“Indeed. I’ve made a decision,” Cassie replied, turning toward him, her blue eyes shining with resolve. “I’m cutting back on the dresses. Just a few each month. And...I’ll be raising my prices.”
Andy’s dark brows raised, but his lips curled in support. “If anyone can make that work, it’s you,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said, grateful for his unwavering faith in her. “I want to be there for our child, not lost in a sea of satin and lace.”
“You will be.” Andy’s voice was firm, his belief in their partnership unshakable.
There was a moment of comfortable silence before he shifted, pushing off from the frame. “Speaking of being there, the calving’s started. It’s going to be a busy season.”
“Can I help?” Cassie asked, half-rising from her chair, driven by the sense of solidarity that always filled the home.
“Stay put,” he chuckled, gently pressing her back down. “Your brothers-in-law are coming. We’ll manage.”
“Are you certain?”
“Absolutely. It’s what family does.”
Within hours, the ranch was alive with activity. Men worked in unison, their figures silhouetted against the setting sun as they tended to the newest additions to their sprawling brood. From her window, Cassie watched as they moved with purpose, each one contributing to the thriving heart of the homestead.
“Seems like you’ve got yourself quite the team out there,” Judy remarked, stepping beside Cassie with her own hands full of fabric.
“More than a team,” Cassie reflected, watching Andy instruct and assist with a gentle authority. “A family.”
“Big one, too,” Judy added with an admiring glance outside.
“Very big,” Cassie agreed, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile. “And about to get bigger.”
As dusk settled over the land, the sounds of laughter and camaraderie drifted through the air, mingling with the occasional cry of a newborn calf. The circle of life continued, and within it, Cassie found her place—not just as a dressmaker or a mother-to-be, but as a vital part of something much greater than herself.
