13. Thad

Aweek after Underwood's death, Sammie, Chloe, and I drove down a country road toward the Murphy ranch. I'd seen a sign earlier advertising kittens, and I was going to get a few for Chloe if it was my last act on earth. The need to make up for her real father's cruelty ran through my blood now that I knew she would be my daughter once I adopted her. Well, for that matter, she already was my child, whether the birth certificate listed my name or not. She'd taken residence in a large portion of my heart. She was my little girl, and I loved her. Simple as that.

We rolled down the windows in my new SUV—recently purchased to accommodate my new family—enjoying the warmth and scents of summer. I had a Vince Gill album playing on the stereo, his perfect tenor raising the hair on my neck. Since falling so deeply in love with Sammie, I found myself more sentimental as well as sensitive, finding meaning in simple beauty that had escaped me before. Love with a good woman did this to a man—shaped and molded him into a better version of himself. Or at least it was that way for me.

Sammie leaned the back of her head against the seat, a contented smile on her face. From the back, Chloe sang along to the music, her high-pitched crooning out of tune and unintelligible, yet as sweet as the scent of alfalfa hay that fluttered in the breeze on either side of the road. Spray from a center pivot irrigation sprinkler sparkled in the sunlight as it swept over the fields of hay.

I'd seen the sign for kittens earlier that day, and after getting permission from Sammie, had suggested we go out and choose a few from the litter.

"We get a kitty for home?" Chloe had asked.

"Maybe two," I'd said to her. "They like to have a friend when they come to live with a new family."

At the entrance to the old Murphy place, I slowed and turned down the pothole-filled dirt road flanked by rustic wooden fences. Several horses grazed in the meadow, lifting their heads to say hello before returning to their lunch. Beyond the grasses a herd of cattle lazily chewed their cud and whipped their tails to ward off flies.

"Oh, it's wonderful out here," Sammie said. "What a beautiful piece of property, and I adore this style of house."

"I had a feeling you would," I said.

The traditional two-story farmhouse had a classic gabled roof, wooden siding, and a spacious front porch lined with rocking chairs. Expansive fields of hay extended toward the distant horizon. A classic red barn and a few outbuildings were scattered not far from the main house.

The Murphys were in their seventies but remained active, even though these days they only kept a small herd of cattle. I turned off the motor and got out of the car just as Mrs. Murphy stepped out to the front porch. She waved in greeting; I'd called earlier to inquire about the cats.

I introduced her to Sammie and Chloe.

"Pleasure to meet you," Mrs. Murphy said before kneeling slightly to address Chloe. "I hear you're looking for a kitten."

"Two kitties." Chloe held up her chubby hand. "So, they not be lonely."

"Good idea." Mrs. Murphy straightened and pointed at the barn. "Go on out. Mr. Murphy's just feeding them now."

Chloe, dressed in short denim overalls and sandals, ran ahead, high ponytails on either side of her head bobbing happily.

Mr. Murphy had just finished dishing up some wet food for the mother cat and her litter of five. The kittens ate hungrily at their dishes, the mother cat keeping watch. There were two tabbies and a striped orange and white. A tuxedo with only a white chin and paws was clearly the runt, as she was much smaller than the others. Rounding out the litter was an almost all white cat, except for an orange tinge around his face.

"You have a preference on color?" Mr. Murphy asked.

"Not me, but maybe this one." I looked down Chloe to see if she had an opinion. She was obviously enraptured, falling to her knees next to the feasting kittens.

"Remember, we don't grab them," Sammie said to her. "Let them come to you."

"Yes, Mama." Chloe crossed her legs and clasped her hands on her lap, looking positively angelic.

After the kittens were done with their food, they became curious about their small guest. The tuxedo and the orange were the bravest, coming close to sniff Chloe. Our sweet girl remained still, patiently waiting to see what they would do next.

The orange one pushed its head against Chloe's bare knee. She squealed and said it tickled. The tuxedo wasn't far behind and climbed into Chloe's lap as if she'd been waiting for it.

"They usually choose you," Mr. Murphy said. "Looks like you have your answer. The orange one's a boy and the tuxedo's a girl. You'll have one of each."

I glanced at Sammie. She had tears in her eyes, which was not unusual over the last few days. Everything seemed to evoke intense emotions. "Happy crying," she'd told me last night when she'd started sobbing during a touching part in the book she was reading. "I never knew how beautiful the most simple things could be. Now that I know I'm free, it's like the world is new."

Chloe giggled as the orange kitten joined his sister on Chloe's lap. While Chloe played with the kittens, Mr. Murphy asked about my folks.

"Doing just fine," I said. "How are you and Mrs. Murphy?"

"We're doing good. We've decided to sell the farm," he said. "To enjoy our golden years near our daughter and grandchildren in Boise."

"Really?" They'd seemed like the type to stay on their land forever. "You have it listed yet?" I hadn't seen a sign, but maybe I'd missed it.

"No, not yet."

I looked back at the charming farmhouse with its wraparound porch. A vegetable garden in the back of the house had a fence around it to keep the deer out. Mrs. Murphy's impressive flowers were in bloom, and bees buzzed as they flew from one to the other. It was quiet here. No sounds of cars or other people to disturb the peace. Nothing but the big blue sky above us and the surrounding fields as far as the eye could see.

"We raised our two kids here," Mr. Murphy said. "And loved every minute of it—but there are seasons in life, and we're ready to embark on the next one."

"It's a really nice place," Sammie said, a hint of longing in her voice. "Especially for a family."

"We couldn't have asked for a better place or community," Mr. Murphy said.

"You have an asking price?" I asked.

"Why? You know someone?" Mr. Murphy asked.

"Yeah, me," I said. "I'll be getting married soon and need a place for my new family."

Sammie shot me a look but didn't say anything. She knew my intentions, but I had yet to make it formal. The ring I'd ordered in Bozeman would be ready tomorrow, and I planned to get it on Sammie's finger before sundown.

Mr. Murphy smiled as his gaze flickered between us. "I see. Well, we could work something out, I reckon. Keeping the Realtors out of it could save us both some cash."

"I'd have to get a loan and all that," I said. "But I don't see as that'll be a problem. I've got a bunch saved and a decent income."

"Why don't we go inside," Mr. Murphy said. "I'll show you around."

We followed him into the old farmhouse, immediately hit with the scent of apples and cinnamon. The house was tidy but needed a facelift to bring it into the modern age. When I got a loan, I'd make sure I had a renovation budget decided already. I wanted Sammie to have the kitchen of her dreams and anything else she desired.

We walked through the entire first floor and then upstairs to see the five bedrooms, all crammed with remnants of busier years. I'd talk to Pop about what he thought would be best, but already I was thinking about knocking out walls to make a larger ensuite bedroom for my bride. That left three bedrooms. Chloe would have her own room, and there would be a few others waiting in case we were blessed with another baby. Or two.

Sammie's eyes sparkled as she explored the space, stopping briefly in the hallway to look at all the family photographs hanging on the wall. I let Chloe follow Mrs. Murphy and lingered in the hallway with Sammie.

"This house has such a good feel, doesn't it?" Sammie asked, eyes shining. "You can tell there were happy people who lived here."

"Could you see us here?" I asked. "Because if you don't, then we'll find somewhere else. Whatever you want, I'll get for you."

She looked up and into my eyes. "I'd live anywhere with you, but if I were to choose, it would be a house like this."

"We'll update everything," I said. "Pop's done it dozens of times."

"Are you serious? You really do want all this? For us?" Sammie asked.

"It's all fast, I know, but we waited long enough to start a life together, and I'm not going to waste another minute."

"It would be a dream come true," Sammie said. "We can make it ours. I know we can."

Once we got downstairs, I took Murphy aside while the women talked piecrust recipes to make sure he understood how serious I was about buying the house and property. Was it reckless and impulsive? Maybe. But I was tired of waiting to start my life with Sammie and Chloe. With everything they'd gone through, it was time for our life of domesticity to begin. I couldn't wait. As much as I loved my brothers and living together at the house, it was time for me to leave the nest. I would make one of my own with my own family. This place felt right.

"I'll call you tomorrow after I talk to the bank in town," I said.

"I'll look forward to it." Murphy held out his hand for me to shake. "You've got a real pretty girl there. Both of them."

"Thank you, sir. I'm pinching myself."

"The little one's adorable. Reminds me of my Sophia." Mr. Murphy looked out toward his barn. "We had a lot of good years here. It's going to be hard to let it go, but the missus is tired of living so far from a city. She's done her part to make my dream come true. Now it's time for me to make some of hers happen."

On the way down the dirt road, two kittens mewing from the cat carrier, Sammie reached over the console to take my hand.

"Do you think you can get a loan?" Sammie asked. "Is it a lot of money?"

"He's giving me a fair price. Or us, I should say. Your name will be on the deed too." I smiled over at her. "I'm going to have to get used to saying ‘us,' aren't I?"

"I guess so." Sammie flushed, smiling wide. "Is it possible to be this happy?"

"Are you happy 'cause kittens?" Chloe asked.

"I'm happy because Thad Moon loves us," Sammie said.

"Me too?" Chloe asked.

"How could I not love you?" I asked Chloe, meeting her gaze in the rearview mirror. "You're my girls, sent to me from God himself to make my life complete."

Chloe grinned. "You be my daddy?"

"That's right," I said. "Did you know that my Pop is actually my stepdad?"

"Oh," Chloe said.

That had clearly gone over her head.

"I was about your age when he married my mom and became my dad," I said.

"You and mama getting married?" Chloe's eyes doubled in size.

"I haven't officially asked your mama, but I'm pretty sure she's going to say yes." I winked at Sammie.

"I say yes," Chloe shouted. "Will I have a baby sister?"

"There are two people in this car who get way ahead of themselves too fast," Sammie said, laughing.

"If God blesses us with a sister or brother for you, I'd be pretty happy," I said.

"Me too," Chloe said. "I'm a girl, not a kitten. I need a friend."

"I have a feeling you're going to have some cousins soon," Sammie said.

"Really?" I gave her a sideways glance. "Do you know something?"

"Nothing substantiated, but I think so." She mouthed the word Annie so that Chloe wouldn't hear.

I smiled to myself, thinking about Atticus as a father. He was made for it. I'd be an uncle. That would be pretty cool. My mother would be over the moon for more Moons.

"Does this mean Stella's my grandma now?" Chloe asked.

"Pretty much," I said.

"Yay." Chloe dropped down to look into the carrier. The kittens had ceased mewing. Maybe they were like the rest of us, ready to be a family.