands, which was something I hadn’t seen since I was a kid. Griff’s mom and dad were in deep conversation with them, and bursts of laughter flowed freely. I worried that they were telling childhood stories. My brother was talking with Kipp, who was fumbling over his hands, but Wyatt was helping him as he went. Parker and the other kids were running around.

“Well, am I forgiven?” Griff asked softly as he slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me back to rest on his chest. His powerful hand rested gently on my abdomen, and I couldn’t help but smile at the feeling.

“You’re always forgiven. In fact, you weren’t ever in trouble. Thank you for doing this. I would have been fine going to the courthouse and that being it.” Turning my head I looked up at him and smiled.

“I wanted you to have more than that though,” he whispered in my ear. “It’s pretty perfect, isn’t it.” All I could do was nod. Between the emotion of today and the pregnancy hormones all I felt like I was doing was crying.

“Hey, love birds, come with us for a minute.” Ryder said as he, and Linc walked down the porch steps.

Around a bonfire the people who made this ranch were gathered, smiling and waiting for us. “We get the irony of bringing you two out to a fire, but we just want to offer our congratulations,” Kipp said as he pulled Nora into his arms.

“Life could have taken a very different turn, and we won’t ever be able to thank you for saving the part of our brotherhood we couldn’t live without,” Nash said smiling at us.

“Pretty sure you know how I feel.” Ryder shrugged and I let go of Griff’s hand and went to hug him. My now husband was his best friend and in that helicopter a month ago we watched him hang on the edge of life and death together.

“Now look, this isn’t supposed to be sad. All we wanted to do was give you your official welcome to the ranch and make you aware that you didn’t just marry him, you and Parker have all of us now.” Linc gave me a rare hug before stepping back to Kristin.

“Thank you. If I wasn’t already aware of how much you look out for one another I am now. Thank you for adding us to that list.” Moving back to Griff, I could see the light in his eyes dim just a little as he momentarily gave into his exhaustion.

“Listen, I love you all, and I thank you for helping him with everything, but I think it’s time for Griff to go to bed. He hasn’t done this much in a month.”

“You don’t have to be my nurse all the time,” he grumbled.

“Sorry, you’re stuck with me now.” I held up my hand and my rings sparkled in the glow of the fire.

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded and grabbed my hand. We all made our way back to the porch.

Ryder’s phone rang, and he stepped away to take it. The look on his face wasn’t like anything I’d seen before. It was a mix of confusion, worry and panic.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” Troy asked as he came up to Griff and I. Nodding, I followed him over to where his truck was parked. “I just want to apologize for not being the man you needed. Seeing you with Griffin and how much you’ve fought for him reminds me of how much you were fighting for Parker, and I didn’t see it. I just want to tell you how sorry I am.” He looked down at the gravel.

“Troy, we weren’t the people we are now, I could have handled things better and come at it from a better place. I should have been able to see it from your side and how scared you were rather than just bulldozing over you. You’re a great dad, and I will never tell anyone any different.” Reaching out, I hugged him. “It’s time for you to be happy,” I whispered and he let me go.

“I’m working on it.” He smiled. “Want to send Parker out? Your parents are staying at the house tonight to.”

“I always knew they liked you better than me.” I laughed as I turned to find my son.

“Okay, but when I get back, we have to start working with my colt.” I heard Parker tell Griff.

“We will, bud. I should be ready to get back out there with help from your dad.” Parker gently threw his arms around Griff, and I smiled as I caught my husbands eye.

“See you in a few days, Mom.” Parker hugged me quickly and ran off, pulling my parents along behind him. They waved and assured me they’d be over tomorrow.

Ryder waited until we were done talking to Parker and pulled Griff and the other guys a side on the porch. They were deep in discussion, and then he ran down the steps and jumped in his vehicle.

As most of our guests left the yard, I sat on the porch swing beside Griff. “Where are your mom and dad staying?”

“With Julie and Phil. They wanted us to be alone. Do you know we haven’t been alone in this house for a month?”

“It’s hard to believe that much time has passed. Need anything for pain?” I shifted and looked at Griff, who’d closed his eyes.

“Nope, I don’t need anything.” He sighed, and I was about to ask him again, but he opened his eyes and arched his brow at me. “That’s not true. I need you on top of me because woman, it’s also been a month since I’ve made love to you.”

“All right, everything is cleaned up, the fire is out, and we’re all going to leave you love birds in peace.” Kipp said as he reached for Nora’s hand. Everyone left the ranch in the same sense of confusion with Ryder leaving so abruptly. My relaxed husband was gone, and in his place a man who stared down the road, gripping the railing of the porch. “Hey, if you need to go check on him, it’s fine.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek on his back. With his good hand he covered mine and shook his head.

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