by KC Crowne
“How’s she been?” Chance asked. “Since the whole Kyle thing?”
“She still doesn’t know what happened,” I said. “And I think it’s a good idea to keep it that way.”
“Right. Maybe when she’s older we can tell her what happened. But for now, the less she knows, the better.”
I was beyond ready to put all that out of my head. But a thought occurred to me as we meandered down the hall. “Oh!” I said, grabbing his arm. “Hold on!”
“What?”
Without saying a word, I hurried up the stairs to my old room and threw open the closet. Inside, among the clothes I hadn’t yet brought over to Chance’s place, was a small brown bag, the top stuffed with festive tissue paper. I grabbed it by the handle and hurried down.
“What’s that?” Chance asked, his eyes on the bag as I descended the stairs.
“A little surprise I made for El.” I flashed him a smile.
He laughed. “Alright, one big surprise deserves another, I suppose. Now, let’s go find her.”
We didn’t have to look long. We stepped outside and saw El in front of the lake, playing happily with a few other kids her age. Over the last few weeks, I’d taken her into town, letting her meet some of the other kids around Patterson at the park. And she didn’t waste any time making some new friends.
“Yo, El!” Chance called.
El froze and turned her attention to us, waving dramatically. “Hey, Daddy!”
“Come on over – got somethin’ important to tell you about.”
“Can it wait?”
“You’re going to want to hear this,” I said with a teasing smile. “And there’s a present for you, too.”
“Alright!” Her face lit up at the mention of a present, and moments later, she was right in front of us.
We each took one of El’s hands, leading her through the house. Plenty of the family was out and about, and we said our hellos as we headed toward the back. I was pretty sure they were all wise to what was going on – I’d shown more than a few of the Walkers the surprise I’d made for El, and seeing the bag in my hand was enough for them to know we were about to break the big news.
The three of us sat down at one of the tables, and Chance and I regarded one another. El flicked her eyes between us, clearly curious.
Chance cleared his throat. “El, how many times have I told you that you comin’ into my life was the best surprise I could ever hope for?”
She smiled. “A bunch of times.”
“That’s right. And it doesn’t stop bein’ true.” He nodded to me. “Same with Sam, right? She was a surprise, right?”
“A really good surprise!” Ellie agreed. I couldn’t help but beam, giving her little hand a squeeze that she returned.
“So,” Chance continued. “The lesson is surprises can be really nice, right?”
“Right!”
“Glad to hear it. Because we’ve got another one for you.”
Her little brow furrowed adorably. “What kind of surprise?”
I smiled at Chance, letting him know I was ready to jump in. I took a deep breath, ready to say it. “The kind of surprise that means you’re going to have a little brother or sister.”
El appeared confused at first, and I worried for a second that she might not take the news well. But her face quickly lit up. “Are you serious?”
“Serious as it gets, little lady,” Chance beamed. “Sam’s gonna be a mommy, and you’re gonna be a big sister.”
Her jaw dropped, her eyes round as dinner plates. “No. Way!”
“Way,” Chance said, chuckling. “You think you’re gonna be ready for this?”
“When?” she asked.
“Not for a few months,” I told her. “Around seven or eight. But he or she’s going to be here before you know it.”
“Eight months?” El asked, frowning. “But that’s gonna take forever!”
Chance smiled, mussing her hair. “It’ll be worth it.”
“And I want to tell you something, El. I know you miss your mom like crazy,” I started. El nodded. “I’m not here to replace her – and that’s not what I’m trying to do. But know I love you a ton, and if you ever need anything, I’m always going to be here for you.”
“I love you too, Sam.” She threw her arms around my neck and gave me a tight hug. Tears welled in my eyes – I was so happy I didn’t know what to say. “And what about the present?” El asked, letting go of me and turning her attention to the bag.
I quickly wiped the tears away, and Chance squeezed my shoulder and offered a warm smile. “Why don’t you open it, kiddo? I’m curious, too.”
She quickly tore into the bag, sending the tissue paper flying. “It’s a shirt!” El pulled it out and held it in front of her. “It says ’best big sister ever’!”
“Because that’s exactly what you’ll be,” I said.
“Can I wear it now? Even though the baby’s not here yet?”
“You sure can, baby girl,” Chance said.
She yanked off her shirt the way children do, with zero concerns about who was around, and pulled it on quick as she could, beaming proudly once it was on. She stared down at it, then looked up. “I love it!”
“And I love you,” I said.
She smiled. “I love you too, Mama Sam.”
At that moment, pure happiness took hold of me. We were a family. After all the hardship, we were together. Chance held my hand as El climbed up onto my lap. As a family, we watched the sun dip below the mountains behind the ranch.
And as happy as I was, I knew that there was only more to come.
EPILOGUE I
CHANCE
Eight months later…
Sam would be going into labor at any time. We were within days of her due date. So one would think I’d be ready for it. And I was pretty damn sure I was. However, when I got the text from Emily letting me know Sam’s water had broken, it was the shock of a lifetime.
“I’ll be right over,” I texted back.
“We’re loading her up now. You want to drive her?”
“Of course I do. I’ll be there in five.”
My heart raced like the first time I’d ridden a horse. I grabbed my keys and burst out the front door of our cabin and jumped into the seat of my truck. I gunned the engine, making sure to check in the glove compartment for the thing I’d stashed there months ago for this very day. Once I was sure it was there, I drove quickly.
Minutes later, I pulled up in front of the main house. Sam was there, her belly big and looking ready to pop. Emily and Wyatt were with her, El close behind.
“Alright,” I said, hopping out and running to Sam’s side. “We ready for this?”
Sam’s eyes were wide, her face red as she took in slow, deep breaths. “About as ready as I’m going to be.”
I put my hand on the small of her back and led her to the passenger side of the truck. After helping her in, I turned to Wyatt and Emily.
“Rest of the family’s out for the day,” Emily said, her hands on her hips. “But I’ll spread the word.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“What about me?” El asked. “I wanna come!”
Wyatt quickly put his hand on her shoulder. “How about you ride with your ol’ Uncle Wyatt?” he asked. “That sound good?”
“Yeah!”
“Thanks, Wyatt.”
He stepped close and gave me a hug. “Be safe.”
“I always am,” I said with a wink. I said the rest of my goodbyes before hurrying to my side of the truck and hopping in. “You ready?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?” she asked, forcing a smile.
I laughed. “Let’s move.”
I pulled out and drove across the ranch as quickly as I could without being reckless. Moments later, we were on the road leading into town, and soon we were in downtown Patterson. The town had a reasonably big hospital – one of the biggest in the region, and I didn’t have any worries about Sam being taken care of.
“We’ll be there soon, baby,” I told her, taking her hand in between gear shifts. “Just think about that little boy eager to come out.”
“Oh, I’m thinking about him,” she said through clenched teeth. “Not like he’d let me think about anything else.”
I chuckled, happy and nervous as hell all at once. The boxy shape of the hospital appeared in the distance. We pulled up in front, and I burst out, letting every member of the staff within earshot know there was a pregnant woman about ready to give birth in the truck.
They went right to work. A pair of nurses helped Sam out, another pair easing her into a wheelchair that had been brought out.
“I’m here,” I said, taking her hand as we entered the emergency room. “And I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
We rushed down a long hallway, arriving in a delivery room. A kindly, middle-aged woman in a doctor’s outfit entered and said her hellos. But before I left, I hurried over and planted a kiss on Sam’s sweaty forehead.
“I gotta move the truck, but I’ll be right back.”
She nodded her head but didn’t speak as another contraction took over her body. I practically ran through the ER and waiting room, moved my truck to the closest parking spot, and sprinted back inside, nearly giving an older couple heart attacks when I yelled excuse me.
The next hours passed slow as molasses on the coldest day in December. I held Sam’s hand, coached her when it was time to push, tried to calm her when she cried that she just couldn’t push anymore. When our baby boy arrived, he was covered in all sorts of gunk, but he was beautiful. Sam lay back in the bed, panting and looking exhausted while they cleaned him.
A few minutes later, they handed the baby to me. I stared into his little face, laughing as a tear rolled down my cheeks. He was an angry little guy, but he was calming, and when I handed him to his mama, he instantly quit fussing. Seeing Sam holding our little baby boy was like nothing I’d ever seen. I hadn’t been around for El’s birth, but I was there for this one. And it was pure magic.
“Oliver,” Sam announced as we stared at him. “That’s his name.”
“Little Oliver,” I said. She yawned hugely, and I asked, “Want me to take him?”
“No, but yes,” she said with a little laugh. “I’m worn out.”
I took him from her, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment. I held him close, a single tear trickling down my face. I wondered if I’d ever stop being amazed by him. Nothing but joy, nothing but happiness. And when El walked in to meet her new brother, there was only more elation.
Because there were no complications for either mama or baby, we were allowed to go home the next day. Wyatt warned Sam and me that Mama G was preparing a big meal in preparation for our arrival, and every member of the family would be in attendance.
“You think you’ve got enough energy?” I asked Sam. I didn’t want her worn-out by a celebration.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured me, wincing slightly as she dressed. “But make sure you have a pillow for me to sit on.”
I laughed. “Of course!”
The whole family was in the living room when we returned home. A big banner reading “Welcome Oliver” was hung over the group, cheers breaking out as we entered, startling our baby. He didn’t cry, just opened his eyes a little. Everybody oohed and aahed over him before I led Sam to her seat.
Mama G had prepared a big blue and white cake, and Silas turned on some upbeat country music in the background. Oliver made the rounds, getting a chance to meet his new family before settling in for a nice, long nap. But that wasn’t all. I’d taken my little surprise out of the glove compartment as I’d climbed out of the truck, and I waved my hand to gather everyone’s attention.
“What’s up?” Sam asked.
“Sam,” I said once the music had been turned down, and all eyes were on her and me. “When I hired a teacher for El, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I can say for sure that it wasn’t this.” Everyone in the room laughed at my little joke. “And over the last few months I’ve grown to love you more than I ever thought I could. You’ve been a mother to my little girl, and now you’re a mother to my son. And there ain’t a damn doubt in my mind that you’re a Walker. So, as far as I can see it, it’s time to make it official.”
Sam’s eyes lit up as I took the small black box out of my pocket and opened it. Inside was a glittering diamond ring.
“What do you say, beautiful – be my wife?”
The room was silent as a tomb while we awaited her answer.
“Of course I will!” she said, her smile the biggest, most beautiful smile I’d ever seen.
Cheers exploded. Sam threw her arms around me as I slipped the ring onto her finger.
We kissed.
It was perfect.
EPILOGUE II
SAMANTHA
Six months later…
I was getting married. It was finally happening.
Rainbow Canyons had been decorated in grand style, the Walker family sparing no expense in making the ceremony one to remember. And the day couldn’t have been more beautiful, a spring morning without a cloud in the sky.
It was like something out of a dream.
My soon-to-be sisters-in-law and I were in a spare room at the main house getting ready for the ceremony. “How you feelin’?” Emily asked as my matron of honor.
“I feel good,” I said.
“Well,” she said with a grin. “That’s a good thing.”
I laughed. “I can’t believe how excited I am.”
“You should be. You’re about to marry a great guy, and everything’s lookin’ perfect. All you gotta do is walk down that aisle and say I do.”
“I know. And God, this is all so much. How’s Oliver?”
“Well,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “Got some bad news for you. He’s kinda the star of the show out there. Might need to really wow ‘em if you wanna take the attention off him.”
I laughed. “I can handle that. Don’t mind sharing the spotlight.” I took a deep breath, the room a flurry of activity around me. “I think I need some fresh air before this starts.”
“Head out to the side. You should be able to sneak a few minutes to yourself. Just make sure the groom doesn’t see ya. I’ll keep ‘em distracted in here.”
“Thanks, Em.”
She gave me a quick hug. “Don’t be too long, now. We’re about to get started.”
I hurried out of the room, heading down the hall and ducking down another, one that led to the side exit. I opened the door and stepped out, quiet all around me once the door was shut. I wasn’t alone as I’d hoped. Leaning against the wall was Gerald, his eyes on the horizon as he sipped a beer. Like the rest of the Walker men, he looked like a giant in a tux – but still handsome as hell all the same.
He glanced at me, a small smile on his face. “Uh-oh,” he said. “You’re not gonna try and make a run for it, are you?”
I laughed. “No way. I just needed a little fresh air.”
“Oh good. I didn’t want to have to tackle a lady in a wedding dress.” He chuckled. “Do you want me to split? Give you a minute to yourself?”
“Actually, no. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
He raised his dark eyebrows. “What’s up?”
“It’s just…I was thinking about what you did for us that day with Kyle. You risked your life for El and me, and you didn’t have to do that.”
“You kiddin’? Of course I did. You’re family, Sam.”
“I know. But all this—” I swept my hand toward the crowd gathered in the distance. “It couldn’t have happened without you.”
“Well, last I remembered you were pretty damn brave that day yourself, givin’ that jackass a good crack to the head with that ashtray.”
I shrugged. “I did what I had to do.”
�
��And so did I. Seein’ you now, about to get hitched to my cousin…I couldn’t be happier. Makes me glad I decided to stick around.”
“That, and the fact that you met a certain special someone too.”
He grinned. “That didn’t hurt matters none.”
“But thanks,” I said. “All the same.”
“My pleasure.”
Before the conversation could go on any further, Emily opened the door and stuck her head out. “Alright,” she said. “Stalled as much as I could. Time to get hitched, girl!”
“See you in there, Gerald.”
“See you. And good luck.”
I smiled before heading back inside. The next ten minutes passed like a blur, Emily and the rest of the bridesmaids helping me get into place as we stepped outside. The ranch was packed, hundreds of people there, friends and family from all over. A long white carpet led to the altar.
And at the end was the man I loved. Even from a distance, I could see the smile on his face.
El was there too, dressed in an adorable little gown in her job as flower girl. Oliver, chubby and happy as could be, was on Mama G’s lap. Wyatt stood nearby, ready to walk me down the aisle.
The Wedding March played, and it was time to go. Wyatt stepped to my side, and together we headed down. Chance watched me, not taking his eyes off me even for a second.
As I walked, I thought about the last two years of my life, the strange sequence of events that had led me to where I was. I’d gone from a woman on the run from my old life to one about to marry the greatest love I’d ever known. And I was a mother.
My joy grew with each step I took. All eyes were on me, the music swirling all around. There was a party head, too – catered by Mama G and a few of her friends from town. There’d be dancing, celebrating, and probably a few glasses of champagne. And then, when all of the lights had gone down, Chance and I would celebrate our first night as husband and wife.
But that was all to come. Nothing mattered but the moment at hand.
I reached the altar and the music ceased.
“This is it,” Chance said, his voice low. “You ready to start our new life?”
“Ready as hell.”
“I love you, baby.”
“And I love you.”