Ranch Life

Chapter 12

Braxton was able to come home this morning, two days after he went into the hospital. He was ready. So was I. Sleeping in a hospital bed is hard. When you're sharing it with somebody is only worse. Not that it matters. I love him so I was happy to stay with him.

"Baby, come closer. You're sitting too far away."

"I'm sitting right next to you. How is that too far away?"

"It just is. Come here."

He pulls me into his lap.

"What are you doing?"

"Holding you."

"Should you be doing that with your side? I don't want you to strain yourself."

"I'm fine. I just want to hold my beautiful girlfriend. Can't I do that?"

"Yeah. I love you."

"I love you too." He gives me a kiss. Then we hear Tori giggle. We pull away to see her standing right in front of us. Where'd she come from?

"Daddy kiss Piper." She giggles again.

"Hi, sweetie."

"Hi." She climbs in my lap. Braxton groans.

"Baby, you okay?"

"Yeah." He winces again.

"No you're not. Do you need your pain medicine?"

"No. I just need to walk it off."

"Okay." I lift Tori up and set her on the couch. Then I get off his lap and help him stand.

"Daddy, I sorry."

"You didn't do it, baby. It's not your fault. Daddy loves you."

"Love you too."

He starts walking around the room. I sit beside Tori and she climbs back in my lap. I play with her hair. Then Braxton comes to sit by us.

"Better?"

"Yeah. Come here, sweet pea." He pulls Tori into his lap. She soon falls asleep on his lap.

I get up off the couch. "Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna take Tori to bed. I'll be back."

"I can get her."

"No. You're injured. I'll get her."

"Fine."

"Don't pout. It's not pretty."

"Ha." He sticks his tongue out.

"You're so childish."

I lift Tori off his lap. Then I carry her to her bedroom. I get her settled in her bed then go back to the living room. I find Braxton laying on his back on the couch.

"What's this?"

"Just getting comfortable. Care to join me?"

"Sure." As carefully as I can, I climb on the couch beside him. I lay my head on his chest. One arm goes around my waist and the other rests on my back.

"Know what I just realized?"

"What?"

"I have a scar that matches yours now."

"We do. Don't we?"

"Yep." He kisses the top of my head.

"I love you, Braxton. With all my heart."

"I love you too." The last thing I remember is falling asleep with my head on his chest.

When I wake up the next morning, I'm in bed. But it's not my room. I look over my shoulder to see Braxton sleeping next to me. That explains where I am. What I still don't know is how I got here. Then his arm goes tighter around my waist.