Chapter 32

Raelynn

Raelynn was sittingon her bed, hugging Sami tight, and staring at her phone, willing it to ring when finally, the sound of the ringtone pierced the silence. She didn't bother with pleasantries asking, "You're moving?" as soon as she hit the accept button.

Apparently, Daddy had the same idea since his first two words blended into hers so perfectly, you'd hardly know two people were speaking at all.

After a quick chuckle from the two of them, they settled down again and Daddy told her to go first.

"I'm moving. I should have told you sooner and saved you some virtual house hunting, but I can't be away from you anymore. I won't walk away from us this time. So I'm coming back."

Daddy's face softened and his eyes got brighter as he said, "I'd been figuring things out to move down there for the same reasons. I even have a plane ticket I was going to tell you about tonight. I'm coming to visit. I'd planned to find a new job and buy a house for us to share and was planning to put my notice in at the Ranch as soon as I got back if things worked out with a job. I couldn't let you leave and not come after you this time."

Raelynn bounced on her mattress in excitement even as her heart melted. He was going to come all the way to Texas for her. She couldn't believe it. She was so lucky!

"Well, I know you love your job on the Ranch, and honestly, being up there reminded me how much I love and miss Montana. I had a resident remind me that Texas isn't the only place that needs shelters like mine, so I asked Diana to take over operating this one and I'm looking for a good place in Porter's Corner to open a second location out there." Raelynn fidgeted with her blanket and suddenly felt very shy as she suggested, "Maybe, you could still visit but, instead of trying to move here, you could just see me?"

Daddy smiled softly through the screen as he said, "There's no ‘just' about seeing you, babygirl. Seeing you would mean everything."

Raelynn hugged Sami tighter to her chest, wishing the sloth was her Daddy, but in just a couple of days, her Daddy would be there, and she wouldn't have to just wish he was.

"I'll also help with anything that needs doing to get you ready to go, selling the house or packing up or anything else."

"Well, the house is already sold, so packing is the main thing now."

"It is?"

"Yeah, depending on the bank, of course, but Joan doesn't seem to think there will be an issue. An offer was put in by this sweet family with a little baby girl."

They talked for another thirty minutes as Daddy did everything he needed to get ready for work. When he'd finished and was headed out his door, he told her, "Night, night, babygirl. Get some good sleep."

When the call ended, Raelynn snuggled under her blankets and fell fast asleep. In just two days, Daddy would be there with her.

Les

Once it was confirmedthat Raelynn was moving back to Montana to be with him, the next two days flew by for Les. He'd chatted via text and talked on the phone with his girl. He'd worked his shifts and when the time came, he'd sent his flight information to her and boarded the plane.

Now, Les made his way from the luggage carousel to the exit for passengers getting picked up. Rae-Rae had sent him a picture of her car so he spotted it right away, but even if he hadn't, the blonde Little whirlwind who burst out of the vehicle and barreled toward him would have given him a clue.

Les dropped his bags on the ground and barely had time to brace his bad leg and open his arms to catch her when she literally jumped into his embrace. Rae-Rae wrapped her legs around his waist and Les wrapped his arms around hers. They stood that way for several minutes, just soaking each other in as the crowds maneuvered around them.

Finally, a whistle blew, and a traffic attendant yelled, "If you're not loading up, you need to be moving along."

Rae-Rae chuckled and told him, "They can be a bit strict about the pick-up lanes."

"That's okay, babygirl. We've got plenty of time to catch up later."

"Yeah, that's true," Raelynn acknowledged after he set her on her feet and she started to pull his bag toward her car. "It's about a two-hour drive to Lilton from here."

"Yeah, but more than that," he took the bag handle from her grip and wheeled it along himself as he spoke, "we'll have the rest of our lives together."

Rae-Rae's bright smile and chipper laugh warmed his heart. But, her hysterical laughter, when he opened the trunk of her car and revealed about two-dozen sets of glowing eyes, reminded him that life would never be boring with her. He couldn't wait.