Walker and I fed the herd while my father and Reed went over some information Ryder had sent them regarding converting fully over to organic. I was meeting Nate in two days in Austin to fly out and tour an organic cattle ranch in Wyoming. Since I’d be handling most of the cattle ranch and Walker focused on the breeding of the horses, it only made sense that I would be the one to go.
“All right, dude. I’m heading home to my wife and son. You got this?” Walker asked.
“Yeah, I’ll finish up, you go on. Taylor is back at the house with my mom so no worries.”
Walker tipped his hat and headed out of the barn. “Tell Liza I said hey.”
He held up his hand and waved. “Will do.”
“And give my nephew a high five!”
Calling over his shoulder, he said, “Got it!”
After finishing everything up, I checked in on Bell. She was a new mare I had bought for Taylor who was expecting a foal in the next week or so. Taylor was beyond excited.
“Hey there, pretty girl,” I said as Bell walked up to me for a hand full of oats.
I ran my hand down her neck and smiled. “You’re going to be a good girl for my Taylor, aren’t you girl?”
Bobbing her head, she nudged me for more oats. With a chuckle, I shook my head. “Oh no. You’ve had enough, girl. Sleep tight.”
As I made my way from the barn to the house, I thought about Taylor. I wanted to see her. The urge to hold her in my arms and kiss her was almost overwhelming. I had asked her to marry me and then I dropped her off to spend half the day with my mother. She was probably dying to tell one of the girls our news.
Walking up to my father and Reed, I stopped short of them to allow them to finish up their conversation. Reed turned and gave me a smirk. My eyes quickly moved to my father.
“You told him.”
Reed grabbed a hold me and brought me in for a bro hug, slapping the living hell out of my back in the process.
“Damn. It wasn’t that long ago you were following us around claiming to be the best cowboy in the land. And now look at you. Engaged.”
Grinning, I shook his hand and glared at my father. “Remind me to never tell you a secret again.”
“I couldn’t help it. I’m excited.”
With a roll of my eyes, I walked past them both. “Well, neither one of you say a word to Mom and Courtney. I want Taylor to be the one to tell everyone.”
“My lips are sealed,” my father said behind me as Reed laughed his ass off.
“I’ve heard that before, Dad.”
Walking through the back door, I stepped into the kitchen. Courtney and my mother both turned and looked at me. The smile on their faces instantly told me Taylor spilled the beans.
Peeking over at Taylor, she had her lips pressed together in an attempt to hide her smile. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were filled with joy. Adrenaline rushed through my body at the idea that I was the one who made her that happy.
My father’s words replayed in my head.
Be the reason she smiles . . . not cries.
Reed and my father walked in behind me and I held my breath to see which side would break first.
“You get the fence fixed?” my mother coolly asked.
Reaching for the tea she held for him, he grinned. “Yep. All fixed and all cattle are accounted for.”
“Good.”
Slipping my arm around Taylor’s waist, I leaned in and whispered, “You told them didn’t you?”
“I couldn’t help it! It was like your mother knew and I broke. The next thing I knew Courtney was here and we were wedding planning!”
With a slight smile, I placed my lips next to her ear. “I want to celebrate.”
Her breath hitched as she peeked up at me. “Ring shopping?”
“No. Love making.”
She bit on her lip and my dick jumped in my pants. “I like the sound of that better.”
With an evil smile, my father asked, “What have you beautiful ladies been up to?”
Shrugging, my mother replied, “Nothing. Making fudge and talking girl stuff.”
When he looked at me I shook my head.
“I can’t take it!” Courtney shouted. “I have to tell!”
“Oh no,” Taylor gasped as my mother turned to Courtney with a horrified look.
“Jase asked Taylor to marry him!”
All eyes landed on Reed. Placing her hands on her hips, my mother glared at him. “Reed Moore. How could you blurt that out and steal the kid’s happy news away from them?”
Pointing to Courtney, Reed replied, “She was about to spill the beans first.”
“I can’t believe you stole my thunder,” Courtney gasped.
My mother turned to Courtney. “Your thunder? Court, if you weren’t my best friend I’d slap you.”
“That might be fun to see,” my father said wiggling his eyebrows.
“Oh, brother. Can the four of you just stop,” I said walking in between them all. I shot a dirty look to each of them. “All I can say is when the next big news happens . . . and that won’t be for a while mind you, but—” Pointing my finger to them each, I widened my eyes, “You can be assured none of you will find out our next big news when it happens.”
“A baby!” my mother said covering her mouth. “Jase Morris, you would never hide something like that from me.”
With a glimpse over at Taylor, I grinned as she tried her best not to laugh. “Yes. Yes I would, Mom. You have all shown yourselves as sucky secret keepers.”