Wyatt
“Hey, guys, we’re home,” I called out as we entered the kitchen at Horseshoe Ranch. Sadie was by my side glowing, and I wondered if people could tell that we had been intimate. We hadn’t had sex yet, but we had spent the weekend going down on each other more times than I could count, and I was actually surprised that I’d been able to stop myself from going for more, though I knew that Sadie deserved better than to lose her virginity in a hotel in North Carolina on a business trip away.
“Hi, there!” Mom beamed at me as she turned around. She walked over and gave me a kiss on the cheek.“Hi, Sadie, so good to see you. How was North Carolina? How was the auction?”
“Oh, it was great, Mom. Absolutely great. In fact, I have some good news to share with everyone. Is everyone home?”
“I’m here, Uncle Wyatt,” Eloise piped up.
I beamed at the little girl. “Hey, Eloise, how are you?”
“I am good. I missed you. And I missed you, too, Auntie Sadie.” She walked over to Sadie and gave her a hug.
“I missed you, too, Eloise.”
“So where’s Dad?” I looked around. “Where is everyone?”
“Everyone’s out on the ranch doing work.” Mom laughed, “We’re just making cookies.”
I shook my head. “You guys are always making cookies,”
“And you seem to enjoy them, Wyatt,” Mom pointed out, and I laughed.
“Well, I am a cookie monster.”
“Yes, you are,” Sadie agreed with a smile.
“Well, you know, I do like the cookie,” I winked at her. “I could eat the cookie all night long.”
“Wyatt!” Sadie glared at me.
“What? Don’t you like cookies? Or do you prefer hotdogs?”
“Wyatt!” Sadie glared at me.
“What? I think you like hotdogs more than you—”
“Enough,” my mom said, giving me a look. “Wyatt, you’re making Sadie uncomfortable, and I’m not even going to ask what the two of you are talking about. But if the look on Sadie’s face and the color in her cheeks is any indication, then I think I know. You forget I have been your mother for twenty-five years, and I have six other sons. This is not the first time I’ve heard about cookies and hotdogs,” she laughed.
“Oh, my gosh,” Sadie buried her face in her hands, “I’m going to absolutely die right now.”
“Can I have a hotdog, please?” Eloise said, and we all started laughing.
“Sure,” my mom said and turned towards the fridge. “I’ll make some hotdogs. Are you guys hungry or did you eat before you go got here?”
“I’m not hungry, thank you.” I looked at Sadie, “You?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks. I guess I’ll go home and …”
“Don’t leave,” I insisted. “Do you have to get home?”
“Well, I guess not yet. My mom knows I’m with you.”
“Then stay. Let’s just enjoy the evening together, and I want you to be here when I tell all the family about Prince Waterman.”
“Okay,” she nodded, “That will be exciting.”
“Yeah, I think so.”
A little while later, the family was gathered in the living room, looking at me with some apprehension in their expressions.
I cleared my throat. “Well, thank you, everyone, for gathering. I want to let you know that I had a successful trip to North Carolina with Sadie, and I was able to purchase a yearling.”
“A yearling?” Beau raised an eyebrow. “Not three, or four, or five?”
“I was able to purchase a, as in singular, one yearling,” I admitted.
“Whoa! So are you saying that we have change?” Austin said with a laugh.
“No,” I shook my head. “In fact, not only do we not have change, but Sadie …”
“Oh, please don’t tell me what I think you’re going to tell me.” Beau closed his eyes.
“Sadie is an investor in the horse that I bought.”
“Sadie’s an investor?” Beau raised an eyebrow. “How much money did this horse cost?”
Sadie spoke up. “Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and Wyatt and I signed a contract. I’ll get paid back out of the winnings. I have no claim to the horse, in case you’re worried about that. Literally, we have a simple contract that pays me a hundred thousand back over the next ten years. I think that was a pretty good arrangement for the family.”
“You are family, Sadie.” Mom smiled. “You know that. Don’t listen to Beau.”
“Yeah, but two hundred and fifty—” Beau began.
“Beau.”
“Sorry,” he looked at Sadie, “and you know you’re family.”
“Thank you.” Sadie smiled back at him.
“So tell us more about this horse.”
“His name’s Prince Waterman,” I said. “I’m not sure if I will keep that name, but he’s a year and a half. I took him around the corral, and I was able to ride him. I was able to see what he has to work with, and I think he will be a winner,” I said straightforwardly. “Obviously I’ve never trained horses for racing before, but I am confident that he’s the real deal and with some good training, I’ll get him in the winner’s circle sooner rather than later.”
“Congratulations!” Olivia grinned.
“Yeah, that sounds amazing,” Lucy added. “Can’t wait to see him.”
“And I have some news as well,” Sadie said. “I guess I should tell my parents first, but seeing as you guys are like family as well, I wanted to bring it up. I’m thinking about going back to school to get my MBA or a master’s program in nonprofits because I think I want to start my own nonprofit and train women in the skills they need to work on ranches.”
“Wow, that’s absolutely amazing,” Arya said, “And, you know, I will definitely sign up for those classes because I would love to work at a ranch and I’d love to have those skills to really … be an important … feature.” She stumbled slightly over her words. “And I guess seeing as we’re all announcing things, I should announce my news.”
“Oh, you have news?” Mom looked at her in surprise. I noticed that Chet’s expression grew wary.
“Yes,” Arya said. “I’m actually going to be moving out in a couple of days. I’ve accepted a job working at the bar. And as part of my salary, I’ve been given access to one of the apartments on top of the bar, and Eloise and I are going to live there. I’m hoping that until I figure out daycare, Eloise will be welcomed here, but of course …”
“Oh, my gosh. Of course, darling,” Mom said quickly. “I’d be more than happy to look after her.”
“Me too,” Olivia nodded, “anything you need.”
“And me three,” Lucy said, “I love Eloise. We’re here for you.”
“What?” Chet suddenly yelled. We all turned to stare at him.
“Sorry?” Arya said. “What do you mean?”
“What are you talking about—you’ve gotten a job at the bar and you’re moving out? Did I or did I not tell you that you cannot take a job at that bar? Those men are not—”
“Chet, I appreciate your thoughts on this matter, but I am taking the job because there’s a paycheck, and I’m grateful to have been offered it seeing as I don’t have any real experience as a bartender.”
Chet’s face was dark. “The only reason you got that job is because you’re pretty and all the—”
“Enough!” Dad’s voice cut across the room.
“Dad, look, I’m not going to let Arya get taken advantage of.” Chet jumped up and walked over to Arya. “Can I talk to you outside please?”
“Well, I—”
“Now,” he said. “I really would like to talk to you.”
“Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes. I saw her give a look to Sadie, and Sadie just shook her head. We all watched as Chet and Arya walked out of the room.
“Well, what was that about?” Beau said. “How many hot heads do we have in this family?”
“Too many, I’m afraid.” Olivia shot him a little smile and then looked at me. “Is there anything else you want to tell us, Wyatt, any other news that you and Sadie have?”
“Um, I’m not sure what you mean …” I began. At that moment, Sadie’s phone rang.
She glanced at it. “Hey, I just need to take this. Excuse me.”
“Sure,” I nodded.
She walked over to a corner of the room but I could still hear her easily. “Hi, Dominic. Yeah, this is Sadie. Um, I did think about it. No, I don’t think I’m actually going to take you up on your offer. Um, no, I’m not interested in a date. Nope. No. Not with you or with your brother. I understand. Yes, I did take that into consideration. No, this has nothing to do with that. He’s not a hothead. I appreciate your call, but I think I’m going to have to go now, Mr. Olivio. Yes. The answer is firm no, thank you,” she said and hung up.
She turned to see me grinning at her. “Were you listening to my conversation, Wyatt?”
“Um, no,” I laughed as I walked over to her.
She snorted. “No as in no no, or no as in, yes, I was definitely listening?”
“What do you think Sadie? You know me better than that.”
“Well, yes, that was Dominic, and he wanted to know if I was going to take him up on his business offer, and I said no.”
“I think he was wanting to know about more than the business offer, right?”
“Yeah. He wanted to know if I wanted to have a threesome with him and his brother.”
“He fucking what?” The expletive fell out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
“Shh, there are kids in the room!” Sadie glared at me.
“I will go and beat his ass. How dare he?”
“I said no. It’s okay.”
“I mean, ugh, that is just not acceptable.”
“Why?” She said, looking at me with a small smile.
“Because no man should be propositioning my woman.”
“Your woman, huh?” She laughed. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that there is one more thing I need to tell the family.” I cleared my throat and grabbed her hand. “Hey, guys.”
“Yeah?” Beau looked up at me from where he was sitting on the couch.
“I do have another announcement to make.”
I could see my mom grinning. I turned to look at Sadie, and she was looking at me with a confused expression on her face.
“Don’t tell me. You borrowed another hundred grand so you can buy a McDonald’s franchise?” Austin laughed.
“Very funny, not.” I glared at him.
However, he and Beau raised their hands and high-fived each other.
“That is so not funny. Mom and Dad, is that funny?”
“Don’t pay any attention to them, Wyatt,” Mom said. “So what’s this announcement?”
“I would like everyone to know that Sadie and I are dating.”
“We are?” Sadie’s eyes were wide with shock.
“Aren’t we?” I said with a soft smile.
“Um, this is the first I’ve heard about it.”
“Well then let me be very clear, Sadie Johnson. I really like you. You’re my best friend, and a whole lot more. And I’d like to explore this, and I’m hoping that you would like to explore it, too. Will you be my girlfriend?”
I looked around the room and everyone was staring at us in shock.
“And now I know I’ve put you on the spot, and this is kind of awkward doing it in front of my family. And I do apologize about that but …”
“Oh, of course, Wyatt!” She giggled and pressed her lips against mine.
I pulled her in for a hug and everyone started cheering and clapping.
“Well, there you have it guys. Sadie and I are now officially an item.”
“Took you long enough,” Beau said, and he and Austin started laughing again.
“Come on. I’m going to show Sadie something.”
“I hope it’s not another hotdog,” Austin snickered.
“Really? Mom, did you tell him?”
“I didn’t say a thing,” she said with an innocent expression on her face, and I just shook my head.
“Come on.” I tugged on Sadie’s arm and led her out of the room. She looked at me with a small smile as we made our way to my bedroom.
“Are you serious about this, Wyatt? Are you sure that you want me to?”
“I think we’ve both known for a long time that we’re perfect for each other, and maybe we’ve just both been dumb, and stupid, and complacent in our friendship. Well, maybe that was just me, but I’m not going to let you get away, Sadie. You’re amazing.”
“Is this because you want to have sex with me?”
“I do want to have sex with you, but, no, I wouldn’t ask you to be my girlfriend because of that.”
“Are we going to your room to have sex?” she said, raising an eyebrow and giggling.
“If I said yes, what would you say?”
“Wyatt, I think you know me well enough to know that I’d be all for it.”
“Well, unfortunately, I don’t think now is the right time, but I can pleasure you in other ways,” I suggested.
“Hmm, I think I’ll take you up on that.”
I pulled her into my room and pushed her up against the door, kissing her hard. She moaned against my lips, and I grinned, loving the sound. Then her phone rang again.
I groaned. “Oh, don’t answer it.”
“I need to see who it is at least,” she said, pulling the phone out. “Oh, it’s my mom. Let me take it real quick. Hey, Mom.”
I used the time to take off my shirt and undo my pants. Might as well get ready. I walked over and wrapped my arms around her waist and played with her breast as she spoke to her mom.
“Is everything okay, Mom?” she said. “Oh, my gosh, what? No. Okay. I’ll be home as soon as possible.” She turned the phone off and then looked at me, her eyes wide and her face pale.
“What is it?” I asked her. “What’s wrong?”
“I have to go,” she said, her lip trembling. “I have to go now. My mom’s leaving my dad. She’s getting a divorce. She’s finally had enough.” She burst into tears.
“Oh, my God, Sadie, I’m so sorry.”
“I just don’t know what to say,” she sobbed. “I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
She ran out of the room. I struggled to pull my clothes on and caught up with her in the driveway just as she was getting into her car.
“Let me drive you there at least. Let me—”
“No, I need to be by myself now,” she said. “I need to be there for my mom.” She gave me a huge kiss. “Thank you though, Wyatt. This has been the most amazing week of my life.”
“It’s been mine too,” I said. “Call me as soon as you get home, okay?”
“Okay.” She jumped into her car and was gone.
I walked back into the living room and sat on the couch next to my mom.
“Hey, is everything okay?” she said, a worried expression on her face as she took in my face.
“Sadie’s mom and dad are getting a divorce,” I said. “Sadie’s gone home to comfort her mom.”
“Oh, my,” Mom sighed. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“You did?”
“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about their relationship, and I guess a lot of families have secrets, you know? Let’s just say Sadie’s dad has not been the best to her mom, but I guess now she’s finally taken action, and I say good for her.”
“I feel so bad for Sadie, though. She’s always been such a believer in love. I’m sure this must be breaking her heart.”
“Well, she has you, Wyatt.” Mom squeezed my hand. “She has you and she has us, and we’ll always be there for her. And I’m glad you finally figured out your feelings.”
“What?” I said, staring at her.
“I know you love her, Son, and I know you know it,” she grinned. “I have something for you to give to Sadie when the time is right.”
“What are you talking about, Mom?”
“Don’t worry about it, Wyatt. I’m just happy that you and Sadie have finally realized that you’re perfect for each other. All you can do at this moment is be there for her, okay?”
“Okay, Mom,” I said. “I love you.”
“I love you too, my boy. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”