Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Walker lies dead as the deputy sheriff and his men move in and call for backup. In the distance, I can hear the ambulance, but it’s too late for Walker. My wound is just a deep scratch that might not even need stitches. We got lucky that the sheriff sent them because neither of us knew Walker had a gun.
“Are you all right?” Tracy runs her hands over the rest of me as if making sure I’m okay.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I cup her face and look into her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m shaken up.” She swallows hard and then nods. “But yeah, I think I’m gonna be all right.”
Hours later, I’ve got Tracy wrapped in a blanket as we watch the sun set over the farm. We rode out here on one of my horses and are planning on staying the night. We both wanted to get away from what happened at the house and have some quiet time alone.
“Is it wrong that I’m not sad?” she asks as she turns to look up at me.
“No,” I answer honestly. “Now you don’t have to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life. And maybe we can find your mom.”
“That would really be something, wouldn’t it?” She looks hopeful as she turns her face to the setting sun. “After all these years of thinking she didn’t want me, I found out she stayed away to keep me safe.”
“I might be biased, but how could anyone not want you?” I lean down and brush my lips against hers. “You’re incredible, sweet thing, and I love you with every part of my soul.”
“Does anyone live out here or are we alone?”
“If you’re asking if we can make love on this blanket, the answer is yes,” I say, and she smiles and nods. “But first I want you to promise me something.”
I move so that she lies back on the blanket, and I hover over her body.
“I’ll promise you anything, Bronco.” Her fingers come up and trace my jaw.
“When we wake up, you marry me.”
Her eyes widen in surprise, and then her smile grows and grows. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, Tracy.” I say her name this time so she knows I’m not messing around. “You’re mine, and I want the world to know. I want you to have my last name and all my babies. I love you, and there’s nothing else in the world I want more than for you to be my wife.”
“I guess I don’t have much of a choice,” she teases and then nods. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Bronco Layne. And I’ll give you all the babies you want.”
“I’m going to take that as a challenge.” Eventually her laughter turns to moans as I kiss my way down her body and between her legs. When my mouth finds that pretty little clit, her cries echo over the hills, and I drink her pleasure.
Our love story might have had some twists and turns, but from here on out, all I plan on doing is making my bride’s dreams come true. From now on, her happiness is my own, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making her smile.
Epilogue
Tracy
Five years later
I watch a few buckle bunnies try to get Bronco’s attention. They must be new or traveled in from somewhere. Most know better by now and not because of me. Bronco tends to have a short fuse when it comes to them. It doesn’t matter if their attention is on him or one of the wranglers. He thinks they're a distraction that can get someone hurt.
There are a million and one things I love about my husband, but I adore how much care he gives when it comes to this place and safety. Not only for the wranglers but everyone. Bronco might not look cuddly and sweet, but I know under that hardness is all marshmallow. He’s come to love Circle C as much as I do. This place is ours. We’ve turned it into something to be proud of and hopefully a legacy for our little ones. We’ve already got one and a second on the way.
I rest my hand on the small bump that has already formed. Baby boy popped out quickly. I’d been showing month three with him. With our little Daisy, I didn’t really show until I was a bit over six months along. I already know he’s going to be as big as his father.
“There something you need, Tracy?” Betty asks, coming to my side. She’d gone from working one of the beer stands to being my right hand. It hadn’t taken her long either.
When I’m not around for whatever reason, I trust that she has everything handled. That helps so much when you have a little one underfoot, but luckily, I’ve got my mom too. What she missed in having a hand in raising me, she’s making up for in being a grandma. Bronco and I even had a house built for her not far from us. We’re all making up for time my father stole from us. It might be terrible, but I don’t shed any tears for the time that was taken back from him.