“Jesus, Ma, that was mean,” Cam complained.
“Really mean,” Carter added.
She flapped her hand at them. “Oh pooh, you all deserved that and you damn well know it.”
Colt grinned. “And you’re swearing at us? Now I know you had a head injury.”
Silence.
Then Colt said, “Ah, too soon?”
“Ya think, asshole?” Colby shoved him.
Cord elbowed Colby. “Knock it off, you two.”
Carson sighed. “Some things never change.”
“Thank God for that.” Carolyn held her arms open. “Well, kids, come here and give me hugs. Then tell me everything I missed in the past week.”
They gathered around, pushing each other out of the way to be the first in line.
Then they all started talking at once.
She turned her head and looked at Carson.
He gifted her with that dimpled grin and mouthed I love you.
That’s when her topsy-turvy world righted itself.
This chaos was her life and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Epilogue
Ten years later…
“See that silver-haired fox over there?” Carson said to Cal. “She’s comin’ home with me tonight.”
“You sure? That guy in the three-piece suit in the corner is eyeballin’ her. Looks like he’s gonna make a move soon.” Cal chuckled. “Of course, he’d have to get up and outta that wheelchair first.”
“Don’t care if he’s in a wheelchair. He puts a hand on her and I’ll beat his wrinkled ass.”
Cal snorted. “Good thing you’re carryin’ around a cane, old man. Your brawlin’ days have been over for a long damn time.”
“Piss off. That woman has been mine for sixty years. I ain’t ever gonna be too old to fight for her.”
Carolyn threw her head back and laughed at something Kyler said. She was holding someone’s baby but there were so many kids around that he couldn’t keep track of which ones belonged to whom.
“She is still something, all right,” Carson said to Cal, never taking his eyes off his wife.
“Yep. Think she’s got a sister?”
“I’ve heard that little whip of a thing is mouthy. Think you can handle her?”
“Been doin’ my level best to handle that spitfire for the past fifty-three years,” Cal said dryly. “Give me another ten years or so and I might have it figured out.”
Carson grinned. “Been a helluva ride, bein’ married to the West sisters.”
“Got that right.” Cal lifted his bottle for a toast. “Best thing I ever did was drag your ass to the dancehall that night.”
He raised his bottle and touched it to his brother’s. “Amen. And if I never said thank you…”
“You did. So how long is this party supposed to last?”
“Hell if I know. That’s the good thing about bein’ old; no one expects us to stay for the whole thing. They think we’re goin’ home early and goin’ to bed.” Which was partially true. He’d be taking his wife home to bed, but they sure wouldn’t be sleeping.