Cowboy Baby Daddy

“I've been waiting on this for a while. I'm sure Harlan will wonder what kind of man his precious piece of ass has fallen for. She’ll never be happy with you, Lawson. She needs financial security, just like her mother. Fucking her was one of my biggest challenges. Now that you've beat me bloody, I'll stumble back around to the party and show him exactly who you are.”

I felt arms wrap around me, and I was pulled back before I could hit him again.

“Stop.” I heard Ryan’s voice. I continued to struggle until Emmy appeared in front of me. Her hand reached tentatively toward my face and then laid softly over my cheek.

“I'm okay, it's okay.” She leaned into me.

“Emmy,” I pulled her against my heaving chest and didn't want to let go. “I'm sorry,” I said.

“For what? Protecting me?” She pulled back and looked at me. “I don't know what he was planning, but he grabbed me when I came out of the bathroom. I didn't know he was even in the house.” She shuddered in my arms.

“What is going on out here?” Harlan stepped into view, several other people following him, including John.

“He hit me.” Chris stood in front of us.

“Why would you do that?” Harlan looked over at me with anger in his eyes.

“He tried to hurt me, Granddad. Luke stopped him.” Emmy reached out and touched his arm.

“He what?” Harlan roared.

“She wanted me, and now that her boyfriend is standing here, she is gonna act all innocent. Why don't you tell him about all our other times together,” Chris said. I started to push Emmy away from me and then stopped. I wasn't going to fall into his trap. He wasn't going to get in my head.

“Granddad, I have never—” She started to talk, but he put his hand up and turned his attention to Chris.

“I think it's best if you gather your things and meet Robbie and the office to pick up your belongings there. You are no longer welcome here.” He said directly to Chris, and then he turned on his heel and walked back into the house seemingly unaffected by what had happened. That was that.

“I'm sorry I had no idea that he was like that.”

“Not your fault.” I said against her cheek, hugging her to me.

“I can't believe that I ever thought he was a good guy. I spent so much time with him, and he never even gave me an inkling that he would say things about me like that or try something like that.”

“It isn't the worst that he has said, trust me.” She turned her head and looked over at me. “Really?” Her smile faltered a little, and a flush crept up her face.

“It doesn't matter what he said. What matters is that you and your family know what kind of person he is. I knew no matter what I told you, it wouldn't be so easy to believe me simply because he has two faces. One he showed you, and one he showed me. He was very good and keeping them separated.”

***

Emmy grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her toward the river. We walked out onto the dock, and we sank down onto a bench just as the first firework popped overhead. The boom that followed got everyone's attention. All eyes went skyward.

I pulled her to me, and she settled her body against my arm. We watched as each explosion of color lit up the night. I cradled her next to me and kissed the side of her face.

The constant crack of the fireworks flashed overhead. We sat together, connected in a way I never dreamt possible. For the first time in a very long time, I felt whole. I knew she loved me, and I knew I loved her. We could make this work. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the velvet pouch I’d been carrying with me for over a week. On more than one occasion, I had thought about giving it to her, but it was something I wanted to be special, something I didn’t want her to ever forget.

“Emerson Myers,” I whispered in her ear. “You are the most amazing person I’ve ever known.”

She tilted her head toward me and kissed me sweetly. She had no idea I wasn’t just saying something sweet. I loosened the string on the velvet pouch and slipped the cool metal between the tips of my fingers.

“You know,” I looked into her eyes, “this might not be easy.” She smiled up at me, and I slid from my seat next to her and dropped to one knee in front of her. Her eyes widened, and I continued, “This journey might be tough, but there isn’t anyone else in this world I want to take it with, so I’m asking you to take it with me. I’m asking you to make me officially the happiest man in the universe. I love you, Em. Will you marry me?”

Her hands covered her mouth, tears welled in her eyes, and I held the ring up as an offering that would never be worthy of the woman who I prayed would accept it. Her eyes focused on the ring, then flew back up to meet mine, and she slowly nodded her head before her hands fell to cross over her heart.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, a million times over.” She reached out and cupped my face, then leaned in and kissed me.

I slipped a white gold, two carat oval diamond ring on her finger, the ring my grandfather gave my grandmother after he’d only known her three months. The ring she wore for sixty-seven years of marriage. And it fit her perfectly.

Her smiled spread as far as it could with my hands on her cheeks, but I could see the pure happiness in her eyes.