Her eyes slid toward him. He stared down at his plate, traced the edge of the pattern with his thumbnail. His face burned, and in that instant, he was damn thankful for his beard. At least nobody would see the blush.
When he finally looked up, she was still watching him. The moment stretched, and something loosened and opened in his chest. Her eyes held his, and the conversation around them faded to background noise. It was just him and Maggie in this crowded room, this silent exchange more intimate than any touch.
Oliver’s hand shot up, nearly knocking over his water glass. “Me next! Me next!”
Nessie steadied the glass. “Go ahead.”
“I’m grateful Jax is my dad now and that Tate’s my best friend and that we get to live here with all the dogs and horses!” The words tumbled out in one excited breath. “And I’m grateful for Christmas and presents and pie!”
Laughter rippled around the table. Jax ruffled Oliver’s hair, his expression softer than Anson had ever seen it. The change in him since finding Nessie and Oliver was remarkable—the hard edges worn smooth, the haunted look replaced by something close to peace.
“I’ll take it,” Walker said, raising his glass. “To Christmas and presents and pie.”
“And to family,” Jo added softly.
Walker’s eyes met hers. “To family.”
The sharing continued. Lila talked about her expanding practice and the new rehabilitation facility. Mariah thanked everyone for making Tate feel welcome. Tate, shy but determined, said he was thankful for his mom and for Oliver and for books about space.
Ghost simply nodded when his turn came, but his hand found Naomi’s on the table, fingers intertwining. Naomi smiled, leaning into him slightly.
Boone spoke of gratitude for the ranch, for the work, for his mother’s good days. Leonora patted his hand, her eyes clear as she said she was grateful for her son, for his patience, for what he’d built.
River cracked jokes during his turn, but beneath the humor, Anson heard genuine appreciation for the second chance Valor Ridge had given him. For the space to heal, to find himself beyond his mistakes. For friends who’d become brothers.
Jonah thanked the horses, the quiet mornings, the community. Bear expressed gratitude for a roof, good food, honest work.
When it came to Anson’s turn, all eyes turned toward him. The expectant silence stretched out an dhis mouth went Sahara dry. He grabbed his water and gulped it down before clearing his throat.
“The forge.” Still, his voice rasped. “The animals. This place.” He looked at Maggie. He wanted to say her name, too. Wanted to tell her in front of everyone how important she was to him. But the words stuck in his throat like glue.
Instead, he swallowed hard and finished lamely, “The kittens.”
Inadequate. So inadequate.
Jax suddenly pushed back from the table with a scrape of his chair legs. His face was dead white except for two spots of color high on his cheekbones.
“Sorry, Jo. I can’t wait any longer.” He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small box.
Nessie’s eyes went wide. “Jax? What are you?—”
He dropped to one knee beside her chair, hands trembling as he opened the box. “I spent five years in prison believing I didn’tdeserve a second chance. That I was too broken, too damaged, too dangerous to ever have something good.” His voice caught. “Then I came here. And you gave me a reason to be better, to fight my demons, to wake up every morning and try. Nessie, I love you. I love Oliver. I want to spend the rest of my life proving I’m worthy of what you’ve given me. Will you marry me?”
The room went silent. Even Oliver stopped fidgeting.
Nessie slid from her chair to her knees in front of him, tears streaming down her face. She took his face in her hands. “You don’t have to prove anything.” Her voice broke. “You’ve been worthy from the moment you chose to stay and fight and love us back.” She leaned forward until their foreheads touched. “Yes. God, yes.”
Oliver launched himself from his chair with a shriek. “Does this mean Jax is gonna be my dad for real now?”
Jax’s laugh was choked as he pulled Oliver into their embrace. “I’m already your dad, buddy. This just makes it official.”
The room erupted. River whooped. Jonah clapped Jax on the back, his eyes suspiciously bright. Bear wrapped all three of them in a hug that lifted them off the ground.
Anson watched them, something tight and desperate clawing at his insides. Not jealousy, exactly. More like hunger. A bone-deep yearning for what Jax had found—the courage to reach for happiness despite every reason to believe he didn’t deserve it.
If Jax could do it, with all his demons and scars, then maybe...
thirty-four
