by Taylor Rylan
I felt terrible about that, but he was absolutely right. I had been completely exhausted lately. There was so much stress thinking about the new baby that when I did sleep it wasn’t for shit. “I’m sorry. It’s not my intention. I’ve just got so much on my mind, and it’s really affecting…well, everything.”
“That’s what I’m here for. Remember when we said we would love, support, and take care of each other? I can’t help if you don’t let me. So tell me what’s going on and we will handle whatever it is together.”
Could I do that? Should I? I was the one worried about the new baby, not Jacob. He wanted more children, whereas I was happy with the one we already had, but I obviously wasn’t completely against the idea of having more kids. Mack had put me through pure hell, and the thought of going through that again terrified me. There were some very dark moments before Jacob came into the picture, and I didn’t want to ever relive them.
“I’m scared. Mack was such a fussy baby, and I don’t know if I can handle that again,” I told my husband. He offered me a radiant smile, letting me know it was okay.
“That’s the beauty of having me,” Jacob said. “Sweetheart, you have to remember, you’re no longer alone. You’ll never be alone again. I’m never leaving, never going anywhere. That’s one of the reasons why I’m pushing so hard to get more deputies. I know I’m needed at home more than I’m there, and I feel like shit because I can’t support you as much as I know I need to. As much as I should.”
“I have no complaints. You are a wonderful husband and an amazing father to Mack. We both know that you love us very much.”
“That’s not the point, although I am grateful that you both know and realize that. The point is, the county should have provided me with personnel well over a year ago. I’m forcing the issue now, and they are pushing back.”
“I know that. But you have gotten some really great guys in the department.”
“Some, yes. But we need more. Especially with a county the size of ours.”
He had a very valid point; there was nothing small about our county. And on more than one occasion, I had been frustrated when I could have used his help, but he was stuck at work. Of course, I had never said anything about that to him, but the issue was still there.
I looked over at my sexy sheriff as he drove us back out to the ranch. I was very lucky and fortunate he was so damn stubborn. I had pushed him away countless times simply because he was my brother’s friend and he was several years older than me. But nobody could deny the fact that he adored our son.
“Okay, so you’re getting sex coupons for Christmas,” I told him while trying to lighten the mood. Jacob looked at me and sent a wicked smile my way before he turned back to the road again and pushed down on the gas pedal just a smidge. I chuckled at his playfulness, but I couldn’t blame him. I needed and wanted him just as much as I knew he did me.
When the familiar sign for Wild Creek came into view, the anticipation grew even more, and I laughed in the passenger seat of the truck as Jacob drove over the ruts and bumps the long driveway had developed.
“Damn, we need to fix this,” he told me, but he continued to drive through the potholes that were there while laughing right along with me.
By the time he had the truck parked in the garage, we both released our seat belts and dashed into the house.
I’d like to say that we took our time and things went slowly, but I would be lying if I did. We managed to make it upstairs to our bedroom, but we didn’t get further than yanking off our boots and pants before Jacob was forcefully pushing into my body after a quick prep.
“Harder, ungh, faster, oomph,” I grunted as my husband thrust into me from above. Suddenly he pulled out, and before I could even protest, he grabbed my hips and flipped me over, yanking my ass up in the air as he shoved back up in to my hole.
“Fuck yeah, right there,” I shouted and reached up, bracing myself against the headboard to offer resistance so he could hit that magic spot all the harder. It worked and I screamed as my cock spurted below me, spilling onto the quilt.
“Yes, gonna come, ungh,” Jacob grunted as he thrust deep and hard one last time before I felt his cock pulsing inside me.
We were both panting when he slowly pulled out of my body, and I felt his come start to trickle out. Jacob rubbed the tip of his cock up and down my crack, spreading the mess everywhere, but I didn’t care.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry that wasn’t the sweet and romantic reunion I promised you, but damn.”
“Fuck yeah,” I mumbled into the pillow, still tingling and unable to move. Damn, I was a lucky man.
Christmas Eve
James
I loved the crazy and hectic chaos that was the Redfeather family. They were so different from my own, and I couldn’t help but be happy and proud of the family that had welcomed not only the two that married in, but all three of our children.
Little Mack was running around, chasing the pack of dogs the family had, and Chloe was sitting with her sister, playing with the toy horses and stables they had gotten. Cammie kept looking at Jacob and Isaac and smiling. Jacob and Isaac were going to be dads again in the spring, and Cammie and Sam couldn’t have been happier. She did the same thing we did, and she gave both Simon and Graham the “I’m waiting for news from you next” look. She melted when Simon and Sean told her they had an appointment with the surrogacy clinic in early January. Poor Graham though—he and Tyler were firm on the position of being the fun uncles, and they were happy with little Cujo.
We’d already eaten way too much food, and we had had a fun time opening gifts. The living room floor was completely covered in torn wrapping paper, discarded bows, and empty gift bags, but Mack was having a great time throwing it up in the air and giggling as it fell down around him. Ahh yes, to be two and a half again.
“Love, we need one of these,” Taylor said to me as he walked over with the tiny papillon in his hands.
“Darling, I thought you wanted to retire and travel? We can’t do that if we have a dog to take care of.”
“Do you really think you’re going to want to travel once those babies arrive? Hell, I imagine it’ll be hard enough getting you to go back to California long enough to sign over the company. I know I don’t want to leave. We’ll have plenty of time for a dog. Or two.”
“Hmm, you have a point. But maybe not one that’s quite that small? Isn’t there an animal shelter in Sulfur Springs?”
“I think that’s where Collin’s husband got their dog. We can ask when they get back from California if you want,” Taylor told me. I smiled at my husband before I looked out at the room full of family and shook my head. It was crazy, but it was family, and I loved every second we were here.
Since Sean had married Simon two years ago, Cammie and Sam had invited us to visit many times. Some we accepted, others we’d had to decline. Now that all three of our boys were married and settled away from us, we simply didn’t want to be so far away from them. And it really was time to simply relax and be dads and grandpas.
I looked at my husband of twenty-five years. Technically, we’d only been legally married fifteen years, but those first ten years were just as important as the last fifteen. I’d had an amazing life, and I knew it. Taylor had turned fifty-one this year, and I was about to leave my fifties. It was certainly time to slow down and enjoy the families that our children were starting to bless us with. I leaned in and stole a kiss from my husband who, like always, was more than willing.
“Are you excited to hit the slopes with everyone tomorrow?” he asked.
“Honestly? No,” I laughed out. I reached over and gently pet the puppy that Taylor had cuddled against his chest. “I still can’t believe Graham got such a tiny dog for Ty. I really took him more for something bigger that could run around the ranch without getting hurt.” I had to admit though, he really was cute and the fact that the little spitfire growled and snapped at Graham every time he came near him cracked me up. Cujo was the pe
rfect name for such a feisty little dog.
“Her water broke! Holy shit! Her water broke! Fuck! We have to go!”
All talking stopped and all eyes turned toward Rhett, who had been shouting. Logan was right with him and Scarlett was dancing at his feet.
“Her water…” I looked at Taylor and we both realized what that meant at the same time. We rushed to Logan and Rhett, hoping to calm them as well as offer any support they might need.
“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. Since she’s headed to the hospital in Sulfur Springs, I’ll take the daddies-to-be in my truck, and anyone else who wants to follow can do so at a slower speed,” Jacob said as he pointedly looked at each of us in the room. He was still in uniform since he’d come directly from work, so having his squad vehicle was certainly a benefit.
“We’ll keep everyone updated, but we have to go. She’s scheduled for a C-section, and we promised we’d be there for her,” Rhett said as he looked back down at his phone.
“Go. We’ll be in the waiting room when you need us,” I told them as I hugged both Logan and Rhett at the same time. Taylor did the same, and then they were striding toward the door as fast as they could.
“Scarlett. No, girl. Come here,” Isaac said as he crouched down. Scarlett was torn and wanted to stay with her master, but when Rhett stopped and gave her a hug and then told her to come back to Isaac, she came running and went back to playing with Mack, Ivan, and Nanuk.
“James, do you and Taylor want to ride with us? We’re determined we’ll be at the hospital for the duration. But if she’s going in for a C-section, it won’t be a long wait,” Fiona said to us as she and Joe walked up to our sides.
“That would be great. Although, one of us needs to take Logan and Rhett’s SUV.”
“Already on it! I was put on car detail last week,” Sean said as he held up the fob for their new family vehicle.
“All right, then I guess we should go meet our new grandbabies,” I said as I looked at Logan’s parents. Those of us that were heading to the hospital all walked toward the door, and then we were piling into vehicles and the caravan was on its way.
Rhett
Oh my god, I was about to become a dad. Holy shit. Logan and I were in the back seat of Jacob’s truck, his lights flashing and bouncing off the snow as we sped along the two-lane highway.
“Munchkin, calm down. We’ll get there when we do. They know we’re on the way, and if we don’t make it before they take her to surgery, then we weren’t meant to be there. She’s not alone; her roommate is with her.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s her roommate, Logan. But that’s not the point. Those are our babies. And I want to be there.”
“I’ll get you there. I’ve radioed the hospital. They know you’re inbound and your ETA. They’ll have someone waiting for you at the ER entrance. And just so you know, Allison hasn’t arrived yet either.”
“Thanks, Jacob,” Logan said as I fired off a text to Allison.
Me: You’re not there? Is everything okay?
Ali: Everything’s fine. My contractions are over ten minutes apart. We’re on the way. Are you?
Me: Yes. Jacob is driving. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.
Ali: Wendy said to be careful.
Me: We will.
“Her contractions are over ten minutes apart, but they’re on their way to the hospital,” I told Jacob and Logan.
My husband pulled me into his side, and that’s where I remained until we were pulling up outside the Sulfur Springs ER. Just as Jacob had said, there was a nurse with a friendly smile waiting for us.
“We were told you two were on the way. I believe we have a certain lady up in L & D OR waiting for you.”
“Is she okay?” I asked, worried.
“Everything is fine. We have her epidural in and her IV started, and she’s being prepped for surgery. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you upstairs and you two can get changed.”
We followed the nurse, and I remembered absolutely nothing until we were told to put on blue gowns, hats, and face masks.
“I can’t thank you enough. You’ll never know just how much this means to me,” I told Allison through my tears. She was lying on the table, and a screen was covering the bottom half of her body. Logan and I were standing on either side of her head.
“Do either of you dads want me to snap pictures? Allison has agreed to them if you want,” one of the nurses asked. Logan dug out his phone and handed it to her, and she got in place.
The next few minutes were both terrifying and heart-stopping, and after marrying Logan, the most beautiful moments of my life.
“Baby A is a boy,” the doctor said as he pulled out a slimy, wet baby that looked more like something out of a sci-fi movie than an actual human baby. He had a head full of dark hair, and I watched as Logan stepped over and cut the cord. Our son chose that exact moment to let us know his lungs worked, and quite well.
I looked at Logan through my tears and gave Allison’s hand a hard squeeze before my eyes met hers.
“Oh my god. Thank you. You can’t know how much.”
“Yeah, I do. You ready to meet your princess?” Allison asked.
“What? The other one is a girl?” My gaze flew to Logan, and my strong, steady-as-a-rock husband broke down.
“And here she is,” the doctor said. Holy shit, we had our own princess. Logan doted on our nieces, but now he had his own little girl to spoil. I shook my head when the doctor offered for me to cut the cord, unable to let go of Allison’s hand for even a moment. Logan wiped his eyes, and then he took the scissors again. Our daughter was screaming before Logan even had the scissors fully in his hand. Yep, that sounded about right.
I watched as the nurse took our little girl over to a table, and Logan came back to my side.
“You two go be with the babies. I’m looking forward to spending the next several weeks getting pampered by Wendy, and then we’re going on vacation once I’m cleared.”
“No, I’ll stay with you,” I told Allison but she shook her head.
“No, Rhett. I did this for you two. My job is done now. Now you two get to take over. Go meet your babies.”
I nodded as Logan leaned down and gave Allison a quick kiss on her forehead. I did the same and then somehow managed to walk over to where our babies were.
“Would you like to hold him?” one of the nurses asked as she held out a tightly wrapped bundle. They had put a blue hat on him, and I instinctively reached for our son.
“Hey there, little guy. You look just like your daddy. I promise to love you forever, no matter what,” I told him before I placed a soft kiss on top of his hat. When I looked up at my husband, he was holding our little girl and my heart melted. If I hadn’t already been Logan’s, I would have been in that moment.
“What are we going to name them?” I asked as I walked over and peeked at our little girl. She was bald and had bright blue eyes, a sure sign that we were in trouble in about fifteen years. But, no matter what, I’d love both of the babies, unconditionally.
“I thought you had names picked out already?” Logan asked as he swayed back and forth with the tiny bundle in his arms.
“You mean you want to go with those?”
“Why not? They’re great names. Besides, Ash and Abi are cute nicknames.”
“So, Asher Taylor and Abigail Grace?”
“Yeah. I think those are excellent names. And I’m sure your papa and my mom will think so, too.”
“Oh? Are they named after their grandparents, then?” the nurse asked as she maneuvered us together to get another series of pictures.
“The middle names are, yes. Taylor is my papa, and Grace is my mother-in-law’s middle name,” I told her as I smiled up at my husband. He looked at me and brought his forehead down to mine.
“I love you, Rhett. Thank you for being such a fighter for everything. I promise to keep doing my best to make you happy.”
“I already am. Just love me. That�
�s all I need.”
“Merry Christmas, munchkin.”
“Merry Christmas, Logan.”
The picture that the nurse snapped with our foreheads touching while we each held a twin sits on our mantle as well as our bedside table in our room.
Logan
I was a daddy. Allison, bless her, had given us a beautiful gift, one that we could never repay. She’d allowed me and Rhett to become parents. We’d offered, many times, for her to be in the babies’ lives, and she refused. We already had all of the paperwork signed, and now that the babies had been born, everything would be finalized.
I looked over at my husband, who was cooing at our son, Ash. That was a sight I’d never get tired of seeing.
“Knock, knock,” James said from the doorway. I’d been expecting them. I watched as my parents as well as Rhett’s came into the room we would be staying in with the babies for the next couple of days. Ash was just over six pounds, and Abi just under, and so far everything looked really good for them to go home the day after tomorrow.
But now, it was grandparents’ time. I smiled up at Mom, who looked at me and then Rhett with tears in her eyes.
“Would you like to meet your grandson or new granddaughter first?” I asked, looking at her. Everyone in the room gasped.
“There’s one of each?” Mom asked.
“Yes. You’re welcome to hold her if you want. I’m not sure Rhett will give up our son yet though,” I told her.
“I will. Papa, would you like to hold Asher?”
I looked at Taylor, who looked like he was about to cry. He nodded before he went to the sink and washed his hands beside my mom, and then we traded off our children and watched as our parents got acquainted with the twins.
“They’re so tiny,” Taylor said as he started cooing at Ash, just as Rhett had done.
