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“I love him,” Cordelia, Chloe’s niece approached. “Cuz he’s quiet.”

She glared at her little brother who played obliviously in her father’s lap.

Cal chuckled. “Cordelia, he won’t always be quiet.”

“That’s a shame,” she said dramatically.

The kid was wise beyond her years.

“Babies can’t talk,” Daphne explained. “That's how they communicate.”

“Oh, the indignity!” Chloe giggled. “He will cry. Probably soon when he wants to eat. Or he poops. There’s really only two things babies need. They are simple.”

Cordelia scrunched her nose. “Eww!”

I chuckled. “I know. But we won’t make you do any diapers yet, kid.”

“I’ve already done diapers. They aren’t that bad,” Piper’s finger curled in Tom’s hand.

“Until he eats solids, they won’t be,” Elise said. “Then, they will be foul.”

“We have all shoveled shit for a living,” Riley said. “Trust us. We’re good. Although, I am not volunteering for diaper duty.”

“I won’t ask,” Chloe said.

“But will you wear him all over a show? Are you going to be one of those parents?” Jerry asked.

“Yes. He’s going to grow up living and breathing horses,” Chloe answered. “Our little mascot.”

I grinned. “He’ll be fully integrated. Like it or not.”

“I can’t leave now,” Piper said. “Cal, can I ask you a favor?”

“Sure, kiddo,” Cal answered.

“Would you write me a recommendation for Northwestern? I think I want to stick close by, but I’m not a legacy. If… you know… you think I can be good enough to get in.”

Cal grinned. “I am sure I would and so would Daphne’s brother. You are definitely Northwestern material.”

“I plan to you know… canvas, too. So you can talk me up.”

“Oh, I want to do that, too!” Leslie declared. “But like… I want to go to IU for business.”

“I cannot help you there,” Cal admitted. “But I could connect you to some alums. They are a dime-a-dozen around here, kid.”

“Thanks, Mr. Mayor.” Leslie blushed.

Cal’s campaign was now in full swing. I expected we’d never see him these days, but was surprised by how he always tried to make it home—even just for a few hours. When I assumed he wouldn’t make our welcome home party, I’d been proven patently wrong. Chloe was right. Her brother always showed up.

As Piper cradled Tom in her arms, I knew she would, too. This was my girl. My first baby and my last baby were together—both perfectly happy with this little life. It was only slightly more than a year since the tornado seemingly ruined everything in our lives. But as Chloe rested her head on my shoulder lovingly, I was reminded that from the ashes new life always sprouted. It was chaotic, but that was all we needed.

EPILOGUE

CHLOE

“No, Zee!” I sighed, pulling Zee’s head from where he’d defiantly grazed.

If Doobs was the patient angel, standing like a halter horse for the camera, Zee was a birdbrained dickhead dancing every which way while we attempted to take pictures. Ravenswood was growing and the barn needed a branding glow-up. We’d bought more land and, next year, would break ground on a new barn and a round pen—all for Cole’s booming western business.