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“Silas, you little rascal, come back here!” Hope called out, her voice laced with laughter as she hurried after her toddling son. The boy, barely 18 months old, had taken off toward the barn with surprising speed, his giggles echoing across the yard.
“I think he’s got a head start on being a ranch hand,” Abigail teased, cradling her six-month-old daughter, Emma, against her chest. The little girl cooed and waved her tiny fists, fascinated by the sunlight filtering through the trees.
Hope managed to scoop Silas up just as he reached the barn doors. “You’re not old enough to be helping your father yet,” she said, planting a kiss on his chubby cheek. “But I suppose we can let you watch him for a bit.”
As she carried Silas back toward the porch, she spotted Roland near the bunkhouse, deep in conversation with Harvey. Roland glanced up, catching sight of them, and his face lit up. He excused himself and began making his way over, his long strides purposeful yet relaxed.
“You’ve got your hands full with this one,” Roland said as he reached them, his voice warm with affection. He reached for Silas, who squealed in delight and stretched his arms toward his father.
“I’d say he’s got more energy than you and I combined,” Hope replied, her smile matching his.
Roland settled Silas on his hip and wrapped his free arm around Hope’s shoulders, pulling her close. “And he’s got your determination,” he said, his tone softening.
From a few yards away, Harvey’s voice rang out. “Abigail, tell this man I need his opinion on the new paddock fence!”
Abigail shook her head, grinning. “You’re just stalling so you don’t have to fix the latch yourself.”
“Caught me,” Harvey admitted with a chuckle, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. He turned back to Roland. “Don’t take too long, boss. We’ve got cattle to sort this afternoon.”
Roland nodded before looking back at Hope. “Looks like my reprieve is over.”
“Go on,” she said with a laugh, brushing her hand lightly against his arm. “We’ll be fine here. Silas and I are going to enjoy some porch time.”
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching hers. “You sure?”
Hope nodded, taking Silas back into her arms. “Positive. Go be the big ranch boss.”
He smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll make it quick.”
As he walked back toward Harvey, Hope settled onto the porch swing with Silas, her heart full. The ranch had grown into something remarkable, but it was the family they were building that truly filled her with gratitude.
“Look at that, Silas,” she murmured, pointing toward the fields where the cattle grazed. “Your papa built all this. And one day, it’ll be yours to run.”
The boy gave a babbling response, his tiny hands clapping together, and Hope laughed. Yes, life was good. And it was only just beginning.
The afternoon sun bathed the ranch in a warm golden light as Hope carried Silas into the house. She set him down in the play area she’d set up near the kitchen, watching him toddle around with a wooden horse Harvey had carved for him. The sound of his laughter was like music, filling the house with joy.
“Did you tire him out yet?” Abigail teased as she walked in, baby Emma still in her arms. She set the little girl in a cradle nearby and stretched, her back making a satisfying pop. “I swear, these little ones have more energy than the both of us combined.”
“I think they feed off each other,” Hope joked, wiping her hands on her apron. “One starts running, and the other follows suit. We’re in trouble when Emma starts walking.”
Abigail groaned playfully. “Don’t remind me. Harvey’s already talking about teaching her to ride once she’s steady on her feet. Can you imagine? A toddler on a pony?”
The thought made Hope laugh. “Sounds about right for this place.”
The two women began prepping dinner, the aroma of baking bread and simmering stew filling the kitchen. Hope glanced out the window and saw Roland and Harvey walking toward the barn, their voices carrying faintly on the breeze. She smiled to herself, feeling a deep sense of contentment.
“I still can’t believe how much the ranch has grown,” Abigail said, breaking the comfortable silence. “When I think about what it was like just two years ago…”
Hope nodded, her hands pausing as she kneaded dough. “Roland’s worked so hard to make it what it is. Sometimes I think he still doesn’t realize just how much he’s accomplished.”
“Because he’s too busy looking out for everyone else,” Abigail said knowingly. “That man would give you the shirt off his back without a second thought.”
Hope’s heart swelled. “He really would. But he’s also learned to let us take care of him too, which makes all the difference.”
As if summoned by their conversation, the door opened, and Roland stepped inside, brushing dust from his sleeves. “Smells like heaven in here,” he said, his gaze landing on Hope.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” she replied, her cheeks flushing slightly under his warm attention.
Harvey followed close behind, clapping Roland on the back. “And we earned it today. That new fence is solid as a rock, thanks to this guy’s perfectionism.”
“Or your complaining,” Roland countered with a grin.
“Details,” Harvey quipped, sliding into a chair at the table.
Abigail rolled her eyes fondly and placed a cup of coffee in front of him. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love it,” Harvey replied, blowing her a kiss.
Hope shook her head, smiling as Roland moved to stand beside her. He rested a hand on her lower back, leaning in close. “Everything all right?”
“More than all right,” she said softly, meeting his gaze.
Silas chose that moment to toddle over, clutching his wooden horse. “Papa!” he called, his face lighting up.
Roland crouched down to scoop him up, his expression filled with pride. “Hey, champ. Were you good for Mama?”
Hope laughed. “He’s been a perfect angel. For the most part.”
Roland chuckled, holding Silas close. “That’s my boy.”
As dinner wound down and the first stars began to appear in the darkening sky, Roland pushed his chair back with a satisfied sigh. “That stew was even better than usual, Hope. You’re spoiling us.”
Hope smiled as she began clearing the table. “You’ve earned it, all of you. Especially after that fencing project.”
Abigail handed baby Emma to Harvey and rose to help. “You’re not doing all of this alone. Let me take the plates.”
“Sit,” Hope said, laughing gently. “You’ve got your hands full already. Besides, I’m just about done.”
Roland stood and crossed the room, taking the plates from her hands. “Not tonight, you’re not. I’ll finish up.”
“Roland,” Hope protested, but he gave her a look that left no room for argument.
“You cooked, so I’ll clean,” he said firmly, setting the plates on the counter.
“Fine,” Hope conceded, shaking her head. “Just don’t break anything.”
“I make no promises,” he teased, rolling up his sleeves.
As Roland set about washing the dishes, Hope leaned against the doorway, her gaze softening as she watched him. He worked with the same quiet determination that had turned the ranch into a success, yet there was a gentleness in him now that hadn’t been there when they first met.
“He’s changed so much,” Abigail said quietly, joining her.
“He has,” Hope agreed. “I think letting go of the past has made all the difference.”
Abigail nodded, her expression thoughtful. “And having you by his side. Don’t discount that, Hope. You’ve been good for him.”
Hope’s cheeks warmed, but she didn’t look away from Roland. “We’ve been good for each other.”
By the time the dishes were done, Silas had fallen asleep in Hope’s arms, his small face peaceful. She carried him upstairs, laying him gently in his crib before returning to the porch, where Roland was waiting with two cups of coffee.
He handed her one as she joined him on the swing. The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of prairie grass and the faint sound of crickets.
“You’ve been quiet tonight,” Roland said, breaking the silence.
“Just thinking,” Hope replied, wrapping her hands around the warm mug.
“About?”
She glanced at him, her eyes shining. “About how far we’ve come. This ranch, our family, everything. Sometimes it doesn’t feel real.”
Roland reached over, taking her hand in his. “It’s real, Hope. Every bit of it. And it’s only going to get better.”
She smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Do you ever think about the future? Where we’ll be in five or ten years?”
“All the time,” he admitted, his voice low and steady. “I think about the kind of man I want Silas to become. The kind of world I want him to grow up in. And the kind of husband I want to be for you.”
Hope’s heart swelled. “You’re already the best husband I could ever ask for.”
“And you’re everything I never thought I deserved,” he said, his tone filled with emotion.
They sat in companionable silence for a while, watching the stars twinkle above them. It was a moment of peace, a rare gift in their busy lives, and one they both cherished deeply.
The next morning, the ranch was alive with activity. The distant lowing of cattle mixed with the rhythmic pounding of hammers as the men worked to reinforce the barn doors. Hope stood on the porch, tying her apron, as Silas played at her feet, stacking small wooden blocks into precarious towers.
“Careful, sweetheart,” she said, smiling as the tower tipped and tumbled to the ground. Silas clapped his hands, delighted by the crash.
Roland walked up from the paddocks, wiping his brow with his sleeve. “Morning chores are done. Anything I can help you with before I head back out?”
Hope laughed lightly. “Unless you’ve suddenly become an expert at baking pies, I think I’ve got it under control.”
“Pies, huh?” Roland leaned against the porch railing, crossing his arms. “What’s the occasion?”
Hope tilted her head toward the barn, where Harvey was talking animatedly with Abigail. “I thought it might be nice to surprise everyone with dessert after lunch. Abigail mentioned Harvey’s sweet tooth, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to treat the whole crew.”
Roland’s eyes sparkled with humor. “You mean it wouldn’t hurt to treat Harvey.”
“Well, maybe he deserves a little spoiling, too,” Hope admitted with a grin.
Roland crouched to pick up Silas, hoisting him high into the air and earning a squeal of laughter. “What do you think, champ? Should we let Mama handle the pies, or should we sneak some sugar out of the kitchen while she’s not looking?”
“Papa!” Silas giggled, reaching for his father’s face.
Hope feigned sternness, pointing her wooden spoon at them. “If you so much as touch that sugar jar, you’ll both be in trouble.”
Roland chuckled, pressing a kiss to Silas’s cheek before settling him on his hip. “You’re lucky your mama keeps us in line,” he told the boy, winking at Hope.
By mid-afternoon, the pies were cooling on the windowsill, and Hope joined the others outside. Harvey and Abigail were taking turns chasing Emma, whose determined wobble promised she’d be running circles around them soon. Roland was brushing down one of the new mares, his focus entirely on the horse, until Silas toddled into the paddock and tugged at his sleeve.
“Help, Papa!” Silas demanded, pointing at the brush in Roland’s hand.
Roland knelt beside him, guiding his tiny hand to grip the brush. Together, they worked in slow, deliberate strokes, the mare standing patiently as though she understood the importance of the moment.
Watching them, Hope felt a wave of emotion rise in her chest. She’d never imagined a life like this—a home filled with laughter, love, and the promise of a bright future.
As the sun began to set, casting the ranch in shades of amber and gold, Roland joined her on the porch. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as Silas played at their feet.
“This,” Roland said softly, his voice tinged with wonder. “This is everything I’ve ever wanted.”
Hope leaned into him, her heart full. “Me too.”
They stayed like that, watching the sky shift from gold to deep indigo, the stars beginning to twinkle above them. And as night settled over the ranch, they both knew they were exactly where they were meant to be—together, surrounded by family, with a future as endless as the horizon.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Western Brides and True Loves", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Greetings, dear readers! I trust you relished the blissful conclusion of Hope and Roland’s love story. Let’s reminisce together—what was the most heartwarming moment in their romantic journey? Share your thoughts with me, for I cherish your input! ♥️📚
A good well written story with remarkable characters
Wonderful story Hope is so fortunate not to have been married to Roger Ditmore and answered the urgent need for child minder advisement placed by Roland Bascom. Hope gave hope with her compassion. A loving partnership developed between them. Enjoyable side characters. Thank you Ms Leslie Hales
Beautiful heart wrenching, soul stirring story!! Loved every single page! Hope & Roland’s connection, love & support for each other is the soul of the story! God bless you Ms Hales! Keep them coming !
I absolutely loved this story. It kept my attention all the way through.