Instead of answering her, he walked over to Londyn. "Do you think you could come help me with something?"
She nodded. "I love helping you."
He picked her up. "Well, you know how it's your birthday soon?"
She shook her head. "Not for a few weeks."
"It's close enough."
Valerie crossed her arms. "For what?"
"You'll see. Come on." He held his hand out to Mitchell. "Sometimes you have to do things when the opportunity presents itself even if the date isn't quite right."
Valerie followed him out the door with Sarah right behind them. "What opportunity?"
He just grinned that sexy grin at her but wouldn't answer. They all walked behind Vinia's cabin and toward the barn.
Valerie stopped dead in her tracks just as Londyn squealed. A huge truck sat next to the barn, and in the field next to the truck stood an elephant. "What the hell did you do?"
"It's a... it's a...." Londyn was so excited she couldn't speak.
"Elephant," Mitchell finished for her.
"Now don't run because you don't want to scare Ernie. Just walk up slowly to him."
"Ernie? Like my Elfred."
"Yep, his name is Ernie."
Colton stood with his hand on the lead for the elephant as the kids approached. Valerie turned to Tyson. "I cannot believe you got her an elephant."
He kissed her quiet. "I didn't actually get her an elephant. I just detoured the one going through town on its way to Denver."
"You got her an elephant. Where do you go from here? How do you top this?"
He cupped her face and kissed her again. "Anything for you and the kids."
"Oh, I guarantee you just cemented yourself as her all-time favorite." She couldn't help but laugh.
Tyson reached into his pocket. "And while we're on the subject of making you and the kids happy..." He dropped to one knee and held up a ring. "Valerie Blanchette, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Again, but actually do it this time."
A tear rolled down her cheek. She shook her head. "Yes, on both counts."
He slid the ring on her finger and then threw his head back and whooped. Vinia and Sarah hugged each other, while the brothers gave their thumbs up from the elephant.
Londyn was examining every inch of the elephant. "Mommy, look at his ears. And his long trunk. And his eyes are so happy to see me and Mitchell. But mostly me."
"Do you want to ride him?" Colton asked her.
"Can we?"
"Not far, but you can take a little jaunt around the yard."
Valerie watched as the men helped her children, now hers and Ty's children, carefully settle on the little saddle on the elephant's back. Londyn's face as she realized a dream made Valerie's heart swell, and she owed it all to Tyson.
Vinia walked over and laid an arm across her shoulders. "You make my son so happy."
"I'm not going to screw it up this time."
