Cowboy Up (Lucas Brothers)

“Well, I think heaven would be closer if we were home and in bed,” he croons in my ear, making me laugh.

“Whoa.” The word slips out, full of wonder. My hand is on my stomach, and I look down in awe.

“What is it?” he asks. “Is something wrong, Doe?” Blue asks, immediately on alert—his face filled with worry.

“Our peanut just kicked me,” I answer, taking his hand and putting it under mine. We wait silently for a few minutes until I feel the kick again.

“That’s our baby,” he says, his eyes overly bright. I smile at the man who is almost in tears because our child kicked against his hand. It’s only been a month, but there’s not been a day where I’ve regretted coming to him and asking for another chance. In fact, with each day that passes, I’m more and more sure.

“Yeah, it is,” I answer. Blue moves, bending down to kiss my belly. “Daddy’s waiting for you, peanut. I can’t wait to see you.”

I smile at him, my fingers combing his hair. “I love you, Blue.”

He looks at me and there’s so much emotion on his face that my heart flutters in response.

“I love you, Doe. I always have and I always will.”

That’s a promise I know I can always count on. I feel it with everything in me.

“I feel the same way, Moonie.”

“I’ve warned you if you keep using that name, I’m going to spank your ass, woman,” he replies good-naturedly.

“I’m counting on it, cowboy. I’m counting on it.”

He’s just about to kiss me when his mom’s voice rings out.

“Strike!” Ida Sue yells.

“Woman, that ball almost hit me. There’s no way I could have swung at it,” Jansen argues as Blue and I look at them.

“Okay, so maybe this isn’t heaven,” I mutter under my breath, making Blue laugh.

“Are you calling me a liar, Jan?”

“I’m just saying maybe you should wear your glasses.”

“I don’t need glasses! I can see just fine. In fact, I can see that you’re going to be sleeping in Maggie’s old room tonight.”

“We both know if I do that, you’ll come looking for me,” Jan returns.

“Bryant, we are never staying here overnight again—holidays, bad weather or whatever. If we have to walk home, we do it. I’m not sleeping anywhere Mom and Dad have been mattress dancing.”

“Then you might as well never come in the house, Magnolia, because that’s pretty much everywhere,” Ida Sue responds helpfully.

“What’s mattress dancing, Mommy?” Rain asks Petal.

“That’s when we bounce on the bed and have pillow fights,” Maggie supplies, looking at Petal with regret.

“Oh!” Rain says. “That’s fun!”

“Yeah, it is,” Luka says, making everyone laugh.

“Are we playing ball or what here? That was a strike, Jan. One more and you’re out.”

“It’s not a strike. There wasn’t room to swing.”

“Maybe you should learn how to use your bat better, sweetheart,” Ida Sue returns sarcastically, hands on her hips.

“Maybe you should pay more attention to the game instead of making sure that damn cow’s mask is straight! For that matter, he shouldn’t be here. He should be in the barn learning how to be a bull instead of a pet!”

Ida Sue gasps. “Daddy didn’t mean it. You aren’t a pet. You’re part of the family,” she croons, putting her hands over Hamburger’s ears.“Jansen you apologize to our boy right now!”

“I’m not a daddy to that damn thing, Lovey!” he says, stomping his foot on the ground.

“That’s it! You’re out of here!”

“You can’t throw me out of the game!” he says.

“I can do whatever I want. I’m the umpire!” she rages back.

“Bullshit!”

“What are you doing?” Ida Sue screeches.

“I’m taking you in the house and showing I know exactly how to use my bat, old woman.”

“You call me old one more time and I’ll chop off your bat and use it for firewood!”

“You keep sassing me and I’ll remind you of all the other places you like my bat. At least then you can’t talk,” Jansen says, walking past us with Ida Sue over his shoulder. Ida Sue looks at me grinning, giving me a wink.

“Why can’t Grandpa show Nee-Nee his bat out here, Daddy?” Deon—Faith and Titan’s little boy asks.

“We’ll tell you when you’re older,” Faith says.

“A hell of a lot older,” Titan growls.

“Blue?” I murmur, as he helps me to lie down in the swing, his hand on my stomach, my head in his lap.

He looks down at me. “Yeah, baby?”

“Your family really is crazy.”

He smiles. “They are, but Doe, sweetheart, I’m afraid it’s your family, too.”

I grin because he’s right and I’m completely okay with that.

I’m blessed.

Epilogue

BLUE

Epilogue

Blue

* * *

“Are you sure?” Meadow squeaks.

“I’m positive,” the doctor responds.

Meadow looks at me almost in a panic. “This is your fault!”

I laugh. “Doe, baby—”

“I’m having twins!” she cries.

“I heard, sweetheart.”

“This is all you and your Lucas genes.”

“I guess it is,” I admit.