Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
I reached for my own coat, shut my office door, and locked it. “This has got to be the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”
Lacing her hand in mine, Ensley agreed. “Best Christmas Ever.”
During the entire drive to River Falls Ranch, Ensley and I talked about what would be the best option regarding our living arrangements. Expand on the cabin? Build something new on River Falls Ranch, or on my family property? Or maybe buy our own place, with some acreage to settle on and put down roots? It was a lot to think about, on top of the news that we were expecting. We decided to put it to rest until after the holidays.
I pulled up and parked behind Caden’s truck. Turning to Ensley, I took her hand in mine. “You ready?”
She nodded. “What if I burst into tears when I see Jackson and Nellie?” she asked, referring to Emeline and Levi’s son, and Caden and Lilibeth’s daughter.
“You won’t, sweetheart.”
She wiped away a tear. “I’m already crying. What if something happens during the pregnancy?”
“Hey,” I said, placing my hand on the side of her face. “Don’t stress about that, Pip. Even if, God forbid, something does happen, we’ll keep trying.”
Nodding, she wiped at her face. “Is my makeup okay?”
“Your makeup is fine. You look beautiful. It looks like we’re the last ones here, though. Are you ready?”
Ensley drew in a few deep breaths before saying, “Okay, let’s go.”
Christmas Eve at the Wildes’ had changed since the last time I was in River Falls. It was usually chaotic while setting up the Christmas Day event for the local orphanage. That had recently been moved to a few days after Christmas, giving the Wildes time to celebrate with family and friends.
The second we stepped into the house, I drew in a deep breath and smiled. It smelled like Christmas. Memories from years past flooded my mind as Emeline quickly walked up and hugged her sister.
She hugged me next, then whispered in my ear, “Congratulations.”
Kissing her on the cheek, I said, “Thank you, Emeline.”
We were soon surrounded by family and friends. Conversations were going on all around me, and I took it all in. Ensley had a glow about her and a smile on her face that I was positive would be there all night.
Gus, Ensley’s grandfather, approached, and we soon fell into a conversation about cattle and, of course, horses. Nellie kissed me on the cheek and told me she’d hid some of the Oh My God brownies from Gatlin and Caden. She’d remembered they were my absolute favorite dessert. Of course, they were Gatlin and Caden’s, as well.
Levi walked up and bumped my arm. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
He nodded. “So.”
Forcing myself not to smile, I nodded back. “So.”
“Anything new to report?” he asked, before taking a sip of his beer.
“No. You?”
His head snapped back to me. “No?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you that bad at keeping a secret, Levi? I don’t remember that little fact about you.”
He smirked. “I’m not bad at keeping a secret, thank you very much.”
I shrugged. “Sure seems like it.”
Levi huffed, then looked around before leaning closer to me. “Can you keep one?”
Instantly intrigued, I nodded. “Go on.”
His eyes lit up with happiness. “Swear it stays between you and me? If Emeline finds out I told anyone, she’ll kill me.”
“As long as you promise not to tell anyone about our secret.”
He held out his pinky.
I stared at it in horror. “What the fuck, Levi. Are we ten-year-old little girls?”
Dropping his hand, he shot me a dirty look.
“Just tell me your secret!”
Taking my arm, he pulled us into a small corner of the living room and glanced around again. If anyone was watching us, they’d think we were about to do a drug deal or something.
“Lilibeth is pregnant too.”
My eyes widened. “Already?”
He nodded.
“Wait—how do you know?”
His cheeks turned red. “Caden told me, but he wasn’t supposed to.”
I slowly shook my head. “Jesus, none of you can keep a damn secret to save your life.”
“I can, too! I didn’t tell Caden that Emeline’s pregnant.”
My mouth dropped open. “Emeline is pregnant, too? What the hell is in the water on this ranch?”
He closed his eyes and cursed. “Shit. Shit. Shit! Emeline really is going to kill me. You cannot tell Ensley.”
“Why not? She told Emeline she suspected she was pregnant.”
His eyes darted around before focusing back on me. “That’s true. Okay, you can tell Ensley—but you have to tell her not to tell Emeline. She has to act surprised when Emeline tells her.”
“What are you two girls gossiping about over here?” Caden asked, popping up out of nowhere, prompting both Levi and me to let out girlish gasps.
“Don’t fucking sneak up on us like that, Wilde!” Levi barked. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“I see that,” Caden said with a smirk. “Again, what were you two gossiping about?”