Page 116 of Freeing the Wild
EPILOGUE
Haden
Seven years later
The same sound I’ve been waking up to for the last nine weeks pulls me from the deepest sleep a man can get in just three and a half short hours.I rub my eyes with the heel of my palm and focus.Cassie’s voice croons sweet songs from the corner of our room as she bounces back and forth in the overstuffed rocking chair, nursing our nine-week-old baby boy, Beau.
I roll over and push the blonde curls out of our daughter, Quinn’s, chubby little face.Her hair settles on her mama’s pillow; she’s in deep slumber.Seems our bed has become the community bed these days.Not that I mind one bit.I bask in the quiet sweet moments of the morning, feeling the summer breeze hit my back through the open window and hearing the birds having a party in the cypress trees outside.
This is the calmest this day will be.Because today is mine and Cassie’s wedding day.
We’ve been meaning to get married for years.But, shortly after Cassie won her first Grammy for writing Song of the Year five years ago, we found out she was pregnant with Quinn.And then we expanded Penny Lane and built a brand-new barn—thethird for rescues on the property.Not long after that, Cassie began working with Luke Bridges on his new album and that year flew by.After finding out last year that we were having Beau, Cassie swore the moment she could fit into a dress we were doing the damn thing.That day is today.And I cannot fucking wait to finally make this woman my wife.
Propping myself up on an elbow, I watch my beautiful wife-to-be as she brushes the tips of her fingers over Beau’s blond, fuzz-covered forehead while he suckles away.I wish I could freeze this moment in time.Cassie has never been more beautiful, or more in her element, than she is as a mother.And I’m the lucky bastard who gets to witness it every damn day.
“You’ve made it all these weeks.You can wait another few hours, Cowboy,” she whispers, not looking up.I grin and stand carefully so I don’t wake Quinn just yet.In no time she’ll be bursting with four-year-old energy.I let my mind run wild with thoughts of making love to Cassie again after nine weeks of waiting since Beau was born.We won’t be taking a honeymoon—who has time for that with two kids under five?But if the sleep gods allow it, maybe the kids will be so tuckered out after a busy day that we’ll get a few hours to ourselves tonight.
Pulling a t-shirt over my head and running a hand through my hair, I glance out the window.The sun is already shining over the woods beyond our house.I can hear the cicadas singing their song, and the creek is shimmering in the distance.I can’t see it from our bedroom, but I know the big white tent is ready in the center of the groomed acre of land behind our house.In just five hours, this place will be bustling with our family and friends.
I smile as I make a mental list of all the things that still have to be done today.Our farm doesn’t stop just because we’re getting married, and we have twelve horses being rehabilitated hereright now.Plus eight of our own because my girl gets attached and wants to keep them all.After Cassie’s appointments with Dr.Payler slowed down, her focus on the horses increased, and she swears, just like me, that they ground her and act as a sort of therapy all of their own.
I turn and cross the space between me and Cassie.I bend down and tilt her chin toward me, kissing her sweet lips.There hasn’t been a moment since the day I met her that I haven’t felt completely enamoured by her.In fact, that feeling has only grown with every milestone we reach.
“I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, baby.But goddamn if I don’t love you more than that sun out there loves to rise.”
“Poetic,” she muses.“I love you too.You ready to do this?”
“I was ready seven years ago, darlin’.”
“I’m hungrwy.”Quinn sits up, her hair all askew as she rubs her eyes.Cassie and I look to her then back to each other.
I kiss her forehead.“Duty calls.Let’s go, Stinker.You want some wedding day waffles?”
Quinn smiles her big smile.“I get to wear my dress today!”she squeals.
I laugh as I scoop her warm little body into my arms.Her dress has the same floral appliqué as Cassie’s and I can’t wait to see my girls all dressed up.
“You do,” Cassie calls from her chair.“And let Daddy get a brush through that hair so we can make it look pretty, okay?”
Quinn nods.“Okay, Mama.”
“Can I share your waffles?”I ask my baby daughter, tickling her belly.
“Get your own waffles, Daddy!”Quinn giggles.
I kiss her cheek and snuggle her close.“All right.Let’s get this show on the road.”
Cassie
“Is everyone seated?What’s going on out there?Give me the lowdown,” I ask Ivy as I straighten my baby’s breath crown.
“What’s going on out there isn’t your worry today!”Ginger scolds me from my left.All the girls are here with me in their bridesmaids dresses.CeCe’s and Ivy’s are maternity dresses because they’re both pregnant again.Ivy turns and faces me from the opening of my dressing tent, where she’s been spying on the crowd.She looks so pretty in her pale sage dress; it’s soft and flowy with spaghetti straps and falls just above her knees.Her hair is done in a half-up, half-down style—like the rest of us—and her makeup is simple.If there was one thing I wanted today, it was a simple country wedding.We’ve decorated the space with wine barrels adorned with flowers and candles and rustic wooden chairs that line the outdoor aisle leading to one of our large oak trees.Draped over the tree is a massive sheer canopy that forms an altar where we’ll stand with our babies and finally sayI do.
The last seven years with Haden have been a whirlwind, but they’ve also been the happiest of my life.Every day with him is a new adventure, and watching him bloom into his role as a father has been the greatest joy of all.Our life is busy as all hell.Between our animals and writing music, volunteering with the music department at Ginger’s school and momming, I barely have a moment to spare, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.It’s a life filled with love and it’s ours.
“Mama is running around like a chicken with her head cut off,” Ivy laughs now.“Wade, Cole and Nash are chasing the kids, and Haden is greeting everyone.Jo is rocking Beau in his stroller, the birds are chirping and the sun is shining.All is right with the world.”She smiles and comes to my side to grab my hand.“It’s perfect.”
“Perfect, I can handle,” I mutter.
