Page 64 of For the Love of the Bull Rider

Ryan took great pride in taking his new grandfather, Rob, down to the barn to show him Josie and his new saddle. Matt smiled at the fact Ryan hadn’t opened all his gifts because he wanted to wait until the next day when he could be alone with his dad and Tim so they could add to their family traditions. It brought a sentimental smile to Matt’s face.

Matt took great pride in showing off the stud horse Tim had given him for Christmas. The horse was magnificent, and Matt was anxious to take him out into the pasture. The saddle wasn’t fancy, but it was broken in, which was exactly what Matt loved about it.

Tim explained to him his desire to commission a fancy saddle for Matt, but he quickly dissuaded his lover from pursuing anything of the sort. Matt wasn’t the “fancy-saddle” kind of guy, or so he told Tim. The old rough-out was perfect for him in every way.

Tim’s face glowed with happiness when Matt took him downstairs to show him the vintagePac-Manvideo game he’d managed to buy from the guy who owned the pizza place in town. He explained to the man he loved how he planned to havethe basement finished to make a game room, along with two bedrooms and a full bath. He told Tim they’d thank themselves when Ryan got older because he’d have a place to entertain his friends, and Matt and Tim could have some peace in other parts of the house. The passionate kiss he received in return made his blood roll through his veins from his quickly beating heart.

As everyone stood in the living room with drinks later that afternoon, Matt whistled to get everyone’s attention. When they all turned to look at him, his heart was full. There were family, old friends, new friends, but at the center of all of it stood Tim and Ryan with joy shining on their faces. Of course, there was a mangy little mutt running around pissing on the hardwood, but time would cure all ills.

“I’d like to thank all of you for joining us to celebrate the first Christmas of our new family. As I look around, I see a lot of family and people who are gonna become family. I have a lot to be grateful for this Christmas, and I wanted to thank all of you for supporting us through the trials and the blessings. Merry Christmas.” Matt lifted his glass in a toast.

He pulled Tim close and kissed him before he picked up Ryan to hug him as well. In Matt’s opinion, the holiday had started out rocky, but it ended up being the best Christmas he’d ever had in his life. He said a silent prayer that it was the first Christmas of many to come.

Epilogue

“Quit fussing with it.” Tim straightened Matt’s tie for the umpteenth time that morning. They were heading to court for the hearing regarding Bertie’s surrendering of her parental rights. She had agreed to give Matt full custody and renounce her rights to Ryan with no explanation, but Tim smiled becausenever was there a more important check written than the one that he’d given to Matt’s ex-wife.

“I still don’t know what the fuck that bitch is playin’ at.” Matt ran a hand over his freshly trimmed hair.

Tim smiled as he finished tightening the knot under Matt’s chin. Matt was the most handsome man he’d ever seen in his life. The bull rider was still in shape and seeing him atop Charlie riding in the pasture at full trot was a gift from the gods. The man was sexy as hell, but on that grand stallion, he was like a marble statue.

“She’s not playing at anything. I truly believe she’s seen the light. According to what Jon told us, she called and volunteered, right?” Tim couldn’t look his lover in the eyes.

It wasn’t exactly the truth, but it was the letter of the contract Ronni Turnberry had prepared for Tim and presented to Bertie Collins. After he offered her five-hundred-thousand dollars to walk away and never return, she quickly abandoned her mother’s idea of fighting Matt for Ryan’s custody.

Ronni flew up to Toronto and explained things to Bertie, getting her to offer an affidavit stating her mother wasn’t fit to have custody of Ryan due to her history of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as signing over her paternal rights to the boy for the check Tim was offering.

It was sad someone had set the price of a little boy for half-a-million dollars to a mother who should have rejected the idea immediately when it was offered, but Tim was grateful. He’d have paid every penny he had to secure the same agreement.

“Yeah, well, I think it’s a bunch of bullshit. I guess we’ll see.” Matt pulled Tim into his body and kissed his lips gently. The adjustment to moving in had been a little difficult, but it was only because they were doing a few things at the house to make it more welcoming.

Matt refused to handle the updates and changes, so Tim went for a homier, lived-in approach as the style, unlike the way he viewed it the first time he walked in to fix Matt’s computer.

There were pictures of family everywhere. There was comfortable furniture the three of them picked out together, and they had a large dining room table seating nearly everyone in the family at one time.

The Moran-Collins family was large, and it seemed they added more members all the time. Tim was grateful for it. Before he showed up in Holloway, he barely had any family at all.

“There. That looks perfect. We need to get going, babe. Jon’s supposed to meet us at the courthouse.”

Matt nodded, following Tim out of the bedroom, holding tightly to his hand as Tim hoped he would for the rest of their lives.

An hour later, they were sitting in the family courtroom, waiting for the judge to hear their case. “Your Honor, I submit the affidavits in support of quashing the Motion for Custody submitted by Mona Stanford, the grandmother of the minor. Her own daughter has renounced her parental rights and agreed to give full custody to the boy’s father having determined he’s better fit to raise the child.

“Exhibit Two is an affidavit submitted by Colonel Robert Stanford, the minor’s grandfather who was married to Mrs. Stanford, attesting to the fact his former wife is unable to care for the boy based on her documented history of drug and alcohol abuse. Her daughter has also submitted an affidavit in support of Colonel Stanford. It’s a travesty to take up any more of this court’s time on the matter. We ask that sole custody is granted to Matthew Collins, the boy’s father.” Jon took a seat next to Matt.

Tim turned to glance at the horrible woman, Mona Stanford, as she rose from her chair with her right fist in the air and an ugly scowl on her face in protest of Jon’s statements. Mona hadonly contacted Bertie to try to hop on the gravy train of the money she thought Matthew had stashed away. She didn’t want anything to do with Ryan, as Bertie mentioned in her affidavit.

Mona had been dating someone she thought had money, who thought she had money as well. In the end, they were both disappointed to learn each of them was as poor as a church mouse. It was truly when two grifters met, and now, Bertie had shut her out of the windfall she’d received.

Matt’s ex was settled into a new life with some ex-convict from Canada. She didn’t really want to raise Ryan, as she’d admitted to Ronni during their meeting in Toronto.

Of course, if there was money, she’d sell out her own mother—which she’d done without a second thought. It didn’t matter to Tim. They had a good life waiting for them and a lot of money to pursue the things they’d enjoy. If they didn’t have Ryan, there wouldn’t be enough money in the world to make either of them happy.

An angry squeal caught everyone’s attention. “They’re fags! They have no business raising that boy!”

Mona Stanford’s screams could likely be heard through the courthouse. The judge banged the gavel and looked at those in attendance until the room quieted.

He glanced through the papers in front of him for a few minutes before he leaned forward to speak into the microphone in front of him. “Based on the evidence and the affidavits submitted in support of Mr. Collins’ testimony, I have no choice but to find in favor of the Respondent. Sole custody is granted to the father, Matthew Ryan Collins, and a Permanent Restraining Order is hereby granted against Mona Stanford, who is so ordered to cease and desist with contacting the minor child in any way.

---