Three to Ride

Epilogue

Rachel watched her husband toss the drool-covered tennis ball into the yard. Quigley wagged his stubby tail and happily ran off after it.

“You’re going to throw your arm out.” She sank down into the rocking chair beside him. He’d been playing fetch for hours with the dog.

Max smiled at her. “It’s little enough payment for what he did.” He reached over and grabbed her hand. He did that a lot, she’d noticed. He held her hand whenever they sat together.

It had been a month since that day in the woods. Rachel had cherished every day with them. She looked down at the ring on her finger. It was a solitaire that had been their mother’s, and it was surrounded by two small golden bands.

Rachel had married Max in a small courthouse, but she would never really consider that her wedding. That had been a thing to appease legalities. Her real wedding day had been one week ago. The entire town of Bliss had gathered as she stood in front of their family and friends and pledged to love Max and Rye for the rest of her life. It was the easiest promise she’d ever made.

She’d made one more legal change. She was legally Rachel Elizabeth Harper. Somehow she couldn’t go back to her old name. It didn’t fit her anymore. She was a new person.

“Rye’s home.” Max pointed to the brand new truck coming up the road.

Rye parked, gave Quigley a pat, and threw the tennis ball. He smiled broadly as he stepped onto the porch.

“I am officially a free man,” he said before he leaned over to kiss her.

“How does it feel not to be Johnny Law anymore, brother?” Max asked.

Rachel knew how happy Max was that Rye was coming back to work at the stables. They had spent weeks planning the new services they could offer. They were offering riding lessons now that Rye had the time to teach. Rachel had the feeling a lot of ladies would sign up for Rye to teach them how to ride. She would have to be patient.

Rye took the chair on her right side. “It feels good. No more dealing with tourists, or placating Mel, or being worried about having to toss my own brother in jail.”

“Yeah, now you can be my alibi in good conscience,” Max replied.

“I met the new sheriff.” Rye rocked back and forth. It was how they ended their days, together, watching the sunset. “I thought Callie’s eyes were going to pop out of her head.”

“Good-looking?” Rachel made a mental note to call Callie and get the lowdown on the new Sheriff.

“His name is Nathan Wright. He used to work for the DEA or something like it. Callie seemed really surprised to see him. I think she’s met him somewhere. I suppose he’s okay, if you like the type.”

Max frowned. “She doesn’t. Rachel likes our type.”

“Yes, I do. I just hope he’s a hottie who shakes up Callie’s world. I can’t be the only love slave in Bliss.”

“Oh, baby, you won’t be. Not as long as Stef has a pulse. Now,” Rye said with a sly look in his eyes, “I can concentrate on teaching one very special girl how to ride. I start Rachel’s lessons tomorrow.”

Rachel felt a secret smile curl on her lips.

“Hell, Rye, I’ll start teaching her how to ride tonight.” Max leered at her happily.

“I meant on a horse, idiot,” Rye joked with affection. “She’s going to run the business part of this, but she needs to know how to ride properly. You said that mare we picked out for her should be here in the morning.”

“I think I might wait a while for those lessons, Rye.” Her hand went over her still-flat stomach.

“Hey, there’s nothing to be afraid of, Rach.” He looked slightly concerned. “I’m a good teacher. I won’t yell at you like Max would.”

Max opened his mouth and then shut it. He nodded shortly, conceding the point.

“It’s not that,” Rachel explained. “I just don’t think it would be good for the baby.”

There was a long pause.

“Rachel?” Max stopped rocking.

“Are you sure?” Rye’s face was a mask of stunned expectation.

“I’m as sure as three pregnancy tests can be,” she replied with a grin. “I wanted to tell you fast because I bought them at the Stop ’n’ Shop, so everyone knows by now.”

Max was on his knees, his big hand covering her belly. “I can’t believe it.”

“I can,” Rye said, grinning from ear to ear. “We’ve tried hard enough.”

Then they were off. They argued about names and whether it would be a boy or a girl. They decided which room to convert to a nursery and where he or she would be going to college.

Rachel sat back and rocked as they planned the future. Her hand rested contentedly on the small life growing inside her. All around her, the world seemed safe and lovely. She watched as the sun went down and night fell softly on Bliss.

THE END

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