Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire-Chapter 316: Blinking Like a Baby Owl

After their hearty lunch, the group of seven returned to their cabins by the lakeside. The sun was slightly lower now, casting a warm amber glow across the water. The fallen yellow and red leaves drifted on the rippling surface.

Lorianne walked between Nathaniel and Elsie, clutching the last piece of candied apple offered by the cook. Her steps had slowed after exhausting her energy in the morning despite having a full belly of food.

"I’m not sleepy," Lorianne insisted with a tiny yawn, her brown eyes glazing.

"You sure," Nathaniel chuckled as he leaned down, "Let’s see who’s blinking like a baby owl."

Elsie laughed softly. She gently ran her hand over Lorianne’s head, "Just a quick rest, my dear. Then we can go and see the ponies you want."

That did the trick as the little one perked up immediately, "Mommy, how about the goats? The bunnies and chickens too?"

"Yes, they too," said Elsie, "You can see your Snowball again if you want."

Andrea and Russell shared a fond glance as they walked a few steps behind, holding hands. Leonard and Diane were the same, enjoying the tranquility of the afternoon at the resort ranch.

The group of seven had an hour of rest. Some napped while the others simply enjoyed the views. Then, they headed back to resume their activities.

In the afternoon, the ranch was quieter. Its slow pace was perfect for winding down before the early sunset of late autumn.

"Ponies! Here I come!"

They began with a pony ride session just for Lorianne, whose energy returned to the fullest after a quick nap. A ranch hand guided a small, gentle pony named Sandy as the little one rode proudly.

Sitting on the saddle, Lorianne waved at her parents and grandparents. Her wool hat bobbed as Sandy trotted gently across the field.

"Hehe, look at me!" Lorianne called.

"You’re a natural, my dear," Russell beamed, taking pictures while Nathaniel walked alongside the pony protectively.

After riding the pony, the group moved to the animal pens. A staff member showed Lorianne how to bottle-feed a young goat. She giggled when it nudged her hand eagerly.

"Baby Goat, that tickles! Hehe, I gonna play with your neighbors next."

Leonard held a basket of feed for the sheep while Russell taught Lorianne how to pat them on the back instead of the head. Andrea and Diane joined along, having fun with the little one.

"Tsk tsk, these fellas know how to beg," Leonard said as a sheep bleated loudly. Then, he looked pointedly at Diane, "Reminds me of someone at home when she wants a midnight snack."

Shooting her husband a knowing look, Diane lightly swatted Leonard’s arm, earning his laughter.

Later, the group took a stroll along the lakeside trail. The dried fallen leaves crunched underfoot as they walked. They paused to take in the view and saw their cabins from a distance.

"We should go fishing," Nathaniel suggested, gesturing to a direction, leading to the fishing dock, "We can rent fishing gear there."

Russell and Leonard quickly agreed while the rest simply followed. Soon, the three men cast their lines while the others watched and chatted.

Lorianne sat beside Nathaniel, her short legs dangling over the edge of the dock. She hummed softly as she watched the soft ripples of the water.

"Daddy," Lorianne lowered her voice, afraid of disturbing the fish but she couldn’t hold her curiosity back, "Do fish sleep in autumn? Aren’t they cold?"

Nathaniel almost laughed. He replied teasingly, "They might be napping like you earlier, Lorrie."

"I wasn’t sleeping," Lorianne huffed, shaking her small head. Her twin pigtails swayed behind her.

"Sure," Nathaniel said with a wink, "If you say so. But who’s snoring in our cabin this afternoon, huh?" freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Not me! It’s you, Daddy! Hehehe~"

None managed to catch even a fish as the sun began to set. Everyone packed up and returned the fishing gear before heading back toward the cabins.

Under the last rays of the day, the blue lake shifted to molten orange. The clear blue sky turned dark with streaks of lavender, amethyst and copper.

"We gonna light the campfire and have dinner outside," Nathaniel told Lorianne as he lifted her into his arms. Drowsy, she rubbed her droopy eyes.

"Can I get marshmallows?" Lorianne asked, sleepy but hopeful.

"And apple butter, if you still want it."

"Yay~"

Beaming, Lorianne nodded sleepily. She wrapped her little arms around Nathaniel’s neck. Elsie and the elders simply watched the father and daughter, showered by the golden sunlight.

The sun had long set behind the hills when the ranch staff lit the fire pit. It crackled and hissed gently, sending sparks swirling into the cool evening air.

The fragrant aroma of grilled food and melted butter lingered in the air, mixing with the scent of burning oak and maple. The group gathered on the wooden benches and folding chairs, bundled up in coats and jackets.

After having a rustic and hearty dinner, made up of grilled chicken skewers with rosemary, roasted sweet potatoes wrapped in foil and a few more, they moved to dessert.

"Marshmallow time!"

Sitting on a small long bench, Lorianne held a long stick. She was carefully toasting a marshmallow over the flames, her eyes widened in concentration.

Beside her, Nathaniel coached the little one, "Turn it slowly, Lorrie, or it’ll catch fire."

"Like this, Daddy?" Lorianne asked, twisting her wrist slightly.

"Perfect," Nathaniel smiled, earning giggles from the little one, "My little princess is so skilled, even in toasting marshmallows!"

"Hehehe~"

On a low wooden table nearby, Elsie had laid out a small ceramic bowl of golden apple butter, taken from the jar they got this morning. As soon as Lorianne got a puffed and golden marshmallow, she looked at her mom.

"Now?" Lorianne asked, excited, "Can I dip it now, Mommy?"

Elsie chuckled, "You can. Careful, Lorrie. It’s quite hot."

Watched by her grandparents, Lorianne dipped the toasted marshmallow into the apple butter, coating it like thick, glistening syrup in the firelight.

Then, Lorianne took a bite, her chubby cheeks puffing. Her eyes widened in the next second.

"Yummy! It’s sweet and like an apple pie!"

Everyone laughed. Lorianne happily told Elsie that she wanted to make this at home and let Michelle try it.

Soon, Nathaniel passed around mugs of spiced cider, except for Lorianne. Then, the adults sipped it between laughter and chatter.

Stirring the fire with a long stick, Russell glanced at Nathaniel and Elsie, "This place and this night, doesn’t it feel like something you’d remember years from now?"

Nathaniel smiled, "We hope so."

"It’s more than we imagined," Leonard added, his gaze soft as he looked from Elsie to Lorianne and then Nathaniel, "We’re happy to see you all together like this."

Diane and Andrea nodded, sharing the same thoughts as their husbands. Without them saying more, Elsie and Nathaniel understood the concerns held by their parents.

When he reached for her hand quietly she glanced at him, letting their fingers lace together.

"Actually, we’re still figuring things out," Nathaniel admitted, his tone laced with hope, "But every step forward feels right. Especially with Lorrie."

Elsie nodded, showing her stance mirrored Nathaniel’s, "Thank you for worrying about us. We might face obstacles along the way, but we know we won’t have to face it alone."

"No matter at which points we may enter your lives," Diane spoke, her voice gentle, "Our love is the same. We’re all in the same family now."

Everyone was quiet as they agreed with Diane. Without touching on the subject anymore, they quietly closed the Chapter and began a new one.

Perhaps, they could hear wedding bells ring sooner rather than later?