Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
“Greetings!” Ty shouted as he got out of his truck. He made his way over and shook Tanner’s hand quickly, then leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. “Did you know Kaylee and I were once stuck together during a snowstorm?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t. Is that when the sparks flew between y’all?”
Tanner and Brock both laughed.
“Please, the fireworks went off the first time the two of them met. They were both just too damn stubborn to admit it,” Tanner said.
I smiled and focused back on Ty.
“Nothing happened between us that night,” he said, “but by the glow on your face and the way my baby brother is grinning from ear to ear, I’m going to guess your night wasn’t so boring.”
“That’s none of your business, Ty,” Tanner quickly said as he wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me closer to him.
“Jesus, Mama is going to be over the moon when she gets a look at you two. She has a weird way of knowing these things. Just watch out, she’ll be planning weddings and grandbabies if you don’t set her straight right off the bat,” Ty stated.
“She will not,” Tanner said, kissing me on the top of my head. I knew he was worried I’d be spooked by what Ty was saying, but it was the opposite. This whole thing was a far cry from what I thought I wanted only a few months ago.
“Let me help Ty get Pogo loaded up,” Tanner said.
I nodded and turned my attention to Brock. “We need to get you guys back to the house and get Pogo settled while there’s a break,” he said. “Another system is moving down, and you saw yesterday that it can come in faster than expected.”
I grimaced. “I’m so sorry. Y’all wouldn’t have to do this if I hadn’t been so stupid to take Rosie for a ride.”
“Nah, don’t think twice about it. You didn’t know, but better to learn early on.”
I nodded in agreement.
Tanner and Ty got Pogo safely loaded up in the horse trailer as Brock helped me up into his truck. Tanner rode with me and Brock while Ty followed behind. Brock kept plowing the new snow as it came down. It was light, but from the looks of the dark sky in the north, another heavy round was about to move in.
It didn’t take long to get back to the main barn. Brock kept the plow on his truck, said his goodbyes, and headed back to Lincoln and the kids. Tanner helped Ty get the trailer off his truck, and before he took off back home to Kaylee, Stella gave him a casserole.
We watched as Ty drove off, then Stella turned and looked at me. “Your ankle?”
“Is doing much better. Tanner found crutches for me to use, but I really don’t think I’ll need them. I think I just twisted it good when I was thrown from Rosie.”
“Well, let’s get you both into the house, and I’ll start making some lunch.”
“We ate a pretty big breakfast, Mama,” Tanner stated as we followed his mother back down the path toward their house.
“That’s fine, I’ll make some sandwiches and soup. Maybe later we can even make an apple pie, Timberlynn.”
“Oh, I’ve never baked a pie before.”
Stella turned and gave me a look of pure disbelief. “First the cookies, now pie! Lord, we’ve got some catching up to do with baking!”
“I can almost read her mind now,” Tanner whispered. “She’s thinking if you intend on being with me, you need to be able to cook so her precious baby boy doesn’t starve!”
I giggled and hit him on the chest. I’d never in my life felt so happy. Coming to Montana was the best decision I’d ever made, and one I knew I wouldn’t regret.
Now the only hurdle was figuring out how to buy a piece of property without my father attempting to block it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
TANNER
New Year’s Eve
The last week had been pure bliss. Even if I had to sneak around my folks’ house like a high school boy attempting to get laid for the first time. Each night I found myself in Timberlynn’s bed. We woke up each morning, kissed and fooled around like kids, then I’d leave to head back to my room before things got too hot and heavy. We had even snuck away to the barn a few times with some blankets, a lantern we used for camping, and some wine. Somehow sex in my folks’ barn loft had become my new favorite thing. At least when I could push away the memory of Ty telling me he’d lost his virginity in the same spot.
“Thank goodness the snow has let up enough for folks to make it to the party tonight!” my mother said as she looked up from the little smokie sausage rolls she was wrapping up in crescent rolls. Kaylee and Timberlynn were working alongside my mother, each super focused on the task of rolling them up. My mother had taught Timberlynn how to make an apple pie from scratch, right down to the crust, as well as at least ten different types of casseroles and the homemade ragu her Italian best friend had taught her how to make after my mother married my father. They also made countless amounts of cookies, brownies, fudge, and three cakes. With homemade buttercream frosting and all. I was positive I’d gained at least ten pounds since Christmas.