Page 16

CHAPTER 16

Johnny

“Are you ready, buddy?”

“Mama is going to be so excited!” Jax bounced on the balls of his feet, his small fists clenched in front of him, his whole body practically vibrating with excitement.

I grinned, adjusting the collar of my shirt as I crouched down in front of him. “I think she might be on to us.” I ruffled his hair, partly to distract myself from the nerves gnawing at my gut.

Jax shook his head, completely sure of himself. “No way. Mama knows not to snoop. I told her.”

I chuckled, realizing that in his determination to keep the secret, he might’ve actually led Reba straight to the truth.

A few months ago, he’d started calling her Mama, and she’d cried like a baby when it happened. He had been devastated, thinking he’d done something wrong, but she’d pulled him into her arms, kissed the top of his head, and reassured him they were happy tears. From that day forward, she was Mama, but I knew she’d been his mama long before he ever spoke the word. Probably even before I was willing to admit it. My mom had brought over a ton of old rodeo photos one night and we’d laughed over the memories of Jax taking his first steps in the dirt and his love for fried food that occurred way before it would be recommended by a pediatrician. Reba had been his mama even back then. None of us had realized it but, now, I was finally about to make it official.

I exhaled, glancing over at the pasture where Onex and the other horses grazed under the soft glow of the evening sun. It was the perfect spot. The place where Reba and I had spent countless hours together, rebuilding everything that had once been shattered. The ranch was huge and had a ton of picture-perfect spots, but this was the only place that felt right to ask her to be mine forever.

Jax tugged on my sleeve. “Come on, Papa! We have to get everything ready before she comes out here!”

I smirked at his urgency but nodded, pushing up from my crouch. “Alright, alright. Let’s get to work.”

We had it all planned out. I’d spent the last few weeks training Onex for this exact moment. She’d carry the ring box in a small leather pouch attached to her halter, walking straight to Reba the moment she stepped into the pasture. Then, as soon as Reba reached for it, I’d drop to one knee and hopefully get her to say yes before she had time to overthink it and before Onex lost interest and took off. It was a simple plan. Foolproof, really. At least, that’s what I thought.

Jax and I hurried to the barn, gathering everything we needed. I slipped the ring box into the pouch on Onex’s halter, patting her strong neck as I whispered, “Don’t let me down, girl.” She snorted, tossing her head like she knew exactly what was happening.

“She’s ready, Papa. Are you?”

“Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Just as I was about to step back and take one final look at everything, the sound of boots crunching against the gravel made me freeze.

Jax gasped. “Oh, no.”

I turned just in time to see Reba striding toward us, hands on her hips, brows furrowed. “What are you two up to, it’s nearly time for supper.”

Shit.

Jax frantically waved his hands behind his back, trying to signal something, but it was no use. Reba’s sharp eyes were already scanning the scene, her focus landing right on Onex’s halter and the suspiciously out-of-place leather pouch.

“What’s this?” she asked, stepping closer.

“Uh—uh—it’s a snack pouch!”

I pinched the bridge of my nose with a laugh. Dammit, Jax.

Reba’s lips twitched. “A snack pouch?”

“Yep!” Jax nodded so fast I thought his little head might pop off. “For Onex! She, uh… gets hungry, you know that.”

Reba raised an eyebrow and reached for the pouch before I could stop her. Onex, being the loyal but unbothered accomplice that she was, stood perfectly still as Reba tugged the pouch loose and?—

“Oh my God,” she breathed.

Silence. I didn’t move. Jax didn’t move. Even Onex seemed to hold her breath. Reba stared down at the small velvet box in her palm, then looked up at me, her mouth slightly open in shock.

Jax exhaled dramatically. “Mama, you ruined the surprise!”

Reba blinked, looking from Jax to me, then back to the ring box. “I, wait, what surprise?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair before finally taking the damn box from her fingers. So much for foolproof. Might as well roll with it now. I took a step closer, flipping the box open to reveal the ring inside. A simple but elegant diamond that I knew would look perfect on her finger. Her breath hitched.

“Reba,” I started, my voice steadier than I expected. “We had this whole thing planned out. Jax and I were gonna surprise you, but you always did have a way of throwing me off my game.”

She let out a soft laugh. I reached for her free hand, lacing my fingers through hers.

“I’ve loved you since the first time you chewed me out at that damn rodeo. And I’ve spent every day since trying to figure out how to be the man you deserve.”

She bit her lip, her eyes shimmering.

“I know I screwed up once, but I also know that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and to Jax. I don’t want another damn day to pass without making it official.”

I dropped to one knee, my heart hammering as Jax leaned into me, looking up at her.

“Reba, will you marry me?”

“And be my mama?” Jax said as soon as I finished my question.

For a second, she just stared at us both, her fingers tightening around mine. Then, in true Reba fashion, she let out a breathless laugh.

“You two were really gonna make the horse propose, huh?”

I chuckled, shaking my head as I looked up at her. “Maybe, but none of that matters now. All that matters is that you say yes.”

She exhaled, blinking rapidly as a few stray tears slipped free. Then she dropped to her knees in front of us, wrapped her arms so tightly around me and my boy, I nearly lost my balance. Jax pulled away laughing then whooped in the background, clapping his hands as she reached for my face cupping it in her hands and kissed me so fiercely my heart soared. When she finally pulled back, she rested her forehead against mine.

“Yeah, cowboy. I’ll marry you and our boy.”

Relief crashed over me like a damn tidal wave.

Jax barreled into us, wrapping his arms around both of our necks. “We’re gonna be a real family now!”

I hugged them both tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of Reba’s head before slipping the ring onto her finger.

“Yeah, buddy,” I murmured.

Reba reached for Jax. “We are already a real family.”

He gave her a huge hug as Onex huffed beside us, shaking out her mane as if to say finally. I sat there, tangled up with the two people who meant everything to me and I knew there was nowhere else in the world I’d rather be. Mac’s ranch had been home for a long time but this was a different type of home. Jax and Reba were home and it didn’t matter where we were or where we were going, we’d always have each other.