My clothes were drenched,leaving my skin chapped and chafed, I’d lost my boots to the fucking mud a couple miles back, and my hand throbbed and pulsed so badly that the wind licking at my fingers felt like sharp claws raking over flesh.
But the sight of the house sent my heart thumping wildly in my chest. A surge of adrenaline drove me forward, my feet eating up the distance between me and that beacon of light. Between me and Cheyenne. I pulled away from Ryder, picking up speed as I raced onward. The hail had stopped for the moment, but thunder still rolled, followed by the occasional lightning strike, and non-stop rain. I ignored it all as I reached the gravel driveway leading up to the front porch.
A familiar maroon truck sat in the driveway, but Cheyenne’s was nowhere to be seen.
Did that mean they were here? Or had they taken Cheyenne’s truck to the hospital? I couldn’t imagine they’d do that. But maybe I’d have some damn service in the house and could get ahold of someone.
Fifteen feet.
Ten.
Five.
The front door opened inward, and Bad loomed in the entryway.
“Where is she?” I breathed, but as I made it to the porch, he pressed a hand to my shoulder, the wait of his stare paralyzing me in place. “Is she okay?” I croaked.
A slew of emotions I’d never expected to see in Bad shone in that usually hard, hazel stare. “They’re doin’ great.”
They.
The breath left me in a whoosh. “She-she had her? Fuck!”
Guilt and frustration warred with the excitement churning within me, wilder than the storm overhead.
Bad gripped both of my shoulders. “Hey. Hey, it’s okay. She’s okay…they’re okay.”
How could I have missed it? A flicker of rage rippled through me, but I pushed it down, down, down. All that mattered now was that Cheyenne was okay. That theybothwere okay.
“C-can I see ‘em?” I whispered, the words all but dying in my throat.
Bad’s lips curved upward into a soft grin as he stepped aside.
My breathing was ragged and shallow as I crossed the threshold into the house. The living room and kitchen were neat and tidy as usual, but the light leading down the hall to our bedroom glowed.On shaky legs, I padded toward the room, the squelch of my wet clothes deafening compared to the quiet singing dancing on the air.
My feet stopped working altogether as I entered our room, finding the most beautiful sight awaiting me. Cheyenne’s soft singing broke away into nothingness as her gaze snapped up to clash with mine.
She looked…well, she looked absolutely gorgeous sitting perched up against the pillows of our bed. Her wild curls were pulled up into a messy bun high on her head, little wisps falling to frame her face. There was this glow about her, almost like it came from within. And her eyes shone with warmth. So much warmth and love and light.
“Well, you ready to meet your daughter, Maverick?” My legs almost gave out at her words.
Your daughter.
Tears welled in my eyes as I moved toward the bed, coming to a stop a few feet away. I didn’t want to get too close—I was covered in mud and shit and grime.
“Y-you guys both are okay?” I asked, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
Cheyenne’s smile chased away the cold lingering in my bones and the fear lurking in my heart. It was radiant. She angled herself toward me, and I got the first peak at the most precious thing I’d ever laid my eyes upon.
“Wanna hold her?” she asked.
My hands trembled, and as I glanced down at them the sight stopped me in my tracks. “I’m filthy. I—can I change first?”
I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to spend another moment with them out of my sight, but the thought of holding her for the first time in the state I was in just didn’t sit right with me.
Cheyenne’s laughter reminded me of a babbling brook. “Of course, cowboy. Just hurry.”
I bit back a wave of tears as I nodded. A warm hand slapped my shoulder, and I glanced over to find Cash. “I got you some clothes already. They’re in the bathroom for ya.”
