Sophia
“I still can’t believeyou’re going to get married at the rodeo.” Lori’s cheeks are flushed as she pulls the dead plants from the garden bed. “That’s just so many people.”
“I know, isn’t it amazing?” I grin, taking a moment to rock my hand and catch the sun in the diamonds studding the gold band.
Lori smiles, pushing a loose strand of her strawberry-blonde hair from her eyes. “It is definitely you,” she laughs. Her palms brace her lower back as she stretches making her growing baby bump poke between the bottom of her shirt and her pants.
She’s a few months ahead of me and is starting to noticeably show.
I’ve been close for each of her pregnancies, but I don’t think I’ve ever paid as close of attention as I do now.
“I liked the small and simple,” Char pipes up. “When we got married in Vegas, it was such a perfect experience.” Her dreamy lift to her lips tells me it wasn’t the ceremony she’s remembering.
Ew. That’s my uncle.
“I told Ollie I wanted something huge.” Ironically it was before I even knew it was him. “And I love that he’s making it happen. We’re supposed to sit down with the arena team next week to talk about how to incorporate it into the regular events.” A delicious shiver runs through me. “I wanteveryoneto know.”
Char moves to the playpen where all of the little ones are penned to pick up one of her fussing twins. “I’d say everyone does, now. Is this going to be your last race too?”
That sobers me. “Yea. I’m already feeling it in my hips.” I circle them with my palms for emphasis. “Does that get any better?”
Lori and Char both freakingsnort. “Nope,” they reply in unison.
“Great.” I roll my eyes. “Char? Do you miss it? You were a regional champion, right?”
Char nods as she bounces her daughter. “Sometimes. But you and I both know how exhausting it can be. The travel, eating crappy food, and then still not quite making the timer.” Her lips press Violet’s round head with a kiss. “I think in a different life, it would have been a lot of fun to stay in the circuit. But after a while, everyone retires from it because it’s just so demanding.”
My fingers flatten over my growing belly. It’s still small, but starting to press into my zipper.
“Uncle Dixon said in a couple of years you might go back to it?” I watch Lori put the last load of dead leaves into the wheelbarrow, then I pick up the handles to push it to the compost pile.
Char giggles. “That’s just him thinking I might get tired of him and would want a distraction. That’ll never happen.” Shelowers her sleeping baby back into the corner of the playpen and straightens. “I love my life here. I get to raise my horses the way I want, hang out with my amazing family, and have a man that’s completely obsessed with me.” Color moves up her cheeks. “In fact, do you know what he did the other night? He—”
“Oh fuck, no.” I’m not hearing this story. “Tell Lori. You guys can talk about mydadandunclewithout me for a little while.” I push the empty wheelbarrow close to the next set of planters, then turn towards the main house. “I’ll get us some tea.”
Oliver and his crew have finished the repairs, so everything is back where it’s supposed to be.
Except my old room officially belongs to my two tiny brothers, complete with a toddler bed and a crib.
The low sound of voices carries me towards the living room to find Oliver, Dad, and Ford in some sort of heated conversation.
I’ve recently started getting more involved with learning the bookkeeping part of the ranch, so my curiosity is piqued. “What’s going on?”
“Soph—” Dad’s lips are thin as he turns to me. “I’m trying to convince your fiance to not get married at the rodeo. I don’t think it’s safe.”
“What the hell? I want it. I’m pretty sure if it was up to Oliver, we’d already be at the courthouse.” I instinctively move to him and wrap my hand around his arm.
“That’s true.” His lips brush the top of my head.
Dad lets out a sigh. “Yea, that’d be better. Like your brother’s.”
My nose wrinkles. “I don’t want to get married like Sawyer. Just because we’re twins doesn’t mean we need to fucking match.”
“That’s not what he meant, Sophia,” Ford growls. “It’s right next to the damn police station.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I jut my chin at him. “I’m only doing this once.”
Oliver’s other palm reaches across to cover my knuckles.
