Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Gage stepped in Ignacio’s face and warned him, “Good, because Hope belongs to me, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to protect her.”
“Fine. That goes for my woman too. Anyone does anything to my bride, and it’ll be their head. I don’t give a fuck who it is.” The two men were nearly bumping chests as they stared each other down.
“As long as we understand each other, then we can get along.” Gage stepped back. Ignacio stuck out his hand, and Gage shook it in agreement.
“Drive safe, and if I were you, Gibson, I’d make sure that you watch out for your father-in-law.”
“I will.”
Gage and Alex walked to their vehicle and scanned it for bombs or bugs because there was a limit to their deal making. Once it was all clear, they hopped in and drove off. “Do you believe them?” Alex asked.
“I do. I saw the look in his woman’s eyes. She’s been bruised by the thought of my Hope and Ignacio together.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too.” He nodded as he drove back to Spring Water.
“Good. Now, to make sure we don’t have problems with Cummings is another thing altogether.”
When Gage returned home, Hope jumped into his arms. “You’re back.”
“I told you I would be,” Gage replied, slamming his lips onto hers. “Now it’s time to plan our wedding.”
“I can’t wait.”
****
They spent the next few days planning the wedding while her father rotted in a cell before the trial. “Any news on the trial?” Hope asked as she paced the kitchen.
“It’s going to take a while. Although we got the arraignment, these things take time to actually go to trial,” Alex told Gage and Hope.
“You need to sit down.”
“I’m fine,” she muttered while her hands shook.
“No, you’re not.” He jumped out of his seat and caught the coffee cup before it hit the ground. “Please sit.”
“I just haven’t felt good lately.”
“Maybe because you’re having my baby,” Gage stated. He’d believed she was having his baby for a long time, but this was the first time she showed symptoms of it. He hoped he was right.
“You know?” she asked.
“I’ll just leave you both to discuss this. If it’s the case, congrats.” Alex smiled and then walked out.
“Are you pregnant?” Gage ran his hands along her waist and then pulled her close. “Baby, are you?”
“I think so.”
“Then we need to check.” Gage grabbed her hand and then led her out of the house and into their vehicle. They traveled into town and purchased a couple of tests. Within an hour, the couple was celebrating the news. They were having a baby.
Epilogue
Six months later…
“You’re so beautiful, Mrs. Gibson.” Gage stared at his wife from the doorway of the bathroom. She rested on the bed in just one of his tees and a pair of panties. At seven months pregnant, her stomach rounded out nicely. Gage loved knowing that his baby was safe in Hope’s body. He spent hours staring at her curves knowing he’d done that, and he’d love to do it again. Being on a ranch, breeding was normal, but this was different. A feral passion, desire washed over the former lawyer as he ogled at the love of his life.
“Thank you, Mr. Gibson, but I’m looking more like your cows out in the barn,” Hope teased, rubbing her large belly.
He stalked toward the bed, leaning down when he reached the edge and kissed her lips. “Not even close, my sweet girl. I love seeing how round your belly is getting.” He ran his hand over it and received a welcome kick from his son.
Gage bent down, lifting her shirt to kiss her belly. “Daddy loves you and your momma.”
“Get some rest. I have to check in with Bill and then get started on the day. It’s going to be a short one. The weather is getting rough.”
“Okay. I’ll have all the checks done before they come in for lunch.”
“Thank you, baby.”
“It’s my job.” She smiled with her chin tilted up at him from her position on the bed and he wanted to climb back in and forget his priorities. She made his life perfect in every way and he’d been so grateful for it. Hope had started working in the office to ease up some of Gage’s workload so that they could have time together as often as possible.
“Still, thank you for being mine.” He kissed her goodbye and headed out the door.
As promised, Hope had all of their checks ready at lunch. She prepared a warm, hearty chili as the weather turned icy. “Thank you, Mrs. Gibson. It hit the spot.”
“Yes, thank you, but we’re gonna get out of here.”
“You’re welcome, boys. Thank you for all you do. Enjoy your break.” Bill and Gage planned to manage the animals for a week while the weather was not great, so they could give their ranch hands a chance to take it easy.