27. Epilogue

Epilogue

" Quit fussing with it." Tim straightened Matt's tie for the umpteenth time that morning. They were heading to court for the hearing regarding Bertie's surrendering of her parental rights. She had agreed to give Matt full custody and renounce her rights to Ryan with no explanation, but Tim smiled because never was there a more important check written than the one that he'd given to Matt's ex-wife.

"I still don't know what the fuck that bitch is playin' at." Matt ran a hand over his freshly trimmed hair.

Tim smiled as he finished tightening the knot under Matt's chin. Matt was the most handsome man he'd ever seen in his life. The bull rider was still in shape and seeing him atop Charlie riding in the pasture at full trot was a gift from the gods. The man was sexy as hell, but on that grand stallion, he was like a marble statue.

"She's not playing at anything. I truly believe she's seen the light. According to what Jon told us, she called and volunteered, right?" Tim couldn't look his lover in the eyes.

It wasn't exactly the truth, but it was the letter of the contract Ronni Turnberry had prepared for Tim and presented to Bertie Collins. After he offered her five-hundred-thousand dollars to walk away and never return, she quickly abandoned her mother's idea of fighting Matt for Ryan's custody.

Ronni flew up to Toronto and explained things to Bertie, getting her to offer an affidavit stating her mother wasn't fit to have custody of Ryan due to her history of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as signing over her paternal rights to the boy for the check Tim was offering.

It was sad someone had set the price of a little boy for half-a-million dollars to a mother who should have rejected the idea immediately when it was offered, but Tim was grateful. He'd have paid every penny he had to secure the same agreement.

"Yeah, well, I think it's a bunch of bullshit. I guess we'll see." Matt pulled Tim into his body and kissed his lips gently. The adjustment to moving in had been a little difficult, but it was only because they were doing a few things at the house to make it more welcoming.

Matt refused to handle the updates and changes, so Tim went for a homier, lived-in approach as the style, unlike the way he viewed it the first time he walked in to fix Matt's computer.

There were pictures of family everywhere. There was comfortable furniture the three of them picked out together, and they had a large dining room table seating nearly everyone in the family at one time.

The Moran-Collins family was large, and it seemed they added more members all the time. Tim was grateful for it. Before he showed up in Holloway, he barely had any family at all.

"There. That looks perfect. We need to get going, babe. Jon's supposed to meet us at the courthouse."

Matt nodded, following Tim out of the bedroom, holding tightly to his hand as Tim hoped he would for the rest of their lives.

An hour later, they were sitting in the family courtroom, waiting for the judge to hear their case. "Your Honor, I submit the affidavits in support of quashing the Motion for Custody submitted by Mona Stanford, the grandmother of the minor. Her own daughter has renounced her parental rights and agreed to give full custody to the boy's father having determined he's better fit to raise the child.

"Exhibit Two is an affidavit submitted by Colonel Robert Stanford, the minor's grandfather who was married to Mrs. Stanford, attesting to the fact his former wife is unable to care for the boy based on her documented history of drug and alcohol abuse. Her daughter has also submitted an affidavit in support of Colonel Stanford. It's a travesty to take up any more of this court's time on the matter. We ask that sole custody is granted to Matthew Collins, the boy's father." Jon took a seat next to Matt.

Tim turned to glance at the horrible woman, Mona Stanford, as she rose from her chair with her right fist in the air and an ugly scowl on her face in protest of Jon's statements. Mona had only contacted Bertie to try to hop on the gravy train of the money she thought Matthew had stashed away. She didn't want anything to do with Ryan, as Bertie mentioned in her affidavit.

Mona had been dating someone she thought had money, who thought she had money as well. In the end, they were both disappointed to learn each of them was as poor as a church mouse. It was truly when two grifters met, and now, Bertie had shut her out of the windfall she'd received.

Matt's ex was settled into a new life with some ex-convict from Canada. She didn't really want to raise Ryan, as she'd admitted to Ronni during their meeting in Toronto.

Of course, if there was money, she'd sell out her own mother—which she'd done without a second thought. It didn't matter to Tim. They had a good life waiting for them and a lot of money to pursue the things they'd enjoy. If they didn't have Ryan, there wouldn't be enough money in the world to make either of them happy.

An angry squeal caught everyone's attention. "They're fags! They have no business raising that boy!"

Mona Stanford's screams could likely be heard through the courthouse. The judge banged the gavel and looked at those in attendance until the room quieted.

He glanced through the papers in front of him for a few minutes before he leaned forward to speak into the microphone in front of him. "Based on the evidence and the affidavits submitted in support of Mr. Collins' testimony, I have no choice but to find in favor of the Respondent. Sole custody is granted to the father, Matthew Ryan Collins, and a Permanent Restraining Order is hereby granted against Mona Stanford, who is so ordered to cease and desist with contacting the minor child in any way.

"Violation of the Order will result in incarceration, Mrs. Stanford. The transcript of these proceedings is hereby entered into the record. This court is adjourned." The judge slammed the gavel on the desk, and everyone rose as he left the room. When the door to his chambers closed, they all cheered and hugged each other.

Matt's parents and Tim's aunt and uncle had accompanied them to Richmond for the hearing, along with Mickey Warren. They all went out to have lunch to celebrate after the hearing, and the gathering was lively. It was a great day for the family, one Tim doubted they'd ever forget.

Tim stood in the hallway of the barn, saddling Chester at the ass crack of dawn. It was spring, and they were planning to move, vaccinate, and well-check the cows and calves, along with cutting out some of the larger feeder calves to ship to the auction.

Matt walked into the barn with a big grin for Tim, setting his heart ablaze. "We have a little bit of time before everybody's ready. Have I shown you the new hayloft?"

Tim giggled as he put down the curry comb. "Why, Mr. Collins, I don't think you have."

Matt walked over to him, kissing him silly once again. It was incredible to feel the man's arms around him. The winter had been spent having some work done around the place, along with forming a routine for their new family and even creating more new traditions for Ryan.

They had many nights of sleeping in the fort after Jeri and Marty bought them a huge air mattress for Christmas, and it was their favorite thing to do on cold nights. Matt would build a fire, they'd make camp-style food and eat in front of it, and then Ryan, who was above grade level in his reading and comprehension skills, would read books to his father and Tim. Both men would state unequivocally it was their favorite way to spend a Saturday night.

Of course, the other nights, Matt and Tim shared the king-sized bed in the primary bedroom, but truth be told, they only needed about a third of it because they slept so closely entwined the rest of the bed was empty. It was shaping up to be a lovely life.

"Well, baby, allow me," Matt told him as he tossed Tim over his shoulder and hurried up the ladder. When they got there, Tim was surprised to see a thermos bottle, a flannel blanket atop a bed of hay, and a bottle of lube.

He giggled as he was lowered from Matt's shoulder. "Seems you made a little party here, cowboy." They both laughed at Tim's teasing comment.

Matt pulled him close and looked into his eyes, causing Tim to sigh like a lovesick teenager. Tim could see the love in those big blues, and it warmed his heart. "Yeah, I wanted us to break in the hayloft the old-fashioned way. Can I interest you in a little vanilla coffee with a splash of cream?" Matt picked up the thermos.

Tim took it from his hands and smiled. "How about after ?" He took Matt's hand and sank down onto the bed his man had made for the two of them.

They'd made love many times. Sometimes loudly when Ryan wasn't home. Sometimes quietly when Ryan was sleeping in his room, and sometimes in the heat of passion in a dark corner of the barn or in the office of the Katydid.

They had a great romance, and they loved each other. The passion was usually pretty difficult to contain when they were within arm's reach.

"I— We have our tests back. Can we skip the condoms?" Matt leaned forward to kiss Tim, taking his breath away once again.

When they broke apart, all Tim could do was nod. They made quick work of their clothes, and when Tim put himself on all fours on the blanket with the hay reinforcement, he gasped as Matt licked his balls… his perineum… his hole.

When Matt's tongue penetrated him, Tim nearly melted. It felt so incredible, and Matt had never done anything like it in the past.

" Baby , that feels so goooood. " Tim felt it to the bottom of his soul.

"Good enough to make ya wanna stay here forever so I can do it every night?" Matt was taunting him between licks. Tim felt a slick finger enter him, and he was nearly speechless.

" God, yessss." He hissed as he felt the second finger breach his entrance.

When number three joined the party, Tim was out of his mind. The intrusions abruptly left his body before a much larger invasion took place. When Matt's thick cock entered him, his body became liquid.

"So fucking good." It was hard to speak when one's mind was being blown.

When Matt pulled out, Tim felt the emptiness. " Whyyy? "

"Roll over, baby. I wanna look into your eyes." Matt's voice was demanding, so Tim did exactly as he asked. He'd gladly do it because he loved the man and looking into those bright blue eyes as Matt took him to the clouds was a wonderful experience.

Once he settled on his back, he felt Matt enter him again, gently that time. Matt covered his body and offered a happy gasp as he sank inside Tim's channel. When he didn't start moving, Tim stared into those blue orbs. "Are you okay?"

"I love you." Matt's eyes teared up.

Tim's body stiffened. "Are you breaking up with me? Is this a goodbye fuck?"

Matt chuckled. " Hell no. I wanted to have ya pinned in one place to ask ya if you'll marry me? It's legal, ya know?"

Without waiting for an answer, Matt moved seductively inside Tim. The love they made brought the most amazing feelings Tim Moran had experienced in his life. It was hard to really think about the fact that his biggest dream might come true. Matt was his first everything, and maybe he'd be his only and his last?

They moved together in perfect sync, which made it easy for Tim to answer. "I'd love to marry you. I love you, bull rider."

They raced to the climax, and when they each shot off, they both had stars in their eyes. It had been ecstasy, and they'd arrived at another crossroads.

Matt broke the silence. "There's no hurry, you know, to get married. If you wanna wait a while to be sure this is what you want, I'll wait for you." He kissed Tim's neck, face, and lips.

Tim chuckled. "I might be pregnant, you know. This is the first time we've done it without protection."

Matt laughed before he got very serious as he dipped his face into Tim's neck, kissing the flesh there before he pulled back and gazed into Tim's eyes, giving him a serious look. "Well, baby, if that's the case, I'll live up to my responsibilities and make an honest man of ya. I love you, Timothy Moran."

"I love you, too, Matthew Collins." Tears leaked from Tim's eyes as his heart overflowed with joy.

Matt smirked. "Good. All that's left is to find the preacher, sign the papers, and have the party."

Tim later laughed to himself as he thought about the moment while his head rested on the sleeping bull rider's chest. "Who knew?" Tim whispered to himself, smiling as he settled into the man he loved.

Life was full of big and small disappointments, along with big and small surprises. Tim Moran got two very big surprises in the form of Matthew and Ryan Collins, and he knew he'd never have found his heart's desire if he hadn't taken a chance… For the Love of the Bull Rider.