Thank you so much for reading West of Forever! I hope you loved Tristan and Lark as much as I did.
Some things I do and they make perfect sense–to me only. Originally, the second epilogue was the bonus scene. I thought, OMG how fun will it be for people to find out that it was CLYDE all along?
Well, that only works when everyone reads the bonus scenes.
I’m learning that they don’t always do that.
However, I didn’t want that tiny little thread undone, so I went ahead and added it into the ebook and now you’re getting ANOTHER bonus. So, really, YOU WIN!
Here’s a little something from Tristan and Lark!
TRISTAN
~Four Years Later~
I’m lying on the bed as Lark is in the bathroom. We just had some fabulous sex, if I do say so myself, and now I need to sleep before having to be up at four in the morning to move the horses.
“Do you see this?” she asks, her hands resting on what is normally her very flat stomach.
“See what, love?”
“This lump. It’s hard and I pooped today.”
I raise one brow. “Okay …”
“I’m just saying, I’m so bloated lately.”
I like to believe I’m a smart man and I know better than to say something about her current weight or anything about her body other than how perfect it is. I don’t care if she gained a thousand pounds, she’d still be stunning to me.
“Maybe it’s something you ate?”
She shrugs and climbs into bed. “Maybe. I’m going to see Monica next week so I’ll talk to her about it.”
Monica works at the clinic in town and Lark goes for her yearly exams like clockwork.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“I’m sure it is too.” She curls up next to me, her head resting on my chest. “Do you need help with the horses tomorrow?”
I glance down at her. “No, but I appreciate your offer.”
“I didn’t offer. I just asked,” she says in a playful tone.
“Gee, thanks.”
“It’s what wives do.”
I chuckle and pull her closer. “Yeah, they do a lot of things according to you.”
Like annoying their spouses anytime they want. Steal their clothes because they fit better and smell like a man. She claims she can eat the food off my plate because it’s her right and I signed off on it in the vows. Not that I remember those vows, but you know, Lark does what she wants.
“Yes, and all of them are what I’ve been told.”
“By who?”
She rests her chin on my shoulder. “Your sisters and as we know, they’re brilliant.”
I scoff. “They’re anything but that.”
“I disagree, but it’s fine.”
Lark lays back down, nuzzling in deeper. “Tristan?”
“Yes, baby.”
“What if I’m pregnant?”
My breathing shortens for a heartbeat and I wait for her to say something else. We’ve been trying for almost three years. Every month we’ve done all the things, followed the doctor’s recommendations, and not once have we had a pregnancy.
Lark went into Denver a year ago for a full work-up and they said everything was normal, but it’s been months of nothing.
All of the tests say there’s no viable reason why we haven’t been able to conceive.
However, we just haven’t had any luck.
“Do you think you are?” I ask hesitantly.
“No.”
“Have you had any other symptoms?”
Lark’s eyes meet mine. “Nothing. I know I’m not. I’m sorry I said it.”
“Why are you sorry?”
I’m the one who is sorry that I haven’t been able to give her that. I know she wants a baby. Not that she doesn’t love and adore Sadie, she does. She’s been an amazing mother to her and Sadie loves Lark.
She just wants to grow our family. To give Sadie a sibling and have more of the childhoods like we both had.
She looks away. “I just know we want this.”
“Hey,” I say and wait for her return her gaze to me. “I want another baby, but I don’t need it. I have you and Sadie and that’s enough for me. If we’re blessed with a child, then I will be happy and love that baby. If we don’t, then I thank God that he gave me you. You and Sadie are my world, Lark. Not having another child won’t disappoint me at all. You’re all I need.”
I’ve told her this over and over, but she also knows I always dreamed of having what my parents and hers had. We loved the idea of four or five kids running around, learning the farm life, having something to pass down.
Plus, at this point, we’ve had to start being realistic that another child just doesn’t seem like it’s in the cards for us.
Lark exhales deeply. “I know. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
I kiss the top of her head and we fall asleep.
***
“Tristan!” Veronica comes riding out on her horse towards me. “Tristan, come quick!”
Immediately my body kicks into overdrive. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I don’t know, Lark is at the house, she’s hysterically crying. You have to hurry.”
I kick my horse and ride like something is chasing me. A million things go through my mind that could have her so upset.
I worry if she’s hurt. Is she sick? She just went to the doctor. Please tell me it’s nothing serious. I need my wife. I need her to be okay.
My horse must sense my need and he pushes harder. After what feels like forever, I finally make it through the pasture closest to the house. Just a bit more.
“Come on, boy,” I urge him to keep going. As soon as I get to the stables, one of the ranchhands are there.
“I got him. Go.”
God, it must be bad if everyone is there.
I run to the main house. “Lark!”
“Over here, son,” my father calls, waving me over.
“What happened?”
He shrugs. “Hell if I know.”
Helpful as always.
I go around and there i see her. She’s sitting on the porch swing, tears streaming down her face, and my sisters are around her, rubbing her back.
“Lark, baby, what’s wrong?”
She sniffs and looks up. Then she’s on her feet and rushing into my arms. I hold her, waiting for her to tell me something—anything—because my mind is going in a million directions.
“Tristan …” she hiccups. “I … it’s … we …”
I pull back, taking her face in my hands. “Please, love, I need you to tell me why you’re crying. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it.”
Fear is eating at me and I’m sending prayers up that whatever it is, it’s fixable.
Her fingers wrap around my wrists. “We will. I know we will, but we don’t have a lot of time.”
God, no. I can’t lose her too. Surely there isn’t a world where I would lose both of the women I love.
“Lark …”
“We have about five months left to go.”
“Five months?”
She nods. “Then the baby will be here.”
“Baby?” I ask, confusion and disbelief. “You’re pregnant?”
Tears fall again and her lip quivers. “I’m pregnant.”
I crush her to me, holding her so tight. Relief and joy like I can’t describe fills me. “You … we’re having a baby?”
She pushes back to look at me. “We are. I tried to call you when I was there, but you didn’t have service I guess. But, yes, look …” Lark pulls out her phone and shows me a video. “That’s him.”
“Him?” I ask, eyes wide.
“Yes, we’re having a boy. A little boy.”
I laugh, looking around at my three sisters who ran me ragged. I always wondered what it would’ve been like to have a brother. I guess Lark knows that better than anyone. “A little boy.”
Lark beams. “Are you happy, Cowboy?”
“No. I’m over the moon. And it’s you who made this all possible.”
Next up is Harper and Ares, and I can’t wait for you to meet them!
Preorder now!
