Down on the Ranch

Epilogue

Jace's P.O.V.

Man, what a crazy ten years it has been, but I would not change a thing about these years either. I am twenty-seven, Gage is twenty-nine, Gabriel, our son will be ten next month, and we have three more children. Jaycob Lee is eight, Torrence Edward is five, and Quinn is three.

Kent and Callie were married five years ago, and they have a son named Karson Andrew, and he is two. Callie is also seven months pregnant with a girl who they are naming Caitlynn Marie.

Nana and pop-op retired three years ago, and they left ownership of the range to Gage and me. That was the conversation we had with my grandparents ten years ago when I was pregnant with Gabriel. They still live here at the main house at the ranch, but they do not work the ranch. Nana still cooks only because she wants to,stating that it makes her happy. They also have a wonderful relationship with my children.

Dad still works here, and I love having him so close to me, and working with him. He and Gage have a wonderful relationship, and dad treats Gage like another son. He also has a phenomenal relationship with my children, and I couldn't ask for a better "poppy" for my kids. They love to spend the night at his home, and ride back home in his truck with him the next morning. Dad remarried five years ago to a beautiful woman (beautiful on the inside and out) named Peyton Marie. She is the same age as dad, and has two adult children; Morgan Anne who is twenty-five, and Thomas Logan who is twenty-seven.

Mum and Ryan moved about two hours north of us for Ryan's new job at a different company, but he is still a photojournalist. Mum works as a florist in a cute, small shop, and they come to visit once a month which is always amazing.

Gage's parents moved onto the property with us, and their now adult adoptive children live in the home that they lived in close to here. They help around the ranch, too, and they love helping here. The kids love having three of their four grandparents all living on or extremely close to them. The kids also love their great grandparents, too.

"Baby boy," Gage says while entering the cow barn where I am milking cows along with Ford.

Warren and dad are working with a new colt that we bought last week. I wanted to train her, but I was told by everyone that I was not allowed, too. We did not hire anyone new ranch hands to replace mum and pop-op because of Gage's parents. We have opened the ranch to vacationers to pay to "work" on the ranch by us teaching them to do what we do every day. We do this two weekends a month, and we also have a yearly pig roast for everyone here on the ranch, Kent, Callie, and Karson, Kent's mama, and we invite the entire neighborhood. We have been doing these for the last five years, and it is a fun time, and everyone invited comes, and usually the neighbors bring something to share (i.e. food and drinks).

"Yeah, we are at the fourth station," I call back while Quinn and Torrence "help" me milk the cow.

Torrence and Quinn wanted to help me today, so helping me they are, and Gabe and Jay are helping Gage today since today is Saturday.

The three of them find the three of us, and all of them are sweaty and dirty, but have huge grins on their handsome faces.

"What is up, my handsome boys?" I ask them with my own grin as I continue to milk the cow with Torrence and Quinn sitting on the floor in front of me, "holding" the pail with their hands.

"We came to get all of you for lunch," Gabe says, bouncing slightly on his toes with a bigger grin. "Nana made grilled cheese sammies, and tomato soup."

"Yum, one of my favorites," I grin at my oldest son. "Why don't you boys go tell uncle Ford that lunch is ready, please?"

"Okay!" the four of them agree, and Gage and Jaycob wait for Torrence and Quinn to climb to their feet before walking off toward Ford.

Finishing my task, I stand from the short milking stool with the handle of the pail in my right hand as I grin at my lover. He reaches over to take the pail from me with a wink, and he dumps the contents into the machine that is running to make processed milk for us to drink. He places the pail on the floor, gently sprays it clean, and then places it on the shelf.

Gage walks back over to me where he left me, gently gripping my hips in his warm hands to carefully pulls me into his luscious body with a grin. He lowers his head as I tilt mine upwards for the soft kiss that he places on my lips.

"How are you feeling, love?" Gage softly asks as our lips part, and he lies his forehead against mine.

"I am okay," I sigh as Gage's right hand gently rubs my swollen baby bump. "This is our last baby since this pregnancy is kicking my butt."

"Ashleigh Grace will be our last baby, I promise," Gage promises with another gentle kiss to my lips as the four boys bounce up to us with Ford following them with a chuckle.

I am seven months pregnant with a girl, and this has been my hardest pregnancy. I still have morning sickness all day. I also have been having a harder time performing my daily chores, so I have to slow down during the day.

"Let's go!" Gabe sweetly requests as they reach us.

The three older boys run ahead of us out of the barn as Ford gives Quinn a ride on his back as Gage and I walk behind them, holding hands. Well, Gage walks as I waddle. Watching my boys running and laughing as they run. Their pure joy and happiness warms my heart and soul, and I can't help but feel special. I have four beautiful boys, and a beautiful daughter on the way, the most handsome ranch hand as my lover, and the father of my five babies, and the best family a person could ever want or ask for.

Life is perfect for me down on the ranch.