Page 78 of Rough Cowboy
“What is all this?”
“My promise not to miss a single holiday with you and our daughter.” Warmth fills his voice. “A promise to be here today, tomorrow, and every day after.”
A sudden rush of love for him consumes me.
“I shouldn’t have left.”
I cross my arms. “You shouldn’t have.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I, Silver. I’m so sorry for everything. My fear put all of us in a bad situation, and now Sammy’s on hiatus, and you’re-”
“Back. I’m back for good. I’m back for Thanksgiving and Christmas and will be here the day she’s born and every other day of my life. If you’ll have me.”
I throw myself into his embrace. He holds me firmly yet gently, and I melt into him. A sense of safety and comfort that I’ve never experienced before assure me Silver would do anything for his family. And we’re his family now. The ones he will always be there to protect and love unconditionally.
“I can’t believe you did all this.”
“I called in a favor, and a certain couple of sisters started a call tree.”
I laugh. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I told them my idea, and half the town showed up to decorate.”
“Grumpy Wayne and Rita?”
He nods. “I think Rita is passed out in one of the bedrooms.”
I laugh, and tears fill up my eyes. “Damn hormones,” I grumble, wiping them away.
He cups my face. “I love you, Elsie Thorpe.”
“I love you, Silver Wilde.” I chuckle. “We sound like my sister’s sappy hero and heroine.”
He kisses the top of my nose. “In that case, are there any banglefucking locations worth testing?”
“There’s a few.”
“Just until we get our own ranch house. There’s a property for sale beside Sammy’s ranch.”
“Have you talked to him?”
He shakes his head. “He won’t call me back.”
“He won’t call me back either.”
“He’s hurting.” Silver’s thumb gently caresses my cheek.
“I know, but I wish he’d talk to one of us. Any of us.”
“He will when he’s ready. And we will be here waiting for him when that time comes.”
I run my hand over my middle. “I hope he hurries before his niece is born. I know he’s hurting, but he’d never want to miss your daughter’s birth.
“He’d never want to miss your birth.” His lips graze mine.
Jolts of electricity surge through my body, putting Sammy on the back burner for the first time in months.
