He takes another step. “I was wrong, Kali. About you. About the story. About everything. I’m so sorry. I should have believed you.”
Tears blur my vision. “You read it?”
He nods. “More than once. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing at the ranch either. Your article…” he shakes his head. “It’s going to give us a real chance with the ranch, Kali. Thank you.”
“It was the truth,” I say. “That’s all I ever wanted.”
He closes the remaining distance between us. “I don’t deserve you.”
“That’s not true.”
His thumb brushes my cheek. It’s both rough and gentle all at once, and something in my chest loosens. “Can you ever forgive me for not trusting you, Kali?”
I nod, the tears spilling freely. “We already do, Cash.”
He frowns, just slightly. “We?”
I take his hand and press it against my stomach. His eyes drop, and I watch his reaction carefully while he realizes what I’m telling him.
For a long moment, he just looks at me, his deep blue eyes taking in all of me. Then he leans in and kisses me slow and certain and in that moment, the whole world falls away. The last two months, the misunderstanding, none of it matters anymore.
“Marry me,” he says when he pulls back, his voice rough. It’s not a question, but I nod anyway. Of course, I’ll marry him. His hand slides down to my stomach. “Raise our babies on the ranch. With me.”
“Yes!” I laugh through the tears, nodding. “Of course I will. Yes.”
He grins, pulling me close, his hat still in one hand as Brooke, the rest of my coworkers, and the entire office disappear.
“Let’s go home, city girl.”
Six Months Later…
Cash
I’ve always loved the ranch in the fall.
It’s been an eventful and busy summer, the way they always are out here. But this year it was made all the better by having my gorgeous wife by my side.
Kali and I got married at the beginning of July. It was a small ceremony, with my brothers, a few friends, and Kali’s parents, who weren’t thrilled about the idea of their daughter leaving everything to move to a ranch in the middle of nowhere with a cowboy over fifteen years older than her. But they came around quickly enough when they saw us together, and saw how happy their girl was. Never mind the shared excitement we all have for the baby.
I stand on the porch of the guest cabin, well, it’sourcabin now, at least until we can get the Wolf brothers from up the mountain to build us some more log cabins on the property. The horses are in the lower pasture, tails swishing contentedly. Everything feels settled again.
When I returned to Rock Creek Ranch after so many years gone, I wasn’t sure it could ever feel this way again. I owe this peace I feel to one person.
Inside, my wife hums to herself while she writes. After the article she’d written about the race, her editors hadn’t wanted to lose her and agreed to let her work remotely. Occasionally, she has to travel for a story, but she’s never gone long and watching the way she’s grown as a writer has been worth every second we’ve had to spend apart.
Right now, she’s curled up on the couch in one of my shirts, her notebook propped up on her beautiful, swollen belly.
Only a few weeks left until we meet our little girl, and I can’t wait.
It’s hard to believe that only six months ago, I couldn’t see past my pride and the wreckage I’d created because of it.
Now, I can’t imagine my life any other way.
She comes to the door, her hair loose, her notebook in hand. “I thought you were supposed to be fixing the gate.”
“Gate can wait.”
She laughs, low and easy. “You’re impossible.”
