I avert my eyes, ears burning. “Uh…”
We might be married, but I suddenly feel like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“You can’t blame him, dear,” Florence interjects. “He’s a warm-blooded man. Of course he’s going to appreciate his wife’s tits.” She reaches out and lifts one of Charlie’s breasts in her hand. “Yup. Just as perky as they look.”
Charlie playfully swats Florence’s hand away. “I’m pregnant, not a prized pig. Now can you please stop embarrassing me in front of my—” She cuts herself off.
“Husband,” I finish for her.
She exhales sharply, cheeks flushing a deep pink. “Yes. That.”
Her reaction to my claiming her publicity emboldens me to move closer and drape my arm around her shoulders. She tensesfor a moment before relaxing into my side, her hand settling on my chest. I hum in satisfaction, noting how perfectly she fits there.
Kay narrows her eyes at Charlie’s wedding ring. “So the rumors are true? You’re pregnant and married and forgot to mention any of it?” Her voice softens, hurt flashing across her face. “You didn’t even tell me you were seeing someone.”
Charlie drops her gaze, wringing her hands. “I’m sorry, Grams. I never meant to make you feel left out. You’re the most important person in my life. Everything just happened so fast, and I was waiting for the right time.”
I tighten my hold on her. “We got together after Walker and Birdie’s wedding and kept it quiet at first. Things moved fast after I found out Charlie was pregnant. We got married so I could add her to my insurance before her first prenatal appointment and support her better during the pregnancy. Still, I would have wanted all of this with her no matter what.” My gaze flickers down at Charlie, who’s staring at me with wide eyes, lips slightly parted before I look back at Kay. “Everything just happened on a more expedited timeline than either of us expected.”
Kay traces her thumb and forefinger across her mouth. “I find that hard to believe. You two were pretty convincing when you acted like you couldn’t stand each other. Charlie used to go on about how you ruined her peace by merely existing. Her words, not mine.”
“We didn’t exactly get along, but I suppose what they say is true—there’s a thin line between love and hate.” I wink at Charlie before shifting my hand from her shoulder to her hip, drawing her closer to my side. “Besides, I’ve always loved a woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.”
Life with her is a welcome change from the mundane routine on the ranch.
Charlie is the fresh air I didn’t realize I was missing until she blew into my life like a force of nature—unpredictable and untamed. I find myself wanting to spend every free second in her orbit, captivated by her stubborn streak and sharp tongue.
“Oh, you can do better than that,” Florence chimes in. “Tell us what made you realize she was the one?”
“The first time I saw her dancing up on the bar at Blue Moon Tavern, she yelled, “This is myCoyote Uglymoment, bitches!’ and it felt like being drawn in by gravity.” I glance down at Charlie, who’s looking up at me with flushed cheeks. “She was so free, wild, and beautiful, and I knew I had to make her mine.” My only regret is not acting on my feelings sooner.
Florence lets out a wistful sigh. “Charlie did well picking this one. It’s obvious he’s pussy-whipped by our girl.”
Yeah, I am.
Charlie lets out a startled choking noise, her face turning bright red. Judging by the way Kay is still studying me, she isn’t entirely convinced.
“When did you find out you’re pregnant?” she asks Charlie.
“At my last appointment with Dr. Hansen,” Charlie replies. “I only kept it from you because I was afraid you’d think you had to step in and help me raise the baby. You’ve built an incredible life here, and I couldn’t risk taking that away from you.” Her voice wavers at the end.
“Oh, honey.” I step aside as Kay pulls Charlie into a fierce hug. “I’d have done it in a heartbeat. Not out of obligation, but because I wanted to. There’s no greater blessing than a great-grandbaby, and I couldn’t be more excited.” She leans back and rests her hand on Charlie’s stomach.
Charlie’s shoulders relax, a small smile breaking through.
Until recently, Kay was the only family she had, and I know how much Kay’s approval means to her.
Florence clasps her hands together. “I do love a happy ending—in every sense.”
We all break out into laughter.
How had I missed what a quirky character she was? You’d think the town gossip mill would’ve shared more of her questionable comments by now. Then again, if she was the one pulling strings behind the rumors, as I suspect, that would explain a lot.
“You’ll have to watch that crass language of yours before the baby arrives, Florence,” Kay scolds, letting go of Charlie and wiping away a tear. “This also means we need to start quilting baby blankets soon. Babies are messy, and Charlie’s going to need plenty of backups.”
“Sounds like a shopping trip to Bluebonnet Stitches is in order,” Florence agrees.
As the conversation shifts to quilting patterns, I lean over and sling an arm around Charlie’s shoulders, whispering in her ear, “Told you they’d be too excited about the baby to care about anything else.”
