Page 67 of Pigeon

“Me too.”

Pigeon’s eyes flare with heat again, and while today was magical, our wedding night outshines everything I ever imagined.

Chapter 15

Pigeon

Weeks have passed since the wedding, and I haven’t quit smiling yet. That’s not strictly true because we’re no closer to finding Chubs than before, and the club is showing the strain. Other than that, though, life is good, and Ivy and I are happy.

Ted hasn’t been seen since the day before our wedding, and Ivy relaxes more each day. We’re finding our way as a married couple, compromising and working together when things arise. I’ve found that Ivy will speak her mind, but she’s not one that likes to argue. She says what she thinks is important for me to hear but never demands her way. She listens to my viewpoints with an open mind and gives in when it’s something important to me. Somehow, we’ve developed a perfect give and take relationship. We’ve built trust with each other through respect and knowing the other only wants what’s best for us.

Bailey did a deep dive into the ranch books and found what we knew she would. Ted had been skimming tens of thousands each year. It didn’t take Rex long to locate where Ted had been stashing the money and left Ted with a zero balance of the stolen money. If he wants his money back, he’ll need to admit how most of it found its way to his account in the first place. Ted was left with the inheritance he was given but not one cent beyond that.

The money that had been taken back has been tucked away for Ivy’s future plans for the ranch. We’ll need money to build the large indoor riding arena she requires and the addition she wants to add onto the bunkhouse. The only thing I pushed for and won was a new truck for Ivy. She’s worked the ranch for several years without earning a dime from it, and I insisted she spend some on a reliable truck. I’ve never been comfortable with her making the long commute in her old truck, and now I worry less.

After our wedding, I drove Ivy to the rescue then explained that Thor was her other wedding gift from me. Ivy was so excited that she was speechless. Bringing Thor home with us, he’s been adapting well. The heelers are patient with him and don’t mind when Thor tries to help herd the cattle. He’s horrible but enthusiastic at it, and the heelers simply clean up his mistakes when he bounds off to explore some new scent.

Thor’s become Ivy’s constant companion and seldom far from her side unless she’s working. When Ivy’s working, Thor hangs with me instead. At night, he has a bed in the corner of our bedroom. He sits outside the bathroom door whining while waiting for Ivy but moves quickly when Tabitha claims that space. He’s becoming confident, and his social skills have improved dramatically.

Ivy’s at work, so I’m hanging out at the clubhouse, killing time until Church. Sitting at the bar, I’m half-listening to Mac rant about Prissy. Mac has got a huge crush on Axel’s little southern peach, and she couldn’t care less. She’s obsessed with Axel and no one else. Birds hate to be ignored, and Prissy has perfected the ability to get under Mac’s feathers by doing just that.

“Gots to go,” Mac says before making his way to the kitchen.

Axel said Mac’s been sitting outside his front window, giving Prissy a wing-wave whenever she’s on her perch in front of it. I’m guessing that’s where the little feathered Romeo is headed now.

“How you feeling, Ava?” I ask as she walks out of the kitchen a moment later. “Shouldn’t you be home, taking it easy?”

Ava and Taja are both nearing their due dates, and both women have a distinctive waddle to their walk now. Not that any of us, Axel included, is dumb enough to use those words out loud. Both have taken maternity leave, and everyone is on pins and needles waiting for their big days.

“I’m pregnant, Pigeon, not on my deathbed. Just doing a quick inventory of what the clubhouse needs before I head home.”

I nod, knowing better than to say more about it. Ava’s been short-tempered since Chubs came up missing, and I work hard at not lighting her fuse. The way I see it is that with all Ava does for her husband’s club, she should be allowed to be angry and scared over Chubs being gone. He’s her best friend, and her temper is coming from a place of fear.

When my phone rings, and I pull it out to answer, Ava walks back into the kitchen. Listening to Toes explain that there’s a woman at the gate to see Ava, I put him on hold. Walking to the kitchen door, I push it open to see Ava leaning against a worktable, slowly working the kinks from her back.

“Toes said there’s a woman at the gate for you.”

“Yeah, she called the bakery about having us cater an event for her. They told her I’m off for a few months, but she insisted, so I told them to send her here,” Ava answers.

Walking back to the bar, I tell Toes to send the lady to the clubhouse. When the door opens, I watch a lady walk inside, looking around before spotting me. She’s probably in her early 50s but looks older. Harsher than she should at that age like maybe her life hasn’t been easy. She was pretty once but not so much now.

“I’m looking for Ava, the owner of Sweet Angel Treats,” she says while eyeing Mac skeptically.

“I’m Ava. Why don’t we take a seat, and you can give me an idea of what you want for your event,” Ava offers while taking a seat at a table.

The woman stands and stares at Ava long enough that I tune in to her mannerisms. She looks unsure, nervous, and that makes no sense for someone wanting to hire a caterer.

“You’re pregnant,” the woman states before asking, “Is this your first child?”

“Yes, I am, and, no, it’s not. What can I help you with, Ms. Foster?” Ava asks.

The woman walks to the table and hesitantly takes a seat. Still staring at Ava, she asks, “How many children do you have?”

“This will be my fourth. I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be rude, but I have things to do. Can we get down to what you’re here for?” Ava answers with a small bite to her tone.

“Yes, sorry, of course,” Ms. Foster says but then says no more.

Ava waits a full minute before I notice she’s trying to hold her temper in check.

---