His lips purse and a cloud of steam falls from his nostrils with his long exhale. “I want to show you something.”
Turning on his heel, he leads me away from the massive main house towards a small knoll, opposite from where the barns and shops are arranged.
“You’ll see it better from here.” He guides me up the slick incline until the lights from the buildings are behind us.
“What am I looking at?” It’s so dark, it’s difficult to make out much.
He pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “Give your eyes a moment to adjust.”
A drifting cloud moves away from the bright moon, washing the valley in front of us with a soft glow. It reveals a rolling set of hills that feed into a craggier mountain behind it.
The frozen outline of a stream breaks up the smooth meadows that are outlined with thick trees.
“What am I supposed to see?” I’m not sure, but I’m enjoying the moment in his embrace.
“Dad promised each of us our own spot. That he’d build us a house if we wanted to stay on the ranch. That out there is my chunk. I picked it out after my mom died. That plain stays dry, and the hills block most of the wind. The creek has a pool deep enough for swimming in.” He ducks his head to bury his lips into the hollow under my ear. “It’d be as good of a place as any to raise a family, if you wanted?”
My breath catches.
“What about the bar?” I don’t know if I’m ready to give everything up to play house.
I can feel him shrug against me.
“It’s only fifteen minutes from here. I know how much you love it.” He presses a kiss to my neck. “There isn’t a hurry. I just wanted you to see the future I dream of.”
I tilt my head against his chest, staring at the stars in the dark sky. “I thought you hated the ranch? Why would you want to stay here?”
His hands clasp over my lower belly. “It wasn’t this place I hated. It was that I never found my purpose. I thought I needed to leave to find that because I always just felt like I was drifting here.”
“What did you find?” I ask quietly.
“You.” He raises, setting his chin gently over my head. “I found happiness in your arms. That’s all I want.”
I blink back the tears that are threatening to fall. “What about if we fight? You know that’s gonna happen sometimes.”
Abruptly, he starts to shuffle us in a slow spin. “See those big ass barns? I gotta shovel those bastards out like once a month. I can promise that you’ll never give me as much shit as I have to clean out of them.”
We both shake from his laughter.
He runs his hand down my arm, lacing his fingers with mine to lead me back towards the house. But before we step inside, he pauses. “You know, there’s not a hurry. I don’t want you to feel rushed over this.” He chews on his lower lip. “I promised to be patient and I will be.”
He pushes the door open before I have a chance to answer.
The warm rush of air laced with the heavy fragrance of delicious smelling food hits me like a wall.
Heads turn, then smiles and waves call from the room full of people I’ve known as friends for years.
No one gives a weird look, just acceptance.
I didn’t know I was carrying the weight of that worry until it lifts.
I guess if I stay with Sawyer, they won’t just be acquaintances, they’ll be family.
Going from just my mom and brother, to this house bursting at the seams might take some getting used to.
An elderly lady pulls from the crowd to move closer.
“You must be Valerie, dear. I’m Sawyer’s grandmother, Hazel.” Her warm hand reaches out to grab mine as Sawyer hangs up my coat. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.” Warm caramel eyes peer at me through the lenses of her thick glasses under a puff of white hair.
