I grin, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sure your grandparents love you very much. What they probably meant was that your mom got married really young. But your mom loves you more than I’ve ever seen anyone love anything or anyone, and I know for absolute certain that you are her entire world. She’s really worried about you.”
Madison’s mouth forms an “O” as fresh tears gather in her eyes. “I want to go home now. I want to see my mom.”
“Me too.” I smile. We crawl out of the cave and I scoop Mad into my arms and carry her to Rosie.
We take the ride back steady, Buck trotting at Rosie’s side. Madison is quiet and I leave her to her thoughts. The sun has almost disappeared as the ranch comes into view. The last rays stretch over the paddock in faint streaks of gold and pink.
“Dylan?” Mad says, voice barely more than a whisper. “Is this really my home now?”
“I want it to be, but we need to talk to your mom.”
“Don’t mess it up then,” Madison replies, and I’d laugh if I didn’t feel the weight of her hope pressing down on my chestalong with my own. I’ve been so stupid. I’ve been clinging to my past, grumpy as hell because I thought a life without football was failing. But letting go, moving on, it doesn’t mean losing. It means making room in my life for something else. Something bigger and better than I ever imagined possible. And it’s taken me too long to realize that the something is this ranch.
We don’t give up on what we love.
Mama told me that. Jake told me that. I thought they meant football, but now I think of the look on Jake’s face.Figure it out, cowboy.He knew before I did. I love the horses, the work, the peace of the land. But most of all, I love Mad and Izzy. And I’m never going to give up on them again.
The thought lands as Izzy comes into view. She’s running toward us, her hair wild. A new kind of fear takes hold, grabbing me by the throat. Izzy gave me her trust and I stomped on it with my own fears for my future. Have I ruined everything? Am I too late? The sight of her, like the first time I saw her—like every time since—steals my breath, makes my heart leap and my body long for her touch.
FORTY-ONE
IZZY
The second I see Dylan and Madison riding side by side, my heart feels like it will burst open and I’m running as fast as my legs will carry me, not caring that my dress is swirling at the tops of my thighs and there’s dust on my sneakers. Madison trots with Rosie to meet me by the barn, sliding down from the small mare with a sheepish smile and watery eyes. I scoop her into my arms, crouching to the ground, crying, holding her tight, pressing kisses into her hair, whispering how much I love her over and over again.
Buck shoves his head into the embrace, licking our tears and making us both laugh as we pull apart. From the corner of my vision, I see Dylan take Rosie’s rein, leading her and Rusty toward the fence to secure them. He steps back, giving me and Mad this moment, and I’m grateful for it. I hold my daughter tight, breathing in the fruity smell of her shampoo and wiping the tears from her face.
“You OK?” I ask.
She nods, her bottom lip trembling. “I’m sorry I ran away.”
“And I’m sorry I thought for a single second that living with Grandma and Granddad was right for us.”
“I don’t like it there,” she whispers.
“Neither do I.” I smile, brushing away a stray tear from her face. She reaches up and brushes away one of mine, too. “We’ll figure this out,” I say. “But no more running away. You talk to me from now on, and I’ll talk to you. We’re a team, Mad. I’m sorry I forgot that.”
She nods, her arms wrapping around me in another tight squeeze. I hold her close. Every ounce of fear I felt in the last few hours crashes into me at once, and I have to squeeze my eyes shut to keep from crying again. She is my world, my reason for everything, and I will never let her feel alone again.
A throat clears, and we turn to find Travis shifting from foot to foot in the doorway of the barn, looking sheepish. “Since you’re both here now, would one of you mind showing me how these bridles are supposed to hang?”
Madison is out of my arms in seconds. She shoots me an exaggerated eye roll that has me holding back a sudden burst of laughter, before striding toward Travis like she owns the place. “I’ll show you. This way.”
Travis throws me an uncertain look before following Madison into the barn. And then it’s just me and Dylan and the weight of so many unspoken words, I don’t know where to start.
I take my time rising to my feet, brushing the dirt from my dress as I turn toward him. My heart lurches in that now familiar way as I take him in.Broad shoulders, strong arms, the kind of height that makes me feel small in the best possible way. The beard I love to feel against my skin. The thick, dark hair I love to run my hands through. But it’s more than that. It’s the steadiness of him, the quiet strength. The way that when he sets his mind to something, he gives it everything, whether it’s football or this ranch or—God, I hope—me.
The truth hits me, deep and absolute. For the first time in my life, I finally feel what it is to belong. To feel like I have a home.And yeah, it’s Oakwood Ranch—the beauty of the land and these horses. But more than that, it’s Dylan. He is my home.
“I don’t care if you go back to the Stormhawks,” I blurt. “If you want to be a coach, if that’s your life, then OK. We’ll make it work.”
“Iz—”
I hold up a hand, shaking my head. “No. Let me say this. I said it’s all or nothing—the ranch or football—but I didn’t mean that. I realize now I meant us. It’s all or nothing with us. And I want all, Dylan. I want you. No matter what you do with the ranch, it’s you I want. I’m all in. Wherever you go, I go.”
A smile pulls at his lips. “Will you be bringing your temper and your pitchforks?”
I laugh. “Never leave home without them.”
