Bull Mountain is the next step on this journey of mine called life and I’ve never been more ready for it.
4
TOBY
My brain just won’t switch off.
Outwardly I might seem like the epitome of cool, calm, and collected but really I’m a bundle of nerves. There’s a huge difference between anticipating the moment you’ll meet your soulmate and then somehow ending up being stuck in your truck with her for eight hours.
It’s not a hardship,sheis absolutely everything I could’ve ever asked for and nothing that I expected, all wrapped up in a funny, goofy, gorgeous package. Which is a bit unnerving if I’m being honest.
All I wanna do is blurt out that she’s my One, my soulmate, and ask if we can skip all the back and forth dating stage of our future and just jump straight into the happily ever after one.
Unfortunately, Starchild has made it very clear that the Call doesn’t work like that. Leah too. It’s called the Call for a reason. It’s a journey in discovery, for both of us. Supposedly there’s something I need to learn about myself and vice versa with Dee. You’d think that her finding out she was brought to Alaska bya mountain spirit asmyreward would be enough though, but apparently not.
On the plus side, I’ve managed to be cheerful, charming, and not at all cocky so far. The conversation has been easy and flowing and none of our exchanges have been awkward. That’s a plus.
“So, have you done a lot of road trips?” I ask about an hour into the drive. We’ve done all the standard small talk so far–discussing the weather, getting her thoughts and impressions about Kinleyville and the rodeo, and then just chatting about music and what we like and don’t like.
Dee turns and leans against the door, her eyes bright and animated as she lifts her leg and rests it on the seat as if she’s settling in. "Oh yeah. Back in Oz, we'd try to go for a big drive of some sort at least once every few weeks."
"Really? Isn't Australia huge?" I try to think back to what we learned in school and I remember thinking Australia was a giant lump of red dirt in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
"Oh yeah. It's massive. We lived in Queensland on a dairy farm. Had about 500 head all up."
"Wow. That's a lot,” I reply, my brows lifting up.
"Sure is. Us kids were out there in the paddocks right alongside Mom and Dad as soon as we were allowed to help. It was such a good time," she says, sighing happily. "Shoot, sorry. You were askin’ about travelin’, right?”
“Mmm hmm, but you can tell me about farmin’ if you want. Was it cattle for production or dairy cows?"
"Dairy. The farm had a few big contracts for the milk. We bred them too." She shoots me a grin. "Means we always had calves totake to our school field days. Did you have those here? Wait, are y'all evenfromhere? I can’t believe I don’t know this yet.”
I chuckle. “More than enough time to learn about us but yeah. Born and raised in Spring Haven. Our parents have now moved closer to Anchorage since they’re gettin’ older. And Tess—our only sister—lives with her husband and kids at Eagle Moutain Ranch. Her husband, Remy, is Randy's brother."
"I think I met them. They’re a lovely couple. Cute kids too. Cheeky, but cute."
"Sure are," I reply with a laugh. "She likes to say she helped calm him down, but I think they balance each other out."
“It’s always the way. My parents are like that too. Mom rules the roost and Dad keeps the peace. It works well.”
“Same as our parents, thought Dad’ll never admit it." I glance her way. "You said kids. Does that mean you've got brothers and sisters?"
“Brothers, twins actually. They're three years older in age and three years younger maturity-wise," she adds with a laugh. "I love them all to bits."
“Landry and I say we’re Irish twins, born ten months apart. He’s older, I’m smarter and better lookin’,” I joke, my smile widening when I earn a laugh for it.
“Your poor mother. So there’s you and Lan, Tess who’s younger,andRhett and Austin? Have I got that right?”
“That’s us. The mighty Grahams of Spring Haven.”
She arches a brow. “You’re joking, right?”
“Yeah. I am.”
“Thank goodness,” she sighs. “I was startin’ to wonder what kind of legacy ranchin’ family I’d stumbled into.”
“Nah, you’re safe. We’re just your average, run-of-the-mill, ranchers.” I look her over. “What do your brothers think about you wanderin’ the countryside and travelin’ alone?” Landry and Starchild travel to and from rodeo events but other than taking a few days extra on the way home, they’re never away for too long. I can’t imagine not having my family close. They’re my everything.
