Cassie
Hi Cassie,
I probably won’t be back to Vegas for a while. I am now engaged to the woman I was having dinner with last time I was there.
Nick
Nick went to check on Lindsay. She was sleeping soundly so he went back to surf the internet. His email already showed a response from Scott’s mom so he opened it up.
Hi Nick,
Scott just got you email too. He is so excited. Scott’s checkup went well and so did Katie’s. Scott’s energy level is getting better. By the fall, we hope he can go to school again.
How is Lindsay?
Deena
Hi Deena,
That is great news about their checkups. Lindsay will be thrilled too.
Lindsay doing good except for being under the weather today.
I am working on a big plan to surprise her and it involves all of you. I’ll let you know more later. But it is big secret from her so NO telling.
Nick
Nick heard Lindsay calling him from the other room so he signed off of his email and ran to her.
“Nick?” she called again
“I’m right here my love.” Nick said as he lay down beside her. “How’s the headache?”
“Better.”
“Do you need some water or anything?”
“Yes, and a sandwich please.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Lindsay had sat up and turned on the light by the time he got back. “You look better.” He said as he laid the tray across her lap.
“The pain is gone. Thankfully.”
“I’m so glad. You scared us.”
“I’m sorry. One minute I was getting ready to change my clothes to go swimming and the next I was crawling in bed in pain. I hope I am not getting migraines now, I have heard they are a nuisance and painful.”
Nick kissed her cheek and moved to take the tray away since she had finished her sandwich. “Are you going to go back to sleep now?” he asked as he returned to sit beside her.
“No, I am going to change into my pajamas and then lay here with you. Hopefully?”
“That was real subtle there babe. But I would be glad to lie here with you. Your family is still up though so while you change I am going to go tell them that you are ok.” He kissed her and left to tell the good news.
Lindsay was sitting on the bed wearing his shirt as her pajamas when he returned with her family’s messages. Nick arranged the pillows and then sat back on them. He pulled her to him between his legs and wrapped her in his arms.
“I got an email from Scott and one from Katie and one from Deena. The kids were funny. Deena said their checkups went well and that Scott is getting his energy back.”
“That is great news. I’ll have to check to see if I got an email from them.”
“Katie got her boots dirty but her mom fixed them. And Scott wants to come to Azona to see me.”
“That is because they miss you and love you.”
“I love them too and I miss seeing them.”
Lindsay was glad she was facing away from him so he couldn’t see her secret smile. She had a surprise for him for his birthday.
“I also had an email from Cassie.”
Lindsay stiffened in his arms. “What did she want?”
“To know when I was coming to Las Vegas again.”
“Did you answer her?”
“Yes, I told her I wouldn’t be in Vegas without my fiancée.”
“Good answer.”
“It was wasn’t it?” He said kissing the top of her head. Nick caressed her as she lie on top of him. She was almost back to sleep. He kissed her head when she was completely out and rolled her back over onto the bed. “I love you” he whispered and left the bed. He moved her cowboy stuffed bear next to her and she wrapped her arms around it. Nick kissed her gently, put his shirt on left her room.
Chapter 13
Nick knocked on Lindsay’s office door a couple of weeks after her headache. “Come in”
“Hey babe. Mama said you had something to show me.”
“I do, it is in my room.”
“Do I get to pick what it is?” he asked suggestively
“No.” she answered laughing at him
“But it is my birthday.” He grumbled like a little boy who didn’t get his way
She opened her room and brought him inside. I have to get it out of my closet. But I have an email from Scott and Katie, go read it. Just shake the mouse; it should still be on the screen.
Nick moved to her computer and shook the mouse. The screensaver cleared and Katie and Scott shouted “Happy Birthday Nick!”
He was stunned. “How did you do this?” he asked Lindsay when she entered the room.
“She sent us webcams for your birthday, so we can talk this way to you now.” Scott answered instead of Lindsay.
“Scott and Katie, you did that perfectly. You surprised him.” Lindsay said “How are you guys?”
Katie answered first “I want to come to Zona to see you.” Scott’s answer was the same.
“We wish that too guys.” replied Nick
“How’s Spade?” Scott asked
“He is fine. Resting now, I worked him hard today.”
“Why?”
“We had to go round up some of our other horses from the pastures today.”
“Cool” Scott exclaimed
“Put your mom on Scott.” Lindsay asked
“Okay, Bye Nick”
“Bye Scott, Bye Katie.”
Deena came into view a few seconds later. “That worked fabulous Lindsay. They are thrilled.”
“Nick was so surprised.”
“We could see him, it was so funny. He was stunned.”
“Yes, I was.” Nick butted in
“Good and Happy Birthday Nick.”
“Thanks!”
“We will set up another time to do this.” Lindsay told Deena and said their good-byes.
Nick pulled her onto his lap the second the screen went blank. He kissed her so hard she forgot to breathe.
“I love you so much. That was a great birthday present.”
“I’m glad you liked it. Today they were both at Scott’s house but Travis wrote some software so that all three of you can see each other from three different computers.”
“How did you think of this?”
“Well, you mentioned several times that you missed seeing them. So I talked to Travis and he got it set up and ordered the cameras and we had them shipped to their houses. Then he sent them the instructions and the software.
“Thank you. I miss them sometimes.”
“I know you do. You love them.”
Nick nodded and hugged her close
“It is a bit crazy. I haven’t known them that long. But they are so special.”
“It isn’t crazy. You have a great big heart and it gives love wonderfully well and they felt that. You are special to them too.” She replied with a sweet kiss
“I am still stunned at this.” He said as he leaned back in the chair with her. “You will have to work hard to top this birthday present.”
“Is that a challenge, my love?” Lindsay questioned
“Maybe” he answered slowly
“Do I have other years to top it or just today?”
“You can do either or. I am easily agreeable.”
Lindsay fell off his lap laughing at him. “Let me go ask one of the hands about that, maybe the last one who disagreed with you on treatment of a horse.” She said as she sat on the floor
He followed her down to the floor and lay on top of her. “Brat. I was talking about you. I am only easily agreeable to you.” He said firmly kissing her.
“Yeah right” she laughed again. “I seem to recall being tied up and left in the woods because I disagreed with you.”
“I did not leave you.” He laughed “I merely moved from your line of sight.”
r /> “But I was still tied up.” She reminded him
“You were being stubborn!” he retorted
“Me? You were kis…” she started to say but he shut her up with a kiss again
“You were saying, dear.”
“You were kis…” she mumbled as he kissed her again. She started laughing as he let her go.
“You are not finishing you sentences love?”
Lindsay pretended to zip her lip and throw away the key. And Nick lowered his head and kissed her deeply
“Hey, I was shut up. I wasn’t being stubborn that time.” She argued playfully.
“So?” he laughed “Oh, you thought I was kissing you to shut you up?”
“Yeah!”
“Well, maybe. But, you are so cute when you are arguing with me.”
“When have I ever argued with you?” she asked outrageously
Nick rolled away laughing and dragging her on top of him. “I love you, goofy girl!”
“I love you and Happy Birthday.” She said as she leaned down to kiss him tenderly
“Thank you. It was a great present.”
“If you are good the rest of the evening, you might get another one later.” She winked at him and stood up
“Hallelujah!”
“Now, are you done working for today?” she asked as he got up
“Yes, I am. Why?”
“Go shower and change. Your birthday party is out by the pool tonight.”
“Do we get to have a private party later?”
“As a matter of fact, we do!” she smiled
“And what are we going to do at this party?”
“Spend the night at the cabin” whispered Lindsay “so pack an overnight bag.”
“Yes!” he pumped his fist in the air
“Go. I’ll see you by the pool.”
Nick’s party by the pool was filled with lots of laughter and good food. Lindsay and Nick were lounging in the chair when Travis came by. “Did he like his present?” he asked Lindsay
“He was so surprised! It was wonderful, thank you!” she said getting up to get something to drink and more cake.
“Yes, thank you little brother. That was a wonderful gift.” Nick said shaking Travis’ hand
“My pleasure. It was fun to plan.” He laughed “She is a keeper big brother.”
“And I plan to do just that.”
“So I should get my tux cleaned then?”
“Not yet” Nick replied “We are not rushing things.”
“So when are you proposing?”
“Soon, and your little gift will make my surprise easier to plan.”
“Good, if you need me, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks.”
“What were you two talking about over here?” Lindsay asked when she returned with more cake.
“I was just shooting the breeze with my little brother.”
“This cake is delicious. I am glad you like chocolate cake.”
“Ummhmm” he murmured chewing the bite she gave him from her piece. “When can we blow this party? I want you all to myself.”
“Soon, you have to open your gifts first.” She said getting up from the chair and leading him to the table of presents
“Let’s get it over with then.”
Everyone gathered closer as he began to open gifts. David’s gift was the next weekend off from work. Dalton and Sarah’s was tickets to a concert in Las Vegas that they knew he would like. Gabby and Nathan’s was Katie and Scott’s pictures from the day at the Turner ranch all done up in a nice collage. Travis and Lindsay’s gifts had been the webcams.
“I guess we are going to Las Vegas this weekend?” he asked Lindsay
“How did you figure that out?” she asked innocently
“Brat!” he said and moved to throw her in the pool
“No! I am dressed.” She screamed
“So?” he said stalling
“Please!”
“Okay.” He said putting her down on the chair. “Now can we leave?”
“Yes, I told them we would be leaving after the presents.”
“They know about this?”
“Yes, I couldn’t just disappear for the night.”
“And I am still alive? Dalton must have gotten soft since he married Sarah.”
“They trust you. And they know me. Besides, we spent weeks alone together, they can’t stop us now. And we are going away for the weekend together.”
Lindsay and Nick said their good-byes and Nick heard more “Happy Birthdays” as they went to the house to get their bags. They walked down to the barn and left in the four wheeler.
“Did you have fun?” she asked him
“Yes, our family is the best.”
“It is nice to have such a close family. And I am glad they have accepted our change in relationship.”
“Did I ever tell that Dalton and I talked about that?”
“Was it bad?”
“It was surprising. We talked about the helicopter issue and then he gave me his blessing so to speak.”
“Wow.” Lindsay said slowly pondering the change in her brother. He was the problems I was expecting. Now he has accepted us. No wonder he didn’t object to Nick spending those weeks alone with me in San Francisco. He finally accepts me as an adult.
They arrived at the cabin as she woke from her mind wandering. Nick carried their bags inside and then swept her up in his arms. “Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday dear Nick, Happy Birthday to Me.”
“You are goofy.” She laughed
“But you love me anyway.”
“Very much!”
“So what is my birthday present?” he asked
“Follow me” she said motioning him with her finger
“Anywhere sweetheart.”
They walked to the bedroom that was adjacent to the hot tub. “Change into your suit and then come into the hot tub.” She said walking into the hot tub area and closing the door.
Lindsay quickly removed her clothes as she started the water. She was so glad Dalton had this installed here. It filled quickly with hot water and the jets were already on. She climbed in and waited for Nick.
He knocked on the door and she called him in. She had managed to do a lot in a short time. There were dozens of candles and she was already in the water.
“When did you set this up?” he said climbing in the water.
“Earlier today. I watched you all leave to go round up the horses so I quickly rode up here and set up the candles and stuff.”
“You have been extremely busy today. One surprise after another.”
“I had a great time. I wanted to do something extra special for you since I could. In prior years, I just dreamed it up.” She said a little embarrassed
“You dreamed about me and you on my previous birthdays?”
She nodded her head but didn’t look at him.
“Why are you embarrassed about that?”
“Because I don’t how you feel about it.”
“I feel honored that you would want to do something special for me.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely! Can you come here please?” he said motioning her with his finger
Lindsay moved closer to him and he took her hand and had her sit on his lap and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“First of all. Thank you for having better sense than me to see me as something special. I am sorry I took so long to see you as my girl. Secondly, thank you for making today very special for me.” He said as he gently kissed her “And lastly, you look fabulous without your clothes on. It is a great birthday present.”
She laughed and kissed him again.
“I do have a question though about my birthday present.”
“And what is that?” she asked
“How do I get to play with this particular present?”
She leaned forward and wh
ispered in his ear. “However you want.”
“Oh lord!” He groaned “It is a good thing I have my suit on then.”
“Nick, I said however you want.”
“I heard you but we are not going to make love tonight or any night before our wedding night. I want that first time I join with you to be so special. We deserve it.”
Lindsay melted into him at his words. “You are so wonderful.”
“So are you.” He kissed her and then settled her between his legs. “Now, tell me about these dreams you had about us on my birthdays.”
“Wishes is probably more accurate than dreams.”
“Tell me about these wishes then.”
“I wished I could give you a kiss with your present. Or that we could spend time together as more than friends. I wanted to be the one who gave you an extra special gift instead of an everyday family gift. I wished I was the one you were sleeping with that night and telling me how much you enjoyed your day. I wanted to mean something to you.”
He laid his head on hers but didn’t speak. She started to move away sure that he was mad at her.
“Where are you going?” he asked
“I upset you so I am leaving.”
“No, you are not.”
“Yes, I am.” She said standing up
“I am not upset.” He said reaching for her
“Well, you aren’t saying anything so what else could it be. Just forget I said anything” she said turning away
Nick reached up and grabbed her in his strong arms. “Sit.”
She struggled to get up again
“I am lots stronger than you so you can forget about getting away from me.”
“Please let me go and we can go back home.”
“I am not upset about what you said. I am humbled and speechless.”
“What? Why?” she said jerking her head around to look at him
“Why? To start with it was very special to hear what you wished for. You made all your own wishes come true today.”
“I tried to anyway.”
“You did.” He paused trying to find the words to say to her “Lindsay, I am just a plain old cowboy who didn’t expect to get lucky enough to find you. I wanted a good marriage and kids but that didn’t seem to be happening. Finding out you love me and have loved me for so long has been a great surprise. And also very humbling that I was so blind for so long and that you hurt because of me. Maybe I cheated us out of all those years because I didn’t see you.”
“You can’t think like that.”
“Why not? Both of us have had potentially fatal injuries this year and I could have robbed us of a life together.”
“Nick, I believe everything happens for a reason and on a right timetable. Now, is when it was supposed to happen for us.”