Countryside Bliss
Pairing: Cowboy! Hobie Brown x fem! Reader
Word count: 3k
Synopsis: A life together after your supposed death.
Tags: No use of Y/N, no specific physical description of the reader (except for clothing), mentions of pregnancy, one suggestive comment, cowboy AU, wild west AU, Our place in the middle of nowhere AU (a must read to understand this one), an epilogue, dad! Hobie, Billie and Ramona AU, cw food mentions, fluff!
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“Billie! Ramona!” You call from the porch, eyes sparkling under the setting sun. As you hear giggling and small feet bounding across the grass, you see a glimpse of Mona's floral dress before disappearing inside the duck coop. “Your dad's coming home soon! You two better be inside by then or you'll catch a cold again!”
Smiling, you place your elbows on the wooden bannister on the porch so you could rest your aching back. And you thought carrying your third would be easier this time around, but alas, your symptoms are just as the same as when you had the girls. Sometimes you blame Hobie due to your hormones, but in truth it's half your fault when you're as insatiable as the cowboy.
The house glows bright under the fading orange glow, you and Hobie have made a good home from scratch. It has remnants of the one that was burned down— a wrap around porch, blue paint that bears a striking resemblance to the sea. And various knick knacks and photographs all placed inside the cozy farmhouse like you always talked about to Hobie, one that you weren't fortunate enough to achieve back in the first home. As you look around the glade, it's all you ever wished for back then, a home and a family you could call your own. Sometimes you think that it's luck that got you to this point, but it's also blood and tears, dirt under your fingernails, and sacrifices. You try not to think of those days, but it made you who you are now, and in turn it has made you a better mother and a partner than the people who were in your life back then. They're long gone now, their faces fading in your mind’s eye, just like how you like it.
The horses trot along the glade, sunlight drenching your form in warmth and hues of orange. Cherry ushers her foals inside the stable, neighing and kicking the dirt under her while her oldest, a dappled mix of Cherry's and Bucky's coat— waits for them inside the barn, trying to hurry them along with a loud huff. If Bucky was here he would be the one telling them to get inside quicker, ever the stubborn and impatient one like his rider. You guess humans and horses aren't as different when it comes to their children.
Clover is sniffing around the garden for her pups, who are probably hiding in the thicket to keep playing around the dirt some more. She's older now, but still full of energy as she bounds towards her litter, probably telling them to head inside the dog house that you and Hobie made just for her and her own little family.
The cows moo inside the barn together with the small flock of sheep that Hobie herded in a few hours ago before he left for town. You still have no idea why Hobie left in the first place, excusing himself promptly right after lunch to grab something from town. You still worry for the cowboy sometimes even though you know he's more than capable of defending himself out there. But with what happened back then, you can never be too careful. People who might bear ill will towards him might think that you're both dead, empty graves dug and filled in right beside the burned down farm, but you'll always look over your shoulder, not for you but for your family. That's why you've kept your eye sharp and your gun hidden underneath your skirt.
You and Hobie have built a perfect home, and you won't let anyone burn it all down like before.
As you twirl the gold band around your finger, the same imperfect gold that Hobie made— the baby kicks, as if they're trying to wake you up from your swirling thoughts, making you smile and rub your swollen stomach. “I'm alright, I'm sorry for worrying, little one.”
Just as when you look back at the farm, you see a familiar figure on a dark horse heading towards the house. You grin wider at the sight, waving them over whilst your worries ebb away.
—
“D’you think mummy noticed?” Billie asks while chewing her apple, front teeth missing after her baby teeth fell out just a few days ago. She's having a harder time taking big bites of the fruit than her twin.
“I don't know, Bee, we did steal an entire basket.” Mona winces but continues to munch on her apple. The wicker basket creaks as she adjusts it in her lap. The duck coop doesn't provide much space for the two as they hide amidst the feathers and quacking ducklings.
“It's not stealin’ if aunty Riri gave it to us!” Billie exclaims, duck feathers sticking to her denim overalls and braids.
Mona shushes her sister, index placed right on her lips. It earns a glare from her twin. “She asked us to share. And uncle Miguel said apples are good for mummy and the baby.”
“It's not like we're goin' to eat all of it.” The older twin bats her lashes, taking another bite of the apple with a crunch. Her eyes widen at the harsh sound, “uh oh.”
“Why uh oh?” Mona exclaims, matching her expression, a bit concerned for her sister.
“I phink mah pooth pell out.” She says with the apple still in her mouth. Sure enough, when she moves the fruit away, her baby tooth is half embedded into the apple's skin.
“Not again—!” The roof suddenly lifts up, revealing their dad's face with the sun shining behind him as the girls scream in surprise.
“What’re you two doin’ in ‘ere?”
“Mothin’” Billie smiles, small droplets of blood dribbling from her lips while Mona hides her face behind the apple basket.
“Says your missin' tooth, squirrel.” Chuckling, Hobie tilts his head at his daughters. “C’mon, we need to clean that or your mum will have my head.”
“You're not mad at us?” Ramona asks, lips wobbling as she looks up at her dad with her big green eyes, a copy of her dad's emerald eyes. She even pouts the same. “We ate a lot of apples.” She eyes the couple of apple cores by her feet.
“Nah,” he can't help but smile at his girls. He's glad that he dug himself out of death to witness this moment. “We’ll jus’ ask aunty Riri to send us another basket.” That earns a relieved smile from them. “Why’d you think I'll get mad at you for eatin’?” He'll never scold his girls for something like this, not when he promised himself while they were crying in his arms just after they were born, that he'll never let his children experience the same childhood he had.
“Because you get mad at Bucky when he eats all the apples.” Mona answers for her sister, lifting up the basket as best as she could for Hobie to take it away from her hands.
Tucking the coop roof under his arm, he takes the basket, it looks a lot smaller in his hands compared to when Mona was holding it. “It's because he's a horse, chipmunk. Are you a greedy horse?” They both shake their heads. Laughing, he puts the basket down on the grass to help his girls out of the coop. “See? You can have all the apples you two want, jus' ask mum first next time, yeah? We can cut it in bunny shapes just like how you like it. We jus’ don't want you two gettin’ a stomach ache.” The girls smile softly at his words.
One by one, he carries them out of the feather covered floor and back outside where the sun is painting the whole glade in pinkish hues and dark blue tones. Putting the roof back on securely, he hands Mona the basket again before scooping her and Billie up in one fell swoop. His metal spurs clicking with every movement.
“Daddy, my teeth hurt.” Pointing at her gums, Billie still smiles even though she's probably aching. “Do I get ice cream like last time?”
“We'll ask mum, maybe I can whip something up quickly.” In truth, it'll take hours for him to churn the mixture up, but he doesn't mind if it's for his girls. Hobie pecks her temple while he spots her tooth sticking out of the half eaten apple in the basket. “Shi—” he pauses, clearing his throat. “That went in there good, huh?” Fixing his hold on Mona, he makes his way to the porch right where you're waiting for them.
“Can Billie still hide it under her pillow?” Admiring the said apple in her hand, Mona plucks a feather away from Hobie's shoulders. He kisses her cheek in thanks, and she giggles from the casual affection.
“Yeah, we can.” Smiling, finally back on the porch, you greet him with faux annoyance, complete with your hands right on your hips. You don't look intimidating when you're about to pop. “Hi, lovie. Caught a couple of ducklings for you.” You resist the urge to smile back when he flashes you a lopsided grin that has you reminiscing about your younger days with Hobie.
“Hello, cowboy.” He lets out a fond chuckle at your affectionate tone. “Now, what's all this talk about hiding things under a pillow?” You raise a brow as Mona hands you the basket and you pat her head in return. The sight of your girls all properly tucked in their father's arms has your heart feeling warm.
“Mummy, I lost a tooth!” Billie ecstatically says while showing you her mouth that's clearly missing more than a couple of teeth than the last time you saw her. “The tooth fairy will come back again, right?”
Hobie glances at the apple with the tooth right on it, and you follow his line of sight, wincing at it. Whistling lowly, you grimace at the thought of Billie hurting. “That's a tooth alright.”
“Can I have ice cream too even if I didn't lose a tooth?” Ramona asks, flashing her puppy dog eyes at you as if you need convincing. If you're still able, you'd carry your girls and squeeze them in your arms.
“Of course, my flower.” You coo, cupping her cheek briefly before taking out your handkerchief to wipe Billie's lips. She closes her eyes and politely lets you clean her up. “As long as your dad still has the strength to churn it.”
“Me?” Hobie acts shocked, prompting the girls in his arms to pout and flutter their lashes at him. They're definitely your children, their expressions alone are a direct copy of yours when you want something. “‘m sure, I can.” He surrenders almost immediately. “Your dad is as strong as a bull, y’know?” To show the evidence of his strength, he wiggles them in his arms, bouncing and twirling them around effortlessly as if his knees aren't creaking from the combined weight. The girls cackle in delight.
Giggling, you watch on with glee. “I think your dad has to show you something first though.”
Your words stop Hobie in his tracks, almost forgetting why he went to town and rode for hours just for it. “Right,” chuckling, he puts the girls down on the porch to their slight dismay. “C’mon to the stables.”
“Why?” Mona immediately gravitates towards your free hand, swinging the joined hands together in hidden excitement.
“But we already fed the horses!” Billie protests in place.
“You'll see, stop complainin’ like your mum.”
“Hey!” You yell, but your smile betrays you as he takes Billie's hand and runs away in fear.
“Hurry, Billie, mum's goin' to eat us jus’ like your little brother!”
“What?!” She tries to catch up with Hobie, but her little legs could only take her so far, so Hobie lifts her up and carries her halfway towards the stables. “Mummy!” She yells like you've betrayed her.
Sighing, you tug at Mona's hand. “Come on, let's rescue your sister.”
She tugs back, big green eyes gazing at you with slightly furrowed brows. “Daddy's jus’ jokin’ right?”
“Of course, that's not how babies work.” Nodding, you gently bend your knees and carry her despite the strain. You can't help it anymore, you need to carry your girls while you still can and while they still let you.
She immediately lays her head right on your clavicle like how she always did when she was just a little baby. She's careful with your stomach, legs dangling on your side to avoid accidentally kicking you. “How are babies made anyway?”
Slowly walking towards the stable and across the glade, you're extra careful with where you're stepping. “You should ask your dad instead, I'm sure he has all the answers.” You laugh at yourself, palm cupped at the side of her face to shield her eyes from the sunlight.
Billie's happy shriek has Mona perking up. “Mon–Mon, hurry!”
Craning her neck towards you, Mona smiles sweetly. “Can I go see?”
“Of course.” You let her down gently on the grass and she immediately bolts away towards the stables, bare feet bounding across the grass.
Her excited scream soon follows while you waddle closer. “Mummy, look!”
“I'm coming,” heaving, Hobie pops his head from the stable doors, meeting you halfway with his hands outstretched towards you. “Please don't tell me you got them a basket of kittens.” Taking his hands, he tugs you beside him gently, holding you by your waist, fingers grazing your stomach as he lets you rest against him. Weaving your fingers around his own, you feel for the identical gold band around his finger.
“It's somethin' better.” He fondly kisses your temple while slowly helping you to the stable. “I tried gettin' ‘ere quickly, but Miguel was in town and we talked for a bit.” Hugging you tightly, he inhales your scent as if he was gone for days. “Were they a handful?”
“No, they're angels, Hobs.” You breathlessly say against his neck, lips brushing along his scar, prompting goosebumps to rise on his arms. He doesn't hide his scar anymore. When the girls were younger he was afraid that they'd be terrified of the raised skin, but they never got scared of it, simply because it's a part of their dad. “What did he say? Is everything alright?”
Rubbing your sore back, the two of you can hear the loud chatter of the twins inside. Their boisterous thank yous ringing across the farm.
“Everythin’ is fine, love, we're safe ‘ere.” He whispers against the crown of your head. “Don't worry your pretty head ‘bout it, yeah? Especially now that Hobie Junior is ‘bout to pop his little head out.”
“Fuck, don't say it like that.” Laughing, you slap his chest playfully while he mirrors your smile. “And we're not going to name him Hobie Junior. We don't even know if he's a he.” Tugging the brim of his hat down to hide his eyes, he chortles before fixing it properly on his head, he then decides to take it off and place it atop yours instead. Your heart leaps from the small action.
“I've got a knack for these things, love. ‘sides, I predicted the girls didn't I?”
“Not really, you said girl, not plural.”
“Still, I was right.” Taking your face in his hand he kisses you softly under the fading light right at the entrance of the stable. Leaning away, brilliant green eyes fluttering open, he keeps your chin in place. “Before you say anythin’, I want you to know that I love you, yeah?”
You narrow your eyes suspiciously. “What did you do, Hobie Brown?”
“Nothin’, didn't do nothin’ but make our girls happy.” He grins, nosing the tip of your nose.
Before you completely melt in his arms, you flick your eyes towards the inside of the stable, and you see two new saddles perched on top of the fences. One has a red tint on the leather, saddle bags etched with Billie's initials, and the saddle itself has subtle flower shapes stamped on it. The other has a blue tint dyed right on the leather, they're a mirror of each other, except for its saddlebags that have Ramona's initials, and with small stars instead of flowers.
The horses look calmer now that Bucky's back. Cherry nuzzles him lovingly, while their foals sleep beside them as if the girls’ excited shrieking doesn't bother them. Perhaps they're more used to their laughter than their cries. The thought alone has your chest feeling warm.
“Look, mummy! We can ride along with you and daddy!” Billie jumps for joy, if she has the strength to carry it she would've by now with how she's hugging the whole saddle like it's her stuffed toy.
“Daddy said once our horses are grown we can ride together!” Mona runs to hug Hobie's leg, flashing her pearly whites and batting her lashes at you. Most probably from Hobie's direction.
Hobie grins innocently at you, “it's their birthday present?”
“Their birthday isn't for another six months, Hobie.”
“The tooth fairy gave it to ‘em.”
You eye him down with a feigned annoyed look, arms crossed over your chest, and a hidden smile.
“They already know how to ride. And they have to wait for their horses to grow a bit more for the girls to train ‘em.” He adds to his case as he grabs Mona off the ground and shows you her puppy dog eyes. “Look at how happy our baby is.”
Mona grins wider, kicking her tiny feet about while Billie rushes to your side to hug your leg. She mirrors her sister's dramatic smile, embracing you tighter.
“Please?” The three simultaneously ask, all similar eyes and pouts thrown right at you.
They drive a hard bargain.
“Fine—” their loud celebration wakes up the horses while Hobie puts Mona on his shoulders and scoops Billie in his arm while he grabs you gently and tucks all three of you close.
“Thank you, love.” Hobie blindly peppers your face with kisses while Mona hugs his face and accidentally covers her dad's eyes.
“Thank you, mummy!” The twins speak at the same time. Billie hugs your side, all the while careful of your stomach.
“Yeah, yeah.” You melt in their arms, happy and satisfied with the life on your little farm. The past is nothing but memories thrown over your shoulder now that you're able to replace them with happier ones.
And Hobie is more than willing to build those memories with you.
