Page 143 of Reins

“Yes!” Vi jumps up and down behind me, then reaches for the handle.

“Stay out of the mud!” I yell as my older three rush through the door.

They dodge as they leave and the shadow they avoided quickly morphs into my husband coming inside.

“What if I like getting dirty?” Dixon’s gruff question is framed with a smirk as he scoops Wesley off my legs. He pats the fresh diaper while he bends to press me with a warm kiss. “I got the car seats switched to the Suburban.”

“Thank you,” I sigh. “I tried to make it out there but—”

He hefts our chunky son to the side and reaches out to pull me closer. “Char, I got it.” His broad chest rumbles when he holds me to it. “Cynthia starts next week. Elena said she put in her notice at Frozen Bones to take the job.”

The relief I feel is palpable.

“That was the best idea anyone’s had.” I wrap my arms around him and take a moment to enjoy holding him.

“With all the rugrats—” Dixon sneaks a kiss against our wiggling toddler’s temple. “—it just makes sense to have an extra set of hands on deck. Having Ford and April move into that bigger house up the canyon left their place as the perfect spot for a Black Gulch daycare.”

“Gosh.” I smile up at him. “Whatever will we do with free time?”

His eyes darken as his thumb works up my jaw. “I have a few plans,” he growls, then finds my lips again with his.

Ep Dixon

“Everyone loaded?” I peek in the backseat and double check Wesley’s buckle. The little turd has figured out how to push it and take his belt off sometimes.

Our own little escape artist.

“Yes, Daddy,” three voices chime in from the back, followed by a screech from the youngest.

“Yes, Daddy.” Char’s reply carries the subtle husk of promises for later.

Fuck. Just the thought makes me wish today was over already.

Partially. Cade will be there at the new place.

“Cade and Rosalyn made it to Wade’s earlier. They’re all heading up together.” I reach over to Char’s fingers like I always do when we drive.

Then I glance in the rearview to the twins. “Grace and Sage will be there, remember your cousins?”

“I do,” Vi pipes up. “We got in trouble last year for jumping in the straw.” She holds up one finger pointing to the ceiling. “But we did not cut them open. That was Ben.”

I fight the smile. Ben reminds me so much of Cade as a kid, I’m pretty sure he was born to the wrong brother. “Just because he said it was okay, that doesn’t make it right. Are you going to do that again?”

Her big amber eyes, a perfect match for mine, widen as she shakes her head. “No, Daddy. I’ll kick the bales until they break next time.”

Char snorts, covering her mouth to hide her laughter.

“How about we don’t open them until we are going to use them?” I really do try my best to look sternly at her reflection.

But then those little lips purse as she turns her head to watch out the window. “Jumping in them is using them, Daddy.”

I can’t help it, I have to squeeze Char’s hand to keep us both from losing control.

“When they hit their teens, I vote that you and I go vacation with April and Ford to Italy.” She shakes her head, still fighting the grin that dances across her lips.

“I get you on a beach, there’s a solid chance we start a whole new crop.” I wink at her as we pull into the new property.

The sign over the driveway has a heavy canvas tarp wrapping it.