Page 121 of Samuel

“This is where we had our first date!”

“It is. My favorite spot on the ranch. Come on.”

Sam helped her down from the truck and slipped his hand around hers and he led her to the final surprise.

There, in the middle of the field, was a new stone pit for campfires and a place for them to sit as a family.

“A bench? Did you make this?” Evie asked as she ran her hand over the wood.

He nodded. “All the guys helped me finish it the night of the baby shower. I know how much you loved having campfires with your parents. I’m going to plant a bigbluebonnet field right here, so we can come out here with Jellybean and make our own memories as a family.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Want to take it for a spin?” He took her hand and twirled her under his arm, taking care to place his hand on the small of her back as she swayed and laughed.

“Of course!”

Sam helped lower her down to the seat, smiling as she placed her free hand over her belly. “I can’t wait to sit out here with the baby. She’s going to love it.”

Evie’s eyes wandered the length of the seat, and then up to the wood that made the backrest. He knew the instant she saw the last part of his surprise. A brass dedication plate sat in the middle of the wood.

For Bennett, who only knew his mother’s perfect and pure love while on this Earth.

“Sam,” she whispered as he watched tears wash over her lashes. He hauled her over into his chest, wrapping her up in a hug.

“I wish we got to know him. I wish you came here with your son in your arms and Jellybean in your belly. I wish I got to be his dad like I’m going to be hers.” His hand slid over Evie’s and he smiled as he caught a kick from his sassy girl. “You and Jellybean are in my hat, but Bennett needed a place to be, too. And I can’t think of a better place than right where my family started all those years ago. Where our family officially starts today. He’ll always be with us. And we can come out here as a family to sit and be with him.”

“I love you so much. Thank you for loving us exactly how we need to be loved, Sam.”

He laced his fingers with hers. “I want to go down to the courthouse tomorrow and get everything sorted.”

“Okay.”

“And then we can get married right away.”

Her hand squeezed his. “We can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Your sister’s wedding is in two weeks and I don’t want to take any of that spotlight away from her. It’s already stressful enough knowing I could go into labor that day and have to give birth on my own.”

His mind went blank. “Evie. I would never, ever leave you to have Jellybean on your own. Yes, it’s my sister’s wedding day, but it’s the birth of our daughter. I’m not missing that foranything.”

“But you’re supposed to walk her down the aisle. And fill in for her father-daughter dance at the reception. I can’t ask you, or her, to give that up for me.”

“Good thing you’re not asking. And besides, as soon as Abby knew things were serious between you and me, she told me she asked John’s dad if he’d be willing to step into that role if I needed to be with you.”

“She did?”

Sam nodded. “Abby would never forgive me if I sent you off to have the baby on your own. And it would never be something I’d be willing to miss. You and our daughter will always be the priority.”

Thirty-Four

Sam’s hand moved on the bed, waiting to land on soft, warm curves. But all he was met with was cold fabric. Where the hell was his fiance?

His feet hit the floor, pulling on his shorts as he made his way towards the living room, where he could just make out sounds coming from the TV.

“What are you doing up?” Sam placed a kiss on Evie’s head before making his way to the kitchen. She was rolling her hips on her birthing ball, dressed in her pajama pants and a bra. They’d stayed up later than he planned, celebrating their engagement, so he honestly had been expecting to be in bed until the sun was up. “I didn’t figure my beautifulfiancewould leave my arms tonight.”

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