Tanner looked at me and smiled. Those blue eyes of his sparkled, and his dimples were on full display, which caused my heart to speed up ever so slightly.
“That was a nice speech,” my father said.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
“I’m sorry you thought it was a speech because it was from my heart.”
The rest of the drive was made in silence. We pulled up to the gate of the Shaw ranch and Tanner clicked the gate opener.
“Did you want to freshen up first before you meet the rest of Tanner’s family?” I asked.
My father didn’t reply. I turned around in my seat to find him staring intently out the window. “Dad?”
He didn’t respond, so I followed his gaze. Six horses were out in the pasture. It was a stunning sight to see with the Bitterroot Mountains in the background and the sky turning a soft pink as the sun dipped lower.
I focused back on my father. “Dad?”
“Your mother would have loved it here,” he softly said as he smiled. It was such a genuine smile. “She loved horses, like you do, Timberlynn.”
My throat worked to swallow the emotion that had suddenly built up. It was the first time he’d mentioned my mother in...I didn’t even know how long. “I know she did.”
He broke his gaze and looked at me. “What did you ask me?”
“Would you like to freshen up before you meet the rest of Tanner’s family?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m fine, sweetheart.”
I smiled softly and then turned to look straight ahead. My father had just gone from ice cold to warm. It was something he had done often when thoughts of my mother hit him.
We drove down the long driveway, winding around snow-covered pastures dotted with both horses and cattle.
“What’s down there?” my father asked as we passed a road off the main drive that went to the left and had a little gate on it.
“That takes you to my brother Brock’s house,” Tanner said. “We’ll pass a few more roads, mostly dirt roads that take you to various parts of the ranch. Then as we get closer to my folks’ place, we’ll pass the road that takes you to Crystal Lake and my house.”
“And your other brother? He lives on the ranch too?”
“He lives with Kaylee on a piece of property that’s adjacent to the ranch,” I said.
Tanner nodded. “It used to be part of the ranch, but my parents subdivided it for my brother a number of years ago.”
“I see, like they did for you?” my father asked.
“Yes,” Tanner answered, not giving him any more details.
The house soon came into view, and I took in a deep breath. I had no idea how this night was going to go, and I couldn’t shake the strange feeling of uneasiness that bubbled up in my chest.
But suddenly, my father said the one thing I hadn’t expected him to. “I’m sorry for coming off as a hard ass, Tanner. It’s just…she’s my only daughter.”
Tanner looked in the rearview mirror and nodded. “No apology needed, sir.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
TANNER
The moment I parked in front of my folks’ house, the front door flew open and out piled the entire Shaw clan.
“Oh no,” Timberlynn whispered.
“Looks like they’re excited to meet me,” Frank said with a chuckle. His mood had lightened, and to say I had been shocked when he apologized would be an understatement. Timberlynn still seemed to be stunned by Frank’s apology. I took the excitement in Frank’s voice as a good sign. Timberlynn hadn’t noticed it though, because it appeared she was attempting to keep herself from hyperventilating at the thought of her father meeting my whole family.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I said as I squeezed her leg.
She looked at me, and I smiled. I instantly saw her relax, and she mouthed thank you before looking back at her dad. She went to say something, but he was already halfway out the door. He got out and shut it and glanced back at us as if wondering why we were still sitting in the truck.
“Looks like he’s ready to meet everyone.”
Timberlynn looked at her father as he stood there and waited for us to get out of the truck. She turned back to me and let out a disbelieving laugh. “I guess so.”
“Come on, let’s do this.” I jumped out of the truck and jogged around to help Timberlynn down. The three of us made our way toward the front porch.
“Uncle Frank!” Kaylee said, the first one to hold out her arms for a hug.
“It’s good to see you, Kaylee. You look…” he gave her a once-over and smiled. “You look very happy.”
She laughed. “It could be the pregnancy giving me a glow.”
He hugged her again as he chuckled. “I knew it. It showed in your eyes.”
I turned and looked at Timberlynn, wondering if she had remembered our conversation about the emotions our eyes held. She gave me a knowing smile.
“When are you due?”
“August fifth.”
“Well, congratulations are definitely in order,” Frank told her.
“Mr. Holden, this is my father and mother, Stella and Ty Senior. Mom, Dad, this is Dr. Frank Holden.”
Frank waved his hand off. “No need to be formal. Frank will do.”
My father was first to approach. He held out his hand. “It’s good to have you here, Frank. We’ve sort of taken to that daughter of yours. She’s something special.”
Frank looked at Timberlynn and winked. “That she is.”
I could see the confused expression on Timberlynn’s face before she covered it with a soft smile.
My mother spoke next. “Frank, I’m so glad you’ve come to visit. Now, if you don’t want to stay with the kids, we have the guest room all set up and ready for you. Timberlynn was staying there before she moved out with Tanner, but it’s yours if you
