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My parents’ loud gasps tore my attention back to them.
“Hallie?” Mom exclaimed. “You’re naming my first grandbaby after a woman who is our enemy.”
I jerked, suddenly pissed as fuck. “How dare you say that to me? His mother meant everything to Chance and me. She’s not here to defend herself either!”
“We don’t care! That’s our grandchild!”
“Well, if you want to meet her one day, then I advise you to get used to it.” I didn’t back down, adding, “Ledger’s my fiancé. We’re getting married before the baby is born, so you’ll have to deal with it. This is my family now.”
“Sugar,” Ledger rasped, making me peer at him again.
“Yes. My answer is yes. I want to marry you. I want to be Hazel Beckham. I want to build a life with you and have many more babies. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to this place, but I’m here now, and I want nothing more than to be your wife.”
Ledger was down on one knee in one swift movement, grabbing a ring box from inside his suit jacket. I sucked in a breath, surprised.
“I’ve been carrying around this ring, just waiting for the right time to give it to you, and I can’t think of a better one than this moment. “Hazel”—he opened the box—“will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I beamed, shouting, “Yes! Yes! Of course, I will!”
Without noticing, we had gathered a crowd, and they broke up cheering and clapping. Ledger slid the princess-cut diamond ring down my finger. It was exactly what I always dreamed of. As he was standing, he gripped the sides of my face and kissed me like we weren’t in front of a bunch of people.
After he pecked my lips one last time, I turned to my parents, who wore their devastation.
I didn’t waver, demanding, “You need to leave. You’re not welcome here until you stop whatever stupid rivalry you have with his family’s ranch. They mean you no harm, and they never have. It needs to end, or you’ll never see me or your grandchild again.”
Out of nowhere, Chance was standing beside me. “Or me,” he spoke with conviction, grabbing my hand.
Their wide stares flew back and forth between us, and I added, “If you keep this going, I will do everything in my power to make sure you go out of business. I have all the money in the world to take you down, and don’t think for one second I won’t do that for my husband.”
“I can’t believe this.” Dad sneered, “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me,” I threatened.
Ledger spoke up, “I am willing to put my hatred aside and forgive all the shitty things you have done to us for years if it means that my baby girl will have her grandparents. My mother is no longer here with us. Don’t make Hallie lose another one.”
My heart broke for him. I knew how hard it was for him to express that, but he was doing it for our daughter. Simply proving that Ledger Beckham was a hell of a man. I was so lucky.
“The choice is yours,” I informed. “Take it or leave it. It’s where we stand.”
Neither said a word, standing there in shock. There was nothing left to say because we finally said it all.
My mother stepped forward, setting her hand on my belly for a second. Her torn expression was evident.
“Denise,” Dad stated. “Let’s go.”
I hated that this was happening. However, the ball was in their court. Reluctantly, they spun and left. They gazed back at us a couple of times, making me think that maybe, just maybe, they’d eventually come around. If they refused, I’d buy their ranch if I had to.
No one was fucking with my family.
Not even…
My parents.
Twenty-Nine
Ledger
Iwatched Hazel pull her hair up off the nape of her neck as she stood in my old bedroom. After her parents left, my family congratulated us along with our clients. My old man wasn’t upset about what happened. If anything, he was delighted.
