AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Looks like they’re excited to meet me,” Frank said with a chuckle. His mood had lightened, and to say I had been shocked when he apologized would be an understatement. Timberlynn still seemed to be stunned by Frank’s apology. I took the excitement in Frank’s voice as a good sign. Timberlynn hadn’t noticed it though, because it appeared she was attempting to keep herself from hyperventilating at the thought of her father meeting my whole family.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I said as I squeezed her leg.
She looked at me, and I smiled. I instantly saw her relax, and she mouthed thank you before looking back at her dad. She went to say something, but he was already halfway out the door. He got out and shut it and glanced back at us as if wondering why we were still sitting in the truck.
“Looks like he’s ready to meet everyone.”
Timberlynn looked at her father as he stood there and waited for us to get out of the truck. She turned back to me and let out a disbelieving laugh. “I guess so.”
“Come on, let’s do this.” I jumped out of the truck and jogged around to help Timberlynn down. The three of us made our way toward the front porch.
“Uncle Frank!” Kaylee said, the first one to hold out her arms for a hug.
“It’s good to see you, Kaylee. You look…” he gave her a once-over and smiled. “You look very happy.”
She laughed. “It could be the pregnancy giving me a glow.”
He hugged her again as he chuckled. “I knew it. It showed in your eyes.”
I turned and looked at Timberlynn, wondering if she had remembered our conversation about the emotions our eyes held. She gave me a knowing smile.
“When are you due?”
“August fifth.”
“Well, congratulations are definitely in order,” Frank told her.
“Mr. Holden, this is my father and mother, Stella and Ty Senior. Mom, Dad, this is Dr. Frank Holden.”
Frank waved his hand off. “No need to be formal. Frank will do.”
My father was first to approach. He held out his hand. “It’s good to have you here, Frank. We’ve sort of taken to that daughter of yours. She’s something special.”
Frank looked at Timberlynn and winked. “That she is.”
I could see the confused expression on Timberlynn’s face before she covered it with a soft smile.
My mother spoke next. “Frank, I’m so glad you’ve come to visit. Now, if you don’t want to stay with the kids, we have the guest room all set up and ready for you. Timberlynn was staying there before she moved out with Tanner, but it’s yours if you need it.”
Timberlynn squeezed my hand, and I gave her a squeeze back.
“Thank you, Stella. I think I’ll take you up on that offer of staying here.”
That made both me and Timberlynn jerk our heads to Frank.
“You don’t want to stay with us?” Timberlynn asked. Even I could hear the hurt in her voice.
Frank looked at her, and it was evident he heard it as well. “It’s not that I don’t want to stay with you, sweetheart, I just think it’s better this way. Let me get used to you living with a man before you throw me full on into it.”
Everyone laughed, and Timberlynn’s body relaxed a bit. I knew Timberlynn had some issues with her father, but I was beginning to think they went much deeper than I had thought. I looked over at Ty and our eyes met. It was like he could read my mind because he gave me a nod. I wasn’t sure why, but it reassured me some.
Brock and Lincoln were next with the introductions. Then came the kids.
“This is Morgan,” Brock said, “and we’ve got another one baking away.”
Lincoln rolled her eyes. “Not sure if it’s a boy or a girl just yet.”
“When are you due?” Frank asked.
“May fifteenth.”
Frank looked at Kaylee. “That’s nice that you’re both pregnant at the same time.”
Kaylee nodded.
“I’m Blayze Shaw. It’s a real pleasure to meet ya, sir.”
Frank knelt down and got eye level with Blayze. “My, you are a fine-looking cowboy.”
Blayze stood a little taller. “I threw my hat in the ring for Timberlynn, but my Uncle Tanner won her heart. But that’s okay ’cause there’s this girl in my class I like. Her name is Morgan, just like my sister’s. I used to like Lilly, but she kicked me, so now I like Morgan. She asked me to kiss her, but I told her she’d have to change her name because that would be gross.”
Frank lifted his brows as Blayze continued on.
“See, that would be gross ’cause that’s my sister’s name,” Blayze stuttered. “That would be like kissing my sister.”
“That is a fair and good point you’ve got there,” Frank said.
“She asked you to kiss her?” Lincoln asked as she stared down at Blayze.
“Don’t worry, Mama, I told her I wasn’t allowed to be kissing girls on the lips, but that I could give her a kiss on the cheek. Well, if her name wasn’t Morgan.”
Both Lincoln and Brock let out a groan while the rest of us tried not to laugh.
“Uncle Frank, this is my husband Ty,” Kaylee said.
Ty shook Frank’s hand. “Welcome to Montana, sir.”
“Thank you. The beauty here is beyond words, and I’m not normally at a loss for words.”
“Do you ride?” my father asked.
The question seemed to take Frank aback. “Honestly, I haven’t been on a horse since I rode with my wife last, so I’m a bit rusty.”
I heard the intake of air from Timberlynn. Clearly that little bit of information took her by surprise.
“It’s like riding a bike. Would you be up for a ride tomorrow morning? I’d love to show you the ranch,” my father said.
Frank smiled. “I would like that very much. Tanner, would you be able to join us?”
Okay, that took me by surprise. At least my father would be there to protect me. “Yes, I’d love to come along.”
My mother motioned for everyone to head into the house. “Let’s all get inside. The sun is going down and the temperature is dropping. Frank, I hope you like roast and vegetables.”
“One of my favorite meals.”
Everyone piled into the house, but before I could step through the door, I was yanked back by Timberlynn. She looked utterly panicked.
“What is happening?” she asked as her eyes darted from the front door, back to me, then the door again.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, he wants to stay here with your folks. He’s going riding with your dad
and asked you to come along, and do not even get me started on him not riding a horse since my mother! What in the hell?”
I laughed and kissed her on the forehead. “Were you expecting it to be worse?”
“Yes! No! I don’t know, Tanner. I’m so nervous and I don’t know why!”
I pulled her into my arms and held her. “Take a deep breath, baby. It’s going to be okay. Your father already seems like he’s going to fit in just fine.”
“He doesn’t do family, Tanner.”
Gently, I pushed her out some and looked into her eyes. “Maybe he’s never known how to do family without your mother, Timber.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“No, baby, don’t cry. Come here.”
Timberlynn buried her face into my chest, and I held her. “I’m so confused by everything, Tanner. I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. A part of me thinks this is why I picked Montana to live—it was far away from my father and the constant reminder that I was never good enough for him.”
“Hey, don’t say that, okay? You are more than good enough. Please don’t think like that. Let’s just take it a day at a time.”
She nodded, then rubbed her nose all on my shirt. I was pretty sure I was madly in love with the woman because it didn’t bother me a single bit that her snot was now all over me.
I tipped her chin so our eyes met. I took a deep breath and said, “I love you, Timberlynn. I’m never going to let anything or anyone hurt you. I swear it.”
Her chin quivered, and she smiled. “I love you too, Tanner.”
Leaning down, I paused at her mouth and whispered, “Say it again.”
She giggled. “I love you.”
My lips brushed softly over hers in a tender kiss. “Now, take a few deep breaths, wipe away the tears, and let’s head on inside. I’ll be by your side the entire time.”
Timberlynn nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
I placed the saddle on the back of Trigger while Brock saddled up Pogo.
He cleared his throat and broke our silence. “Last night went pretty good, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I think it went a lot better than Timberlynn expected. To be honest, with the way she described him, I figured he might be a snob. But he really hit it off with Dad.”
