Page 75 of Rancher's Heart

“No, he’s heading to Wyoming. There’s nothing we can do for him until he gets back. I’m sure he’ll need us. He’s going to have to see his ex-wife and that always does a number on him.” His voice trailed off, and I didn’t push anymore. “Take me to bed, wife.”

“Gladly.” I smiled against him and let him pull me around to his side. I reached behind me, locked the door, and turned off the porch light. “Let me change, and I’ll be right in.” I pulled Griff to me and sighed as he lowered his mouth to mine.

EPILOGUE

ELLE AND GRIFF

Our summer flew by, and I stared out into the mountains, feeling the cold creeping down them. Green leaves seemingly turned orange and yellow overnight and I longed for the winter stillness, and slow down that would happen. Running my hand over my ever-expanding abdomen, I wondered what this little one’s life would be like. It was too early to borrow trouble and I tried not to wonder too much if they’d be able to hear me forever or not. Griff assured me there wasn’t any place better equipped for a child that couldn’t hear better than this ranch.

Griff had made great strides in his recovery, and he had almost full use of his arm again. He was scheduled for another surgery to release some scar tissue from the burns but he wasn’t worried about it at all.

Troy had spent most of the summer helping around the ranch, working with Griff’s horses until he was able to be back and then being here while he built his stamina again. As odd as it was having him here, he and Griff had become good friends and Troy fit perfectly in with the five.

The old Hays place now belonged to him solely, thanks to backing from the Flying Diamond Five, and a little persuasivedealing with Desmond Tucker. When he’d found out the five had backed Troy, he fought tooth and nail to cancel the deal, but the papers were signed, and the land transferred somewhat peacefully. There was a vow to the five that he’d find a way to make them pay, but none of them seemed to be all that worried about it.

Parker had convinced the guys that there should be a trail cleared between the two ranches to save time going back and forth. While having my ex-husband so close might not be what I’d ever imagined, Parker was in his glory. We’d tossed out any court-mandated visitation rights and he was able to go back and forth as he pleased all summer. It would be a little harder during the school year because of the bus, but I was sure he’d figure out a way to deal with that, too. He was a resourceful kid and I was so incredibly proud to be his mom.

“You seem like you’re a million miles away from me. How do I bring you back?” Griff’s deep voice cut through my thoughts and did, in fact, bring me back. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his hands on my stomach. He couldn’t keep his hands off me during my pregnancy with Cora. I was excited that he was the same for this one. Getting pregnant so fast wasn’t on the list of things I wanted to happen, but Griff’s insatiable appetite for me was hard to resist. At least these two kids would be close in age.

Leaning back against him, he let me put all my weight against him, and he gently lifted my stomach. The relief was instantaneous. It felt like all the pressure was gone. Closing my eyes I just sat in the moment.

“A lot has happened in the last year,” I whispered as I watched a deer off in the distance frolic in the tall, green grass of the pasture. Soon, it would be filled with cows that the five would bring down from the mountain.

“A lot of good has happened, that’s for sure,” he whispered in my ear. We avoided talking about the bad, not because we didn’t want to acknowledge it, but we needed to be able to move on from it. Our new red barn stood where our life changed in mere moments. It was larger than the old one and boasted more conveniences Griff had dreamed up while he was out of commission.

“You need to get dressed. We have to get to the fairgrounds.” He slipped his hand into my housecoat, and the warmth of his touch flowed through me, canceling out the chill that was starting to set in.

“Think they’d miss us if we didn’t go?” I asked as I leaned back into him, letting him take the weight off me for a moment.

“Yeah, I think they’d notice.” He chuckled behind me. “They do have one of our kids with them. Pretty soon, we’ll have three kids. Can you believe that?” No, I almost couldn’t believe it. With us both being in our mid-thirties, I actually never imagined we’d have another baby.

“By the time this one is six, Parker will be off in college, or out on his own.” A wave of sadness at the thought of him having a life without us made me sad. But I wasn’t about to stop his dreams just because I wanted to keep my children reliant on me.

“But we’re leaving as soon as my shift in the bar is done, I’ve got other plans for you.” Griff’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned to look up at him.

“It better involve candles, a massage, and my body pillow.”

“Candles yes, a massage, I can do, and if you count me as your body pillow, then I’ve got all three checked off your list.” His words reverberated in my ear as he kissed down my neck. Pulling the robe off my shoulder, I smiled and felt his growing need behind me.

“I thought we were going to be late if we didn’t leave now.”

“They’ll understand. We’re always late for everything when we get ready together.” He cupped my breast and ran his tongue around my ear.

“Griffin Harp, they better not know why we’re always late,” I said, pushing his hand away.

“No, they know nothing.” He shook his head. I didn’t believe him at all, the five knew everything about each other.

“I’m going to get ready. I’ll be right back.” Turning in his arms, he cupped my ass as I stood on my tip-toes and kissed him. Each kiss was as thrilling as our first, and I hoped they always would be, and it wasn’t just the overflow of hormones raging through my body.

Parker rode all the rides at the fair, and we almost took up an entire section in the rodeo arena but we had a great time. Kipp and Nash broke with their tradition of only roping in our rodeo and competed here as well. None of us were surprised when they won the event.

“All right, I think it’s time we get the kids home,” Nora said as she looked at the half-sleepy faces around her. “This was a great day.” She said as she lifted the kids into the SUV she drove.

***

“You’ve got to give her up, babe,” I whispered in her ear.

“I know.” She turned and smiled at me. Leaving Cora had been difficult for Elle, even though she would be in the care of Nora, who had volunteered her and Kipp to look after all the kids, with the help of Julie and Phil.

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