The Promise (Butler Ranch Book 1)

by Heather Slade

  “I’ve prayed for this, lass,” Sorcha said through her tears. “I knew my Kade would bring you two back together.”

  “Ma—”

  “It’s okay, Brodie.” Peyton stopped him. “I believe there’s some truth to what she’s saying.”

  “I do too, actually. I’m just not sure how much you like to talk about him.”

  There was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” Maddox offered.

  “It’s probably my mom, I’ll get it.” Both Alex and Maddox walked toward the door. Peyton saw the look that passed between them, and noticed they stood close enough to each other that their arms touched. Soon she’d corner Alex and force her to tell her what was going on between her and Brodie’s brother.

  “We didn’t expect to see you, little sister,” Maddox wrapped someone Peyton didn’t recognize in a hug. Brodie jumped off the sofa, and hurried over to the entryway. He held the woman who was crying, tight in his arms.

  “That’s Ainsley, lass,” Sorcha told Peyton. “Have you met my youngest?”

  “I haven’t. She’s beautiful.” The woman walking toward her, with her arm wrapped around Brodie’s waist, was stunning. She was tall and thin, like Peyton was, with the same fiery red hair as Sorcha’s. It was wavy and long, reaching all the way down to the curve of her back. She had the same deep blue eyes as her siblings, and her face was covered in freckles. She wore a knee-length, deep emerald green dress with long-sleeves, over black tights, and funky, patterned socks peaking over her caramel colored boots.

  “I’m Ainsley.” She leaned down and hugged Peyton. “About time we met.” She laughed. “Ma’s told me so much about you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Ainsley sat down on one side of Peyton, and Brodie sat on the other. “Where’s Skye?”

  “On her way. I didn’t know you were coming too. I’ve missed you kiddo.”

  Ainsley leaned into Peyton. “I’m twenty-seven years old and he still calls me kiddo.”

  “You’ll always be my baby sister, Ains. Doesn’t matter if I’m seventy-five and you’re seventy.”

  When they heard another knock, Peyton’s father got up. “I’ll get it, and we can leave it open. Who knows who else might show up today?”

  Peyton’s mother stood when she saw it was Lucia Avila. “Welcome, dear friend.” She leaned forward and the two women hugged.

  “Quite a gathering you have here today, August.”

  When Peyton shifted to stand, Brodie did instead. “Mrs. Avila, it’s good to see you.”

  “And you, Brodie.” Lucia smiled at him, and leaned down to hug Peyton. “If I were thirty years younger, I’d hook one of these Butler boys myself.”

  “Mama!” Alex shook her finger.

  “Now, now. I’m not, so Maddox is all yours.” She winked.

  Peyton couldn’t have predicted she’d ever see Maddox Butler blush, but Alex’s conversation with her mother had him turning almost red.

  “Is this getting to be too much?” Brodie whispered to Peyton when he sunk back down on the couch.

  “I’m okay, just a little tired.”

  He leaned in closer. “Let me know when you want to go back upstairs. Don’t feel as though you need to stay down here if you don’t want to.”

  “I want to go home, Brodie.”

  “Today?”

  “If you don’t mind. If you do, I can stay here a few more days.”

  “What’s going on over there? August, didn’t you tell your daughter it isn’t polite to whisper?”

  “She’s a grown woman, as you are, Alex.”

  “We’re talking about Brodie taking me home.” Peyton looked over at her mother, to gauge her reaction. She simply smiled.

  “I think that’s a wonderful idea, don’t you boys?” When August addressed Jamison and Finn, they both stood.

  “Should we pack up our stuff?”

  “We’re not leaving yet, but if Brodie doesn’t mind, maybe we can get him to take us home after dinner.” Peyton squeezed Brodie’s hand.

  “Whenever you’re ready, sweetheart.”

  Brodie’s sister Skye arrived less than a half an hour later with the most beautiful little girl Peyton thought she’d ever seen.

  “This is Spencer,” Skye said. “Spencer, can you say hello to Miss Peyton?” Spencer hid behind her mother’s legs, but her blue eyes met Peyton’s. Skye looked like a slightly older version of Ainsley, but her hair was a little lighter, not the fiery red like Sorcha’s and her little girl’s. Peyton imagined Spencer looked a lot like her grandmother might’ve looked as a child.

  “What are you thinking about?” Brodie caught her staring.

  “What this one will look like. Will she look more like me or someone from your family?” Peyton rested her hands on her tummy.

  “She’ll be beautiful, with blonde hair and green eyes, just like her mama. That’s my prediction.”

  “Seriously? I think you two should just leave now. You’re so annoyingly happy.” Alex scowled.

  “Jealous much?” When Naughton nudged her, Maddox shot him a look both Peyton and Brodie caught.

  “What is up with those two?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out tomorrow,” Peyton whispered back.

  “When are you due?” Peyton asked Skye.

  “Another month. You?”

  “December.”

  “You’re almost out of the first trimester then. Have you been sick much?”

  “Not as much as with my boys.”

  “You’re glowing. I felt wonderful when I was pregnant with Spence, but this little guy is kicking my butt. I feel as though he’s aged me twenty years.”

  “Nonsense. You’re just as beautiful today as when I met you ten years ago. More beautiful, in fact,” said a man with the same accent as Sorcha.

  “Peyton,” Skye smiled, “this is my husband, MacLayne Campbell. Mac, meet Peyton.”

  Mac shook her hand, but his eyes barely left his wife’s.

  Lang had been wretched when she was eight months along with both Jamison and Finn. He never failed to mention she looked “haggard.” When he asked her how long she thought it would take her to lose weight after Finn was born, she wanted to slug him. To think a man who cared so little about his then wife, wanted custody of the two boys he abandoned when one was a toddler and the other a baby. Her blood boiled thinking about it.

  Brodie’s hand rested on the back of her neck, his fingers softly stroked her skin. “Everything okay?”

  “Sorry, I was just comparing your brother-in-law’s behavior with Lang’s when I was pregnant.”

  “Something else we need to talk about, Peyton.”

  “So you know?”

  “My parents and my brothers know too.”

  “I can’t believe he would do this.” She shook her head. “Can we change the subject?”

  Skye leaned over and put her hand on Peyton’s arm. “Is there a place you and I could speak privately?”

  “She isn’t supposed to be on her feet,” Brodie answered.

  Peyton smiled at him, but stood. “Of course, follow me. I need some fresh air anyway.” The two walked out the front door to the porch. Peyton closed the door behind her.

  “Spencer was two weeks early,” Skye began after they sat in two big wicker chairs. “I’ve wanted to discuss this with you, but I wasn’t sure how to handle it.”

  “What did you want to discuss?”

  “Mac and I want to name the baby Kade. We want to talk to my family about it, and since everyone is here, the timing would be good. However, I told Mac I needed to talk to you about it first.”

  “Skye, you and your husband do not need to discuss your child’s name with me. You should name your son whatever you want to. But since you asked, I think it would be a wonderful tribute, not only to your brother, but to your whole family.”

  “Mac said you wouldn’t mind, but I feel a lot better asking.”

  “I appreciat
e it.”

  “Should we go back in?” Skye asked after a few minutes of silence.

  “I’d like to stay out here a little while longer, if you don’t mind.”

  “Would you like to be alone?”

  “No, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about, too.”

  21

  Alex sat on the couch next to Brodie, and elbowed him. “How are you doing with all this?”

  He ran his hand through his hair, and blew the air out of his lungs. “I feel like I just ran a marathon, or survived a plane crash.”

  “Right?” She laughed. “So it never dawned on you she was pregnant?”

  “Nope. It should’ve, but it sure as hell didn’t.” Brodie leaned in closer to her. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “You may need to return the favor one day.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “There may come a day you need to pull your brother’s head out of his ass for me.”

  “Sure he’s worth it?”

  Alex’s mood turned serious quickly. Instead of being playful, she seemed sad. “Yeah, Brode, I do.” Alex stood and went to sit next to her mother. Brodie tried to catch Mad’s eye, but his brother looked lost in thought, and no happier than Alex.

  “Join me, Son?” Jamison Wolf motioned for Brodie to follow him into another room. There would likely be many private conversations like these today, and in the days that followed.

  “You’re aware of Lang Becker’s petition to the court,” he began after closing the door behind Brodie.

  “I am, sir.”

  “From what our lawyer has been able to find out, it appears that Lang is getting married again, and there is a child on the way.”

  Brodie kept his sarcastic thoughts to himself, but jeez, who would marry and start a family with a man who abandoned his first wife and kids? Probably someone after the Becker family’s money, he’d guess. Lang Becker had no idea what he lost when he left Peyton, and Brodie intended to help her forget her ex-husband’s existence. The first thing they had to do was get this petition thrown out, so she didn’t have the stress of it hanging over her.

  “My understanding is the new wife’s family disapproves of his lack of a relationship with Jamison and Finn. I doubt Lang would’ve initiated this without their prodding.”

  “How well do you know his family?”

  “The Beckers? Not well at all. We had the usual interaction with them when Peyton married Lang, and then again when each of the boys were born. Their own lack of interest was baffling. August and I have had a difficult time understanding people who have no involvement in their grandchildrens’ lives.”

  “I was going to ask you about that.”

  “It’s as though Jamison and Finn don’t exist.”

  “Why does Lang think he has a prayer?”

  “The judge who signed the petition is his future wife’s uncle.”

  “Does Peyton know this?”

  “No, and until we have a better idea of how to fight this, I would appreciate you not mentioning it.”

  Brodie didn’t want to disrespect Peyton’s father, but it didn’t feel right to keep this from her, or to start their relationship with secrets. As hard as it was, he had to speak his mind. “I can’t promise that, sir. I understand your reasons for asking me not to tell her, but Peyton needs to be able to trust me.”

  “I see.” Peyton’s father turned away to open the door, but Brodie thought he caught a quick smile on his face. Had he just passed a test?

  “Sir?”

  “Yes, Brodie?”

  “Are we good?”

  “Better than.”

  Yep, he’d just passed his first test. The next would be to figure out a way to tell Peyton what he knew without wreaking havoc on her already taut nerves.

  “Wait.” Brodie paused while Jamison closed the door. “Can’t we get this moved to another judge, claim bias or something?”

  “That is exactly what Stan is working on now.”

  “Stan?”

  “Our lawyer.”

  “I love her,” Brodie blurted.

  “That’s obvious. I think you’ll be very good for her, too. Peyton hadn’t found anyone truly worthy of her until she met you, at least that’s what her mother and I believe.”

  “Not even Kade?”

  “You can form your own opinion on whether you believe he would’ve been good for her in the long run.”

  “Yes, sir, I can.”

  “Shall we go back and join the others?”

  Brodie started to follow the man who he hoped would be his father-in-law one day soon, but then stopped. “Wait, Mr. Wolf, there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “Call me Jamison, and if it’s our blessing you’re looking for, you have it wholeheartedly.”

  “Thank you. I’ll do everything I can to make her happy.”

  “I know you will.” He smiled.

  “To answer your question, Kade and I were never close. That may surprise you given Mac and I want to name our son for him. Maybe that’s even the reason I suggested it in the first place.”

  “I didn’t really know anyone in your family until I met Brodie. Kade never gave me the impression he was close to any of you, at least not like I am to my parents.”

  When Skye’s eyes teared up, Peyton thought maybe she’d gone too far. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you.”

  “No, it isn’t what you said. It’s just that his behavior always bothered me. He was never around, and then when he would come home, he’d turn right around and leave again.”

  “He spent a lot of his time with me. It makes me sad to think I kept him from his family.”

  “But you didn’t. If he wasn’t with you, he would’ve been somewhere else. Before he met you, he wasn’t around either. It isn’t something you should feel sad about. Maddox is the only one who really got to know him. Kade spent more time with our brothers than he did with Ainsley and me, but I don’t think Naught or Brodie would say they felt close to him either.”

  “Your family has been so accepting of me…”

  “Why wouldn’t we be?” Skye laughed. “I met you a couple hours ago, and already feel as though I know you. You’re very easy to accept, Peyton.”

  “Thanks, but—”

  “Stop. I know you’re worried about what we all think, but you shouldn’t be.”

  “What’s up, girls?” Ainsley came out the front door and sat down in one of the other wicker chairs.

  “I’m assuring Peyton that no one in our family has any issue with her relationship with Brodie.”

  “Oh God, no. Personally, I’m thrilled. The first of our brothers is getting married. I never thought I’d see the day! Wait, you are getting married, aren’t you?”

  Peyton laughed. “What time is it?”

  “I don’t know, around four maybe. Why?”

  “Give us a couple of days. It hasn’t been more than a couple hours since he found out he’s going to be a father.”

  “Oh, gotcha.” Ainsley laughed.

  “Where are all my girls?” Sorcha opened the front door and started to come out when Skye stopped her.

  “We’re coming inside now, Ma. Ready, Peyton?”

  When Peyton stood, Sorcha walked over and rested her hand on Peyton’s cheek. “You’re one of my girls now too, lass.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Butler.”

  “Sorcha, please. You have a choice, you can call me Sorcha, or Ma, whichever you prefer.”

  “You’ll call her Ma. Everyone does.” Skye smiled.

  Peyton felt the emotion of the day weighing on her, something Brodie picked up on when he met her near the front door.

  “What would you like to do, sweetheart? Go upstairs and rest?”

  “I’d rather go home, Brodie. Can we, please?”

  “I’d prefer it too, Peyton, but I think we should talk about how this is going to work. I’ll need to stay with you.”

  “I don’t care what anyon
e thinks, Brodie. I’ve spent too much time worrying about it. I want to go home.”

  “You got it.”

  Brodie went upstairs with Peyton and found Alex already packing her stuff.

  “I just need to grab what’s in the bathroom, and you’ll be set to go.”

  “Thanks, Alex. I’m so tired.”

  “I know you are. You’ll feel much better sleeping in your own bed. Plus, no stairs at your place. That’ll be better too.”

  “Brodie, can you ask the boys—”

  Alex held up her hand. “The boys have plans tonight.”

  “They do?”

  “Yep. Slumber party with Uncle Maddox and Aunt Alex.”

  Peyton and Brodie both raised their eyebrows.

  “We’ll talk about that tomorrow. You need to get our girl home,” Alex said to Brodie. “We’ll bring the boys home tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll call you in the morning.”

  Peyton nodded her head, and sat down on the bed.

  “I’ll bring all this down, you get her in the car.”

  Rather than waiting for further direction, Brodie picked Peyton up and carried her down the stairs. When they got to the bottom, she wriggled.

  “Put me down, Brodie. I’m heavy.”

  He ignored her, and held her still.

  “I need to get my girl home. We’ll see all of you soon.” He didn’t wait for anyone to answer, instead he walked out the front door. Moments later, Maddox followed with Peyton’s things, while Alex ran ahead to open the door of Brodie’s truck.

  “You’re making too much of this,” Peyton said, but when she rested her head on his shoulder, he knew he was right about how exhausted she was.

  Alex closed the door after Brodie helped Peyton inside, and rested her arm on the bottom of the open window. “You’re in good hands, or I wouldn’t let you leave,” she teased before her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so happy for you both.”

  “Thanks, Alex.” Peyton leaned back and closed her eyes.

  “Get her home, Brodie.” Alex backed away from the truck, and into Maddox, who wrapped his arms around her waist. They both waved as Brodie drove away.

  “What else can I get you?”

  “Seriously, Brodie, nothing. I’ve already told you that ten times.” Peyton patted the mattress. “Would you please just get in bed?”