Hudson
“I see why you bought this ranch,” Reese said, riding beside him on Lucy. She was still shy about making direct eye contact with him, but she was more at ease on her horse than she’d been during their errands in town earlier. “It’s beautiful out here.”
All Hudson could see this afternoon was her. “It sure is.”
He slept sounder last night than he had in weeks. He woke with renewed determination, the memory of Reese’s kiss awakening every nerve ending. He’d had his doubts up until that moment that she would ever feel as strongly about them as he did, but that kiss revealed the truth.
No matter how hard she was trying to lie to herself, deep down, she knew they were meant to be.
They trotted leisurely along a well-worn trail, toward the best lookout point on his property. It amazed him that Reese remembered not only how to ride a horse, but how to saddle one as well. She prided herself on learning and remembering details, and she did it all with care.Beautiful, driven, funny,andsmart.
“I always forget what quiet sounds like, until I come here,” she added, gazing out across the rolling hills. The flock of wild turkeys, little more than specks, was gathered near a grove of trees in the distance. The gentle rush of water carried up to them from the nearby river. “It’s so peaceful.”
“I know what you mean,” Hudson said.
“I forget that you used to wear a suit and be glued to your email inbox on your phone,” she said in jest.
“Easy habit to break.”Just stay,Reese. That’s all you have to do.
It hadn’t surprised him how quickly Reese pulled back last night. It all made too much sense when he thought about it. How they never shared a kiss until her last night in town. How she was always headed to the airport first thing in the morning before he could see her off. She let herself get right up to the edge before she pulled back.
She was teetering there now, earlier than she was used to.
They were in new territory.
He still had three days to convince her their love was worth taking the biggest leap of all. He didn’t want to waste them, so first thing this morning, he gave Ronnie’s list a solid skim. Picking and choosing the items he hoped would convince her to leap off that ledge with him. It was the reason he had that bottle of pinot grigio in his saddlebag.
“Up ahead is the spot,” he said, pointing. “Best view on the entire three hundred acres.” The trail led to a landing that offered a rail-fence tie-off for the horses and enough space to spread a blanket for a picnic. Maybe his sister’s list wasn’t such a crazy approach after all.
The Bighorn Mountains stood most prominently in view from the landing. He couldn’t have picked a clearer day to see them. When the horses were secured, he found Reese standing at the edge, just staring. Hands covering her mouth, and if he wasn’t mistaken, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. He’d reacted the same way the first time he rode out here.
Hudson wanted to go to her and drape an arm over her shoulders, but she was still skittish. He busied himself with spreading a blanket instead.
“There aren’t words,” she said, swiping at a stray tear with the back of her hand. “I don’t mean to get all emotional, it’s just—”
“Breathtaking?” Hudson offered, unpacking food.
“Yeah.”
He was working on opening the bottle of wine when a blur of movement appeared on the opposite side of the picnic blanket. A red-brown calf stared at them in curiosity.
“I thought you didn’t have cows,” Reese said.
Slipping the unopened bottle back in his saddlebag, he took a few slow steps forward. “I don’t. I suspect he got loose.” Another step and Hudson spotted the brand. “Ah, he belongs to the Holbrooks.”
“Should we call them?”
“No signal out here, sweetheart.” Her eyes went wide at a nickname he’d never tried on her, so he added a wink. “We should take him back.”
“How?”
“On horseback.” Regretfully abandoning the picnic idea, Hudson fished rope out of his saddlebag and formed a lasso. “Sorry about the picnic, but we better get this guy home in case more got out. Wade might not even know. I can take you back to the house first if you don’t want to go.”
“And make me the reason Lucy has to abandon her bestie for the afternoon? No way. I’m coming with you.” Reese helped pack up the food, swiping a chocolate-covered strawberry for herself first.
“You’re sure?”
“Really, I don’t mind.” Her words hummed with sincerity. Perhaps even a little excitement. “We can’t do anything else at the house today since we picked out all the light fixtures and your sister won’t let us install them ourselves. This calf just adds a little adventure to the day.”
