Page 145 of Giddy Up, Daddy

Bo clears his throat then continues, “You might not be sure, but we are. We have been from day one. So just know that we will fight for you, that we will not give up on you, that we will wait for you. We want you. We don’t care about the past, or the money, or any of it. We only care about you.”

“We love you, Elle, and we can’t wait to spend every day falling deeper in love with you.”

She’s crying and nodding, and Bo digs in his pocket, pulling out a ring. A stunning princess-cut solitaire on a white-gold band. I didn’t know he had it, but I’m not really surprised. I haven’t said a thing since we got down on our knees, so I take it from his hand and hold it out. “Eleanor Cordelia Winston, will you please trust us? Trust yourself to be the amazing woman, wife and mother we know you will be? Please babygirl, say yes. Marry us, and make our family complete?”

I hold my breath because this whole day went off the rails from the plan we talked about, and I hate it when that happens. And now I’m down on one knee proposing to the woman who not twenty minutes ago was about to walk away again. The anxiety is eating me alive as I wait for her answer.

Finally, with her eyes shining with tears, Elle blows out a breath and offers a shaky nod. She swallows hard, then finds her voice. “You already love me in ways I’ve never been loved before and I can’t wait to see what kind of life we can build together. I can’t wait to be a part of a real family. Our family. My Daddies and me and Amelia.” She pulls one hand away and wipes at the tears falling down her face. “She’s going to be the luckiest little girl. I’m going to give her everything I never had. She will always know she’s loved, and supported unconditionally, and I’m going to make sure she knows she can be anything she sets her mind to.”

“Is that… a yes?” Bo asks hopefully.

It sure sounded like one, but the words were never actually said.

Elle tosses her head back and laughs, and spreads out her hand in front of Bo. “Yes, yes, that’s a yes!” she cries.

Bo pushes the ring on her waiting finger, and we both get to our feet to gather her in our arms. We embrace, laughing and crying and kissing and then finally the three of us link arms. “I’ve been wanting to say this to you since the moment I meant you, Elle,” Bo tells her. “Let’s go home.”

And we do.

Epilogue

Eight Months Later

Elle

I walk in the door after work, and can immediately tell something is up. I’m not surprised. It’s my birthday, and even though I told my Daddies not to do anything, I knew they wouldn’t be able to resist.

I shrug out of my jacket and hang it on the rack, kick my shoes off and take a moment to sag against the door. I actually like work, far more than just collecting a paycheck, and it turns out I’m pretty good at ad marketing. Sales are up and so is readership. I never thought I’d care, but I do. It fulfills me to know I’m contributing to that.

Violet comes down the stairs, Amelia in her arms. Both of them are wearing fancy dresses and wide smiles.

“Mama!” Amelia calls out when she sees me.

“Hi my sweet baby!” I push away from the door, and go to her, arms out. “You’re both awfully dressed up for a nice quiet dinner at home,” I say to Vi, shooting her a knowing glance.

She just shrugs. “You know those men. They love to dote on you. And thirty is a big deal.”

For a moment my breath hitches. Thirty. I’m not anywhere that I thought I’d be, but where I am is so much better. I takeAmelia, cuddle her against my chest and ask, “Where are those men of mine?”

“We’re here,” Bo and Nate call out as they enter. Both of them are dressed to the nines and Bo takes Amelia before I can protest.

“We agreed to not make a big deal,” I chide, but I can’t deny I’m a little excited. A night with my little family is always welcome.

“No,” Nate counters, “yousaid not to make a big deal. We did not agree to that.”

“Fine,” I huff. “What’s the plan? Where are we going?” I ask, even though the answer is fairly obvious. There’s only one really nice restaurant in town.

“Pacifica. Our reservation is in forty minutes. Go get ready.” Bo leans forward and brushes a kiss on my cheek and Nate does the same on the opposite side.

“Happy birthday,” they both say.

When I enter our bedroom, there’s a dress box on the bed, and I gasp when I recognize the logo from a high-end New York designer. I’m doing well as a ranch wife, and I’m so happy I don’t even miss the things in life I thought I enjoyed, like designer purses, expensive lunch dates, and endless shopping sprees. But occasionally my Daddies spoil me with the finer things in life, and I don’t hate it when they do.

Thirty-five minutes later, I enter the living room, wearing the new dress, an older bag and shoes, and some of my favorite diamond jewelry. I might be overdressed for Blue River, but I don’t care.

My Daddies don’t care either, and they’re a bit overdressed themselves. I like that they can match my extra-ness at times. They never make fun of me or make me feel like a diva for liking nice things.

“You’re stunning,” Nate says.

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