"We can ask them to wait outside the judge's chamber." Dixon pushed her hair back from her face as she stared up at him.
"Now that's just rude." She crossed her arms. "I thought you liked these people."
Dixon gave her a quizzical look. "They are my family. Of course I like them."
"Then it would be rude, and you're not that kind of person." She lifted a finger. "I am, but I'm not a selfish bitch, so I'll just go with the flow today. That cool with you?"
He dropped his forehead to hers. "Have I told you today how much I love you?"
"Huh, no, but I get it, Quick Draw." She pushed him up and nodded toward the suddenly silent room. "Lead the way. I think these people are here to see you and your brother get married."
Dixon smiled down at her. "Take my hand, Moriah. I promise I'll always lead the way."
She snorted and shook her head. "Bullshit, Quick Draw. You'll lead when it’s your turn."
"Oh fuck, I think I'm in love with this woman." The man she knew as Jacob King crowed as they walked back to the group.
"Too bad, big guy. She's mine." Dixon laughed and elbowed his way through the throng of people in front of him.
Epilogue
"Did they even talk?" Drake pushed his heel against the wooden slats of the porch that circled his and Dixon's house and snuggled closer to Jillian on the porch swing. The heaters they'd installed in the ceiling of the porch kept the outdoor area warm even in the middle of winter.
"Not really. I mean, Frank'd say something, and Joy'd grunt, and then fifteen or twenty minutes later she'd say something, and he'd grunt." Jillian laid her head on his shoulder and laughed. "They didn't need any conversation. Did not need it. I mean, they were perfectly content to just...be."
"I'm happy Dixon found her. He loves her." Drake dropped a kiss on top of Jillian's head.
"They are perfect for each other." Jillian laughed and craned her head back so Drake could see her smile. "I'm not the only one who doesn't like horses!"
"What are the odds that we'd both end up with women who were afraid of those gentle giants."
"I'm not afraid of horses." Drake and Jillian both jumped at Joy's words. She exited the house with Dixon behind her. Sasha, the white poof of fur, barked and tried to jump up on the chair where Cat was perched. Cat glowered down at the offending canine and dropped off her perch. She scampered into the house after swatting at the dog. Sasha barked happily and damn near levitated into the house following Cat. They played like that all day long. Dixon was fighting a smile at the uproar, which didn't help Drake's laughter.
"You are afraid of horses." Drake returned to the conversation because he loved taunting Joy. For an assassin, she was easy to rile up. Joy shot him a death glare, but that only egged him on. He chuckled, "Go for a ride with me if you're not afraid. I double dog dare you."
Dixon put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. The woman was pocket sized. Tiny, but from what Anubis had told him, she was one deadly asset. He'd seen what she'd done to the man in the cell and the guard outside the mansion, but her diminutive size made it difficult to believe.
"Leave her alone, Drake," Jillian admonished with a laughed reprimand.
"I can fight my own battles." Joy's muffled response shot back. She glanced at Jillian and winked. "But thank you for handling my light work."
Jill smiled at her. "I know you don't need the assist, but I got your back, girlfriend." She slapped Drake on the leg. "Come on, Frank will have a fit if we're late."
Drake lifted out of the swing and helped Jillian up. They switched off the heater on the way down the steps.
"Why a middle of the week dinner?" Jillian asked as they walked two-by- two up to the main house.
Dixon turned back and answered her. "He said he had something to tell us. Don't know what."
They fell into silence as they walked. Huge snowflakes fluttered down from the heavens like feathers. Joy lifted a hand, and they all watched as a large flake landed on her finger and melted away. Her wedding band caught Drake's eye. They were both married. It was a miracle and a blessing. They both were afforded a life they never thought they'd have.
"It is so beautiful and peaceful here." Joy glanced back quickly as if she was embarrassed to have said the words.
"That's why this is home," Jillian sighed. "It has always felt like that to me." She glanced up at Drake and smiled.
Joy shot them a quick look before she gazed up into Dixon's eyes and a wide smile spread across her face. "It feels like home to me, too."
Drake had watched Dixon kiss a multitude of women, but tonight, what he saw was different. It was reverent. He recognized the emotion. It was the way he looked at Jillian, as if the world wasn't complete without her—because it wasn't. He gazed down at Jillian, who turned from watching Dixon kiss Joy and met his eyes with a loving smile.
"We are complete now."
Drake shot a glance at his brother and then nodded. He brushed a snowflake out of Jillian's hair. "We are, and I love you." He lowered for a kiss and was smacked in the back of the head with a snowball. Ice water melted down his neck.
"Asshole!" Drake shouted as Jillian laughed and shrieked, ducking another snowball heading their way. They both dipped down and gathered handfuls of snow. Drake laughed as he lobbed many poorly formed snowballs at his brother. They dashed up the trail, hiding behind their wives and laughing when the ladies verbally shredded them for being giant wusses. He finally threw his arm around his brother. "Fuck, I'm glad you're home, man."
Dixon smiled back at him, pushed a handful of snow in his face, and darted away as he yelled over his shoulder. "Me, too!"
Frank watched the foursome. Their trip to the house was a circus of laughter and antics. He rocked Amanda back and forth on the outdoor swing with the heaters blazing. He was happy to have his boys back. He'd talked with Chief and Taty earlier in the day. He knew his boys, and he knew Chief would have difficulties accepting his offer in front of people, so he’d chosen to speak with him earlier. Although Mike was private by nature, he was family, and Frank wanted him to know that. The conversation was emotional, but it was good.
"Have a seat." Frank nodded to the new swing and rocking chairs they'd added to the porch. Dixon and Joy took the chairs and Drake and Jillian dropped into the swing.
"Been doing some thinking." Frank glanced at Amanda who smiled at him and patted his leg with her hand, giving him the encouragement to do what he felt he needed to do. "It comes to mind that the two of you"—he wagged a finger between the two men— “have recently become orphans."
Dixon snorted, and Drake's eyes flashed when they slanted over to meet his. "I'm going to rectify that. I know I ain't the best at explaining things, but I'd be damn honored if you'd both become Marshalls."
"What?" Dixon and Drake spoke at the exact same time.
"I thought you two were geniuses? I'm saying I want to adopt you into the family." He lifted a hand stilling the comments he knew were coming. "I understand there might be some technical complications seeing as you're both legally dead, but according to Gabriel, we can make it work. He's going to get your identities changed legally. You'll be my sons. You’ll be Marshalls, and I can write you into my will and legal papers."
Drake and Dixon exchanged looks for a moment. "What about the girls?" Dixon asked. "Are they okay with this?"
"Keelee knows the ranch is too big for her to run by herself, and she and Adam are set. I'm proposing we split the ranch five ways when the day comes that Amanda and I pass on."
"What?" That was Drake.
"You, him, Tori, Keelee and Chief." Frank shrugged. "That's five, right?"
He looked at Amanda who laughed. "Last time I counted, yes."
"Why would you do that?" Drake asked. He was squeezing Jillian's hand tightly. The woman's eyes bugged out, and she tugged at the connection, but the boy didn't seem to notice.
"Son, let go of your woman's hand." Frank watched as Drake realized what he'd been doing.
"Shit, babe, I'm sorry." He rubbed her hand, and his eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine." She pointed back to Frank. "Finish your talk."
"The reason I'm doing it is because you boys mean the world to me. You two, Chief, and Keelee are the future of this ranch. Tori will always have a part of the land, even though she's decided to become a city mouse. The rest of the family are squared away and will always have a place here on the ranch, but they aren't ranchers." Frank pushed the swing and glanced from one shell-shocked face to another.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
"Yes!"
"Hell, yes!" The twins spoke over each other.
"All right then. It's settled." He stood and was immediately hugged by two men. He gave as good as he got. The boys were family, and family was everything. He swallowed hard and slapped his boys on the back. "Come on now, dinner time. Don't make me wait."
He watched as his boys collected their women and headed inside. He helped Amanda out of the swing and pulled her into him.
"You didn't tell them."
"No need. There will be a time and a place to talk about things of that nature. Tonight isn't one of them. They are happy. Let that settle in their bones for a while before we face other things."
He lifted her chin and saw the tears in her eyes.
"Hey, now. None of that. We have time, we have hope, and we have a wonderful family if both of those things run short."
"I love you, Frank. You can't leave me." She whispered into his collar.
"I love you, too." He dropped a kiss on her forehead and sighed. This time, the future wasn't for them to decide.
The End
Also by Kris Michaels
Titles in the Kings of Guardian Series:
Jacob, The Kings of Guardian - Book One
Joseph, The Kings of Guardian - Book Two
Adam, The Kings of Guardian - Book Three
Jason, The Kings of Guardian - Book Four
Jared, The Kings of Guardian - Book Five
Jasmine, The Kings of Guardian - Book Six
Chief, The Kings of Guardian - Book Seven
Jewell, The Kings of Guardian - Book Eight
Jade, The Kings of Guardian - Book Nine
Justin, The Kings of Guardian - Book Ten
Drake, The Kings of Guardian - Book Eleven
A Christmas with the Kings - Novella (Book. 11.5)
Guardian Shadow World
Anubis
Asp, Guardian Shadow World Book 2
Guardian Novellas
Montana Guardian - A Guardian Security Novella
Backwater Blessing - A Guardian Crossover Novella
The Everlight Series:
An Evidence of Magic
An Incident of Magic
Stand Alone Novels:
Hot SEAL: Single Malt
A Heart's Desire
Dixon Page 28
