Page 138 of Saddles

I think there’s something he isn’t telling me. And I’m not sure if he ever will.

But I know that we both have a way of rising over every obstacle, taking on enormous risks, just to find each other again.

We’re broken in our own ways, yet together we make a seamless whole.

Epilogue

Ford

The wind races through my hair as her arms wrap my waist.

I can’t stop myself from pressing her hand into my belly and idly rubbing the small silver band.

“Did you want to stop at the house first?” I yell loudly enough she can hear me over the thrumming of my Harley.

“No, I promised Char I’d check that mare to let her know if it’s foaled.” Her lips are only inches from my ear, her hot breath matching the warm June air.

Slowing down as we turn onto the dirt lane leading into the ranch, she snuggles herself against my back.

I don’t know how much longer she’ll be able to ride behind me as her belly grows.

“It has to be something special that her horse is due the same time she had her twins.” Her voice has a wistful sing-song sound now every time she talks about babies.

It’s been almost impossible to peel her away from Mason’s newest.

I imagine Lori appreciates the help though. Two little boys barely a year apart, she’s going to have her hands full.

My motorcycle kicks up a low cloud of dust behind us that catches up when I pull to a stop next to the second barn.

April’s tanned arms shudder with a violent sneeze, then she starts giggling and makes a show of wiping down my back.

“Did you…?” I grin at her as I help her off.

“No, but you should see the look on your face.” She bounces past me into the dim interior.

When she reaches up to the rail on the gate and pulls herself high enough to see over the stall door, I can just see the swell below her belly button.

I can’t wait until I can feel our own child kick.

“Ford!” she exclaims, clapping her palm over her mouth. “It’s spotted!”

My hand wraps the top and I hoist myself next to her. “Huh. I guess that little bit of Appaloosa came through strong.”

“I gotta get a picture and send it to her.” She pulls her phone out of her cut-off jeans pocket and snaps a few quick shots.

Stepping down, her thumbs fly over her screen and an easy smile plays over her lips.

She brushes a strand of her hair behind her ear and glances up at me. “Char sent me a pic of the twins. She said the one on the right is Violet, and the other is Rose.”

Turning her wrist reveals two red, grumpy looking faces.

“Well, I see they have Dix’s personality already,” I chuckle. “While we’re on this end, I might as well check with Mason on herd assignments.”

It’s taken a couple of weeks to get back in the swing of things.

Spending ten days on the beaches of Italy with April for our honeymoon has my head in all the wrong places.

But in the best ways.

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