Page 23 of April is for Asher

Falling asleep that night, I had plans for us the next day, but you were gone. For a while, I thought I would never see you again, but the universe seems to have had other plans. I want to be your husband and I want to be this baby’s father. I want to coach little league and help you plan birthday parties. Hell, I’m even up for the three a.m. feedings and diaper changes. As long as you’re by my side through it all. I know that marriage isn’t going to be easy. Especially since we’re starting it off with a kid. But I do know that I want to spend every day fighting for you and for us, and for our family.

Because the love that I feel for you is the kind of love that many don’t find in a lifetime. But we were lucky enough to find on a one-night stand. Will you marry me? “

At this point, she’s in tears and all she can do is nod.

“Yes.” She gasps between tears and I slide the ring on her finger.

Then she gulps and sits back down.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I ask, worried about her.

She pulls me to the bench next to her and takes my hand, placing it on her belly. A moment later, our son kicks my hand and my eyes shoot up to her. It’s such a faint little kick, but he’s there and involved in the moment we really start our family.

Our story is just beginning. And I can’t wait to get her back to Mustang Mountain. And get started on it.

EPILOGUE

MACK

I didn’t havetime to go all the way into town this afternoon to meet Ruby, but somehow I could never say no to her. None of the guys who lived on Mustang Mountain could. She might be annoying as hell sometimes and stick her nose into places where it definitely didn’t belong, but she was as much a part of Mustang Mountain as the landscape itself.

Before I took off, I needed to check on my new hire. Caden had only been working with me for a few weeks, but seemed to have a good handle on what needed to be done. I ducked into one of the outbuildings on my property where I kenneled some of the sled dogs, who were just about ready for breeding. My team was already behind schedule this spring. If we didn’t get these females bred soon, we might as well forget about it this season.

“Hey, boss.” Caden looked up as I entered. He was my buddy Shaw’s younger brother, and I’d taken him under my wing in an effort to keep him out of trouble. “I think you need to take a look at Persephone before we match her up with Triton.”

“What makes you think that?” Persephone was only three years old, but she’d been one of my best sled dogs over the winter. Even a mention that there might be something wrong with her made my stomach roll.

“It’s nothing bad. She’s just acting a little funny,” Caden said.

“It will have to wait. I’ve got to run into town for a while, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back. You think you can finish up around here on your own this afternoon?”

“Yeah, I can do that.” Caden’s chest puffed out a bit.

The kid had been doing a good job and deserved to take on some additional responsibilities. He reminded me of one of the recruits I’d trained back when I worked as a firefighter in Texas. I hadn’t thought about my time there in a while. There was no use since I couldn’t go back and change the past. I pushed the memories that threatened away and refocused on Caden.

“Good. Everything that needs to be done is on the list. Make sure you lock up the office when you leave and keep an eye out for Hades.” The big wolf was more town mascot than wild animal, but he could tell it was breeding season, and I’d caught him sniffing around a lot more than usual over the past couple of weeks.

“Will do. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got it all under control.” Caden gave me a cocky grin.

I shook my head before I walked out the door, hoping like hell I hadn’t misplaced my trust in him. I’d done that with someone else once, and it had almost cost me everything.

A half hour later,I pulled my baseball cap down low and pushed through the doors of the Nelson Mercantile. Ruby didn’t say exactly what she needed, only that it had to do with some event she wanted to pull together at the last minute that would involve my dogs.

I’d only been living in Mustang Mountain for a couple of years, but I’d already learned that when Ruby got a wild hair up her ass, it was better to get involved at the start. Otherwise, she’d make her own plans and expect everyone else to rearrange their lives to conform to her wishes.

I lifted a hand and waved at her husband, Orville, who was working behind the front counter. He was also the mayor, but folks around here didn’t bother to put on airs. Ruby stood at the back of the store, one hand gripping a carafe of coffee and the other already reaching for a mug.

“Hey, Mack. Thanks for stopping by.” She set the mug down in front of me and filled it with the strong-smelling brew.

“It didn’t seem like I had much of a choice,” I said, only halfway joking. “What’s so important that it couldn’t wait a few days?”

She put the carafe back on the warmer and leaned against the counter. “You’re a few minutes early. I’d rather wait until everyone’s here to go over the details, so I only have to do it once.”

“What are you talking about? Who else is coming?” My jaw immediately clenched. I hated being caught off guard. She hadn’t said anything about this being a group project.

“Well, we can’t very well have an event without refreshments.” Ruby smiled at someone behind me. “Here she comes now.”

I knew what she was up to before I turned around. Damn her for setting herself up to be some self-appointed Cupid.

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