They waved back. “Hey, sugar,” her dad said.
It looked like maybe her mom had been crying too. She wasn’t thrilled at the idea of Christy living out here. But we’d talked about moving to Laramie. I’d miss Seddledowne, my family, and the ranch, but I just wanted to be wherever she was. She’d shot it down immediately. Seddledowne, and on my family’s ranch, is right where she wanted to be. It’s where our jobs were, sure. But this was her home now.
I’d spent a week with the Thornburys at Christmas. Her sisters had backed way off since I’d entered the picture. Rowan was downright terrified of me. He’d learned real quick never to call Christy Tink. I’d overheard Ari telling her husband I was a textbook Alpha-hole. Fine by me. I’d keep the fangs out as long as necessary to protect Christy.
Her dad was nice enough. But her mom might take some time to get used to. Even now, as her oldest daughter was being proposed to, she was wiping tears for herself. I’d spent the lastsix months needling it into Christy in every way possible that she deserved all the good things in life. That she deserved my love. And it was okay to put herself first. She’d done the same for me. We planned to keep doing just that.
Everyone important was there. Mom and Dad. Silas, Lemon, and her watermelon-sized belly that looked like it was going to pop any second. Anna and Blue. Ashton, Ford, and Bimbo—who was now snuggling up to Ashton since Ford was off to the side, serenading us all. Yep, against my wishes, he’d added lyrics.
It was all going well. Until it wasn’t.
Ashton shook Bimbo off and held his fingers out in a cross. “Stay back. Seriously. Get.”
Christy’s cute “psycho-cackle” as she called it threatened to burst out of her adorable nose and she slapped a hand over it.
I gave everyone a silencing glare. And then I dropped to one knee.
“Awww,” Lemon whispered.
“Christy,” I began. “You unexpectedly came into my life?—”
Anna burst into a wailing sob.
“Oh my gosh,” I said with a groan. “I barely even started.”
“It’s not you,” Blue said as a dark blue car with fully tinted windows rolled to a stop fifty yards back. “I’m sorry y’all, I have to go.”
“Seriously?” Silas grumbled. “I thought you told him to come at five.”
“I did.” Blue’s gaze volleyed between the car and Anna. He was moving. To California. Right now apparently. His dad wanted him to go to a school with a stronger football program. He was determined for Blue to go pro. And Seddledowne wasn’t cuttingit.
“Blue!” A dark-haired man yelled out of a half-opened window. “We’re leaving! Now!”
Anna threw herself into Blue’s arms, weeping into his chest. He stood there, biceps locked around her, looking sick. He’d thrown his hands up at Fate and she’d laughed in his face. Poor kid. I wished I could take it for him.
After the man I was assuming was his dad yelled again, Blue tried to step away from Anna, but she yelled, “No! I don’t want you to go!” And then sobbed even louder than before.
And I was trying to compete with that?
“Oh my gosh,” I said, my heart breaking for my niece but also wanting to get this dang ring on Christy’s left hand.
Lemon held up a finger, pleading in her expression.
“Go on. We’ll wait,” I told them. Then I shifted. My knees were starting to ache.
“I got it, babe,” Silas said to Lemon, but she waved him off.
Blue headed for the car. But in an unprecedented turn of events, Silas stepped in front of him, pulled him into a tight hug and squeezed.
Blue pounded him on the back. “See ya, Mr. D,” he said as he stepped away.
Silas nodded and it looked like he was blinking back tears.
Anna was right back in Blue’s arms, sobbing. Lemon took Anna from Blue and the three of them walked—actually Lemon waddled—toward the car.
“Bye, Blue!” Christy yelled. Everyone followed suit.
Ford strummed a dramatic chord to get our attention. “While we waaiiit.” Spit shot out on the T. “I’ll suuurunade y’aaall,” Ford slurred. Another loud strum, “Beeaauuuuuutiful guuuurrrllll,” he bellowed.
