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“Hold on,” he says, pressing on the gas, and we zoom out of the barn, drive around the stables, and make our way down the trail.
“Just remember: baby on board.” I nod my head down to my belly. “No major bumps or anything.”
“Don’t worry. I got you.” He winks.
A few minutes into the trail, Alex speaks up again. “I should probably tell you more about my family before lunch. Mama and Dad have been married since they were eighteen. High school sweethearts and all that. Got married young, had babies young. Mama’s strict, but she loves with everything she’s got. Dad’s a tough one to crack, but over time, he’ll warm up to you. They’re both set in their ways, but with five kids, they’ve had to juggle a lot. I think I mentioned my siblings before, but just a reminder in case you forgot. I’m the youngest of the boys, so I get shit on a lot for it.” He shrugs with a sideways grin. “Then there’s John and Jackson, the twins.”
I chuckle to myself, thinking that reminder would’ve been nice a couple hours ago. “Yeah, I met Jackson this morning.”
He gives me a sideways glance at the tone of my voice. “Don’t worry. John put him in his place.” I chuckle.
“Good. So, then there’s my sister, Courtney, who ironically is also pregnant. But with triplets.”
“Triplets?” I gasp, and my eyes go wide. “I can’t even imagine.”
“Yep. She and her husband, Drew, tried for a couple of years before seeing some fancy fertility doctor and ending up with three babies. They live in California but come and visit when they can. Oh, speaking of doctor, my oldest brother, Evan, is a doctor.”
“A doctor?” I ask, surprised. I really thought they’d all be involved with the ranch in some way, but I know a doctor’s busy schedule.
“Yeah. He’s a hardass and super smart. He’s the only one of us boys who decided he didn’t want the rancher life, but Dad makes him come and help on his days off,” he explains.
“Sounds like there’s never a dull moment with the Bishops.” I chuckle. “So thanks for the twin warning ahead of time, by the way. I was really confused this morning when I was talking to John, or I thought I was anyway, and it ended up being Jackson. He had no idea who I was and hit on me until John intervened.” I place my free hand in the pocket of my jacket because the wind seems colder now that we’re speeding up.
“That motherfucker,” he mutters. “Yeah, he does that. A lot, actually. Drives John fuckin’ nuts, but Jackson lives for a laugh especially when it comes to making any one of us uncomfortable. Sometimes he likes to wear the same clothes as John, and it makes John so mad. But it’s pretty funny. Mostly because I get to witness it.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to tell them apart,” I add over the roaring of the engine.
He chuckles. “Most people have that issue. But John is the quiet one. He’s more sensible, and Jackson likes being an asshole. John is an introvert whereas Jackson is loud and proud, and overly flirty with every woman he sees. No matter her age. They may look the same, but they’re complete opposites in personality. You’ll figure it out sooner than later, trust me. Jackson doesn’t know how to shut up.”
“That’s good information, actually.” I chuckle. “Jackson definitely gives off the party vibe.”
He looks over at me with a knowing look. “You have no idea.”
We continue down the trail and begin climbing a large hill. By the time we make it to the top, Alex turns off the engine and gives me time to look out. It’s magical how the land goes on as far as the eye can see. It almost seems like a mirage, and the silence is so relaxing. There’s no rushing cars or city noise; it’s so quiet that I can hear the wind rustling the grass.
“Wow,” I whisper.
“You’ve not seen nothing yet.” Alex turns on the Ranger and presses the gas. We roll down the other side of the hill and drive into a valley. Time seems to stand still as we continue forward until a large pond comes into view. Trees surround it, and there are a few picnic tables under the trees; I can imagine people having lunch out here. Once Alex cuts the engine, we get out and walk toward the pond. The blue sky and clouds reflect upon the water, and I feel like I could stare out at this view all day long. I can’t wait to see it with wildflowers surrounding it, just like Alex described.
We stand next to each other, and I turn and look at him.
“Are you afraid?”
He licks his lips, and his face distorts. “Not even for a second,” he replies, confidently. I wish I felt like that, but nevertheless, I’m relieved by his answer.
