Chapter Nine
Bobbi woke up early the following morning and reached over for Wilber’s arm, but he wasn’t there. She sat up in bed, frowning. He hadn’t told her he needed to be somewhere early.
She got up and wandered through the small cabin, calling his name. Finally, on the coffee table, she found a note.
My love,
Meet me in front of the cabin as soon as you’re dressed and showered. No peeking until you’re ready. Dress casually.
All my love,
Wilber
She frowned and walked to the window. He knew she wouldn’t be able to resist one peek. He wouldn’t even be surprised. With as long as they’d been married, it was like he could read her mind.
She lifted the curtain out of the way, surprised to find a piece of cardboard taped over the window. “I said no peeking!” was written on the cardboard.
Bobbi laughed, shaking her head as she walked back toward the bathroom. Obviously, he’d done everything he could to keep her from looking. She hurried into the bathroom and showered and dressed. She wished she could force herself to take her time, but she was much too excited to see what he was up to.
She put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt before running a brush through her hair. She’d never been one of those women who took hours fussing as they stared at themselves in the bathroom mirror.
Twenty minutes after opening her eyes, she was ready. She hoped Wilber had thought to get them something to eat.
She stepped out the front door to see her husband leaning back against a four-wheeler. There were two there in front of the cabin, ready for them to use. “Did you think about breakfast?” she asked.
“We’re going to head to the diner to pick up our lunch, so we’ll go ahead and have breakfast while we’re there. If it was kolache day, I’d have a bag in my hand waiting for you to devour.”
She grinned at him. “Well, I’m happy to have breakfast with the man I love. Are we walking over or four-wheeling?”
“Oh, four-wheeling. I know the exact kind of chariot my queen desires.”
She laughed, sitting down on the one with her helmet. “Did you walk over to get one and then walk over to get the other?”
“Oh, no! I reminded Wyatt about the arthritis in my hip, and casually mentioned that I walked the floor with him and changed his diapers. He wrinkled his nose, but he knows he’s about to start that nonsense, so he was willing to drive one over and walk back himself.”
“Oh, good job playing the parent-with-arthritis card! I’m impressed at the way you think!”
He shrugged. “I learned from the best!”
She laughed, taking the lead as they drove across the ranch, stopping in front of the diner. “Looks like we missed the breakfast rush. Good. Maybe it won’t be too crowded.”
He stopped his four-wheeler and removed his helmet, hanging it off the handlebars. Taking Bobbi’s hand in his, he led her to the restaurant and opened the door for her. As soon as they were seated, Kelsi brought menus over. “Breakfast special is eggs in a hole with your choice of bacon, sausage, or corned beef hash.”
“Sounds good. Eggs over medium. Hash.” Bobbi looked at her daughter, whose eyes were looking a bit bloodshot. “You okay?”
Kelsi nodded. “Willow was fussy all night, so I was up with her.”
“You need an assistant manager.” Bobbi knew all new parents went through periods of no sleep, but she wished her daughter had the ability to stay home from work when it happened.
“I have Joni. She’s going to close this afternoon, so I can go home at two instead of four.”
“Good! I’m so glad you have someone you trust.”
Kelsi looked at Wilber. “What are you having, Dad?”
“Huckleberry pancakes with a double side of bacon and a cup of coffee.”
“I want orange juice,” Bobbi added.
“All right. I’ll get Bob to start on these and get your drinks out to you.” Kelsi walked away, her usual zip missing from her steps.
“If she wasn’t nursing, I could take the babies overnight. But neither of them will take a bottle.” Bobbi frowned at her husband. “How am I supposed to help her if she’s trained them not to take a bottle?”
“Obviously she’s done that, because she’d rather feed them herself. Just let her handle things. I’m sure Shane helps as much as he can.”
“He’s a good husband to her.” Bobbi shrugged. “I just feel like I should still be taking care of my babies.” She looked down at their joined hands on the table for a minute. “I think that’s a lot of the reason I married you. I needed a family I could be part of forever, and I knew you’d give that to me. You and your parents, and any kids we had. And then we got Jess as a bonus.”
“I know. I knew it at the time. You loved me, but you loved me partially because I could provide you with that forever family.”
After they’d eaten, they headed for the door, and Jess was waiting on one of the four-wheelers, something held in her arms. “I brought you a present, Aunt Bobbi. Uncle Wilber said you needed it more than you realized.”
Bobbi frowned and looked at her niece, just then realizing what she was holding. “A puppy!”
Jess nodded. “It’s a little boy. He was abandoned, and someone brought him to us.”
Bobbi took the small animal and cuddled him against her, loving the feel of his fur against her chin. She had tears in her eyes. “This is exactly what I needed. How did you know?”
Wilber grinned, shrugging. “When you mentioned Don Juan the other day, you had such a wistful look on your face. I knew you needed a new puppy to love.”
“I do! I really do!” She held the puppy out so she could look at him, noting that he was almost entirely white. “I’m going to call him Galahad. It makes him the perfect successor to Don Juan.”
Jess hurried forward and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I’m going to take him to spend the day with me at the clinic. I know you two have other plans, but I wanted you to see that he was yours.”
Bobbi walked over to Wilber and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him. She’d never been demonstrative in public, but she didn’t care about her stupid rules at the moment, and it didn’t matter how many guests saw them. Her husband deserved something for the special gift.
Wilber held her close for a moment. “You ready?”
“Sure. Do you have lunches?”
He nodded, patting the seat of his four-wheeler, and she knew that he’d put their boxed lunches in the compartment under the seat. “Let’s be off then.”
They rode side by side up the trail, but she let him lead in the places where the path was too narrow. When they reached the spot where she’d picnicked with Vivian, she expected him to stop, but he just kept going.
Finally, he stopped in the spot where she’d first convinced him to help her hunt for Bigfoot. “Are you ready?”
She frowned at him. “Ready for what? It’s only been an hour since breakfast. I’m not ready for lunch.”
He shooed her off her seat and pulled a bag out from under it. It was the bag she’d put together when she’d first initiated Kelsi into Bigfoot hunting. It held several artists’ renditions of Bigfoot and a magnifying glass. There were even examples of Bigfoot’s hair for them to use for comparison.
“Does this mean what I think it means?”
“Well, I know you wanted to Bigfoot hunt yesterday, and your usual partner is now tied to a couple of babies…”
She threw her arms around him and hugged him again. “What have I ever done in life to deserve you? I’m so sorry that I got persnickety this week. You are the only man who would ever not only put up with me, but continue to love me through my moods. Thank you for being you!”
“Does that mean you like my plan for the morning?”
She laughed. “It sure does!”
They wandered all over the area of the mountain where she was sure Bigfoot would be found. After several hours of constantly looking, she wiped some sweat off her brow and took a swig of the water he’d given her. “I’m done for today.”
“Let’s eat our lunch then. I have stuff planned for this afternoon.”
She eyed him curiously. “What stuff?”
He shrugged. “Nothing major.”
Somehow, she didn’t believe him, but she didn’t argue. After their picnic, which consisted of fried chicken, potato salad, and brownies, along with cans of root beer, she shook her head at him. “Sometimes the details you remember just amaze me. We had this on our first picnic.”
“We did. I wondered if you’d remember.”
“Of course, I do!” Bobbi remembered more than he gave her credit for, but the truth was, she didn’t give him much credit either. She was going to start focusing on the good in her husband and not the negative aspects of him.
“Okay, it’s down the mountain with us. We’ll return the four-wheelers, and then we have to take a ride in the truck.”
Bobbi didn’t argue. He’d obviously planned out this day, and she wasn’t going to argue with him. She got onto her vehicle and buckled her helmet on. “Let’s go.”
As they drove down the mountain, she carefully avoided the bumps in the trail that she knew like the back of her hand. During the years when she’d been having babies every couple of years, she’d missed her time in the mountains. As soon as the twins were old enough to be left with her in-laws for a period of time, she was off hunting for Bigfoot again.
After returning the four-wheelers to the ranch’s rental area, they got into his truck. “Where are we going now?”
“As if I’m going to tell you that. I think you know better!”
Bobbi grinned, looking over at her husband and not seeing the hair that was gray at the temples or the little laugh lines around his eyes. No, she saw the same handsome man she’d met at the ranch thirty-five years before, and she was so happy to have him in her life.
As they drove west, over the mountains, she looked over the lake that was in the next valley over. She’d always been fascinated by the beauty of the area, but she’d never been willing to leave the ranch for her recreation. That would be like living in paradise, but needing another paradise to visit to be happy.
When Wilber slowed the truck, she realized where he was taking her. To the spot that was filled with wildflowers, where he’d asked her to be his wife. He walked around the truck and helped her down, keeping her hand in his as he walked her to the exact spot.
“Wilber, we’re already married.”
“I know. But I always felt like I did that proposal just a little bit wrong.” He led her to the spot beside the creek where they’d had their picnic, and got down on one knee.
“Oh, Wilber, don’t hurt your hip!”
He shook his head. “Forget about my hip. Forget about everything but what I’m saying to you. My life began the day you walked onto the ranch and into my mother’s café. Every day of my life since then has been centered around you. You’ve helped me fulfill dreams I didn’t even know I had until we met. And now, we’ve been married for so long, I have to ask you…will you marry me again?” He reached down and pulled a ring from the pocket of his jeans. “Will you spend the rest of your life exploring the world, hunting for Bigfoot, and visiting grandbabies with me?”
Bobbi swiped away at the tears drifting down her face. She nodded as she held her hand out for the ring he held, waiting for him to slip it on her hand. It was much like her original engagement ring, in that they were both pink diamonds. However, this one perfectly matched the necklace he’d given her the night before. Both had the same heart-shaped cut to them.
He slowly got to his feet and gathered her against him. “This time you’ll have the wedding you deserve. If you need more time to put it together, that’s just fine. We’re going to have fun with it.”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t need any more time. I have everything I need all ready.” She’d been slowly adding things to shipments for a year, without letting Dani know why. She had everything she needed. Invitations would go out, and they would have a vow renewal by the end of the month.
*****
Bobbi waited until everyone was finished with their family dinner on Sunday before she said anything. The café was filled with laughter and love, which was how she liked it. She’d raised children who were respectful to their elders and who loved their siblings beyond belief.
Bobbi got to her feet, and reached her hand out for Wilber’s who took it, lending her his strength. “I have a couple of things I need to talk to you all about.” The café was immediately quiet, as she knew it would be. “First of all, I want to tell you why we’ve been so crazy about certain things being done here on the ranch. Like having a full-time pastor for weddings, and setting up the event barn. We wanted everything perfect for our vow renewal, which will be taking place at the end of the month.”
Dani got to her feet first. “Is that what those lavender Chinese lanterns were about? I thought you were losing your mind!”
Bobbi laughed. “That’s exactly what they were about, but it’s almost over. I mailed out invitations yesterday, and by the end of the month, your cousins will be swarming the ranch.”
Wade shook his head. “Do we have to be nice to them?”
Vivian giggled. “Dad!”
“Just checking!” Wade said with a sigh.
“I’d like Jess, Dani, and Kelsi to be my bridesmaids, and Vivian, I’d like you to do me the honor of being my flower girl.”
Dani wrinkled her nose. “Do we have to wear matching dresses?”
Bobbi rolled her eyes. “Would it kill you for one afternoon?”
“Maybe…”
“No, you don’t have to wear matching dresses. I found a pattern that was simple, but elegant. I ordered one for you in a dark blue, ice blue for Jess, and one for Kelsi in a pink. You don’t even have to wear the same color.”
Kelsi grinned. “You’re the best!”
Bobbi shook her head at them. “You two are silly.” She looked over at Wilber, and he gave her a nod, which told her it was time for the other announcement. “The other part of what I have to say is harder. You all know that my father has been in prison for the past forty-five years, and why. Well, he’s going to be getting out three days before our vow renewal, and he wants to meet all of you. I’m going to meet with him, but I’m going to leave it to all of you whether or not you want him to be a part of your life. I’ll understand any decision you make.”