Page 41 of Hanging Horseshoes

With that, I smile up at the ceiling and drift into sleep.

I wake to a noise right outside my doors. Waiting to hear what it could be I’m not surprised by the voices.

‘shh.. just peek in and see if they are still asleep. They’ve been in there forever.” I hear Sunny try not so successfully to whisper.

“Oh, oh, let me in front I’ll take a peak.” Halle chants no longer whispering.

“No! You would take more than an innocent peak.” Izzy shushes her.

“Aint nothing happening in that room that’s innocent.” Halle comments. I chuckle at that one.

“This. This is why we don’t stay at the clubhouse.” Beau grumps from beside me not bothering to open his eyes.

“Oh shit. You think they heard us?” Sunny asks with a pinch of worry in her tone.

“Duh, I’m pretty sure his comment was aimed at us.” Jade says before pounding on the door, “Alright you three, wait Mable’s in there. Sorry sweet angel time to wake up. We have a surprise for you.”

At that Beau smiles before jumping out of bed. Mumbliung, "Thank fuck this is finally happening.”

Before I can ask him though he’s opening the door and sticking his head out.

“Everything came in?” He asks. I hear one of the ladies whisper, “Yeah but we only threw something small together. We’ll do a big thing with cutter when things get calmed down.”

“Perfect,” Beau says, closing the door and turning back to us. “Come on you two. up, up, up. Take it easy Honeybee but hurry hurry.”

I look at Trip and smile along with him at Beaus boyish excitement. As fast as we can as much as my injury will allow we dress. Beau grabs Mable as Trip helps me down the hallway. Beau was worried he would be too hyped up and end up hurting me if he tried to help.

“You gonna tell us why we’re in such a rush…” Trip trails off as we make it into the common area where the room is decorated with a million streamers and balloons are strewn about. There is glitter just thrown in piles around on the tables haphazardly. And in the middle of the room is the whole crew.

‘surprise!” they yell at once. Well the women do. The men mumble around.

“I promise, this isn't the whole pony and doggy style show…”

“Halle…” The woman warn. As always Halle just rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, y'all are a bunch of party shitters. Anyway, we’re going to through a big shindig and everything later but we wanted you all, as a family, to have this.” Halle finishes.

Swift and Hitter head toward us, Swift carrying two big boxes and Hitter carrying one small one.

“Congratulations and welcome to the family. Both of you.” Swift whispers to us before slapping Beaus back, hugging me and giving Trip a handshake and Hitter follows suite after setting his box next to Swifts on the table beside Beau. I’m just about to ask what the heck is going on when Beau takes a deep breath before opening the first box. I gasp as I see a leather cut, a small female cut. He turns to me and I know I’m already shaking my head yes wanting to squeal but knowing I have to watch how much I move around.

“Honeybee, when I left you all those years ago I thought I was doing the right thing. I felt like I was missing something, that I wasn't good enough, whole enough for you. I never would have imagined what I would find and how much I would come to look up to you. You are one of the strongest women I know for the shit you’ve conquered. You’ve survived. I want my mark on you baby.” He finishes and I’m nearly a blubber mess as I let him slip the cut on my shoulders.

Again he clears his throat and turns to Trip, “You were a bit harder to figure out but no less earth shattering. You’ve been all in since day one not only with our woman, but with me and especially with our baby girl. I had no clue my soul had been shared three ways until you pulled up in your chevy and wranglers. However, there is something you were missing.” He tells Trip before turning and pulling the other box open. Then he pulls out leather champs with The club patch on one side and “Property of Rodeo.” on the other.

“Yeah brother! Way to mark his ass!” Grease shouts making us all laugh. Trip turns his head and clears his throat before moving to Beau.

“Thank you for giving me somewhere to belong. Thank you for giving me this life, our girls, our family, and this home.” He replies before looking down at the chaps and running his hand over the property patch smoothly.

“And lastly but certainly not least. My sweet baby girl. Had I known you made your appearance in this world only nine months after I left I would never had missed a moment baby girl. I will have to live with that but I swear on everything from here on out I won’t miss a moment. I love you my sweet Mable.” Beau says softly placing her cut on her as well.

“Now, you match mommy.” He says bending and kissing her. She lifts her hand to his cheek.

“L-love daddy.”

She turns to Trip, “Love dada.”

Before turning to me and smiling softly, “Love m-mommy.”

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