Crossroads of the Heart
Page 19
We’re standing in our bedroom looking at the progress that’s been made before we venture upstairs. I lean against the arched frame as Tamryn walks into the alcove and toward a teal box with a black ribbon.
“Noah?” she asks as she picks up the box.
“Yeah, baby?”
Her brows are raised with a questioning look on her face. “What’s this?”
“Why don’t you open it?”
She slips the ribbon off the box and lifts the top. She pulls out a sterling silver bangle. Our last name is engraved on the front with our birthstones, and our first names inscribed on the back.
I walk over to her and take it from her. “When the baby is born, I’ll have the birthstone put in here,” I say as I point to the spot next to hers, “and the name engraved here.” I flip the bangle over and show her before I put it on her wrist.
“Oh, Noah, it’s beautiful. Thank you. This is something to be treasured because it’s about us being together, not apart.”
I wrap my arms around her and lovingly kiss the only person to hold my heart. We break the kiss before we walk upstairs where two bedrooms and a jack-and-jill bathroom are being constructed.
“We only planned two bedrooms. Are you okay with that?” Tamryn asks.
I chuckle. “Baby, I’m an only child. Anything more that one is going to be new to me.” I kiss her forehead. “Whatever you want is good.”
“I think two will be enough.”
After we’ve examined all the rooms, I head down the steps ahead of here with her hands on my shoulders. My gut tenses with each step we take. “Tams, please don’t go up and down these steps until everything is finished. I don’t want you falling and hurting yourself or the baby, okay?”
“Noah, pregnant women do this and more every day. I think I’ll be just fine.”
“I know, and when I move my office here, it’ll be different, but with me at the barns, I’d just feel more comfortable. This is our first pregnancy and I don’t want anything to happen.”
She kisses me and whispers, “Yes, my king.”
Epilogue
Noah
Six months later
“We’d like to thank tonight’s corporate sponsors, Noah and Tamryn Carmichael from the Charmed Farms out of Aiken, South Carolina. Several riders are on horses bred by the Carmichael family. Good luck, gentlemen.”
We pose for several pictures for the Saluda newspaper. “May I ask a couple questions for the article?” the reporter asks. We look at each other, and Tamryn’s smile lets me know she agrees.
“As long as the questions aren’t too personal,” I reply in a friendly smile.
The reporter nods. “First, congratulations to you both on the addition to the family.” A friendly smile graces his face.
“Thank you,” we mumble.
“Do you know what you’re having, Mrs. Carmichael?”
Tamryn looks at me with a sparkle in her eyes. “We’re having a boy. Thank you for asking.”
The reporter clears his throat. “I saw that you won your court case for slander against Mr. Montgomery. Are you nervous to be back in Saluda where your issues began?”
A sad smile appears on Tamryn’s face. “Thank you, but we hate that a court case was necessary. I must confess that the personal protection order helps with my nerves. That, and my friends,” she indicates Dale and Becky standing close by, “my husband, and my body guard all make me feel protected.”
“Mr. Carmichael, how does it feel to be back here for a rodeo after all these years?”
I chuckle. “It makes me think about my younger days. I wish all the young men luck.”
As we walk hand in hand toward Dale and a very pregnant Becky, movement in the shadows catches my eye. When we stop, Colt steps into the light, and the look I shoot Tamryn puts everyone on alert. Dale starts toward us as well as Butch moves in front of Tamryn.
“You’ve had your fifteen minutes of fame, Montgomery. What do you want?”
Colt’s evil chuckle grates on my nerves. “You sure it’s yours?” He raises his chin toward Tamryn’s belly.
“More than positive.”
“What if I want a paternity test?”
Tamryn steps toward us, but Butch doesn’t let her get any closer. “You know—”
I hold up my hand for her to stop speaking. A smirk moves across my lips. “That’s funny, right there. Nothing happened between you and my wife, so there’s no way in hell the baby could be yours. But just to put your mind at ease, let’s just say mother nature told us when she got pregnant, and it didn’t happen on her last trip to Saluda.”
We continue walking in our original direction and only make a few steps. “Tamryn, when you’re through playing house with him, you know where to find me. I don’t care if you bring the kid.”
I move so fast that neither Tamryn or Butch has time to react. I back Colt against a tree with my forearm under his chin. “You’ve been told to stay away from my wife, and you’ve broken your personal protection order. I can beat the shit out of you here or have you thrown in jail for coming near her. Which do you want, Montgomery?”
Before Colt answers, two police officers approach. “Mr. Carmichael? Is there a problem, sir?”
“Yes, there’s a protection order against this man, and he stopped us as we were walking. He needs to be removed from the premises before we press charges.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll take care of him.”
“Thank you, gentlemen.” I put my arm around Tamryn and guide her away. “Let’s go stand with Dale and Becky and find out how our horses did.”
Tamryn hugs Becky and places her hand on her rounded belly. “How much longer?”
Becky pushes her hair away from her face and sighs. “Three weeks. I was hoping that walking around out here tonight might help to move this along.” She points toward her extended belly.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make the baby shower. Did you have fun?”
“Yes, y’all were very generous, but you shouldn’t have.”
“Well, you and Dale needed some rest and relaxation before the baby comes. Please tell me y’all got massages and lounged in the pool.”
Becky giggles. “We did. I thought Dale was going to flip out when I told him to get naked under the sheet before the massage started.”
Tamryn sighs. “I’m jealous. I may have to look into booking us one soon.” I see the look of love on Tamryn’s face as she looks at me, Dale, Becky, and even Butch. This is why she acted impulsively. This is the life she’s always wanted.
As she moves to my side and wraps her arm around my back, she slides her fingers into the back pocket of my jeans. We watch as the top three places for barrel racing, bronc riding, and calf roping come in. Riders on horses from Charmed Farms have at least placed in all the events, and with each announcement, Tamryn grabs my ass and I squeeze her. With the last announcement being made, she tilts her head to look in her cowboy’s eyes with a smile on her face. “You did it.”
I kiss her thoroughly. “I may not be the winner of the rodeo, but I still get the best prize.”
THE END
(Turn the page for the playlist from Crossroads of the Heart and a list of other books by Savannah Maris)
Playlist
She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind by Brooks and Dunn
Straight Tequila Night by John Anderson
The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks
Let There Be Cowgirls by Chis Cagle
Mama’s Broken Heart by Miranda Lambert
Downtown by Lady Antebellum
Somebody’s Heartbreak by Hunter Hayes
Ladies Love Country Boys by Trace Adkins
Let Me Down Easy by Billy Currington
Tight Fittin’ Jeans by Conway Twitty
Phones are Ringin’ All Over Town by Martina McBride
Take Your Time by Sam Hunt
Drink to That All Night by Jerrod Niemann
Stand By Your Man by Tammy Wynette
You Lost T
hat Lovin’ Feelin’ by The Righteous Brothers
T-Shirt by Thomas Rhett
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off by Joe Nichols
I Can Love You Like That by John Michael Montgomery
Die a Happy Man by Thomas Rhett
When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman by Dr. Hook
Life Changes by Thomas Rhett
Diamonds or Twine by Ryan Hurd
Other books by Savannah Maris
The Riverton Crossing Series
Unwelcomed Greeting, book 1
Unfinished Business, book 2
Unexpected Guest, book 3
Uninvited Visitors, book 4
Unbridled Passion, book 5 (coming soon)