Evie’s cheeks went as pink as the polish on Charlotte’s nails. We did a quick tour through the barn and Evie picked out a stall for Sir Gallops. He still hated Jack, so he was going to come and live at our barn. Josh was going to break ground on our small farmhouse in the spring.
We thanked Charlotte and each shook her hand. She got into her car and rolled down the window. “What are you going to name your ranch?”
The two of us looked at each other. We had been so swamped with details, financing, house planning, inn renovations, and hockey. The name was a detail we hadn’t discussed. “We’ll have to think of one,” I said.
Charlotte nodded. “It’s bad luck not to have one before closing. You’d better figure it out soon.” She rolled up the window and drove away, leaving me and Evie standing in what was going to be our very own driveway.
Evie turned to me. “I have an idea for a name.”
“Shoot.”
“Last year, when I thought that you were leaving, I made a promise to Rocky. I told him that I was going to win the contest so we could get our own place together.”
I sighed. I hated thinking about my behavior from that time. I’d come to Chance Rapids in one of the darkest times in my life, but Evie and the town had filled that darkness with green and red Christmas lights. She’d never told me about this promise to Rocky. “I’m glad that it didn’t come to that, but he makes a great roommate.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. Her nose was pink from the cold and steam puffed between us as we spoke. She stamped her feet on the ground then stood on her toes to kiss me. She held onto my arms and looked deep into my eyes.
“Can we call it Rocky’s Ranch?” Tears shimmered in her eyes. I pulled off my glove and swiped a tear away with my thumb.
“It’s the best name I’ve ever heard.” I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly to me. “Come on, let’s go tell Rocky that he needs to get a sign made for his new ranch.”
My heart was full. I had a home, a beautiful girlfriend, and our wiry-haired dog owned the nicest barn in town.
