Jasper makes a sound from behind me, just beyond the fence. “One of Gary’s kids said that horse was his closest pal. Had him the last twenty years of his life.”
“Oh, no…” My chest grows tight, then I remember something. “Didn’t we get some saddle blankets from his old place?”
“Oh, yeah.” Jasper climbs over the fence and lightly jogs over to the new barn to the right of the old one. The original red barn still sits proudly in the center at the back of the main fenced area, but now, on either side of it are two new stables.
Jasper comes back with a nice, soft blanket, deep blue in color. The weaving is immaculate, and I know, not just because Gary was a billionaire but by the look of the article, that it’s handmade.
“Thanks,” I say, exchanging my nearly empty basket for the blanket and swiping the last apple before heading toward Richie again. I hold the blanket out to him like an offering, making sure he can see almost all of it as I get close.
He still looks skittish, so I slow my pace. His eyes dart around just a bit, but keep landing on the blanket.
I’m hoping that my bet is going to pay off, that this blanket was something Gary handled a lot, maybe even put under the saddle when he used to ride.
When I’m beside Richie, blanket still extended, he doesn’t shy away this time, and I slowly reach the blanket out to him, my hand inside, to gently rub his neck with the soft woven fabric. Richie lets out a little snort, then shakes his head, moves his nose to sniff the blanket. Keeping steady and calm, I move to the side of his body and put the blanket over his back.
He stays so still, I have no idea if he’s scared or angry or pleased, but then his nose moves to my left hand, where the apple is. I do my best to stay calm and not celebrate like a small child as he takes the apple from me and eats it.
“Good job, cowgirl.” Ezra comes up beside me and wraps his arm around my waist. “The classes are paying off.”
“Let’s not get too excited, now,” I whisper. “One small step.”
Jasper chuckles at my other side, kisses my temple. “Nah. You’ve got this in the bag.”
With my Alphas by my side, I think they’re right.
We’ve got this.
The inside of the house looks like a party store had explosive diarrhea everywhere.
Streamers, balloons, those paper hearts that resemble accordions…
I immediately panic. It’s not Valentine’s Day, is it? I’d remember if it was, right?
“Uh…” Jasper looks as confused as I am, then calls, “We’re back.”
Adam sticks his head out from the dining room, specks of sparkly stuff all in his beautiful black hair.
Ezra laughs, like, really hard, and I’m almost there with him, but I’m still so confused. “Am I missing something?”
“Oh,heeey…”Adam’s blue eyes go wide as he forces a smile.
“Are we allowed inside?” There’s laughter in Jasper’s voice as he asks.
“Yeah. Yeah, sure. Come on into the dining room.”
Adam sounds really unsure of us coming into the room, and not only are my suspicions on high, but my fingers are itching to take the debris out of his hair. But as soon as we round the corner, the dining room in full view, I stop short, my jaw falling.
The room is much more coordinated than the entryway is, streamers meticulously arched from the ceiling, falling downto chandelier height, balloons tied to chairs and china closet handles. The color scheme is white, gold, and black.
But that’s not what has my jaw hitting the floor. That would be the handmade sign hung at the back of the room.
Will You Marry Us?
Hearts and stars and even wedding bands drawn all around the words. The drawings range from looking kind of like a kid drew them with crayons, to just about picture-perfect.
I know who drew what at a glance. And I love them all.
I don’t even realize tears are streaming down my face until a rustling brings my attention in front of me, and just below, where all three of my Alphas kneel, each on one knee, Adam in the center, a small velvet box in his extended hand. Inside is a beautiful white gold band with a simple, traditional princess-cut diamond in the center.
