Cowgirl Up 2 (Sequel) ✔️

Chapter Forty Six

My nerves were kicking in full throttle as I drove through the gates and into the farm yard Tuesday afternoon.
I'd had updates throughout the day.
We were more or less moved into the new house.
Because I'm unable to participate in any heavy lifting due to the pregnancy, it was decided that the guys would just get all the shifting done while I was at school.
Jaxon was still around, spending time with Mum until he had to leave for Deni, so he was helping Blayze out.
My task was going to be 'organising everything into rightful homes' in the new house.
Oddly enough, it gave me a sense of empowerment and purpose.
It would be my house.
I would get to choose where things live.
Before this, the only time I got to do that was my bedroom or my locker at school.
Everything else somebody else had control over.
"You reeeeaddddy?"
I glanced over at Heath who was for once sitting in the passenger seat.
It made no sense for us to drive two seperate car's to school when we had the same timeframe schedule and I was sick of having to reposition my seat every time I tried to drive my car and I don't exactly enjoy rattling along in Heath's old Hilux, so Heath got to suck it up and ride passenger lately.
"I'm excited, but nervous."
I admitted, smiling grimly at the worn dirt driveway ahead.
"Makes sense."
The sarcasm was easily detected in his tone.
"Oh shaddup."
I muttered with a roll of my eyes.
He sounded just like Blayze.
I'd voiced my nerves about all the change once.
It was safe to say I'd learned to keep my mouth shut since.
"He's feeling it too ya know."
Heath stated.
"He'd just never tell anyone."
I glanced over at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Heath shook his head.
"Don't worry he hasn't said anything to me. But I've been curious. I've watched him when he'll leave a room in that cottage and look back a second time. Or when he actually leaned the front door he'll look back."
Hmmm...
I'd neglected to pay attention, because I'd been worried about looking weak by feeling unsettled.
This was a great next step for us.
A home ready for us, our baby and even Tameron.
It was the right thing to do.
"You're not goin' to the house?"
Heath asked.
Shit!
I quickly turned the Ute to take the track that led past the machinery shed.
It wasn't a track often driven, so it was pretty lucky I had a pretty staunch Ute to drive.
"Bloody hell!"
Heath grimaced.
Smiling sheepishly, I shot him a quick glance.
"Sorry."
He just rolled his eyes.
"Can't wait 'till I can stop being bloody passenger."
He grumbled.
"Oh shut up. My driving is fine! I was just distracted and I'm not used to going this way."
"We'll make sure you're not distracted when you've got a baby in the back seat."
Heath gestured behind us.
"You'll send him flying!"
I couldn't help but laugh.
"They're strapped in you know!"
"So?! You nearly took my head off with that brake stomp and turn! You'd send a baby flung!"
I chewed on my lower lip.
He was right about one thing.
It was scary to think of driving my child around.
So small, precious, defenceless...
"Blayze can drive the baby."
I muttered, steering the Ute around the house, towards the front where I could see my car's twin already parked, the tailgate hanging down.
"Good idea."
Heath agreed.
I stopped the car more smoothly this time and looked over at him.
"So you're team baby Riley's a boy?"
"You're calling the baby Riley?"
He asked, seemingly surprised.
I reached forward to turn my car off, but kept my eyes directed on Heath.
"Of course."
"I kinda thought you might've done the new hipster thing and hyphenated or something, considering you don't have the Riley last name yet."
A hyphenated name would just be a pain in the butt.
I'd grown up with a few kids who had that going on.
"Why the hell do you always bring up the marriage idea?!"
I exclaimed.
It was about the third time Heath had mentioned Blayze and I becoming married.
"Because it makes sense."
Heath stated.
Oh?
It does, does it?
"You're outta your mind."
I rolled my eyes and slipped my keys from the ignition.
"We're not getting married any time soon."
"And why not?"
Heath retorted.
What the hell?!
"Because I'm eighteen."
I reminded him.
"And we've got enough on our plate, such as a newborn joining us fairly soon. And the battles with Rikki and Tameron."
"You can't let Rikki and Tameron rule your life you know."
Heath stated, twisting around to lean his back against the door.
"I don't need to be married to know that I love Blayze or that he loves me."
I stated.
Plus, Mum and Paul's failed marriage was yet another reminder as to why marriage wasn't exactly necessary.
Though Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Lukas and Aunty Bridey seem happy...
Heath cocked his head to the side.
"You're saying you don't want to get married?"
I chewed on my lower lip, thinking about how to answer.
"When I was a kid, I always imagined riding my horse to meet my husband."
I explained.
Heath grinned!
"That sounds like an arrangement that would work for you and Blayze!"
I rolled my eyes.
I actually wasn't done talking.
"Through different things, I feel like I've grown up in recent times."
I continued.
"Now I'm not sure that marriage necessarily means happiness or a happily ever after."
"But you guys clearly love each other."
Heath insisted.
"You have a compatible mindset and we all know you work well alongside each other. You can diffuse each other when you're angry or upset... You're about to have your first kid together. Why wouldn't you just tie it all off and get married?"
Tie it all off?
I eyed him skeptically.
"Why does it sound like you're trying to twist my arm?"
"Trust me."
Heath rolled his eyes.
"I've got no idea if marriage is even consciously on Blayze's radar. He's certainly never said anything to me. I just figured it would be on yours."
"I'm not sure."
I all but whispered.
But the idea of it was making my head swirl.
Did I want to get married?
Could I see myself getting married?
What about the proposal?
A thump against my window, which I had my back facing, made me jump almost to the point of hitting my head on the Ute's roof!
My heart was suddenly in my throat and I spun around in my seat while Heath was laughing his arse off, fully ready to rip Blayze a new one.
I came across Jaxon who too was doubled over laughing.
"You both suck!"
I fumed.
"What did I do?!"
Heath exclaimed, his deep blue eyes widening.
I shot him an icy glare.
"If you think I for a second believe you didn't see him coming you're an idiot!"
Heath smiled sheepishly.
See!
I pushed my door open, forcing Jaxon to back up.
"Awe I'm sorry Bails!"
Jaxon apologised, grinning wickedly which told me he wasn't in the least bit sorry.
"Shut up!"
I ordered and turned to the back door to get my backpack out from the back seat.
Though I probably wasn't going to be doing much homework considering I had a house to set up...
"What's goin' on?"
My heart sped up at the sound of Blayze's newly arrived voice and my veins tingled from the memory of last night's intimacy.
Wonderful.
I thought to myself.
One against three.
"Nothin'!"
Jaxon declared, his voice light with amusement.
I spun around, dragging my backpack out of the back seat at the same time, shooting Jaxon a glare.
It was weird how I now barely even thought of him as the Nationally renowned performer whom I'd used to swoon over.
"Bailey?"
Blayze asked.
I looked towards the refurbished house to see that he was standing on the steps, leaning sideways against the railing, raising a questioning eyebrow.
A good ninety five per cent of the time I could count on Blayze Riley having my back.
There was the odd time though, when the boys would tease me, that he would join them or take their side.
I sighed.
There was no point trying to sway this one my way.
"Nothing."
I muttered, sliding my backpack onto my back.
"Heath I'll beat you up."
Blayze stated, folding his arms across his chest.
What the?
I looked towards the front of my car, wondering if Heath had made an appearance yet.
He had, but he stopped in his tracks.
"I didn't even do anything!"
He exclaimed.
Jaxon snickered.
Blayze shot a glance towards Jaxon.
"Jax I'll beat you up too."
I blinked, surprised.
Had the world tipped on its axis?
"Isn't he the older cousin?"
Heath reminded, raising a questioning eyebrow.
Blayze smirked.
"Oh don't worry I can still beat him up."
Jaxon grimaced slightly.
"Unfortunately that is true. Has been for most of our lives."
Wow...
A new spring was in my step as I headed for the steps that would lead onto the deck, so that I could then enter the house.
Blayze was on my side this time!
"Hello!"
I greeted as I climbed the steps
His smile made my heart flutter.
"Hey."
He replied, leaning down to kiss me.
"So what stage are we up to?"
I asked, glancing towards the closed door of the house.
"I'm pretty sure everything that's owned by either one of us is up here now."
Blayze stated, leaning backwards against the railing.
For once, excitement took the lead over nerves in my body.
This was really it!
With a bounce in my step, I made my way up the remaining couple of steps and crossed the porch to the large wooden door.
Pushing the door open, I was greeted with three squirming, entirely familiar dogs.
"Hello, hello, hello."
I greeted them, reaching down to give each one's head a scratch.
Wait...
I paused in the doorway and turned around.
"Why were the dogs locked in?"
I questioned.
Blayze made his way across the decking, Jaxon and Heath climbing up the stairs.
"Zeus and Zuke have on more than one occasion almost slipped away."
Blayze explained.
What the hell?
I turned back around to look at the dogs.
Azlan sat down, giving a small wag of his tail.
Zeus sat and thumped his tail against the floorboards.
Zuke bounded forward and shoved his wet nose into my hand.
"Why would they try and leave?"
I asked, frowning as worry gnawed at me.
Do they not like this house?
Animals are amazing at sending what human's can't or take a long time to work out...
"My guess would be coz they're not aware it's home yet."
Blayze remarked, leaning down to pat Azlan and Zeus on the head as he passed by them.
I opened my mouth to ask why Azlan wasn't in the wandering club, but shut it when I saw the Kelpie get to his feet as soon as Blayze moved, turning around to follow him like a shadow.
So he was feeling the tension of the situation, but was choosing to do his best to stick with Blayze.
"This is home now."
I informed Zuke and Zeus, looking down at them as I patted Zuke's head.
Both dogs wagged their tails.
"Well it's almost home."
Jaxon hedged.
"Right now it kinda looks like a factory warehouse."
Only now did I lift my head and look around the open plan living area.
He was right.
Box's, container's, bag's and piles of crap littered the entire area.
And I get to sort it all into its home's...
Wonderful.
"How the heck did we actually have this much in the cottage?"
I asked, bewildered.
We definitely didn't empty the place, because it was furnished with the necessities before Blayze even moved in.
Only over the next eight years did he accumulate any additives of his own.
"Some of its come from your room at the main house too."
Blayze explained, walking back into the living area.
"Where the hell did you get them from?"
I asked, realising he was holding raw bones, clearly intended for the dogs.
"Stashed 'em in the laundry."
He answered.
All three dogs immediately crowded him and sat down, eagerly awaiting the treat's.