by Vivian Arend
Caleb plotted and planned and debated as they took care of their horses, quietly working. Glancing at each other often, exchanging meaningful looks. Tamara wore a smile as wide as his.
Caleb would’ve said Tamara was the best thing that ever happened to him, except that’d be a lie. He had two little girls he loved beyond reason, and a family that was a part of him right down to the tips of his boots.
She wasn’t better than that, but she was what made everything else complete. She was the love that wrapped his world into a firm, steady bundle, the binder twine securing the broken pieces of his heart.
Seems as if he could think it, he should be able to say it.
He waited for her to finish washing up then grabbed hold, walking hand-in-hand back to the house.
“You ready for this?” she asked as they stepped on the porch.
He opened the door for her, looking her over from top to bottom as he let every bit of his love show best he could. “Are you?”
Emma and Sasha were seated at the island. Luke stood by the counter, hand in the cookie jar, guilt twisting his smile as Caleb eyed the handful he already held.
“Didn’t know when you’d be back,” he explained, “and everybody’s hungry.”
Everybody?
Tamara leaned around him to peek into the living room. Sure enough, his other two brothers were there as well, Walker relaxing in the easy chair, Dustin with his feet up on the coffee table.
Caleb hesitated for a moment before figuring what the hell. It looked as if he was going to have an audience, but he’d put this off for long enough.
Tamara wouldn’t mind.
“Everyone in the living room,” he ordered.
His family moved, questions on all their faces. Dustin’s gaze stuck on where Caleb had caught hold of Tamara’s fingers and refused to let go.
Emma and Sasha perched on the edge of the coffee table, staring at them in confusion.
He shook a finger at the audience and told them sternly, “Sit for a minute and just listen.”
Then he turned to Tamara and took both her hands in his. He looked her in the eye and ignored the fact they had five additional gawking witnesses.
“I know you said you didn’t expect me to say it yet, but I’ve been working my way up to this for a while, so I don’t see why I should hold off any longer. I don’t have anything to give you except my heart. It’s been a little bashed up and bruised, but I think it still works all right. I’m ready to trust you with it.”
Tamara tilted her head, eyes brightening with moisture.
He hurried to carry on before she could speak.
“I fell in love with you that very first moment, when you stepped in front of me, so bold and so brave, and so right. And then you came out here and stepped into our family”—he waved a hand toward the living room, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on hers—“and you just kept being you. Thoughtful and caring and everything we needed, but this isn’t about them. It’s about us. I’ve fallen in love with you, Tamara Coleman, and while I hope everybody else feels like I do about you joining our family, I don’t want to wait anymore to tell you something important. I love you.”
Her eyes sparkled, her grip on his fingers tightening. Was it possible he’d actually rendered her speechless?
“Daddy?” Sasha spoke quietly.
He tore his gaze off the woman he loved to answer his daughter. “Yes, pumpkin?”
“Are you and Tamara getting married?”
Tamara answered before he could. “I asked him if it would be okay, because I’d like to be his wife. And I’d like to be you and Emma’s mommy, so it would kind of all work well if we got married.”
Emma spoke. Quiet but clear above the other low voices in the room. “Yo…you want to be our mommy?”
Caleb’s throat was closing up. Tamara gave his hand a squeeze before letting go and lowering herself to kneel at eye level with his little girls. “With everything in me. I would love to be your mommy.”
Emma threw herself at Tamara, Sasha following a second later, and Caleb caught them before they hit the ground. The four of them in a heap like a pile of puppies.
Like a family.
A sound broke through the laughing and crying. It was clapping, rising from Luke and Walker who both wore unabashed grins. Dustin wiped at his eyes and tried not to look like it before he joined in as well.
Caleb wrapped his arms around his precious family and held on tight. He wasn’t ever letting go.
It had taken a while to settle everyone down, but after the handshakes and hugs and the kisses and questions were over, they’d finally got everybody to the table and figured out something to eat.
Tamara kept catching herself on the verge of tears, happy ones, and took a moment to slip away to send an email to her sisters.
Have decided to stay permanently in Heart Falls. Asked Caleb to marry me; he said yes. Seems I’ve got a new home and two little girls without having to go through labour. Karen, remind me to kiss you when I see you next. Lisa, when are you coming to visit?
They both responded almost instantly.
So happy for you, although I’m not sure what I did. Call me when you can talk— Karen.
I’m working on it, the visit part. And you asked him to get married? Just double-checking, because I’ve got fifty bucks riding on it. Love you, love to the girls, and to the big grumpy cowboy, although I bet he’s not so grumpy anymore. <3 <3 Lisa
Laughter bubbled up. Of course Lisa had money bet somewhere, but Tamara didn’t need to know the details.
What she needed was to enjoy the cuddles she was getting from both Sasha and Emma, arranged on the couch so they could curl up beside her. That left Caleb sitting kitty corner to them, but the contented smile on his face made it clear he was happy to watch from a bit of a distance.
Sasha of course decided to try to prolong bedtime by saving her questions for then. Lying in bed she reeled them off rapid-fire. “Do Emma and I get to be flower girls? Are you going to get married here at Silver Stone? Are you going—?”
“We haven’t figured it all out, yet,” Tamara warned her. “But you will definitely be in the wedding. You’re part of the family, aren’t you?”
Sasha seemed happy enough with that answer. She lay back on her pillow and examined Tamara with that Caleb-like gaze. “You’re going to stay.”
Not a question. Not a demand. Satisfied and content, as if she’d decided the trial period was over, and Tamara had passed.
Tamara was very glad.
Sasha blew a kiss at Caleb who stood in the doorway then rolled over. All her protests and complaints gone—at least for now.
Emma had a little more to say about the subject. She insisted both Caleb and Tamara accompany her to her bedside to tuck her in. All her boldness in speaking out loud had evaporated, but it was clear she had something on her mind.
“What is it, button? Caleb asked softly. “You want to tell me?”
She leaned in close and whispered in his ear, his eyes darkening as he glanced at Tamara who had settled herself in the chair next to the teeny bed. “Emma wants to know if she can call you Mama.”
It was nearly impossible to swallow past the giant knot in her throat. “I would like that very much.”
Emma didn’t seem to be done. She patted Caleb’s hand, then spoke louder. “That makes you my Papa.”
Tamara bit her tongue. Maybe they’d read the Berenstain Bears too many times lately.
But Caleb just laughed. “That sounds fine with me.”
He gave her a kiss then slid back on the bed so Tamara could come in and finish pulling up the sheets. Emma tucked her stuffed monkey under her arm and pressed a kiss to his forehead before lying back and offering her lips to Tamara.
Tamara kissed her, caught in place as little arms tangled around her neck and squeezed fiercely.
“I love you,” Emily said clearly.
“I love you too,” Tamara managed before her ability to speak vanish
ed. She snuck from the bed and out of the room, letting Caleb finish the task before she completely lost control.
He met her in the hallway and pulled her into his arms, holding her close as he let her regain her equilibrium. Then he tugged her back to the living room, pulling her to the floor in front of the fireplace. Cradling her.
They were quiet for a long while, but they didn’t need words. Tamara’s brain was full, and her soul content.
Eventually they moved a bit farther apart. Got drinks and sat down to figure out what came next.
They spent a couple of hours talking, laughter and kisses mixed in with all the words. Tamara figured she still put in three-quarters of the total conversation, but she didn’t mind.
Caleb didn’t need to talk his head off to get his point across.
And when they rose to get ready for bed, Caleb was by her side, following her through the door into the master bedroom.
She raised a brow.
He tried to look gruff, but it came out kind of sheepish. “I’m not waiting. We’ll make it official, but until then, you’re mine. That includes sleeping in the same bed, and I don’t care who knows it.”
“Good answer,” Tamara teased, although she noticed he made sure to turn and lock the door.
He took her to bed, stripping them both before slipping off her glasses and putting them on the nightstand in spite of her protests.
He turned off all the lights, and they made love in the dark, hands caressing, lips touching, all their other senses primed. Tamara’s heart overflowed with happiness, and she didn’t need to see to know he was smiling as he brought them both to heaven.
She didn’t need to see to know he was smiling as he kissed her then cradled her in his arms all night. She was smiling too. Ear to ear, to be truthful.
So thankful she’d found a way into her rancher’s heart.
Epilogue
Walker leaned back in his chair and watched the sun set behind the mountains, gold and yellow reflecting off Big Sky Lake to form a mosaic of blue and shimmering lights.
So. Big brother Caleb had the guts to try again.
Considering Walker was supposed to be the brave one in the family, it was—humbling. Maybe he needed to be braver and try again as well. He had a golden opportunity waiting for him, and here he was, letting it drift away.
What he dreamed about was a home and happiness like Caleb and Tamara were building, but the only woman Walker had ever wanted was gone.
If he did come back to Silver Stone full time, he’d be no more help than any another worker. Maybe out there he could do something big. Make some serious money, and make a difference. Be there for his family in a way that would change their lives instead of being a burden on them.
Walker worried at the idea all night before finally giving in. He threw his guitar in the back of the truck along with his bag and went to say farewell to his family.
One more shot.
One more try.
He had to take it.
I hope you enjoyed Tamara and Caleb's story. I loved finally getting to see Tamara get the start of her happily-ever-after. And you'll see more of Caleb, and the girls as well in the upcoming HEART FALLS titles. If you'd like to leave a review, I'd really appreciate it.
Up next?
Join Walker Stone to discover what he's running from, and who he's running to. A Rancher's Song, coming May 2018. Preorder now!
About the Author
With over 2 million books sold, Vivian Arend is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 contemporary and paranormal romance books, including the Six Pack Ranch and Granite Lake Wolves.
Her books are all standalone reads with no cliffhangers. They’re humorous yet emotional, with sexy-times and happily-ever-afters. Vivian pretty much thinks she’s got the best job in the world, and she’s looking forward to giving readers more HEAs. She lives in B.C. Canada with her husband of many years and a fluffy attack Shitzu named Luna who ignores everyone except when treats are deployed.
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Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Rancher's Heart
Copyright © 2017 by Vivian Arend
ISBN: 978-1-941456-30-9
Edited by Anne Scott
Cover Design © Sofie Hartley of Hart & Bailey Design Co.
Proofed by Lynda Ryba
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations.
First electronic publication: November, 2017
www.vivianarend.com