days since the death of Mark and all the cartel drama. The authorities came, and we talked it up to a drug deal gone bad. Though we didn’t mention any names, saying that we didn't see who he was working with.
The authorities asked so many questions, I thought they’d never let us alone. But thanks to Vicky, who pulled the pregnancy trump card, saving us from more hours of questions.
Alex had to call and explain what had happened to Mark's family. Where we were short men on the ranch before, now Alex had no choice but to step in since we were down to the point where it was essential. Then Alex made the call that he was avoiding doing and asked his dad to come help out until he could hire someone. They arrived yesterday.
His dad's been going over the books with him to help him figure out how he can save some money and make enough money to hire some help once the baby's here.
Now that the dust is starting to settle, it's time Alex and I talked. Thankfully, this morning it's just him and me in the barn.
"With everything going on, you and I still need to have a talk," I tell him when I walk in.
When he stops what he's doing and looks at me, I take that as the most attention that I'm going to get, so I just start speaking.
"The only thing I regret is you finding out the way that you did. When Jessa and I were talking about going to the wedding, I was going to talk to you then. But that didn’t happen, so I'm going to talk to you now and tell you where I'm at," I pause.
He stares at me and then speaks. "So where are you at?" he asks, and from the tone of his voice, you can tell he's clearly not thrilled.
"I want to marry her. And I want your blessing. We've waited long enough dancing around your feelings, and I don't want to wait any longer. We've talked, and she wants to be close to family, but this ranch life is not what she wants. So ideally, we'll stay here until Vicky has the baby and help out. But then we’ll look for our own place here in Rock Springs. She has a dream of owning a bookstore downtown, and I'm going to make it happen. I'm coming to you first, but I also plan to talk to your father today because I'm serious about this." Then I pull out the ring I grabbed when I packed my bag for the wedding.
When he sees the ring, looks back at me. I can see the wheels turning in his head, so I just allow him the time to think, no matter how uncomfortable it makes me.
"You know I don't like the way that I found out, but I've always thought of you as family. So I guess it would be great to make it legal. What Jessa said really hit home. I do want you both as happy as Vicky has made me." He tells me with a completely straight face. Then he smiles big.
Finally, I'm able to comprehend what he just said. Relief fills me as I take a deep breath.
He walks over and gives me a hug. "You guys sticking around until the baby's born is a gift. I promise to have help set and trained by the time you are ready to leave. With Dad being here until the baby's born as well, you guys can take time off as needed," Alex says.
"All right, one hurdle down, one more to go. Any idea where your dad is?"
"He should be in the house at the office. He was doing some research on the computer," Alex says. "Jessa's inside too, but tell her I need her out here in the barn." Alex winks at me.
When I get inside, I find Jessa in the kitchen with her mom.
"Hey baby, Alex is asking for you out in the barn," I say, kissing her forehead.
"Perfect timing, as we were just finishing up here," her mom says. Once Jessa is leaving for the barn, I feel her mom’s eyes on me. Sure enough, when I turn, her mom is watching me with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes, almost like she knows what's happening next.
Without saying anything, I wink at her before I go to the office, and close the door behind me.
Her dad looks up and smiles.
"What's on your mind?" He asks me just like he always did when I was growing up, and I'd sit down to talk to him.
"As you know by now, your daughter and I are dating," I'm not sure about his feelings on the situation, but I've never been more relieved when he gives me a huge smile.
"You know, I remember sitting around the dining room table just before you left for boot camp, and I had the thought that you two would be perfect together," he says, shocking the hell out of me.
When I left for boot camp, my thoughts were nowhere near she was anything more than a baby sister. She had been way too young.
"I saw the way you two looked at each other when you came home for her graduation. But I was never going to push it because if it needed to happen, it would. Actually, I'm very glad it did," he says, sitting back in his chair waiting to see what I have to say next. Though I suspect he knows.
"Well, Alex didn't find out in the best possible way, and he and I have worked that out. So now I'm here to talk to you because I would like to ask for your blessing to marry your daughter." Instead of the speech that I had prepared in my head, I ask very plainly and with the most basic words just trying to get it all out.
He just keeps watching me intently. Then he speaks. "You know, she never wanted a life of working a ranch."
"I know. She's only here to help out. Alex and I have talked and we’ve agreed to stay until the baby's born and help. He's got to get some new ranch hands settled before we can leave. But she does want to stay close, so I'm going to make sure that she gets her dream of opening a bookstore downtown." I tell her dad just like I told her brother.
"And what about you? What about your dream?" he asks.
"Well, I joined the military, and I got to travel. Being a part of the MC Club and getting to help people is something I’ll continue to do. But some of my dreams have changed, certainly my feelings for her changed, and being with her and making her happy, well, that's my dream now."
"That's the dream of a man in love," her dad says.
Then it hits me! Obviously, I love her. When I start laughing, her father looks at me strangely.
"Care to let me in on the joke?" he asks.
"There's no doubt in my mind that I love her, and have for a while. I just realized, though, that I've never actually told her that. And here I am, looking to get your permission to marry her." I say, shaking my head at the craziness of it all.
"Well,” he says, laughing. “You've always been part of the family so I guess it's about time we make it legal. I don't think there's anybody I trust more with my daughter so I would be more than honored to have you as a son-in-law," he says. Then, standing up from his desk, he walking over to me, and pulls me in for a hug.
I don't think he understands how much those words mean to me, but then again, knowing him, he probably does.
Once I leave his office, I waste no time putting my plan in motion. I don't want to wait another minute to not have her yes, and this ring on her finger.
Thankfully, her brother and her parents are more than willing to help me out with my plan. Vicky even helps by keeping her distracted for most of the day.
Once dinner rolls around, her brother walks in, gives me a nod, and lets me know everything is in place for after we're done eating. Then he pulls out his phone and texts me.
I just look up and smirk at him. Then another text comes in.
"Put the phones away, no business at the table," Jessa's mom says.
The scenario is familiar, the food is on the table, and we all ready to dig in. While we eat everyone talks and shares, I enjoy the normalness of this family. It’s something that I was used to growing up and missed every time I was away.
My nerves start to hit, and thankfully, Alex and his parents carry the conversation over dinner. But as soon as we finish, I know that's my sign.
"Hey baby, why don't we head down to the barn and get a jump start on tonight's chores so we can watch more of that show that you got me hooked on?"
Her face lights up with a smile and I marvel again that she’s mine.
"What show?" Alex asks.
Yeah, there’s no way I’m going to tell him that it's some historical romance drama. "Nothing that you would like," I say.
Then we both stand and I take Jessa’s hand, leading her outside. The closer we get to the barn, the more my nervous I get.
When we get to the barn, I open the door, and she gasps.
"Chance, what is this?" she says with wonder and awe filling her voice as she takes it all in. There are fairy lights strung from the rafters, making it look like we're sitting under the stars. Fairy lights line the aisles and frame each of the stalls. Eventually, the fairy lights lead us to the center of the barn where there's a big heart of fairy lights.
Once I get her to stand in the middle of the heart, I begin my prepared speech. "Had a talk with your brother and your dad today and made my intentions clear. After I got their blessing, I didn't want to wait anymore, but I also realized that I never told you how I felt. For that I am sorry, and I promise to tell you every day for the rest of my life how I feel because I am head over heels in love with you." Then I drop down to one knee, look up at her and see the tears running down her face. Since there is a watery smile on her face, I keep going.
"I want to wake up every day with you, and hold you in my arms. I want to be the one beside you as you're running your bookstore, and I want to be the one to help you make that dream come true. Because whatever you want to do, then that's my dream too. Marry me, baby girl, and let me be the one by your side for the rest of your life, making sure that anything you desire is yours," I say, waiting.
She doesn't answer me right away. But then she drops to her knees in front of me, takes my face in her hands, and looks me right in my eyes.
"I love you too, Chance, and I want nothing more than to be your wife," she says, kissing me exuberantly.
Even though I would love nothing more than to kiss her all day, I don’t let myself get distracted. I slide the ring on to her finger and call out because I know we have people listening.
"She said yes!" I shout.
Cheers erupt from the barn door where they’re all standing. Her mom and dad come in, along with Alex and Vicky. They all make it over to give us hugs and to celebrate our engagement.
I truly feel like part of the family, and that is just an extra bonus because I am with the woman I love. The fact that I get to spend every day for the rest of my life with her is all I could want.