Page 2 of Pasture Findlay Farms

WILLIAM

Dakota looks up at me,eyes sparkling and reflecting from the strings of lights hanging overhead. She’s stunning as ever and all dressed up for the grand opening of the guest inns at Findlay Farms.

Her family's new business venture will give them the financial security they need, and also pit them directly against my family at Robinson Ranch. We’ve been the only dude ranch in town for far too long. The thought of that pulls a humorless chuckle out of me.Even this party is in direct opposition to my life.

There isn’t a single thing about Dakota and me that makes sense. Growing up a foster kid with an intense stutter wasn’t an easy road and meeting Dakota feels like a reward at the end of a long race. I’ve found a place at Robinson Ranch, but they aren’t a family operation like Findlay’s run. It’s hard work and it’s every man for himself. She looks up at me, with a smile and somehow it fixes all that.

She cares about things that I’ve never thought about like books and art. She bakes me bread and makes me homemade lunches. She knitted a pillow for me with a picture of a cow on it and even gave me a houseplant for my apartment because she said living things turn a house into a home.

She’s the kind of sweet, smart, incredibly sexy woman who could have anyone she wants. Yet somehow here I am, standing across from the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever known head over heels in love with her.

We don’t say a word, but I nod and the way the corner of her mouth pulls up tells me she understands that it’s time for us to get out of here. I wish I could take her by the hand and lead her out of this party, but that’s impossible. Holding her close here at Findlay Farms in front of her brothers would be a death sentence for me. The bad blood between our families runs generations deep and they aren’t going to overlook that when it comes to their youngest sister.

I slip out of the crowded white tent and the commotion of the party heading toward the barn. Dakota will be right behind me and my heart rate ticks up knowing I’m going to have her all to myself in just a few minutes.

Bark. Bark.

Normally Dakota and I don’t have to worry about these interruptions because we’ve taken to meeting out in the pasture behind her family’s farm. We’ve spent hours out there learning every part of each other.

Bark.

I turn to see Hagrid following me and I shoo the clumsy, oversized dog away. “Get out of her bud, you’re going to blow our cover.”

As I whip around the corner, nearing the barn, I hear a commotion outside of the white tent of the party. The sound of raised voices makes the band go silent and stops me in my tracks. I’ve grown out of the stutter, but the inclination to freeze when things get intense has never left me.

For a brief moment, I fear the worst. My brother Waylin is here and we weren’t invited to this party. If it weren’t for a chance to sneak away with Dakota, I never would have agreed to come. Waylin came looking for a fight and I cringe to myself, hoping he hasn’t found one.

When the sounds quiet, I press forward. Dakota and I take a chance of being found out every time I step foot into that pasture. But it’s always worth it. She’s a calming force in my chaotic life.

I lean on the door to the barn and it creaks open.

A gust of warm, night air drifts inside and I follow. It’s only a minute before Dakota slips in behind me. As soon as she does, I pull her into my arms. Dakota looks up at me, her eyes hungry. I cup her face in my hands and watch as her eyelids flutter shut. She rocks up onto her tiptoes and her lips crash into mine.

With Dakota in my arms, I drown in the warmth I’ve been missing in my life. She’s my soft place to land and the family I’ve never had. She opens her mouth with a soft sigh and I slide my tongue inside. I explore her mouth, intertwining our tongues and tasting the sweet whiskey on her kiss. Heat rolls through my body like a wave and I savor every minute as my heart rate ticks up, ignited by her touch.

Boom.

The sound of a crash outside of the barn sends Dakota leaping out of my arms.

I reach a hand out to steady her and lower my voice. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s just us. They aren’t going to come in here.”

Her eyes go glassy. “William, are we going to keep acting like this isn’t happening? Because it is.” She drops a hand low to her belly. “Soon we won’t have a choice of whether or not we want to tell my family what’s been happening between us.”

“Of course not, I know it’s happening. The baby is all I think about. I didn’t grow up the way you did and I want to make a generational change so that my kid never knows what it feels like to be without a family.” I run my hand down her back and Dakota folds her arms across her chest. “But now that it isn’t just us, we need to be even more careful with how we tell them about us. They aren’t going to be happy and I think we should give it time.”

She blows out a deep breath. “I need to tell my family so they can help us make a plan for this baby. You aren’t anything like your brother or the rest of the guys at Robinson Ranch. They’ll understand. My brothers will get there, they’ll welcome you.”

The sound of muffled voices outside becomes increasingly louder until they reach a crescendo of shouting. Dakota's gaze flickers towards the barn door, and back to mine. She shakes her head and I see the worry in her eyes.

“I’m pretty sure your brothers are out there welcoming Waylin as we speak. I can’t blame them. We came here and crashed your party uninvited. Robinson Ranch bought Eggnog Ranch a few weeks ago like it was nothing. Now they’ve set their sights on y’all and your brothers aren’t stupid. They won’t like the idea of me hanging around.” I hold my arms open to her and Dakota falls into them. I wrap her in a tight hug. “It isn’t our mess to clean up and you don’t need that kind of stress right now. Not when you’re carrying the most important thing in the world.” I plant a kiss on her belly. “Besides, when we tell them, I’d like to share the news of an engagement too.”

She closes her eyes for a long moment, and when she opens them again I can see her resolve. Dakota opens her mouth, her voice is soft now. “We can’t just get married because I’m pregnant. It won’t change anything. I think we need to wait until we talk to our families and have their blessing. You said it yourself, things at Robinson Ranch are changing with the new owner taking over. It’s not unreasonable to imagine a future where Findlay Farms and Robinson Ranch can work in collaboration over competition. That’s the world I want to bring this baby into.”

I take her by the shoulders and stare into her eyes. “Listen, we will tell them and I will love you and this baby more than anything in the world regardless of what anyone thinks. But for today, can we keep this perfect, uncomplicated, little baby between us? Just for now.”

“Okay, I get it. Just for now.” She smiles up at me and her eyes widen slightly as she takes me in. “I hate the thought of disappointing them. Maybe we should run away together. I never imagined leaving Findlay Farms but it is a little stifling here with three siblings looking over my shoulder no matter what I do. Then it’d be just us and baby and we could make our own way…” She trails off.

“Shh… You’re talking crazy. We’ll get there with your family. No one needs to run, but right now it isn’t about them.” I take her chin in my hand, tilting her head back and looking into her eyes. “Right now, it’s about making sure you know how much I love you.”

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