Page 149 of Samuel

“We’ll never know, because he never came to ask. That’s on him, Honey. You only take on the burdens assigned to you. Don’t be reaching out for everyone else’s.” His mom patted Evie’s arms before reaching up to wipe away her tears. “Feeling better?”

“A little.”

“Good. You ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. Don’t hold it in.”

“Sounds like something a very wise woman once told me,” Sam said as he rocked Sammy Jo side to side.

“Is he talking about you?” Sylvie asked. Evie nodded, a small, yet sure, smile spreading across her face. “Of course he is. You know, I couldn’t ask for a better woman to walkthrough this life with my son. Or to take under my wing as another daughter.”

“I love you, Sylvie.”

“I love you too, Evie.”

Three months later…

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Sebastian slapped his arm on Sam’s shoulder. He’d officially accepted the role of best man with the biggest shit eating grin on his face. Sam didn’t have the heart to tell him it was only because Evie had already asked Daisy to be her matron-of-honor that he asked in the first place.

“More than ready.” Sam looked down at his daughter who was sleeping in his arms. “What do you say, Sammy? Should we finally make Mama my wife?”

Her perfect little lips turned up into a smile as the music started. Sam lifted his eyes, just in time to see Evie turn the corner of the farm house, his mother right beside her. She had been insistent on getting married on the ranch, with just their small group of friends and family in attendance.

Tears pricked at his eyes, his heart thundering in his chest as he watched his beautiful bride making her way down to him. Her dress was all white lace, and it was tight against every one of her perfect curves. He smiled, looking down at the cowboy boots that peaked out from under her dress each time she took a step. She’d told him a few days before the ceremony that she was going to wear the ones he bought for her with the bluebonnets embroidered on the side. Her eyes lit up as she laughed, saying it counted as her ‘something blue’.

“Fancy seeing you here, baby girl.” Evie bent over and kissed Sammy’s forehead. “Hey there, Cowboy. I hope she was good for you.”

“She’s the best baby in the whole world.”

“Wrapped right around her daddy’s finger.”

“She sure is. Just as she should be.” He took a minute to let his eyes glide over her body. “You look amazing.”

She held out her bouquet and he laughed, his eyes landing on the silk bluebells she had placed amongst the other flowers. It was incredible just how much his life had changed in one year. November eighth would always be the day he died. It would always be the day his life began again, and the day Sammy Jo started growing in Evie’s belly. And now, November eighth would always be the day that he married the woman of his dreams.

“What do you say, Bluebell? Are you finally ready to become a Cooper?”

“Yeah, Cowboy. I’m ready.”

Five Years Later

“Evie?” Sam’s emotion-filled voice seemed to pull his wife out of her daydream. She stood in front of their mirror, hand splayed over her belly, and he knew she was saying a prayer that the little miracle nestled in her womb would stick this time. Lord knows, he’d been down on his knees every day doing the same thing.

“Did you get Sammy Jo dressed? I know we’re supposed to leave in a few minutes and I’m not even close to being ready. I’m sorry.”

He shook his head, taking two steps closer to her, wrapping his arms across her waist. He’d never stopped pressing his hands to her belly during her pregnancies. Not when they got pregnant right after their first anniversary, not when they suffered three more losses after that one. Bennett’s bench was now not only his. It belonged to Callum, Aurora, Nathan, and Lillianna, too. They hadn’t known whether those babies were boys or girls, but each name just fit in their hearts for the pregnancies.

“I got her dressed. She’s out front with Mom. I also sent a text to Abby asking if Katy wanted to come over and play withher before we all go.” He sighed, his hand dipping down to the slight swell of her belly as he kissed the soft curve of her neck. “Take a breath. We can be a few minutes late. Seb and Emma will understand. I know it’s been hard, with pregnancy around us every which way we turn.”

She shook her head. “I love that our friends are building their families. I just hope this time, it’s our turn, too.”

Evie glanced over at the nightstand. He noticed she’d taken out her medication from the fridge, drawing the solution that would hopefully keep their current pregnancy thriving, up into the needle that Sam would have to stick into her bottom. It was obvious after the first time that she tried to jab herself— and ended up hunched over the toilet throwing up her lunch— that Sam would have to step up and poke her. It was only twice a day, but he hated seeing her in pain.

“This baby is going to make it, Evie.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I guess I can’t. But I just have a feeling. Like Sammy, she’s a fighter too.”

“She?”

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