by Maggie Ryan
"Oh God, thank you," Wyatt cried, jumping up. "How's Aggy? When can I—" Another scream split the air and stole all color from him as he staggered, Matthew catching him before he fell. Catherine spun away, racing back to her daughter.
Richard and Roger added their strength to Matthew's, offering all they had to the man who had just become a father and yet, they all knew, was terrified that it had cost him his wife.
When the bedroom door opened again, they looked up to see Harriett.
"Don't," Wyatt said, straightening, his hands out as if to push her away. "Don't tell me… I can't."
"Oh no, son," Harriett said, rushing to him. "Agatha is fine. Wyatt, she is just fine, I swear to you."
"She… she is? She screamed…"
"That was because your wife surprised us all," Harriett said, her smile huge as the other women came from the bedroom. "Wyatt, you have a daughter."
"A daughter? Catherine said it was a boy."
"It is, she means you have one of each," Charity said, her eyes sparkling.
"Twins!" Anna added.
"A boy and a girl. Two," Sally said, as if to be absolutely clear.
"Two?" Wyatt said, his color returning as the men slapped him on the back. "Two?"
"Congratulations, Papa," Richard said. "Two new additions to the Rose."
Catherine appeared. "Wyatt, come meet your children."
Wyatt walked across the room, his eyes streaming as he entered the bedroom. The others followed quietly, gathering in the doorway to see him move to the bed where Agatha was sitting against the headboard, a tiny wrapped bundle in each of her arms. The man dropped to his knees and buried his face in her lap, sobs wracking his body. Not a word was said as he cried, not a sound made until he lifted his head.
"God, I love you," he said, finally standing only long enough to sit down next to his wife.
"I love you so much," Agatha said as he cupped her face and kissed her.
"Two?" he said yet again, and she smiled.
"Yes, meet Molly Catherine and Michael Daniel. Children, this is your pa."
Wyatt reached for his daughter, the bundle looking so very small, tiny fingers moving to grasp one of her pa's. He kissed her head and then took his son, bending to kiss the top of his black, curly hair. The others slowly left the room, allowing the family to bond but knowing that the babies would never lack for love as they had plenty of aunts and uncles to coddle and guide them.
***
Two weeks later, Matthew and his family exited the bunkhouse that had been their home for the past few months. Matthew settled his hat on his head as Davy tugged his coonskin cap from his back pocket and pulled it on. "Go ahead, son, lead us home," Matthew said. The boy raced off, the tail of the raccoon bouncing against the nape of his neck, King following, barking, Matthew and Sally walking hand in hand. Once on the porch, Davy grinned, handing a wrapped object to his mother.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Open it," Davy said. "It's not lotion, though."
Matthew chuckled and Sally shook her head as she pulled at the twine. Folding the paper back, she gasped. "Oh, this is beautiful! Where on earth did you find it?"
"In the river up on the ridge," Matthew answered. "Davy and I found it when we went fishing. We thought you'd like it."
"I love it," Sally said, stroking her finger over the heart-shaped rock. "A heart stone for the Stone family."
"Exactly. I thought we could hang it above the fireplace," Matthew said, sweeping her off her feet. Davy stepped through the door and Matthew followed, pausing on the threshold to kiss Sally before moving further into the cabin, finally setting her on her feet.
King dashed from room to room, investigating and barking as he found Davy's scent in one of the bedrooms. Another bedroom was across the cabin where a brand new, larger bed awaited the newlyweds. A third bedroom made their cabin the largest on the ranch. Though they hadn't yet told the others, Sally had seen Doc Williams on the day they'd finally gone into town to formalize her claim. She was shocked to learn that her upset stomach was not the bug she thought it must be but that she was pregnant.
"Never had a doubt," Matthew had said, bending to kiss her. "How could a child not be conceived on such a magical night under the stars?"
They discovered that wood nymphs had visited yet again, baskets sat on the counter, their table already set, a vase of wildflowers in the center.
"We are the luckiest people on earth," Sally said. "Just think, I came as a stranger, a pioneer who really had no idea of what I'd find. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect to find you, a rancher with the biggest heart I could ever imagine. A man who not only fell in love with me and my son, but brought me into the lives of his friends, who are now my family as well. I love you, Matthew. You are my everything."
"As you are mine. You have been since I saw you jumping that fence," he said, reaching to stroke the stone she still held. "You are my wife, my angel, my little devil, my capricious cowgirl, the mother of our children, and always and forever, my heart."
The End
Maggie Ryan
#1 International and USA Today bestselling author for Blushing Books. I write both contemporary erotica and historical spanking romances. I enjoy writing about characters that enjoy the provocative D/S lifestyle of today’s times, as well as taking a step back into the past to write stories that take place in the Victorian era with age-play as a theme.
I live in the great Lone Star state with my wonderful husband. I have always loved reading. Growing up in a family with four children, it was difficult finding a place to be alone. I was probably one of the squeakiest clean girls on the planet as I would spend hours in the tub so I could read without being bothered. It wasn’t long before I began to make up my own endings to the books I was reading. From there, it just seemed natural to begin writing my own stories.
I never try to restrict myself to any one genre because there are just too many delicious possibilities out there and inside my head. I admit to being somewhat of a romantic, though, as my stories always must have a great deal of love, passion, corporal discipline and, of course, great, mind-blowing sex. I want my readers to be able to see, hear, feel and know the characters that I’m creating as well as I do when I bring them to life and transfer their stories to paper. I want my women to be strong of character but also strong enough to know that submission given in love and trust to your partner does not make you weaker, it makes you far stronger. I want my men to be sexy, strong, demanding alpha males who know how to take what they want while acknowledging it is a gift they have been blessed with by the women that have chosen to submit to them. I want there to be no doubt that they truly would die for the other no matter how others might view their relationship.
http://www.maggieryanauthor.com/
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Don’t miss these exciting titles by Maggie Ryan and Blushing Books!
Charming Isabella
Louisa Revealed: Women of Wintercrest Book 1
Lord Edward’s Law: Women of Wintercrest Book 2
Claimed: Women of Wintercrest Book 3
Lucy Surrenders: Women of Wintercrest Book 4
Summer Solace
Becoming His: The Teaching of Rebecca
Lucy’s Journey Home: Hunter’s Ridge Book 1
Homecoming: Hunter’s Ridge Book 2
Reunion: Hunter’s Ridge Book 3
Blessed Beginnings: Hunter’s Ridge 4
Designed for Submission: Divine Designs Book 1
A Submissive's Dream: Divine Designs Book 2
Treasured Submission
Haven’s Promise: Divine Designs Book 3
The Christmas Pickle
A Submissive’s Gift: Divine Designs Book 4
Rosie’s Resolutions (Masters of the Castle)
My Charming Valentine (Corbin’s Bend)
Miss Summers’ School: Lessons in Submission, Book One
Cherry’s Jubilee: Lessons in Submission, Book Two
Lilly Blossoms: Lessons In Submission, Book Three
Ever Lasting Hope (Corbin’s Bend)
An Author’s Angst (Corbin’s Bend)
Realizing Her Dream (w/ Laurel Jane)
A Little Sunshine (written w/ Abbie Adams)
Vintage Values (Corbin’s Bend)
Jewel’s Gems (The Red Petticoat Saloon)
Rescuing Ruby Red (The Red Petticoat Saloon)
Hero To Obey (Anthology)
Leather and Grace
His Passionate Pioneer: Willamette Wives Book One
My Sassy Settler: Willamette Wives Book Two
His Errant Educator: Willamette Wives Book Three
My Capricious Cowgirl: Willamette Wives Book Four
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