ago.
“Ford?” Stephanie’s voice calls out.
“Out here.”
I hear the screen door slam behind her as she makes her way over to me. She’s still in my t-shirt, which doesn’t bother me in the slightest. She could wear it all day, every day, and I would be good with that.
I expect her to walk over to the other chair, but I’m pleased when she doesn’t. Instead, she sinks down on my lap. She throws her legs over one thigh and wraps her arms around my neck, her eyes finding mine and her lips turning up into a smile.
“Hey future husband,” she whispers.
Laughing softly, I lean forward, pressing my lips to hers. “Hey, future Mrs. Matthews. Got you a present,” I murmur. She pulls back from my mouth, her eyes wide with surprise. “Should be here soon, go and get dressed, yeah?”
She frowns, then slides off of my lap. I expect her to go inside, but she stops and I hear her intake of breath.
“Ford?” she asks.
Turning to look behind me, I grin when I see that she’s noticed the old porch swing. “It was illegal, I know. It was worth it.”
“That’s the one from home?”
I hum, not verbally answering her. She spins around, her lips turning up into a wobbly smile. “It’s exactly where it belongs, Cowboy.”
“So are you.”
She nods and wordlessly does exactly what I asked of her, leaving me outside and going in to get dressed for the rest of her surprises.
I hear the truck and trailer making its way toward the house about an hour later. Clearing my throat, I walk over to the truck after it’s shifted into park. Taking a second envelope out of my pocket, I pay my cousin Jimmy for the horses and his time.
“Thanks,” I grunt.
“Family.”
It’s all he says and it makes my lips turn up into a smile. He helps me with the two horses. They’re gorgeous. One a dark cocoa thoroughbred stallion and one a brown and white American paint horse.
They’re perfect.
Thanking Jimmy again, I guide my new horse to his stall. The other I keep out, holding on to her reins as I wait for Stephanie to make her way outside. As soon as I see movement behind the screen door, I reach for the ring and pop the top of the box before I sink down to my knee.
Stephanie only makes one step outside before I hear her gasp. She lifts her hands to her mouth, then as if she doesn’t have any control of her body, she slowly floats toward me and stops directly in front of me.
Her eyes are watery, but the tears haven’t fallen yet.
“I love you, Stephanie. I loved you when you were five years old and I still love you. No matter what has happened in our lives, the love has always been there. Do me the honor of becoming my wife and making my life complete?”
Her body trembles, but I don’t move. I need to hear the answer from her before the ring goes on her finger, again. The first time I proposed, it was with my grandmother’s ring. I still have it in my safe and maybe one day our son can propose with it, but it’s not something I wanted for this new start.
“Yes,” she blurts. “A million times yes.”
Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
STEPHANIE
I feel his touch, his finger trails down my spine, stopping just at the top of my ass. “Good morning,” he murmurs behind me.
His lips touch my shoulder, but he doesn’t make a move to go any farther. I close my eyes, letting out a sigh as I roll on to my back. His hand shifts and I feel his palm against my gigantic belly.
Turning my head slightly, I look over at his smiling face. “Simply breathtaking, honey,” he rasps.
“Simply gigantic,” I groan.
He shakes his head, snorting. “Don’t matter what you think. I know you’re beautiful.”
“I’m thirty-five and having my first baby. I’m high risk, swollen, and my body will likely never recover. Plus, I had to film the whole second half of that movie from the shoulders up.”
“You promised them the movie. I’d have said fuck it.” He grins.
Shaking my head, I groan as I roll my big belly over so that I can face him. “That’s not the point,” I sigh.
“I know,” he murmurs, lifting his hand and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
Licking my lips, I search his eyes with my own. “I don’t know why you settled for someone my age. You should have married