Page 107 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

At the same time, he and his brothers get up and kneel before me. I’m glued to the sofa, unable to move as I quickly realize what’s coming. My heart is already racing, my whole body bracing for the explosion of overwhelming joy as Colton takes out a small, pale grey velvet box and opens it.

“We’ve been itching to do this for a while now,” he says. “But we could never find the right moment. Life here on the ranch has kept us busy. The events that led up to this moment were just as time and energy consuming. But rest assured, Melissa, we’ve given this every thought…”

“Oh, my God,” I gasp, covering my mouth with both hands at the sight of a superb diamond ring. Teardrop-shaped, brilliant cut, and mounted on a delicate crown of pink rubies. “Oh, my… Wow…”

“In the eyes of the law, only one of us will get to be your husband, but the three of us are asking you. With Darla and Sammy as our witnesses, with the heavens shining down on us and the rest of our lives unfolding ahead,” Colton says. I catch the slight tremble of his voice, the emotions surging through him.

“You’re the only woman we want or need,” Ethan adds. “You, Melissa. Our friend, our lover, our partner.”

“Our soulmate, through and through,” Mitch says. “Never did any of us imagine that a day like this would come, but here we are.”

“Marry us, Melissa. Let us make you our wife. In sickness and in health, for better or worse, ’til death do us part,” Colton says. “Marry us and give us the honor of spending every waking day and night making you the happiest woman on this earth.”

“I’ll marry you, all three of you,” I add, bursting into tears.

Colton slips the ring on my finger, then pulls me into a kiss. Ethan’s next, then Mitch, then next thing I know, I’m wrapped in their arms and showered with loving pecks. My lips, my cheeks, my closed, tearful eyes… they kiss me all over, they hug me and hold me tight, while Sammy and Darla hold on to our children and bear witness to one of the most beautiful memories I’ll have to look back on many years from now.

It will always be yes.

Epilogue II

Melissa

“Your glamorous ranching idea is starting to pay off,” I tell Mitch.

It’s been two years since the twins were born. Two years since our lives changed forever and only for the better. To my surprise, the ranch itself joined us on this fantastic voyage. We’re atop our horses, way up on the hill, watching the glamping area from afar. Cosmos neighs delightedly, and Mitch pats him on the neck, while Isabella shudders as I stroke her beautiful white mane.

Below, Colton and Ethan carry our sons on their shoulders, gently introducing them to their horses, Apex and Elias, respectively. Soon, Kyle and Jason will learn how to ride the beautiful mustangs, so it’s good to establish these bonds from an early age. The twins are growing fast, but I am pleased to be able to cherish every single moment, every new discovery and milestone along the way.

“Yeah, we’re getting more and more people coming in for the rancher’s experience,” Mitch muses, smiling as the sun sets in deep shades of pink and red somewhere behind us.

I doubt there’s anything more beautiful than late summers in Nebraska.

Then again, it’ll be winter again soon. We’ll gather around the Christmas tree. Relive the nights that brought us together. A golden wedding band joined my diamond ring in the meantime. I still smile as I remember the wedding. A small affair so we could do it properly, the four of us in the heart of the world itself. It was all we needed.

“Sammy did a fantastic job with the glamping site too,” I say. “It looks fantastic.”

“Darla had a say in it,” Mitch reminds me with a dry chuckle. “Or more than a say in it. Remember the project stage?”

“My God, she wouldn’t let the man sleep without making her amendments to the design,” I laugh. “How could I forget? We were secretly placing bets on how long before they’d file for divorce.”

“But they didn’t.”

“They’re still going strong,” I mumble. “I’m glad, though. They’re quite the pair.”

“Frankly, they deserve each other. He’s the patient one. She’s the blizzard. A match made in heaven.”

We have more staff on the ranch, too. Six ranch hands in total, plus a dozen seasonal workers for spring and fall with their respective harvests. Soon, in maybe a year or two, we’re going to open a winery as well. Colton and Ethan worked hard on those western hills, and the vines have grown tremendously. We’re expecting our first grapes to hang from them in September. Almost there.

But it’s the glamping project that has brought the ranch a surprising new and generous source of revenue. More and more of the city folk have turned to our lands for a reconnection with nature. With each passing year, the ranch yields more potential. With it, the town of Long Pine also grows. We’re getting more tourists in the area, which has opened up new hospitality opportunities. The Cavalier is practically overwhelmed these days.

“There she is,” Colton exclaims from the foot of the hill, pointing up at us.

“Momma!” Kyle calls out.

“Wee!” Jason shouts, waving excitedly from Ethan’s broad shoulders.

“Hey, babies!” I laugh as I wave back at them.

---