by Ali Parker
I heard the screen door slam. Wyatt and Abi were coming out of the house and onto the porch headed in our direction. It was then that I noticed our father, sitting in his rocking chair on the porch, staring at us and smoking his pipe. I grew nervous. If there was one person’s approval I wanted to have, it was his.
“Well, look who arrived just in time to peel some potatoes for dinner,” Wyatt said, slapping me on the shoulder.
“Yeah, what gives? We haven’t seen you for more than ten minutes since you’ve been back,” Abi said to me. Then she looked at Madison and I started to feel anxiety as she analyzed her. I knew that she was apprehensive about her brothers dating, and Madison would be under her microscope.
“I’ve just been busy,” I said.
“Yeah we know,” Abi said. “Madison, come inside,” Abi said, grabbing Madison’s arm. But as she walked toward the house, she veered off to the left and spoke to Madison quietly. I couldn’t see Madison’s face so I didn’t know what Abi was telling her. With my brothers all around me roughhousing and being silly, I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I didn’t want Abi to upset Madison, and she couldn’t possibly know that Madison was in a delicate condition. I stared at them, trying to get over there, but my brothers kept pulling at me. Finally Abi and Madison turned back toward the house. Abi walked backwards addressing me, “This one is funny! She’s a keeper, brother!” Abi smiled.
“I know, right,” I smiled feeling relieved. Madison looked over her shoulder and gave me a smile. I was very relieved that Abi hadn’t said something to upset her.
I watched as my father stood up on the porch and gave Madison a hug. The rest of us made our way toward the porch and into the house. I didn’t know what I was so anxious about, of course they would accept her, they knew how much she meant to me. They’d seen the state I was in when I couldn’t be with her. I knew deep down they just wanted me to be happy, but would they be happy that she was pregnant?
Moments later, I stood peeling potatoes at the kitchen table. Madison was helping Abi do the same with a pile of carrots on the counter. They were talking to each other—girl talk—while my brothers continued to tease each other as we all prepared dinner together. Madison looked at me and gave me a big smile from across the kitchen.
“I just don’t know, I keep thinking I should cut it. I was thinking about getting a bob because it would make it easier to do chores around the ranch, but I do like it long, too,” Abi said to Madison.
“My best friend is a hair dresser. You could come over to my place and we could have a girl’s night about it. She would know what is best to do with your hair,” Madison said. I enjoyed overhearing their chatter.
“That would be fantastic!” Abi said.
“Get your elbow out of my side Connor, geez,” Dylan said, pushing Connor away from him as they both grabbed plates and silverware to set the dining table.
“You just take up too much space,” Connor teased him back.
This was good, we were all having a good time and it felt comfortable. This felt right, she was part of the family now and everyone was treating her as though she had been there for years. I really enjoyed seeing it like that, it made me happy and it gave me relief.
One hour later, we were sitting around the dining room table. This was a more formal affair for all of us. Dinner conversation was the same as usual, things that were going on around the ranch, and about the food. But I sat there, tapping my foot and feeling nervous.
“Tanner, you should really ride out to the back forty and take a look at those crops. You too, Madison. They’re looking really, really good. You two did a wonderful job and I can’t thank you enough,” my father said.
“Thank you Mr. Dawson, that means a lot to me,” Madison said.
“Yes Father, I will take a look. I’m glad it’s working out. Madison here is the one with all the brains, I just helped.” I said, giving her a wink.
“Speaking of your work Madison, are you going to be working at the college again?” Abi asked.
“Yes, I was fortunate enough to get a research assistant position. I’ll be working directly under my old supervisor again. It’s a good job and I’ll be able to do a lot of research and experiments, exactly the work that I love,” Madison said.
“That is wonderful. I’m really glad to hear it worked out,” Abi said with a smile.
“Yes, we are very glad to have you back, Madison. Now, Tanner on the other hand,” Connor teased.
“Well brother, if you want me gone so badly, you might get your wish,” I said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Wyatt said.
“Madison and I are looking for a house together, and I’m going to be moving out of the house here soon. But we’re looking for something close, so it’s not a long commute for me to get here early in the morning for work.”
“A house? Really?” my father said.
“Yes, we kind of need it. Or will need it soon,” I said, looking at Madison. She nodded her head. I stood up from my chair at the table.
Everyone grew quiet and looked at me. I was nervous, but I needed to just get it over with.
“Uh, Madison and I are going to have a baby.”
The table was completely silent. I waited and Madison tensed up beside me.
“Woo-hoo!” Dylan shouted.
Suddenly the table exploded into congratulations. I exhaled in relief. My brothers stood up from their chairs, excitedly. Abi was giving Madison a hug while my brothers came over and shook my hand.
“Damn brother! Congratulations!” Wyatt said.
“Looks like your boys can swim!” Connor joked, referencing my sperm count.
“I’m going to be an uncle,” Dylan said.
My father stood up and went to Madison and gave her a hug. “I’m real proud of you. You and my son belong together, and now you’re going to make me a grandfather. I’m so happy. Welcome to the family, Madison.”
“Thank you, Mr. Dawson,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Then he came over to me and shook my hand. “Son, congratulations. You have made your old father proud. I’m glad that I’m going to see the days of becoming a grandfather. I can’t wait to sit out on that porch with a baby on my lap again. We are all here for you, and I will help you get that house, no matter what.”
“Thank you, Father, that means a lot.” I gave him a hug.
“This calls for celebration. Wyatt, bring out the good whiskey!”
“Yes sir,” Wyatt said.
“I’ll help,” Abi said.
Wyatt and Abi appeared with the whiskey and glasses. We all raised a glass, except Madison who raised a glass of juice, in celebration.
“To Madison and Tanner, and the new Dawson coming into the family,” my father said, making the toast.
“To Madison and Tanner,” everyone toasted. “And baby!”
I looked at Madison, filled with happiness. She truly did complete me, filled me with love and passion, and now was carrying our child inside of her. I couldn’t ask for anything more, especially now that my family knew about the baby and were welcoming her and the child into the family. Now everything was perfect on the Dawson Ranch.
36
Madison
“I’m nervous,” I said, as I sat in the waiting room next to Tanner.
“So am I. This is my first visit to a gynecologist, after all,” Tanner said.
His words made me laugh.
“Oh, you think that’s funny,” he said.
“Yes, I do. And Dr. Margaret Stevenson isn’t just a gynecologist, she’s an obstetrician, and she’s the one that will be delivering our baby. This is a very important appointment.”
“Yes, I know it is. I wish I would have come with you to the first one, but things got crazy at the ranch. But I’m here now and I wouldn’t miss it.”
Tanner took a deep breath. I thought it was very cute that he was such a nervous father-to-be.
“Madison Dryer,” the nurse said.
; “Here,” I said.
We walked back through the door into the hallway where the nurse led us into an examination room. A few moments after that I was laying on a table with the ultrasound technician at my side and she was rubbing the ultrasound wand on my belly.
“Alright, you are about twenty weeks into the pregnancy. Do you want to know the sex of your baby?”
I looked at Tanner to be sure he hadn’t changed his mind. He nodded his head eagerly. This was why we had come together to this doctor’s appointment. We did want to know.
“Yes, we both want to know.”
“All right then. Looks like you’ll be having a baby girl.”
“Woo-hoo!” Tanner let out a shout.
I laughed, and even the technician laughed.
“Yes, a girl!” Tanner said.
“A girl,” I whispered.
“Everything looks good here. I’ll give you two a moment together. Get dressed and come out when you are ready and I will give you the paperwork,” the technician said. Then she walked out the door closing it behind her.
Tanner kissed me on the cheek, on the lips, and on the cheek again. He was covering my face in kisses and seemed very excited. “I can’t believe it. How lucky are we? We get to have a little girl. I’ve grown up in a family of boys. I would love to have a baby girl to spoil.”
“Not to spoil too much. I need her to be strong and independent,” I said.
“She is your child, so there is no doubt that she’ll be strong and independent. She’ll be a little Madison,” he said.
“That is true. Can you believe it? We are going to have a little girl,” I said, with tears in my eyes.
“I am filled with absolute happiness,” he said, kissing me again. We took our time, letting the information sink in. I was so happy and was already picking out baby clothes in my mind. This was absolutely perfect.
I got dressed and walked out of the examination room with Tanner at my side.
“Now, Ms. Jenkins, here are your condoms and a prescription for birth control,” the nurse said to a familiar woman at the counter. Tanner stopped and his face immediately turned red.
As soon as the woman turned I recognized her. She was the blond with green eyes that had given me a dirty look in the parking lot one day a long time ago when I was with Tanner. I knew her name now. It was Sally Jenkins.
“Tanner Dawson, what are you doing here?” she said, shocked. Then she saw that Tanner had his arm around me and recognition came over her face.
“Sally Jenkins, haven’t seen you in a long time. How are you?”
“Miss Dryer, here are your ultrasound photos to take home.”
“Congratulations on that baby girl,” another nurse said in passing as she handed Tanner a folder, which he took with a big smile.
Sally turned bright red. Grabbed her items, she left without another word. I hated to admit it, but I felt completely smug. Tanner was mine, and we were having a child together and now she knew it, and so would everyone else.
We approached the counter and did our check out paperwork. I looked at Tanner and he rolled his eyes and whispered. “Just someone from my past, when I used to be wild. Way before I met you.”
“I know,” I said smiling.
“Now it’s only you,” he said.
I reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
We did the paperwork and left, then climbed into his truck. I felt incredibly happy.
“So, what should we do now?” he asked.
“I think that we need to go shopping. We’re going to have a baby girl. We need to get things for the house and start gathering what we’ll need. And now that we know it’s a girl, we can choose what we want and start getting set up.”
“I like that idea. I get to spoil my baby girl already.”
I laughed at him as we drove away from the doctor’s office after receiving the amazing news. We had already settled in our new house which was very close to Dawson Ranch. I absolutely loved it. It was on a couple of acres, but not too big. The Dawson Ranch was our ranch as well, and we didn’t need another ranch to take care of. Abi rode over on a different horse several times a week. We had a good routine going at our new home and I couldn’t be happier. Now we were going to turn that home into the perfect place for a new baby girl.
I looked at Tanner, feeling incredibly happy. Every girl in town wanted him, and he was mine. He used to be a wild stallion, and now he was my stallion. We had a grand adventure ahead of us and I could not wait to meet the child that we had created from our love.
Epilogue
Madison
5 months later
I laid in the bed, feeling extremely exhausted, but incredibly happy. In reality, I felt like I had just been hit by a truck, but I was happy about it.
“You did amazing. I don’t know how you did that,” Tanner said, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. Then he took a cloth and wiped the sweat off my forehead.
“Neither do I. I’m just glad it’s over,” I said breathlessly.
“Well, everyone is here and they are excited and all gathered in the waiting room. Both of our fathers are a complete bundle of nerves,” Tanner said, laughing.
“I can imagine. I’m nervous too,” I said, pushing myself up in the hospital bed.
“I’m just excited. That was crazy, but you are strong, stronger than I ever imagined. I’m so lucky to have you, and now we are lucky to have her,” he said.
“Yes, I feel so lucky. She is beautiful isn’t she?”
“Yes, very beautiful. Completely worth the wait,” he said.
“Yes, nine months of waiting, but everything has changed so much, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, big changes for both of us. With the new house, and our new child, everything changed for the better as far as I’m concerned. I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Tanner said.
“I feel the same way. Now the real change starts, though. We are parents,” I said. “Can you believe it?”
“Yes, we are. It’s going to be a long road ahead of us, but one filled with happiness and excitement. We are so lucky,” he said, as he placed a kiss on my forehead.
“Okay, all cleaned up. Here she is,” the nurse said, handing over our baby girl to Tanner.
He took a deep breath and gently took her in his arms. I loved looking at him. This masculine cowboy with a tattoo sleeve on his arm, holding this tiny little child in his hands, our child. It was definitely a sight to behold. It made tears of joy stream down my cheeks. I felt complete bliss in the moment.
“Hi, little one. I’m your daddy. You are so beautiful my little girl, you are just as beautiful as your mother. Look at you, so tiny. I promise to love and protect you always,” Tanner said, in a gentle voice.
He looked at me and smiled. “Your turn.”
“Yes, please. I can’t wait to hold her,” I said, putting my arms out to him. He placed our baby in my arms. I held her close, looking down at her little face. She was so beautiful.
“Hello, my darling baby. I love you so much. You are everything to me,” I said to her.
Tanner sat next to me on the bed, putting his hand on her. “Now, about that name?”
“I was thinking Lilac,” I said.
“Lilac?”
“Yes, Lilac Dawson, as in Indian Lilac,” I said.
A big smile came across his face. “Indian Lilac, as in Azadirachta indica, the neem tree from the neem oil that brought us together in the first place.
“Exactly,” I said. “The neem tree that not only saved the farm, but saved us as well.”
“I love it,” he said. “It’s perfect. Hello Lilac Dawson. We’re your parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tanner Dawson.”
I looked at him, smiling, though I thought it was an odd thing to say. He looked at me and kissed me on the cheek. Then he stood up, and dug into his pocket.
“That is, if your mother would do me the honor of being my wife.”
I looked in his hand and saw a diamond ring. It was square
cut, brilliant and beautiful with a platinum band. He dropped down to one knee, “Madison Dryer, will you marry me?”
I gasped. “Yes. Of course I will marry you, Tanner Dawson.”
He smiled, then jumped to his feet and slid the ring on my finger. “Now we are officially a family—a real family, me, you, and Lilac Dawson.”
“I’m so happy,” I said.
He kissed me on the lips and I was filled with complete happiness. I’d had no idea he’d been planning that surprise for me.
The door to the room opened and Abi peeked her head in.
“She said yes,” Tanner said.
“Thank God, we’ve been waiting in a nervous group,” Abi said, coming in. I laughed. Everyone else knew what Tanner was up to. That was great. Behind Abi, everyone poured into the room. Wyatt, Connor, Dylan, Mr. Dawson, my father, and Jenna. The room became so loud.
“Congratulations!” Jenna said, coming over to me with a bundle of balloons and flowers.
“Thank you, Jenna.”
“Everyone, I want you to meet Lilac Dawson!” Tanner announced, proudly.
“Hello.”
“Hi baby.”
“Hey Lilac.”
“Isn’t she beautiful!”
A flurry of words moved through the room as everyone spoke enthusiastically.
I looked around the room at my family. This was what I had always wanted. I didn’t think that it was possible after my childhood experience. But now I was getting what I had always wished for when I was a child. A big family that was always together. I was getting it now, and it was better than I could have ever expected. I was now a Dawson of Dawson Ranch in Safety, Texas.
The End
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