Every nerve and muscle within him vibrated from the desire to pull her close, so he gave in to the urge. Wrapping his arms around her and drawing her to him. Lowering his face and taking her mouth with his.
She kissed him back with hunger, with her entire body, her hands moving up his chest, around his neck, through his hair. It took everything within him to keep his own hands planted firmly on her back, but he savored the taste of her, telling her without words just how much she meant to him.
He had to end the kiss far sooner than he wanted to, but he couldn’t let it go beyond what little control he had left.
As they both worked for breath, he rested his forehead on hers, sliding his hands up and down her arms, simply relishing the feel of her.
“Riley?” Her voice sounded breathy and far too alluring.
“Hmm?” He pressed one final kiss to her nose, then forced himself back before he found her mouth again.
“What I meant to say earlier is that I don’t need to be part of my sisters’ ranch. I want to be your wife. I want to join you in your adventures, ride up the spine of the mountains with you, and see as much of this beautiful country as God allows.”
A new wave of joy washed through him, and he let loose his full smile. “I was thinking just the opposite. That we would build our own little house there on the ranch. Come back to it in between our adventures.”
She fingered a lock of hair on his neck, nearly clearing all thought from his mind with her touch. “It doesn’t matter to me what we do, as long as we do it together.”
His grin pulled wider, if that were possible. “Always together.”
Epilogue
Look at this place, June. Have you ever seen such thick grass?”
Juniper grinned at Rosie’s exuberance as they rode across the wide valley toward the mountain range beyond. That much excitement hadn’t rung in her older sister’s voice since ... well, she couldn’t remember when. Maybe not since they were girls exploring the farthest pastures of their father’s land.
“We should definitely build our ranch here.” Faith gave a whoop as she kicked her mare into a lope and split off from their group, heading across the open land.
Juniper could almost feel Riley’s chuckle vibrate through her. She glanced at him and caught his eye, just so she could feel the warmth of his affection settling over her. She would never get enough of the love shimmering in his eyes.
“That might be a good place for the barn.”
Juniper tore her gaze away to see where Lorelei pointed.
Her sister motioned to a flat area nearer the mountains.“It’s nice and level, and it has lots of room around it for small pens.”
A grin tugged Juniper’s cheeks. “How many animals are you planning to bring home?”
Lorelei didn’t even look embarrassed as she flashed a cheeky smile. “All who need help.”
Rosie rolled her eyes. “Can we at least build our house before we start constructing shelter for all your invalids?”
“I suppose so. I can always bring animals inside if they need shelter before the barn is built.”
Rosie groaned. “Lor.”
Juniper chuckled at her sisters, then turned to White Horse, who rode at the edge of their group. “Have you decided whether you’ll build a cabin?”
When they’d first begun talking of places to build the ranch and how much room they would need, White Horse had said he would simply set up his lodge nearby. Rosemary hadn’t liked the idea and had done her best to talk him into a sturdier structure. Did she think the man wouldn’t stay with them long if he didn’t plant his roots deeply enough?
And could that be true? Was White Horse only helping them get the ranch started before he moved on? He was impossible to read, though he’d been a welcome addition to their group these past two weeks since they’d discovered the horses. Now that the rendezvous had fully dispersed, Ol’ Henry, Dragoon, and Jeremiah had left on a hunting trip, with the promise to return soon to help build the ranch house.
White Horse shook his head in answer to her question. “We build others first. If time, maybe house of logs for my mother.”
The reminder of Steps Right sent Juniper’s gaze toward the peaks rising up on the other side of the valley. They still had no idea where the woman was. White Horse had promised to take them to the place where he’d settled her in case there were clues about where she’d gone from there. But they’d not had a day to spare for the journey yet.
“If we agree this is the place for the ranch, maybe you can take us to the cave where you last saw your mother. Perhaps tomorrow?” She glanced around the group for confirmation.
Rosie nodded. “Tomorrow is good.”
