Her Rancher, Her Protector

Epilogue- Tyler

It was now summer and we were having a cookout at the ranch. I took the day off as I had a special day planned. Everyone from town was there. But it was a big day. Cory was settling into life on the ranch and helped me out more when he wasn’t in school. And Angel, my angel, she was thriving here. Cause of the injury, she was put on moderate bedrest. She was able to move around with limits, doctors orders. So, she had to quit the diner, but Gretchen stayed close with her. Even threw her a baby shower after we found out we were having a little boy. Yeah, I was having a son and I was pretty damn excited about it. My own little boy but I looked at Cory as my son at this point. He had a father but he was now long gone, put away for what he did to Angel and the horror he put his family through. But now I made them my family. I spent every moment of everyday with them when I wasn’t working on the ranch. I did love working from home cause that meant I got to see Cory and Angel all the time. Life was pretty damn great. I moved over to the table as my lady sat there with my mother and Gretchen, talking away. I held a hand out to her. She looked confused. “Don’t be a pain, baby.” I joked.

She rolled her eyes and took it as she stood up next to me. I looked at my woman as she did as her belly was huge as she was to pop any day now. I was ready to meet my son. I looked at the people around us. I yelled out in the noisy crowd, “Can I have everyone’s attention?”

Angel whispered, “What are you doing?”

I ignored her as I smiled and the crowd quiet down. They all stared at us. “Now, most might be wondering why I have invited you all out here today?”

“I didn’t. I was just offered free food!” I heard Gus joke as the crowd laughed.

I laughed as well. “Well, as we might remember, almost a year ago, this wonderful lady came stumbling into this town. My life changed when she did. She was a beautiful woman who was just struggling to be a single mother. But now she is my beautiful girlfriend who we are now about to welcome our little one here shortly. She has changed my life in a big way when she came into this town and I don’t know what I would do without her. See, I never thought I was allowed to love again after my dear Maggie passed, but she showed me it was okay to. And I did, I fell in love with this incredible woman. I have learned to love again and now she gave me something I always longed for, a family. But now I want more, even if that makes me a little selfish.” I turned to her as she looked at me with love. I bent down on one knee in front of her as I pulled a ring out. The crowd gasped as Angel covered her mouth in shock as tears welled up in her eyes. “Angel, I didn’t think I could love again till you came into my life and now I have a family and two sons because of you. So would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She didn’t say anything, but tears flowed. Than her demeanor changed. She moved her hand as her eyes widened. “Um, I think someone else is a little excited about the proposal.” I looked at her confused. “My water just broke.”

I sprang to my feet as my mom rushed to her. “Oh, lord, Tyler. She is in labor.”

“Okay. We gotta to get you to the hospital.” I quickly told her. Than turned to my mother. “Will you watch Cory?”

“Of course. Now get your woman to the hospital.” She told me quickly. I nodded and moved away holding onto Angel. “And we want an answer to that proposal later on.”

Angel chuckled as I helped her as she yelled back to the crowd as she looked at me. “My answer is yes.”

I smiled happily at this as the crowd cheered. I moved in, briefly, for a small kiss. Than got her to my truck.

Once we got to the hospital, they rushed her to labor and delivery. She was in full blown labor at this point. She was a trooper throughout it all. She didn’t yell or scream. She breathed through it and was calm. I expected screaming and cursing. But no, she was the opposite. She was strong and steady through it all. I sat behind her at one point as she sat up and I massaged her back. She smiled. “Mmmm, yeah, you are making this birthing experience more pleasurable.”

“I would do anything to make it a little easier on you.” I told her softly.

“You can’t be real. This can’t be real. Men like you aren’t real.” She cracked with a smile.

I laughed out loud. “Oh, yeah, why is that?”

“My last birth. I was alone. Well, my mom was there. But Kurt was to busy getting drunk to see his son being born. I didn’t get this kind of attention when Cory was born.” She told me.

I felt for her. I was glad to make this birthing process more memorable in a good way. I continued to massage her lower back. I kissed her shoulder softly. “Baby, he was an ass, over all. I would never leave you alone in this. I know how precious this is. I know what you are doing is something special and I want to be here for this moment. I want to be here when our son enters this world. Little Cody will know what love is and Cory has a father who loves him. That is what matters now. They both will always know love from here on out as will you. I love the family you have given me and I forever will be grateful for that.”

She smiled at this. Than another contraction hit her, she winced and breathed through it. I moved my hands to her belly. I moved my hands over the side of her belly as she went through the contractions. Once it subsided, she relaxed and breathed, “They are getting closer together. This baby is wasting no time getting here.”

I smiled at this. “Cause he is ready to meet his mama and his daddy. He is excited to be with us.”

She smiled at this as she relaxed more into me. “I am ready to meet our boy and ready to sleep.” She joked. “But that part won’t happen either.”

“Yeah, you will. Cause you have me to share the responsibilities with. You really aren’t use to help, are you?” I cracked.

She laughed and shook her head. “No, not at all. Use to doing it alone.”

“Well.” I breathed. “You will never have to do any of this alone. I promise you that.”

Her smile got bigger. Than she cringed again and moved forward. “Oh, he is coming.” She breathed.

I hit the nurses button and a nurse walked in. “What is it?”

“He is coming. I have to push.” Angel told her calmly.

The nurse smiled and put on gloves. I moved from behind her as she got situated. She did what came natural to her. She pushed for several minutes and the doctor came in during that time and took over. At 8:49 pm, my son, Cody Michael Johnson was born at 6 pounds and 10 ounces. He came out, crying mildly, not screaming like most do. I got to cut the cord and they moved him to Angel, where he settled quickly and was calm. I was beaming as my son was here. “He’s perfect.” Angel breathed.

“He is.” I kissed the top of her head than his. “Just as perfect as his mama.”

Later that night, I sat on the chair with my newborn son in my hands. Angel was already asleep as she was exhausted after everything she went through. I looked down at my newborn son and I felt so completely. He started to fuss and I quickly soothed him. “Sh, sh, now little Cody. There is nothing to cry about little one.” He calmed in my arms. I smiled. “Daddy loves you and your mama does too. And you have a big brother who is excited about meeting you. See your one lucky little boy. Your mama and brother wasn’t always so lucky but they always had each other. And daddy wasn’t always either. But now I have them and you. Now I am a very lucky man as I have all of you. You just made our family more complete. And you will always be loved, little boy. That I can promise you. We all love you so much. Having you here in daddy’s arms just shows me how lucky of a man I am.” Than I looked at Angel. “I really am a lucky man.”

And I was, from that day forward, I always remember that as my family got older. I was lucky to have my boys and the woman that later became my wife. I lost a woman I loved and thought I would have a family with. When she died, I thought that dream died with her. But Angel made me live that dream. She really was my angel. My guardian angel. She was sent to me to show me I could love again and that love built the family I loved unconditionally. My life was complete and I was happy for the rest of my days with my woman and my boys.