“Does Grandpa know you’re out here?”
“You know what, why don’t you go on over to our place and tell him for me?See what he has to say about all of this.”
Heaving an irritated sigh, he rolled his window back up and drove away.
“Hey, Remi.”One of the high schoolers brought her horse to a stop next to his gray horse.
“Hey, Crystal, thanks for being here.”
“Conner and a couple of other kids couldn’t get permission from their parents, so it’s just us.”
He had that smile that melted my insides—all crinkly eyes, and white teeth.“That’s fine, you were enough.He’s tying it back down and driving away.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Remi’s midnight gaze met mine—an ever-expanding universe of emotions and promises in their depths.Happy tears trickled down my cheeks, wondering how life could deliver so many beautiful and unexpected outcomes.
“You did it, Leese.You bought time.”He swung a leg over the saddle and lowered to the ground.
I flung an indistinct hand at the general chaos of white-haired ladies in giant coats and hats heaving and propping each other into the back of pickup trucks and sharing blankets as they dealt cards onto TV trays.Then I pointed to four teenagers looking like they didn’t know what to do with their hands or where to look, and like the most incredible future.
“I didn’t do this,” I sobbed, my voice raspy.I pressed a frozen hand to his cheek.At some point I must have dropped my phone because I wasn’t holding it anymore.“That was them.That was you.”
“You gave us something to rally for.”
“I can’t stop crying.I must look ridiculous.”
He pulled me against him, my puffy coat bunching.His lips were hot on my cold forehead.“You look perfect.”
Sobbing and laughing, I hid my face in the rough fabric of his coat.“How is this happening?”
Instead of answering, he held me tighter and pressed a kiss to my temple.It was good.It was more than good.It was solid.And I trusted it implicitly.
I trusted him.
I trusted me.
Pulling his mouth to mine, I savored the feel—claiming his kiss as if it were a trophy for my victory.As if everything was as simple as his touch, and as satisfying as the taste of his lips.As if, just like the challenges between us, everything would work out.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Remi
Inthefortyminutesafter the semi hauled the excavator away, Brooks actually did run canter practice—because he was nothing if not efficient—and Alicia and I joined in a game of euchre before we were eliminated embarrassingly fast.Neither of us could stop laughing about it.Shortly after, it was decided to be “too gosh darn cold” to remain on the side of the road.
Brooks offered to stay behind for another hour or so to be sure the driver didn’t come back.
“Thank you so much,” Alicia shivered out.
And even though her car was parked on the shoulder, she sat in front of me in the saddle to return Stone to the stables.The soft curve of her seated against my groin was hard to ignore, despite the trail of high school students following us.She leaned back against my chest, putting her clove-scented hair under my nose.One of my hands held the reins loosely, and the other was wrapped protectively around her waist despite the easy pace we kept.
Turning her head, she asked, “How did you do all of this?”
“I was only responsible for the kids and horses.I’m guessing Mrs.Higgins got the euchre club activated,” I said, trying and failing to ignore how close her mouth was to mine.It would be easy to lean a few inches down and kiss her, but again, the children.
“I want to be just like those ladies when I grow up.”
