by Deanna Hall
I started thinking about what we might need to get started on our own. I had maybe enough money from my summer earnings to turn on the heat and electricity, buy some feed for the horses, and a couple weeks’ worth of food for us. Then I’d be tapped out.
I was going to have to find work there fast. I started to worry. What if I couldn’t find a job? What had I gotten Mia into? Mia was snuggled against me.
“Dakota, what’s the matter? I can feel your tension.”
“Mia, what was I thinking. I’m almost broke. We need to eat; horses need to eat. Winter’s coming? We don’t have any food stored, any furniture, appliances; we don’t even have a blanket or pillow. How am I going to take care of you? I definitely can’t go back to school. I’ll need to work the ranch and get a job. What if I can’t find a job? How am I going to support us?” I answered, starting to panic.
“You’ll work at the ranch, and I’ll get a job. But you’re going to school. Besides, I have enough in the bank to cover us for a while. You be my pillow, and I’ll keep you warm. We’ll be fine, I promise.”
“Geeze Mia, I’m the one who is supposed to be comforting you. If you don’t mind me asking how much do you have in the bank. I have around a grand.”
Mia answered, “Last time I checked my balance was before you found me. I think I had like I had a hundred and fifty-five in my checking and two hundred in a savings account.”
I added everything together in my head. “All right between us, we have about thirteen hundred and change. I guess we’ll get by a couple of months. It should give us time to find work. School will have to wait, though, Mia. I can take a semester or two off until we can make some money selling some foals.”
“Dakota, I meant thousands, not hundreds.”
My mouth dropped open, and I stared at her. “How, where did you get that kind of money?”
“My parents stashed money for us, so whenever they felt the need to move, we had enough to live on. The last couple of years, it grew because Dad had a good construction job, and we stayed in one place for a long time. Not to mention, they were very frugal.
I didn’t use much living in the wild. I just bought food and books. I never even wore out any of my camping equipment. The money sat in the banks gaining interest.”
I laughed. “And here I was worried about taking care of you.”
“We’ll take care of each other, Kotah. Isn’t that what couples do? What’s mine is yours.”
“You’re right, Nuttah. I just feel like I’m not bringing much to the table in this marriage.”
“All I need is you!” Mia stated adamantly. I smiled at her. “Well, you have me, body and soul.”
Mia grinned. “Then I’m the richest girl in the world.”
We stopped for dinner at a roadside diner. We had a great time. Everyone of Mia’s adopted family and friends were a lot of fun. Joking, teasing, and full of laughter. I was thankful to be a part of it. I saw Peter and CJ give Mia wistful glances every once in a while.
Meanwhile, Peter was keeping everyone entertained with his jokes and sense of humor. I could see why Mia had liked being around him. I got a chance to thank Big Chase and Paul for the extravagant wedding gift before we left.
Big Chase clasped my shoulder, “Son, Mia is a daughter to me, and both our sons love her. Besides the fact that she brings great hope to our kind, she is an extraordinary girl.
I’ve always heard good things about you, and if Mia chose you, then they must be true. We want to keep you both close, and we want you to have a good start. I also understand you have an incredible ability with difficult animals. We’d like to offer you a job breaking horses and assisting our local vet.
Old Doc is getting old. We were hoping when you get out of school, you’d consider taking over his business. Only if you’re interested, naturally. Don’t feel obligated in any way.
Just follow your heart and take care of our Mia. When the boys inherit the ranches, they aren’t going to miss 700 acres or so.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. “700 acres?” I asked, almost stuttering.
“Give or take a few. Might be closer to 800. I had some of our men repair the fences. We’ll deliver the horses next week. I think you’ll be pleased. Beth sent some of the womenfolk to clean up the house and bring out some supplies to get you started.”
Chase and Paul both shook my hand. Paul said, “Welcome to the family, Son.” All I could do was stare as they headed to their trucks.
A New Home
Mia
Dakota had a strange look on his face as Big Chase and Paul walked away. After I finished hugging everyone good-bye again, I walked over to Dakota, slipping under his arm. “That looked intense. Everything alright?”
“700 acres, Mia. They gave us over 700 acres. And a job assisting their town vet. This is unbelievable. Those people really love you.” He picked me up and spun me around. “This is incredible. What did I ever do to deserve you, and this.”
I felt as shocked as he looked. After hugging each other, we headed to his truck before they all left without us. It wouldn’t do us much good to have a new home we couldn’t find.
It was after midnight before we hit Pete’s ranch. CJ and Peter were going to lead us the rest of the way while everyone else headed home after the long drive. We followed a dirt road that bordered the two ranches for another six miles up rolling hills until we came to a fence.
CJ got out to open the gate. We followed them another mile. When I saw our new home, my mouth dropped open. At the crest of a hill stood a beautiful log cabin with a big front porch. There were lights turned on by the door that gave off a welcoming glow. There was even a porch swing.
Across the yard was a good-sized barn and corral. To the left, down the hill, a bit, was a large pond. The three-quarter moon and a sky full of stars gave the place a surreal picture postcard look.
Dakota and I just sat there speechless, staring. I hadn’t even noticed CJ and Pete lead the horses to the corral. Peter walked back to our truck, opened my door, then started pulling on my arm.
“C’mon, or are you just gonna sit in the truck all night?” I got out still speechless. CJ came over, putting his arm across my shoulders. “Well, what do you think, Mi’amore. I know it’s nothing special, but Pete and I thought it you’d like it.”
“Great Spirit, CJ, nothing special, are you kidding? It’s perfect,” I said as the tears started flowing.
Pete hugged me. “Don’t start that, Sunshine. You know I can’t stand it when you cry. Even happy tears.” That just made me cry harder. Even after all I’d done to mess up CJ and Peter’s lives, then broke their hearts, they gave me a home. Peter looked at Dakota helplessly. “She’s your wife now, Dude, you figure out how to stop the waterworks.”
Dakota, still sitting in the car, was staring at the house as intently as I had been. CJ shrugged, “Guess they like it.”
I finally got my tears under control. In a shaky voice, I asked, “Why?” Peter looked at me, confused. “Until CJ found me and brought me home, I couldn’t even remember what having a home felt like. All I did to repay all the love and kindness you gave me was cause you both heartache, pain, and trouble. Why would you and your families give Dakota and me such a beautiful home?”
The tears started again before I even finished speaking. CJ came over, wrapping me in his arms along with Peter’s as I sobbed. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I love you both so much. I really do. That’s why I tried so hard not to be in love with Dakota.”
CJ spoke, “Mi’amore, we love you, too. We all do. My folks, Uncle Paul, all of us. You never brought us pain; we were the ones who hurt you. You showed us passion, real love, and how to forgive. God knows after what I did; I didn’t deserve your forgiveness. You gave it to me anyway. You were even willing to sacrifice your own happiness for Pete and me. Hell, you almost died because of us.
Because of you, I learned how to appreciate the little things in life again, like dancing in the rain and enjoying the cl
ouds and stars again. I forgive Penny a little more every day because you changed her. She’s become a better person. You taught me how to forgive her.
Thanks to you, I will love my child and be a good dad. I will be there for my child because you wouldn’t let me walk away. My parents love you like a daughter, and Penny loves you like a sister. You’ve touched all our lives, changing us into better people. In return we broke your heart.”
Then Peter added. “Mia, you taught me what kind of love I want in my life. I will never settle for less than the love I felt and still feel for you. You were willing to give up your chance at happiness to keep from hurting me. You brighten my day with your smile and warmth.
You’re the one person who understands me completely. We share an unbreakable bond even if it’s not a typical mate bond. You will always be my very best friend.
I can’t look at the sunset without smiling or play a video game without thinking about you getting so angry you threw the controlled and stomped your foot like a little kid. I’m not gonna settle until I find the kind of selfless love you gave me. I want to share what I see between you and Dakota with someone.
My dad blames me for letting you get away. Honestly, it’s was our fault. All of it. If we hadn’t been selfish and petty, fighting over you instead of considering what you needed and wanted, you never would have run away and met Dakota. We lost our shot at a life with you; nevertheless, we want you in our life.
For all the things you’ve brought to our lives, we wanted you to have a home among us. This is us being selfish. It’s just some land with an empty, old cabin on it. You’re going to make it a home. One I hope I’m always welcome in. So are you gonna stay out here and cry or go inside.”
Dakota came up behind me, joining the circle of arms around me. “You have a loving family, Nuttah. Let’s go inside.”
I wiped my tears, swallowing the lump in my throat as I tried to control my emotions. When we walked onto the porch, CJ opened the door. I started to go in when Pete said, “Dude, you need to carry her.” Dakota laughed, picked me up, and carried me inside.
I caught my breath. “It’s beautiful,” I exclaimed.
We had entered an enormous great room. It had a cathedral ceiling with big beams in it. The left wall had a stone fireplace surrounded by built-in shelves. There was a rustic but cozy looking, forest green, and log couch with a matching chair in front of the fireplace. The coffee table was made out of a massive slice of a tree. Above the fireplace was a large, flat-screen TV with surround sound. On the other side was a log rocking chair.
All the windows had dark green, calico drapes. Directly in front of the door was a staircase. To the right was an archway that opened to a dining area with a big trestle table and benches. In the corner was a wooden cabinet with a set of dishes with delicate pink flowers on them.
An arch from the dining area opened to the kitchen and then a mudroom with a closet, washer, dryer, and a back door. The kitchen came complete with stainless steel appliances and butcher block countertops. There was even a patio with lawn chairs, a picnic table, and a stone fireplace with a large pile of firewood stacked next to it outside the back door.
While I opened and peeked in all the cabinets, CJ grabbed some firewood before disappearing with it. Everything was there. Pots, pans, more dishes, silverware, and even dishcloths. I couldn’t help it; I started crying again.
Peter asked, “Now what’s the matter.”
“I don’t even know how to cook anything other than survival food.” I sobbed. Dakota hugged me as they both laughed. “I’ll teach you, Nuttah.”
When we got back in the living room, CJ had a roaring fire going. Peter grabbed my hand, pulling me up the stairs. “C’mon, I always loved it up here when I was a kid.”
There was an enormous loft the length of the living room with a rail across the front. Up here was a sleep sofa, two chairs, a desk, and bookshelves. To the right, where it would be over the kitchen and mudroom, was a bathroom with a big, old, clawfoot tub.
“Look,” Peter pointed a small door on the far side of the bathroom. Dragging me in, he showed me it went to the back of the house then followed the whole wall barely big enough for an adult to get through. At the end was a small window.
“CJ and I used to sneak out at night when we’d come up here with our folks. We go skinny dipping in the pond. When my mom was alive, we came up here for a week every year, to get back to our humble roots, our folks would say.
She would have loved you, Mia. I wish you could have met her. As I’m sure you know, she and Aunt Beth were twin sisters. She was the best. You remind me a lot of her.”
I put my hand against Peter’s cheek. “Thank you, that’s very high praise. I wish I could have met her too.”
Dakota called from the door, “Are you two coming out of there soon? I don’t think it’s big enough for three.” We inched our way back out, laughing at the distress in Kotah’s voice. As Peter helped me through the door, he asked, “What’s the matter, big guy, not fond of small spaces.”
“Not particularly. Not thrilled with having my wife disappear into them with her ex, either.”
Peter clapped him on the back. “Don’t think of me as her ex, think of me as her best buddy that she almost married instead of you. It will make things much easier.”
Dakota groaned. “Yeah, that’s a big help.”
Peter laughed. “Let’s go check out the bedrooms.” Then he jumped over the railing to the floor below.
I gasped, “Are you crazy?”
Peter called back, “It seemed like a lot bigger jump when I was ten.” Dakota laughed. I felt his tension ease away. I decided what the hell, I leaped over the rail, landing gracefully. Dakota followed. We all laughed hysterically. It felt good knowing the guys were getting along.
There were three doors along the back wall of the great room. Two of the doors were side by side, forming the back wall of the room, and one was to the side under the staircase. The one behind the stairs led to a bedroom with a dresser, desk, and a built-in double bed with a twin bunk over it.
The way the room was built, you could tell most of it was behind the stairs and mudroom. The second door opened to a large bathroom with another clawfoot tub and a separate shower. There was a wall closet with towels, soap, shampoo, cleaning supplies, toothpaste, even new toothbrushes.
The third went to a large bedroom with a massive log bed. The mattress was so stuffed I was going to have to climb up onto. On it was a beautiful handmade quilt. It was shades of burgundy and green with a prominent burgundy heart in the middle.
A basket with candles, cheese, crackers, and a bottle of champagne sat on the bed. I read the attached note out loud. “Dear Mia and Dakota, we hope you will be very happy here. We are so happy to have you both in our lives and part of our family.
Chase and I lived here when we were first married. We spent some of the happiest years of our life in this cabin. CJ was conceived here. I hope that bed brings you as much pleasure and joy as it brought me. We love you, Sweetheart, come visit soon, Beth.” I was in tears again by the time I finished it.
“That’s it, you deal with the tears from here on, Dakota, we’re heading home to catch some Z’s,” Peter commented.
As Peter turned to leave, I grabbed his arm, hugging him tightly. “Thank you will never be enough, but thank you. This place is amazing, I love it, and I love you.”
When Peter kissed me, I realized, while I felt warmth and affection for Peter, there was no heat in his kiss anymore. Peter told me, “I love you, too; you’ll always be my Sunshine.”
I hugged CJ next. “I love you, too, CJ. Thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times.”
“Are you happy, Mia?”
“Unbelievable happy.”
“That’s all the thanks I need. Now live happily ever after for me, ok.” I got the same feeling from CJ’s kiss. I knew it was because even as Mia, I had found my true mate.
After we walked Peter and CJ out, I sp
un around on the porch. “Our own home. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe any of this is real.” I told Dakota.
He answered with a small smile. “Believe it, Mia.”
“What’s the matter, Kotah? Don’t you like it?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around him.
“I love it. It suites you. It’s beautiful and warm yet kind of wild.”
“Ok, then what’s the problem?” I asked.
Dakota sighed heavily. “It’s just watching you with Pete and CJ, the easy way you interact with them, how well they know you. You have all these memories with them, like dancing in the rain. CJ helped you through your first change, and Peter helped you through your first heartbreak. I feel like I don’t belong here. Like I stole you from them. One of them should be sharing this with you, not me. Either one of them is more deserving of you than I am.”
I laid my head against his chest, putting his hand against my heart. “Do you feel that. Our hearts beat at the same time. We are a part of each other. You told me my wolf, and I would know who we belonged with. Well, we do. We belong to you.
What we shared the past few months, I’ve never shared with them. Let’s accept this gift with the love it was given with. I will always love CJ and Peter, yet when I touch them now, all I feel is a strong affection. They’re my family. They’re more like brothers than just friends. We will always be close, but only you hold my heart and soul. My wolf is pretty fond of you too. If you’re not too tired after that long drive, how about a moonlight swim.”
Dakota looked down at me with that all-consuming look he always had for me. “And they say I have a gift for soothing injured spirits. C’mon, I’ll race you.”
We ripped our clothes off as we ran. There was a small dock which Dakota dove off of, with me close behind. When I surfaced, I looked around but didn’t see him. I was starting to panic when he grabbed hold of me from behind.
I squeaked, spinning around, splashing water in his face. “You scared me. Don’t do that again!” I demanded then dunked him. He came back up coughing, laughing, and sputtering.