“Red Grayson, do you evenknowwhat a vacation is?” she says by way of an answer, making me grin.
“Leah Barnes soon-to-be Roberts, good mornin’ to you too.”
She sighs but I can still hear the smile in her voice. “Good mornin’ Red, and before you ask, the ranch is still standin’, the animals are still alive, and the rest of the men haven’t destroyed anythin’or anyone. Satisfied?”
I chuckle. “Good to hear but I didn’t doubt the ranch would be looked after. Wouldn’t have left otherwise. That’s not why I’m callin’.”
She goes quiet. “Wait… did you have a dream too?”
“Too? You had one?”
Lee is what we call a Seer. She is who the mountain spirit that lives within Bull Mountain has chosen to communicate with. Because of that, Lee often has dreams about what is going to happen in future, and more recently which one of us will be next to hear the mountain’s Call.
Nevertheless, I’m shocked to hear she’s had a dream about me. The Call was what finally got her and Colt together, then one by one it befell on the Graham brothers–Rhett, then Landry, Toby, and last by not least, Austin.
I’ve always been pretty clear that I didn’twantto hear the Call because I’ve already had my time with my One. There has only ever been one soulmate for me, and that was my Anna. No one is lucky to havetwosoulmates in a lifetime…
Lee takes a deep breath before she speaks. “This one was a little confusin'. You were standin' on top of the mountain, under thebig Oak tree between the peaks, and you were searchin’ the ranch for somethin', but–”
“I couldn’t find it. My back was sore too.”
“Yep. Then Nelly jumped on you like you were a horse. It was all very weird."
“You’re tellin’ me,” I mutter. “Did you see Anna in your dream as well?”
“She was there, but not in person. It was like her soul was with you, if that makes sense. You were happy at first then the longer you looked over the land, your smile fell.” She goes quiet. “Does thatmeananythin’ to you, Red? I may be used to havin’ these dreams andusuallyI can work out the meanin’ behind them. This one has me a little lost.”
“That makes the two of us,” I mutter, sipping my coffee. “I still can’t make any sense of it.”
“I guess theonething we know is that you’re goin’ to be next to hear the Call.”
A groan escapes me. “I never wanted it, Lee. You know that. I don’t need the reward of a soulmate when I’ve already had my turn. Anna was my One, I know it.”
Lee falls silent for a good long while, so much so that I have to pull the phone away from my ear to check that the call hasn't dropped out. "You probably don't want to hear this, but sometimes we either don’tknowwhat we want, or we aren’t ready to admit it.”
“Lee…” I growl, sensing where this is going.
“Don’t shoot the messenger, Red. You know I care about you—we all do—but maybe it’s time to open your mind up to the possibility of?—”
“Nope. Don’t want to hear it.”
"OK," she rushes out. "I respect that. I do. Just know that I'm only a phone call away if youdowant to talk about it, or anythin; else. Yeah?” I nod but don’t reply. “What Idoknow is what I’ve seen over the years when you talk about Anna.”
My heart clenches at the mention of Anna’s name, a mix of longing and pain swirling inside me. “What’s that?”
"You love her just as much as you did when she was alive, and you always will. There's always laughter in your eyes and a fondness that I'd never experienced before until I met Colt. It's the same thing I see in my parents and everyone else who is with their soulmate.”
A lump forms in my throat. “I miss her every day, Leah. I only see her in my dreams but every time, it makes me miss her more.”
"I know, Red. Anna was your anchor, your guidin’ star. But sometimes even stars can fade so that you can see new ones shine. You may have shut yourself off from ever findin' love again—and that's totally fine—but I want you to know that even if youdiddevelop feelin's for someone else, it wouldn’t mean you’d cherish Anna any less. She was your One, your wife, Wyatt's mom. She's always goin' to be a part of you, and I know she would want you to be happy."
“Why’s everyone askin’ me if I’m happy. Iamhappy,” I reply automatically.
“I think youthinkyou’re truly happy and fulfilled but that comes from lookin’ after everyone else andworrin’about everyone else. Youareallowed to be a little selfish now and then, Red.”
“You sound a lot like Mags when you dish out these little life lessons of yours.”
“She’s a wise woman so I’ll take that as a compliment,” Lee replies, the smile in her voice making its return. “I’ve also learned a lot from fallin’ in love and watchin’ the others do it too. There’s a lot to be said for knowin’ that you’re with your soulmate, someone who’s destined for you just like you’re destined for them. You know?”
