Arya
Chet Hamilton was one of the most obstinate, arrogant, annoying men I’d ever met in my life. He was also one of the most handsome.
He was quite possibly the most gorgeous man in Montana. With his big blue eyes and dark brown hair, he had the sort of looks that would have every woman over eighteen swooning. He was probably the best-looking Hamilton brother of all of them, and that was saying something as the entire family was gorgeous.
I still couldn’t believe that I was here at Horseshoe Ranch with Eloise. It had been a risk coming here to find Eloise’s dad, especially given that I wasn’t even sure that he lived at the ranch, but it had been worth a shot, not just for myself, but for Eloise.
I loved Eloise like she was my own, but I worried about what would happen as she grew older. Would she resent that her mother had left and she didn’t know who her father was? Would she hate me? Sometimes, when I was being selfish, I wondered if I’d ever be able to get married and have my own kids. Would any guy want me seeing as I was basically a single mother?
The Hamilton family was unique. They were loving, kind, and sweet, but as much as I didn’t want to leave the ranch, I knew that I had to. I didn’t want them to think I was taking advantage of their kindness, their generosity, and their good hearts.
I knew I could be happy spending the rest of my life here, but the truth was, I wasn’t a Hamilton, and neither was Eloise. I needed to move on with my life. I didn’t want to work at 12 Point Buck Bar forever, but it was a good opportunity for the time being. The fact that it came with the rent-free apartment above the bar was an added bonus. Amelia had said that she’d look after Eloise on days I had to work, and Sadie, Lucy, and Olivia had offered to babysit Eloise during the evenings when I had to work as well. Chip, the bar owner knew that I could only work part-time right until I saved up enough money to get a babysitter. It wasn’t ideal, but it was the only option I had right now. I wanted to be able to provide for myself and Eloise without having to rely on someone else. I didn’t want to accept handouts, even though I knew the Hamilton family didn’t look at their generosity that way.
I began brushing my hair as I looked around the room and took in the old wooden bed I slept in and the gorgeous view from the windows. I could see the mountains in the far distance, and I wondered if the men, Chet in particular, liked skiing and snowboarding. I imagined what it would be like to go out riding on the ranch with him towards the mountains. We’d gallop across the acres as quickly as the horses could carry us and then stop by the river for a bite to eat. How magical would that be?
But I didn’t want to let my imagination get the better of me. That was not a possibility for me right now. And just because Austin, Beau, and Wyatt had fallen for three amazing women didn’t mean that the other Hamilton men were ready. As far as I could tell, the rest of the Hamilton men were even more stubborn.
Chet, Knox, Flint, and Hawk weren’t going to get married anytime soon. That I could tell. And I didn’t care either way. Good for them.
I looked up at the sound of a knock on my door. I placed my brush down on the table and opened it.
“Hey,” I to Sadie, who was holding a glass of milk in her hand.
“Hey, what are you up to, Arya?” She took a sip and I smiled at the milk mustache that was left on her face.
“Just getting ready for dinner. Eloise is in the kitchen with Amelia making cookies. She’s becoming a real Cookie Monster.” I smiled a little sadly. “I feel bad because I don’t cook that much, and I especially don’t bake, and well, she’ll miss these days.”
“Oh, but she’ll be here all the time,” Sadie assured me. “And I don’t bake that much either, so don’t feel bad.”
“I’ll try not to. So, how are you and Wyatt?”
“Amazing. Like two fools in love.” Sadie looked dreamy. “Two sentences I never thought I’d say, but I’m pleased about it. Um… are you sure you’re going to go work at 12 Point Buck Bar?” she suddenly asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Because I just came from town, and the bar shut down.” She studied my face for my reaction.
“Shut down? What do you mean?”
“Well, there was a huge sign, and there were a bunch of guys outside the door complaining…” Her voice trailed off and she shrugged. “I figured maybe you knew something about it.”
“No, I have no idea, but I don’t start till next week,” I said hopefully. “Maybe Chip just took a couple of days off.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She sounded like she didn’t really think that was what happened. “I mean the bar never shuts down, so I don’t know what’s happening, but hey, I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
“So, what do you want to do tonight?” I changed the subject quickly, not wanting to dwell on what this might mean.
“I was thinking that perhaps we could play a board game or something. I was telling Wyatt that I just got this new board game, and it arrived, but we need at least six people.”
“I guess there’s you, Olivia, Lucy, Austin, Beau, and Wyatt, right?” I wasn’t sure I was in the mood to play a board game.
“Yeah, but it plays better with ten. So I figured with you and Chet, that makes eight, and then maybe Hawk or Flint or Knox, maybe even Amelia and Ranger will play.”
“Well, sure, I’m down. I do like board games. I don’t want to be the seventh wheel, though.”
“Oh, Arya, you could never be the seventh wheel, you know that!” Sadie linked arms with me. “Now come on, let’s go to the kitchen and grab some of those cookies before dinner.”
“Amelia won’t like that.”
Arm in arm we walked down the hallway. I loved how Sadie always made me feel comfortable. She was more of a loving sister to me than my own sister was. I guess I was finally beginning to understand the difference between blood family and the family we choose.
“Ah, Amelia will get over for it. She’s flying high right now.”
“Oh, why do you say that?”
“Because she’s planning three weddings. She was just hoping for one son to find love, and now she has three sons about to get married. How amazing is that?” Sadie grinned. “All her dreams are coming true.”
“And you’re okay with Amelia planning your wedding?” I asked Sadie, curious. Sadie was one of the most independent women I knew, and I couldn’t imagine her not being in charge of her own wedding.
Sadie burst out laughing. “Girl, I’ve been planning my wedding for years! So I’ve already figured out all the important details, but I love her input. She has such great taste, and Wyatt’s an absolute bore about the whole thing.” She rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t want to hear anything about it, and he has no opinions about anything. It’s becoming kind of frustrating, if I’m honest.” She made a face, but I could tell from the humor in her voice that she wasn’t really mad about it. She’d known Wyatt long enough to know that he’d be no help planning their wedding.
“Did I hear my name?” said a deep voice behind us, and we both turned around.
Sadie let go of my arm and ran towards her fiancé. He picked her up and swung her around.
I watched as they shared an intimate kiss, happy that they’d finally expressed their love for each other but also feeling a little bit of sadness and jealousy for myself.
“So what were you saying about me?” Wyatt asked as they finally broke apart.
“I was just telling Arya that I’m grateful that your mom is helping plan the wedding because you’re no help.” Sadie poked him in the chest.
“Well, isn’t wedding planning a woman’s thing?” He frowned as he realized he’d made a statement that was most definitely going to get him into trouble.
Sadie put her hands on her hips. “Really Wyatt Hamilton, a woman’s thing? You do know that this is 2022, and there are no such things as women’s things and men’s things?”
“Uhm, okay.” He pressed his lips together. I could tell he was trying not to laugh.
“What do you mean by ‘uhm, okay’?” Sadie crossed her arms in front of her and gave him a stern look.
“I don’t know where you get your ideas from, Sadie, but we live on a ranch, and there are definitely things that men do that women…” His voice trailed off. “I’m guessing I’m not going to win this conversation, am I?”
“No, you’re not, Wyatt Hamilton. I know you’re not about to spout something that goes against my feminist beliefs.”
“Since when are you a feminist, Sadie?”
“Since forever.” She swatted him on the shoulder. “And this is why I’m starting my non-profit to empower and train women so that men will finally respect the work we can and already do on the ranch.” She looked back at me. “Anyway, Arya and I are going to steal some freshly baked cookies from the kitchen. You are more than willing to join us if you want.”
“Does my mom know you’re about to do that?”
“She won’t mind. She’s too preoccupied.” She winked at him and linked her arm through his.
“I know.” He groaned. “She’s caught up in wedding planning.” He shuddered dramatically then grinned at me. “As if I don’t already have enough on my plate.”
They play punched each other, and I felt another little stab of envy at their banter. They seemed to get each other in a way that showed me they were perfect for each other.
They had such a close and happy relationship. It was the sort of relationship I would have loved to have. I wondered how much of it was because they were soulmates and how much of it was because they’d been best friends since they were little kids. I was pretty sure it was both.
We walked into the kitchen, and I realized we weren’t the only ones who had the same idea. Austin and Beau were both sitting at the table with plates of cookies and glasses of milk.
Amelia was standing next to the stove, and Eloise was helping her with something. My heart expanded as I watched Eloise with Amelia. Amelia was like a grandma to her, and I knew that Eloise would miss not being in the house with her every day.
I sighed. Was I making the right decision for Eloise, or was I being selfish?
“What’s going on in here?” Chet said, walking into the kitchen, with a cowboy hat on his head. “Hey, Mama.” He grinned at his mother and took off his hat, placing it on a rack next to the wall. “Something smells good. What are you cooking?”
“Pot roast and cookies,” Eloise said, answering him with a wide smile. “You want a cookie, Uncle Chet?
“No cookies for Chet, no more cookies for anyone,” Amelia said, shaking her head and frowning at Beau and Austin, who were stuffing their faces at the table.
“Mama!” Beau grabbed another cookie quickly.
“You boys are going to ruin your appetite and not be able to eat your dinner.”
“Mama, how many times do we have to tell you,” Austin said, “we don’t lose our appetite. We’re men.”
“I’m just saying Eloise and I have spent the afternoon cooking a massive pot roast and lots of mashed potatoes and carrots—”
“It’s going to be delicious.” Eloise said. “Hey, Auntie Arya,” she said, running over to me. “I made mashed potatoes.”
“Ooh, yummy!” I gave her a big hug. “Are you having a good evening?”
“Oh, yes. We made oatmeal and raisin cookies and chocolate chip cookies, and we even got to put in butterscotch chips too, and they were so delicious. Right, Grandma Amelia?”
I pressed my lips together as I realized what Eloise had called Amelia.
“I hope that’s okay,” Amelia said, heading over to me, her eyes soft. “She asked me if she could call me Grandma Amelia, and I said yes. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” I said, beaming at her. “That’s really wonderful of you. Thank you.”
“Oh, you’re welcome, dear. Now have a seat, everyone. Everyone can have one cookie with some milk until dinner.”
“Me as well.” Ranger entered the kitchen and rubbed his belly. Amelia groaned out loud. Eloise burst out giggling as she ran up to him and gave him a hug, and everyone looked at her adoringly. My niece was absolutely too precious, and I knew that I had to ensure that she always had her loving beautiful heart.
“Okay, cookies, and milk for everyone.”
“Can I have chocolate milk, please, Grandma Amelia?” Eloise said. And Amelia nodded.
“Yes, of course, my dear, come on.”
I sat back and looked around the room at my adopted family. There was love everywhere. I almost felt like I was living in a Hallmark movie, such was the love and happiness in the room. I knew it was going to be hard to leave, but I also knew that I couldn’t get used to this. I had to make my own life, and in all honesty, I needed to see if I could meet someone myself, start my own family, get a real grandma and granddad for Eloise. Maybe one day I’d even have some kids of my own to give her brothers and sisters.
At least that was my hope.