“What’s it about?” Carly asked.
“Carly and Dude meet a little boy who’s lost,” Cash said, so proud of his wife and daughter. “They help him find his way back to his mom and dad at the rodeo.”
“Did someone say rodeo?” Coop asked as he and Tammy came to the office door.
“I did.” Cash turned with a grin. “Come and see Tracy’s latest book.”
Coop and Tammy entered arm in arm. Once she’d arrived on Triple C-East, Tammy had never left. Oh, she lived with Coop in his log cabin now on Triple C-Central,but that’s as far as she’d gone. She and Coop, so in love, were adding years to each other’s life.
This evening was a private and casual family dinner before the VIPs and big fireworks display to come the following week. Cash heard the voices of his brother’s children, Colton who was nine now and the spitting image of Chase. Courtney, at seven, was as blond and lovely as Jade. The kids rounded the corner of the office with their folks trailing behind them.
“Hey everybody,” Cash said and let Carly down to collect hugs.
“You told us hay is for horses, Uncle Cash,” Colton joked as Courtney and Carly hugged.
“Hey, everybody,” Derek called at the door.
“Not you, too, Uncle Derek,” Courtney said with a giggle.
“Hay is for horses,” Carly echoed Colton.
“That’s right, Dad,” Cooper said, and at ten was the oldest of the cousins.
“Austin. Abilene!” Carly squealed, hugging the eight-year-old twins.
“Is anybody hungry?” Tracy asked and received a bunch of I ams and yeses.
“Well then, anybody who doesn’t want to eat hay tonight—” he scooped up Carly, grabbed Tracy’s hand and sauntered to the door, “better follow us.”
As usual, the dining room was full of dude ranch guests, bed-and-breakfast guests, as well as customers from near and far who’d heard about Cooper Lodge.
They met up with Rachel and Martyman in the dining room where tables had been scooted together, covered with snow-white tablecloths, and set for sixteen. Cash sat at one end of the long table and Chase sat at the other end. Coop and Tammy took seats near Cash and Tracy. Derek and Chloe sat toward the opposite end with the rest of the family filling in the middle.
This was Triple C Ranch land, and cattle ruled.
Thus, steaks, prime rib, and burgers were served, along with side choices of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fries, broccoli, squash, corn on the cob, and asparagus.
Cash gazed down the long table and when everyone had been served, he raised a glass of sweet tea, made according to Rachel’s famous recipe and said, “This family has come a long way in the last decade. I love you all.”
“Hear, hear,” Chase agreed, raising his glass.
Others echoed the sentiment and Coop took Tammy’s hand, saying, “I’m blessed beyond measure to be here with Tammy to see it.”
Cash smiled at Tracy, who gave him a nod. “Come Thanksgiving, Tracy and I will celebrate our anniversary and add a baby boy to the family.”
These were Triple C Ranch people: wranglers, cowboys, and cowgirls. Thus, as Cash kissed his wife, hoots, hollers, and clapping broke out with guests and staff joining in on the celebration.
“Wonderful,” Tammy said with tears in her eyes.
“Congratulations,” Chloe and Derek called from down the table.
“Yes, congratulations,” Chase said as Jade blew them a kiss.
Rachel and Martyman echoed the congratulations with heartfelt smiles.
“What’s his name going to be?” Coop asked with all the kids wanting to know too.
With a smile back at Cash, Tracy replied, “Dalton.”
“Dalton Cash Cooper,” Cash said and swallowed the lump in his throat as spirited applause and whoops of approval sounded around the table.
For dessert, cherry and apple pie were among the favorites. Ice cream and cake were popular too. The younger children soon grew restless and sleepy, so the older kids and adults pushed back from the table. Cash and Tracy escorted the family to the lobby where hugging and handshakes took place before they parted ways. Didn’t matter they’d see eachother in the coming days. They were together now and never took their time together for granted.
When Cash and Tracy arrived home, Cash filled the tub in the bathroom attached to Carly’s bedroom and Tracy placed the little girl in the warm water. Carly splashed and played, making her parents laugh. After Tracy dressed Carly in pink unicorn pajamas, Cash carried her to a new, double-wide recliner near the fireplace in the master bedroom. Sitting with Carly on his lap, Tracy snuggled up on his left. Dude lay down on the right side of the chair and sighed.
“Hot tub under the stars later tonight, big’n bad?” Tracy flirted.
“If you read us your new book first, spitfire.” As Cash cuddled Carly, Tracy read. Carly and Dude were sound asleep as she reached the last page. With a scratch to Dude’s head, a kiss to Carly’s curls, and a wink at Tracy, Cash closed the book and whispered, “The end.”
