Page 79 of Wrangled Love

My hand settles on her waist as I wipe her tears with my thumb, leaning my head against hers. Neither of us speaks, letting the weight of what we just witnessed settle around us. Since moving to Bluebell, we’ve carried the same fear that Caleb might never speak again or trust someone enough to use his voice. So to hear him say “night, Dad” is a monumental milestone I’ll cherish forever.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“For what?” Briar asks, her breath warm against my lips.

“For helping make that possible.” I nod toward Caleb’s room. “He’d never have found his voice again without both of us, and I’ll forever be indebted to you.”

“Thank you for letting me be a part of this.” She rises on her toes and brushes a kiss to my mouth. “You’re a good dad, Jensen. The best.”

A slow smile breaks across my face. Briar believed in me when I doubted myself most; I draw her closer, not ready to let her go.

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come since Caleb and I first arrived. He was scared of his own shadow, and I was bitter and lost. In such a short time, everything has shifted. Now, I can picture a future where Caleb isn’t just surviving but thriving and embracing life the way every kid should.

Briar’s grin stretches wide. “This calls for spiked hot chocolate on the porch. What do you think?”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

She kisses me again before slipping out of my arms. “I’ll warm up the milk.”

With her, I never have to ask for anything. She seems to know when I need a moment to myself before I do.

After she heads downstairs, I quietly push Caleb’s door open a sliver, wanting to see him again. He’s lying in the same spot, his eyes closed, already fast asleep.

“Thank you for being patient with me, bud,” I whisper into the darkness. “I’m so lucky to have you, and your mom would be so proud. She may not be here, but you’ll always have me, and I’ll love you enough for both of us through every moment, big or small.”

For the first time since learning about Caleb, I’m not angry with Amelia. What I feel now is gratitude. She trusted me withthe most important person in her world and believed I could be there for him when she no longer could—and somehow, I have been. For Caleb.

I may never know the full story about why she kept him from me, but I forgive her. Because loving Caleb the way I do, I understand why she wanted to protect him, even if that meant keeping him a secret.

All that matters is that every sleepless night, every moment of frustration has paid off. My sontalkedto me, and I may never come down from this high. The best part? I got to share it with Briar.

When Caleb woke up this morning he asked to visit Magnolia, and of course, I said yes. It’s only been a few days since he first spoke, and I’m already so proud of how far he’s come.

Caleb holds out a handful of oats, laughter spilling from his mouth as Magnolia trots over. I know Briar would love to be here, but she’s in town running errands.

Magnolia nudges her nose through the fence, lowering her head to eat from the palm of his hand. I watch, amazed by Caleb’s confidence. Just a few weeks ago, he watched the horses from a safe distance. Now, he’s at ease beside Magnolia as if he’s done this a hundred times.

“Can I learn to ride a horse like Heath?” Caleb asks.

I blink, surprised by his question. This is the most he’s spoken to me so far. The morning after he started talking, he only responded with one or two words. But in the days since, his sentences have steadily grown longer. Between the time spent on the ranch and his sessions with his therapist, his confidence isgrowing, and I’m beginning to see glimpses of the happy, bubbly boy I imagine he was before losing his mom.

“Of course you can, buddy.”

“Will you teach me?”

I nod, fighting past the lump in my throat. “Absolutely.”

Magnolia lets out a soft whinny once she finishes the oats, clearly asking for more. I pull the plastic bag I brought from my back pocket and shake a few into Caleb’s outstretched hands. Magnolia doesn’t hesitate, dipping her head for the second helping of treats.

This is what I’ve wished for since Caleb came into my life. For him to feel confident enough to ask for what he wants and comfortable enough to share his opinions. Even if he had chosen to stay silent, we would’ve kept finding other ways for him to express himself. But I’m thankful he’s chosen to let his voice be heard, and I’ll never take it for granted.

“Caleb?”

He gives me a curious glance. “Yeah, Dad?”

My chest tightens at the sound of him calling me that. Finding out I was a dad was life-changing, but hearing him say it aloud means everything.

“You can always talk to me, buddy. About anything. And if you ever don’t feel like talking, that’s okay too.”

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