Roping the Cowboy Billionaire - Emmy Eugene Page 0,35

been easy with regards to trying to bring together two families.

Spur watched with a sinking heart as Ian and Duke spilled out of the back of the truck, both of them with their heads down. Mom followed, and she was lecturing them about proper safety around the ranch, her voice loud enough to carry across the distance between her and the Hudsons.

Spur sighed. “My mother is a special breed,” he said.

“She’s lovely,” Olli said, linking her arm through Spur’s. “You just have to know how to get on her good side.” She moved forward, taking Spur with her. “Julie,” she trilled out. “How are you?” She hugged Spur’s mother, who had stopped talking the moment Olli had spoken.

Spur got replaced by his mother, and Olli chatted her up as she took her toward her mom and dad. Spur stayed behind to help Daddy, and the four of them watched Olli and Mom.

“She’s incredible,” Ian said. “How does she do that?’

“Mom hasn’t stopped lecturing since we left the hospital,” Duke said, his voice awed too. “Twenty minutes, Daddy. She doesn’t even breathe when she’s lecturing like that.”

“She’s just worried about you boys,” Daddy said.

“Daddy,” Spur said. “Remember how we’re not boys anymore?” He stepped slowly with him, though his father was doing much better now.

“I know,” he said. “Mom forgets from time to time. She’s a good woman.”

“Of course she is,” Duke said. “The lecturing is somethin’ else, though.”

“Let’s just let Olli handle her tonight,” Ian said. “She’s doing a great job.”

Olli looked over her shoulder, a triumphant smile on her face. Spur smiled and shook his head. He’d just helped Daddy to a seat when the doors to the hall opened again, and more cowboys poured inside. Olli’s siblings and their families arrived. The girlfriends and finally, Blaine and Tam.

The only person who wasn’t there was Ginny, and Spur looked around for Cayden. He was obviously watching the door too, as was Olli from where she stood with her sister, Lena.

Ginny rushed through into the hall a few minutes later, apologies flying from her mouth. Olli hugged her and said something, and then she turned to find Spur. He knew his role here, and it was at her side, welcoming everyone to their family dinner party.

They reached for one another simultaneously, and Spur pressed a kiss to Olli’s forehead. “All right,” he said in a loud voice. “Quiet down now.” He gave everyone a moment to wrap up their conversations, and he realized how full of love this room felt.

Cayden and Blaine had both been by Mom and Daddy’s house to make peace. Those were the only two that Spur knew of, but he hadn’t expected miracles. Baby steps were fine too.

“We’re so glad everyone could make it tonight,” he said. “Families are such a special blessing from the Lord.” Where the words had come from, he didn’t know. Olli looked up at him, her smile genuine and perfect.

“There’s no assigned seats,” he said, getting to the heart of his speech. “Pick a place, get a plate, and get some food. We have the hall until nine, and we’re glad to be here to get to know everyone better.”

He glanced around, his eyes landing on Trey. “Trey, would you say grace?”

“Sure thing.” Trey took off his cowboy hat and gave the rest of the men in the room a moment to do so as well. He offered a prayer for health and safety, and he thanked the Lord for sending Olli and her family into their lives. Spur couldn’t help smiling at that, because he felt that same thankfulness down in his very being.

When the prayer ended, he stood back out of the way while everyone else started through the line. Olli held Ginny back with her, and then the three of them finally went down the table holding all the trays of food and loaded their plates.

By the time they got to the tables, there weren’t three spaces together. Olli looked at Spur and nodded toward the table where Cayden sat. He had two places there. Spur nodded, and Olli shook her hair over her shoulders.

Watching her made Spur so happy, and he followed in her wake as she approached the table. “Gus,” she said to her nephew. “Would you mind going to sit by Papa? I want to sit by Ginny and Spur, and there’s no room.”

“All right, Auntie Olli.”

“That’s a good boy,” she said, and she picked up his plate and handed it to Spur. He took