reached for my hand and pulled me to a stop. “I want you to know something.”
“What’s that?”
“I trust you with all my heart, and I don’t think we’re going to fail.”
With a soft kiss on her forehead, I nodded. “I know. My folks tried to tell me to wait a bit before I talked to you about my plan, but I really wanted you to know how I felt and what I wanted for our future. I won’t hold you back from your dreams, Timber. I swear to you. If you want to purchase your own place, I’ll support you a hundred percent.”
She placed her hand on the side of my face. “You really are so amazing, do you know that?”
“Midnight is in fifteen minutes!” someone shouted.
“Come on, let’s go grab some champagne and get ready to start the New Year together. You and me.”
With a smile, she repeated, “You and me.”
As Timberlynn and I made our way back to the crowd, I realized that people had started to make their way outside. “Let’s grab our coats and join them.”
Timberlynn stopped walking. “Outside? It’s freezing out there!”
I gave her a wink and said, “Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”
Ty was headed our way, both our coats in his hands. Kaylee followed behind him.
“Thought you might want these,” Ty said as he handed us our jackets.
“Why are we going outside?” Timberlynn asked. I helped slip her coat on.
“You’ll see!” Kaylee said. “Here, at least one of us can drink the new year in!”
Timberlynn took the two glasses of champagne from Kaylee and handed one to me. “Now I’m curious!” she said with a slight giggle.
As we stepped outside, I noticed the fire my dad had started in the pit. Brock stood next to our parents with his arms around Lincoln. Blayze sat on top of my father’s shoulders, and my mother seemed to have a glow about her that I could see thanks to the fire’s light. I knew she was happy to have us all home and together.
I did a quick sweep of the outstretched ranch before us. The moon hit the snow and lit it up like a nighttime candle. Damn, I loved this place, and I knew I had made the right decision in staying. Every day that passed, working alongside my father and brothers, I knew in my heart that this was where I needed to be. And the woman standing next to me was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I didn’t have a doubt in the world about that.
Timberlynn leaned into me, so I wrapped my arm around her waist. Ty and Kaylee had joined us and stood between Timberlynn and my folks. My mother turned to see us all there and smiled so big I couldn’t help but smile back. “I’m so happy to have all my kids home. I love you all so much! I’m sure Beck is looking down smiling on us this evening. Happy to see all of his brothers are home safe and sound.”
Ty leaned down and kissed our mother on the cheek, followed by Brock, then me.
Timberlynn smiled up at me.
“What?” I asked.
“I just love your family is all.”
“You’re a part of it now, darlin’.”
Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and she jumped when Dad shouted, “It’s almost time! Grab the person you want to ring in the New Year with!”
“Where’s Dirk?” I asked Brock. We both searched the crowd. He always rang in the New Year with us when he was home.
“He probably can’t find anyone to kiss at midnight!” Brock said with a laugh.
“What about Merit?” Timberlynn asked.
Brock laughed again. “That was a long time ago and only a one-time thing.” He frowned, though, and looked around once more. “Last I saw him, he had taken Merit to look at the ranch survey.”
Lincoln, Kaylee, and Timberlynn all exchanged a look. “That’s funny. Dirk is missing. Merit is missing. Interesting,” Kaylee mused.
“Don’t go starting anything with that, Kaylee,” Ty warned. “That happened a long time ago, and I doubt Merit wants anything to do with Dirk’s whorish ways.”
Kaylee shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.” I laughed as she pointed to each of the Shaw brothers.
“A toast, before the New Year rolls in!” my mother shouted. “To love, happiness, family, and health!”
“Well said!” Brock called out as everyone took a drink of champagne. Well, everyone but Lincoln and Kaylee. They both held up glasses of water.
“One minute!” Dad yelled out.
Timberlynn pulled out her phone from