AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s a boy,” Kyra announced, handing the bundle to Lyric and then suctioning his mouth.
Lyric used the towel to carefully clean the little sweetheart.
“A boy?” Silas let out a cheer, and Tess sobbed joyfully, her head now resting back on the pillows.
“Meet your new sweet boy.” Lyric moved the baby to Tess’s chest, and he started to wail. She stepped back and pulled off her gloves so she could take pictures while Kyra walked Silas through cutting the cord.
The paramedics rushed in with a gurney and started tending to Tess while Kyra gave them an update.
Lyric stepped to the bed and helped Tess swaddle the baby.
“The girls.” Her friend was still out of breath from her heroic efforts. “I want the girls to see him before we go. Aiden and Thatch too.”
“On it.” Lyric covered her friend’s lower half with a sheet and then ran out to get them all. She brought in Morgan and Willow by the hands, and they rushed to their mom’s side. One by one, Silas lifted them onto the bed, and their little family all huddled together.
Thatch came up behind Lyric and wrapped his arms around her.
“What’s his name, Mommy?” Willow asked.
“Jace.” Silas took the baby into his arms, still leaning over his girls. “His name is Jace.”
They all lost it then. Lyric glanced around the room, and she wasn’t the only one bawling.
Thatch rested his chin on her shoulder, sniffling. “What an incredible moment.”
“Beautiful.” For the first time ever, she wondered if she could have a moment like this someday too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Liam stopped in the middle of the trail and patted the backpack he wore until he found his water bottle. “I’m not sure a hike was a great idea before yoga.”
Thatch laughed. “Feeling the altitude, are we?” After living here for the past few years, he forgot there was a little adjustment when you weren’t used to the elevation.
“We’re higher than Iowa, that’s for sure.” His brother took a long drink. When Thatch had suggested a morning hike before their big family yoga session, his brother had been all about it, but they hadn’t made it very far. Distance wasn’t the point of this outing, though. After everything that had happened between them, they were forging a new relationship.
Thatch parked it on a rock and let his brother rest. “We can quit now, if you want.” Hell, they could hang out here in the sunshine and the fresh air among the aspen trees. There were worse places to sit and talk.
“But you said there’re some good views in the meadowup ahead.” Liam wiped his forehead with the end of his shirt. “I’m not going to wimp out now.”
“Suit yourself.” Thatch waited until his brother got going so Liam could set the pace.
His brother trudged up the trail in front of him. “You’ve built quite the life for yourself here.”
“Star Valley has become home.” He hadn’t expected to put down roots, but now he wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. “There’re good people here.” His best friends. Really, they were more like his family now.
“I’ve gotta say, I didn’t think you’d stay.” The slope grew steeper, and Liam paused. “I mean, I know you came to help Tess after Jace passed away, but then I thought you’d be off traveling the world again.”
“I’ll still do some traveling.” He had a whole list of places he’d like to take Lyric. “But it’s nice to have a place you feel like you belong. The way you do on the farm.” It was strange to realize he and his brother didn’t really know each other at all anymore, and that had to change.
“I’m glad you found your place.” Liam started hiking again. “And I’m glad we can spend time together again. I hope we can make this a more regular thing.”
“Me too.” Thatch passed him by, his old habits dying hard. “The meadow I was telling you about is right up here.” He took the last switchback quickly, knowing Liam wouldn’t be able to resist staying with him.
They crested the hill out of breath and laughing, but then Liam stopped abruptly. “Wow. You weren’t kidding. These are some views.”
“Never gets old.” Thatch gazed at the glacial pond set in front of cragged mountain peaks. Who needed publictrails when he could hike on Silas and Tess’s land and witness vistas like this? “Those are the wildies over there.” He pointed to the pasture he’d helped them section off to house the herd of wild horses Tess cared for through her sanctuary.
“Incredible.” Liam snapped a few pictures on his phone. “Sienna’s gonna be bummed she missed this.” His brother seemed to hesitate before speaking again. “I didn’t want her to come because she’s pregnant.”
