"You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
"Are you asking me in an official capacity?"
"No."
"Then…" Wyatt draws it out. "No. I don't know anything about it."
Shelby throws up her hands and walks away.
I turn around and slide my hands up his neck. "What did you do?"
"Dan was in bed with the Marks brothers. I can’t confirm it, but I’m positive he was looking the other way in exchange for a cut of the profits. So I made a way for Dan to let off some steam a few towns over, and then I made sure someone got pictures of it."
It doesn't even surprise me. This is what Wyatt does.
"What kind of party was it?" I ask out of curiosity.
"Hookers and cocaine," he says matter of factly.
I try not to show my shock. "Um, well. I guess Shelby was right. Quite the party."
Wyatt lifts my hand and kisses it. I do him one better and kiss him on the mouth. The rest of the night is a blur. I dance with every Hayden man, including Gramps. We laugh. We eat, we drink, we're as merry as can be, which is good because tomorrow I have to get right back to work. Wildflower Ranch won't run itself, and all the campers arrive next week. We are fully booked and fully staffed. I'd spent many nights awake and worried I wouldn't be able to entice a psychologist to the small town of Sierra Grande, and then, like a miracle, it happened. I sat at Marigolds drinking coffee one day and in walked a woman. She came straight to me, smoothed her pressed navy blue skirt, and slid her résumé across the table.
Sara Schultz. Psychologist with a focus on family and behavioral health. I hadn't a clue. I hired her on the spot.
I needed her desperately, as that was my only empty position, and she needed me too. With Mickey completing rehab and in anger management, she needed to support her family.
Wyatt drives me back to the ranch in his truck that's been decorated with tin cans. He pulls over as soon as we’re far enough away from The Orchard and rips them from the truck and tosses them in the bed. The whole way home we hear them rolling around. Travis is going home with Beau and Juliette tonight.
Since we only have this one night alone, I'm planning to make it good. Tenley gave me the most beautiful lingerie at my bridal shower, and I'm wearing it under my dress.
Wyatt appreciates it, but not for long. He devours me the second I step out of my dress.
Afterward, he runs a bath for us, this time with real running water. My heart swells as I watch him testing the water temperature. He gets in first, and I sink in after him, settling between his legs. He rubs soap in his palms and washes my arms and my breasts, kneading my shoulders and my upper back. "You're perfect, Jo. I love you."
I lean back into him, relishing the feel of his warm chest on the back of my neck. When I was younger, I didn't expect much from my life because I was told not to. When I was older, I didn't expect much because I didn't think I deserved it.
Then Wyatt showed up and taught me how to fight for myself. For my hopes and dreams.
I used what I learned, and I fought for him.
I lean back and look up at my husband. "You're a person worth loving, Wyatt. And I'll make sure you never forget it."
The End
