Wild, Crazy Hearts – the Bradens & Montgomerys (Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls)

by Melissa Foster

  “What?” Sable asked.

  “Do you think I’m making a mistake? I love Trace, but what if he thinks he can run my life and this is just the tip of the iceberg? I know some women like to be told what to do, but I’m not one of them. I always thought he knew that about me. What if I’m wrong?” She swallowed hard, hating herself for even verbalizing that fear. “What kind of a man would forbid his partner from doing anything at all other than, you know, cheating or something insane?”

  Brindle waited for her sister’s snappy retort about how all men were a pain in the ass, or how she agreed with Aubrey about men and women living separate lives, but Sable was quiet for so long, she wondered if she was even paying attention.

  “Sable?”

  Sable rolled her eyes. “God, Brindle. Who does that? A man who truly loves you, that’s who. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be so concerned.”

  “Who are you?” She stalked up the hill, leaving Sable and Aubrey to catch up.

  Sable grabbed her arm and said, “Trace changed the way I think about guys.”

  “What?” Brindle wondered if Sable was still loopy from whatever she drank earlier in the night. “Why?”

  “Because he does love all of you, and he’s never asked you to change who you are beyond calming your ass down enough to communicate better. That’s love, Brindle.”

  Brindle stopped walking again. “So, do you think he just overreacted because he was scared I really would get hurt, or cold, or something?”

  “Probably,” Sable said. “You are pregnant, and that pretty much changes everything.”

  Brindle groaned. “I need to talk to him. We need to fix this, because my heart hurts so much right now, it’s like the stupid fight tore it in half.”

  They climbed the rest of the way in silence, Brindle’s anger easing with her decision to face their fight head-on and try to fix it. She’d known there’d be setbacks in their starting over. That was all this was, right? They could get through this.

  They could get through anything.

  “What’s that?” Aubrey asked, pulling Brindle from her thoughts.

  Brindle followed her gaze to a pile of something she couldn’t make out at the top of the hill. They hurried toward it, and there on the crest of the hill was a pile of blankets, a massive thermos with hot chocolate, something written in black marker on the side, several mugs, a basket with two apples, a box of granola bars, a bag of M&M’s, a box of cookies, and several packages of air-activated hand and toe warmers, like hunters used. Leaning against a pair of gloves was a piece of paper with Love you, Mustang written in Trace’s handwriting, signed, Your cowboy.

  Brindle melted on the spot, literally dropping to her knees on the blanket. Her gaze fell to the ring below, where Trace was riding a horse as it leapt over a jump. She watched him as he took jumps like a pro, handling the horse with the same strength and grace as he usually handled her.

  I’m such an idiot.

  He wouldn’t let one of his horses walk into dangerous territory. Why would he let her? The hill was dangerous, and it was freaking freezing out.

  “Damn, Brin,” Sable said as she and Aubrey knelt on the blanket and began grabbing snacks. “Maybe you should fight more often.”

  “The man knows how to apologize,” Aubrey added.

  “This isn’t an apology. He whispered an apology when he got into bed, and I was stupid enough to pretend I was sleeping. This is Trace taking care of his wild, crazy girl. You guys, this fight is just a bump in the road. Like a rite of passage, something we needed to go through to remember how we don’t want to react.”

  “Morgyn would call it a sign from the universe,” Sable said.

  Trace’s horse slowed to a trot. Trace looked directly up the hill, and like metal to magnet, she rose to her feet, feeling his love heating up the space between them. She waved and blew him a kiss. He lifted his hat, charming her once again. He put the hat on and rode into the barn.

  “Now I understand why Trace made you see guys differently,” Aubrey said. “He’s definitely one of a kind.”

  “And he’s mine, so keep your grubby hands off him. I’ve got plans to follow through with. I’m doing it,” Brindle said. “I’m apologizing and proposing.”

  “Proposing?” Sable and Aubrey said in unison.

  “Yes!” Brindle paced, her eyes trained on the ground so she wouldn’t trip or fall. “He loves me as much as I love him. He knows what he can and can’t do, and yes, he tried to forbid me, but we all make mistakes. He’s always been there for me, and I’ve been there for him. We’re soul mates. He’s loyal, and loving, and—”

  “Brindle,” Sable said, but Brindle was on a roll and she couldn’t stop.

  “I have loved him since I was thirteen years old, and I will love him until the end of time. And yes, we’ll fight,” she admitted as she paced, her plan so solid now, she saw their future clearly, their daughter, more children, fights and making up, lazy evenings in front of the fire and Saturday afternoons cheering him on as he coached. “But we’ll always make up, because our love is stronger than our stubbornness.”

  “Hey, Brindle,” Aubrey said.

  “Don’t even try to stop me, Aubrey. I’m going to march down there, apologize, then I’m going to propose the fuck out of that man. And I’m going to marry him, because I am his and he is mine, and I want the entire world to know it.”

  “Brindle!” Aubrey and Sable hollered.

  “What? Don’t you see I’m having a moment?” She spun around and followed their pointing fingers to colorful lights spelling MARRY ME, BRINDLE across the roof of the barn. The air left her lungs in a rush of shock and disbelief.

  “Did you mean all those things?”

  She turned at the sound of Trace’s deep voice and found him standing beside a black horse.

  TEARS SPRANG FROM Brindle’s eyes as she ran into Trace’s arms and said, “Yes! I meant every single one of them. I love you, and I don’t know why we fought, but I know we’ll figure it out.”

  “I had to make sure you got here. I thought, with the baby, at the last minute you might decide you were too tired and stay home. I couldn’t let that happen, darlin’. I wanted to see you on this hill one last time before our baby was born and predawn rides were a thing of the past.” He cradled her face in his hands, gazing into her beautiful blue eyes as he confessed, “The only way to do that was to make sure you were so riled up, you wouldn’t miss coming up here for the world.”

  “You started a fight on purpose? What if I hadn’t argued? What if I’d just said okay?”

  He laughed. “Mustang, everyone knows what happens if you back a Montgomery into a corner. I was just lucky you didn’t deck me. I was also petrified you’d be done with me for talking to you like that. You know I love your wild, crazy heart, and I always will.”

  He dropped to one knee, holding up the halo engagement ring he’d bought for her, with a teardrop-shaped chocolate diamond surrounded by round pavé diamonds, with a diamond-encrusted rose-gold band. Rivers of tears cascaded down her cheeks. Her hands trembled as she tried to wipe the tears away.

  Trace was vaguely aware of his brothers approaching and of Sable videoing them as he put one hand on Brindle’s belly and leaned in close to say, “Listen up, sweet baby girl. Daddy’s about to make things official.”

  There was a collective aw from the girls and murmurs from the guys.

  Trace reached for Brindle’s hand as he said, “Darlin’, I have loved you since you first set those stormy eyes on me, and my love for you has grown stronger every single day. You’re stubborn as a mule, smarter than I could ever hope to be, and as forgiving as the open sky. Our relationship will never be like anyone else’s, but that’s because there’s only one of you, and I would be the proudest man alive if you would be mine forever. I will love you through every argument, every ruined pie, every sleepless night and spur-of-the-moment outing. Will you marry me, Mustang? Let me be your cowboy, and we’ll ride our wild, crazy love
forever?”

  “Yes!” she said through tears as he slipped the ring on her finger. “You just ruined my surprise in the best way possible, and I can’t even pretend to be mad.”

  “Only Brindle…” Sable said under her breath as Brindle reached into her pocket and dropped to one knee in front of Trace, holding up a masculine-looking ring.

  Holy shit. “What are you doing?”

  “What I had planned to do,” Brindle said sassily. “Nothing could have stopped me from being here tonight, because I want to be your wife. I want to raise our rebellious children, who will probably sneak out and drive us crazy, and I want the world to know that I am yours and you are mine. I know the question doesn’t matter as much now since you’ve already asked me, but will you marry me, Trace? Will you let me try to be the woman you deserve for the rest of our lives?”

  He was so choked up, it took all his focus to force his voice to work as he pushed to his feet, bringing her up with him, and said, “That question matters more than anything ever has. Yes, darlin’. I’ll marry the hell out of you.”

  Everyone cheered and clapped as he drew Brindle into his arms and they sealed their promises with a series of long, steamy kisses. When their lips finally parted, he went in for more.

  “Dude, let the woman breathe long enough to put your ring on,” JJ teased.

  Trace glared at him.

  “Over here, cowboy,” Brindle said, drawing his eyes to hers. “Read the inscription first.” As he read it, she said, “You may not recognize the date. It’s the—”

  “First time we kissed,” he said, his heart beating so hard he was sure she could feel it pulsing in the air between them. “How could I ever forget the date that changed my world?”

  “Oh my God, these two almost make me believe in true love,” Aubrey said, and everyone laughed.

  As Trace put the ring on, he said, “I never figured myself for a ring guy, but I’m never taking this off.”

  He kissed her again, good and hard. Shane pried them apart and said, “Bro, some of us don’t want to watch you two make out.”

  Trace and Brindle were passed from one congratulatory embrace to the next.

  When Brindle finally landed back in his arms, smiling like she’d never been happier, Jeb said, “I can’t believe you relied on a fight to get her here.”

  “I told you I know my girl. Besides, if she hadn’t shown up, Sable was going to drag her out here.”

  Brindle gasped and looked at Sable. “You knew?”

  “Yes, and Amber is going to kill me for not telling her. I tried to get her to stay out with us tonight, but your boyfriend—”

  “Fiancé,” Brindle corrected with a wiggle of her ringed finger and an air of pride that made Trace’s heart sing.

  “Fiancé,” Sable said supportively, “swore me to silence, even to our sisters.”

  “Don’t feel bad. The asshole didn’t clue us in, either,” Shane said. “And I don’t want to be around when Trixie finds out. She’s going to be pissed.”

  Brindle eyed Jeb and said, “Well…one of your brothers knew.”

  Trace shot a look at Jeb. “Seriously?”

  “Who do you think made your ring?” Jeb said. “The other day when we were talking, I thought it was you who was going to be blown away tonight.”

  Trace locked his eyes on his beautiful fiancée and said, “I’ve been blown away every day since I first set eyes on my pretty little Mustang.”

  “And I’m going to blow you away every single day for the rest of our lives,” Brindle said. Then she went up on her toes, and as he lowered his mouth to hers, his brothers told them to get a room, which was exactly what he planned to do.

  Epilogue

  THE TWINKLING LIGHTS strung throughout the Jerichos’ barn had nothing on the sparkle in Trace’s eyes. It was New Year’s Eve, and the Jerichos were holding their annual celebration. Snow fell like secrets outside the open barn doors, and nearly all of Oak Falls was enjoying the winter wonderland and jam session. Brindle stood with Amber, half listening as she ogled Trace. He was talking with his father, Shane, and Axsel by the Christmas tree, which was decorated with gold and silver tinsel. Even from across the dance floor, Brindle’s husband’s eyes shimmered with love.

  My husband.

  Gosh, I love that.

  She sighed, playing her new name over in her mind. Mrs. Trace Jericho, Mr. and Mrs. Trace Jericho, Trace and Brindle Jericho.

  Trace turned, catching her watching him, and blew her a kiss. She swore she felt it land, warm and tangible, on her cheek. She touched her rose-gold wedding band, thinking about how perfectly the circle symbolized their relationship. This barn was where their new beginning had really started, and now it was also where their future would begin.

  Several people played instruments on the stage, where less than an hour ago, Brindle and Trace had exchanged vows. They hadn’t sent out invitations or planned anything other than writing their vows. They told family and friends they were engaged and would make it official at the last jam session of the year. The community, who had rallied in support of their baby, carried their good news far and wide. Nearly the whole town and people from other areas who had followed their hashtags on social media showed up to see Team Trindle get married.

  “I wish Aubrey could have come,” Brindle said to Amber, who looked stunning in a green dress that really made her eyes pop. Amber had been upset about missing their proposals, but luckily Sable had caught it all on video.

  “She wanted to be here, but she never misses the LWW New Year’s Eve gala.” Amber whispered, “I mean her New Year’s Eve hookup. I think she’s hoping Knox will be there.”

  “Good for her,” Brindle said.

  “I’ve never seen so many pink shirts,” Jillian, Graham’s younger sister, said, as she and Morgyn joined them. Jillian looked gorgeous in a festive gold dress she’d probably designed, with a pink #TeamTrindleTrio pin, which Lindsay had put out on a table by the entrance. Morgyn looked equally stunning in one of her own colorful creations.

  “Isn’t it awesome?” Amber said, reaching down to pet Reno, who wore a pink pin on his collar.

  “Lindsay told me they’ve sold hundreds of shirts since Brindle and Trace got engaged,” Morgyn added.

  “This is what happens when you ask a party planner not to plan anything,” Brindle said. Lindsay told her she couldn’t resist offering pins and hanging a banner across the stage that read CONGRATULATIONS #TEAMTRINDLETRIO. “I practically had to threaten violence to get her not to order food and napkins and the whole nine yards.”

  “She said she felt lucky that you allowed her to have a horse-drawn carriage waiting to drive you and Trace to the bed-and-breakfast tonight,” Amber said. “But honestly, you only get married once. I think you should have let her plan the whole nine yards.”

  “Why? This has been perfect,” Brindle said. “The community has been there since Trace and I first got together. We didn’t want to be in the spotlight. We just wanted to get married in a way that everyone could enjoy it. I’m still not sure what the allure of our relationship is to everyone, but it feels good knowing that our little girl will be welcomed into so many hearts.”

  “I think the way you handled the wedding is fabulous,” Jillian said. “I mean, who gets married at a jam session? And I have to say, Morgyn found you the perfect wedding dress,”

  “Isn’t it magnificent? I love it.” Brindle twirled in her cream-colored gown with a pink sash. It had sheer sleeves and a plunging neckline, which drew eyes away from her burgeoning belly. The simple silk dress fell to just above her knees, with a floor-length lace overskirt. “Morgyn is a miracle worker, as you know, since you carry some of her things in your shop. This was actually two dresses that she made into one.”

  “Jax was bummed that he didn’t get to design a dress for either of us,” Morgyn said. Graham’s brother Jax was a wedding gown designer. He, Jillian, and Nick had come for the wedding. “I told him not to worry, because by the loo
ks of Nick and Trixie, he might have another chance.”

  Morgyn motioned across the room toward Nick, who was talking with Jax and Jeb. Nick’s bulbous biceps were seriously straining his dress shirt. His eyes were locked on Trixie, who was talking with Lindsay a few feet away.

  “Wow. He’s not very discreet, is he?” Brindle said. Then she looked at her husband again. Trace was watching her with an intense expression. She mouthed, I love you. His lips curved up into a sinful smile and he mouthed, I love you more. He tilted his head in the direction of the stairs that led up to the hayloft and winked. She laughed softly. Her naughty boy was always in the mood to play.

  “Uh-oh, we’re losing her again. She’s been Traceified.” Jillian touched Brindle’s arm, bringing her attention back to the girls.

  Brindle blinked repeatedly to try to clear her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I swear something happens when you say I do. I just want to be with him every second. What did I miss?”

  “From the look on Trace’s face, I’d say nothing,” Amber said happily.

  Jillian leaned in close and lowered her voice as she said, “Amber was telling me about the meetings of the female minds. I want to join in. When’s the next one?”

  “The third Saturday of the month. Can you come down for it?” Brindle asked.

  When word had gotten around about the meetings of women sharing relationship secrets, more women started showing up. Though some were married, some were not, so they changed the name of the group to be inclusive of everyone. There were thirty women at the last meeting. Nana and Amber had taken it upon themselves to create a directory of members and a schedule of the now monthly meetings. Amber’s lessons in all things feminine were as popular as Brindle’s seduction tips and their mother’s communication suggestions. Whoever said it took a village to raise a child had it wrong. It took a village to become healthy, well-rounded individuals and significant others.