And an inquiry to make to a correctional facility.
20
Rogue
Ahead, the river that winds through the Heart ranch comes into view. Trees line the sandy bank, but the water runs crystalline over the large, smooth rocks that make the bed of the river.
Limestone shelves worn by the water’s passage break the surface here and there, guiding the river into a pool.
Burke dismounts. “The horses won’t wander.”
Our security detail slides off his horse and starts checking out the area with the cowboy for backup. Not that there’s much out here to be worried about. A snake or two maybe. Wild animals are a possibility, but Burke always carries a rifle. Those dangers don’t seem real in comparison to what we’ve put behind us.
The rest of us dismount, and the horses take it as permission to pull bits of greenery from the earth at their feet.
Ivy strokes her horse’s neck and rests her cheek against it while she whispers soft words.
Looks like I’m buying my bride a horse as one of her wedding gifts. I’ll talk to Burke about having the palomino transported to L.A. Although I should find somewhere to stable the horse first.
Davis returns and signals it’s all clear before he finds a shaded spot from which to keep an eye on the group.
“Got some cattle over yonder to check on.” Burke moves downstream.
Dizzy abandons her cowgirl boots on one of the limestone shelves warming in the sun. Sitting down, she dangles her feet.
She shrieks as her toes dip into the water.
West’s shoulders shoot up like he’s a Doberman who heard a gunshot. “What is it?”
“It’s freezing.” She giggles.
“You’re a pain in my ass,” he grumbles as he strides toward her.
She leans down and drags her fingers through the water, scooping enough up that when she flings it in his direction droplets coat the bottom of his jeans.
He snares her chin with his hand, tipping it up until she’s looking in his eyes. “Careful.”
“Don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud,” she taunts him, but then pats the stone by her thigh. “Come join me.”
Grumbling, he pushes the sleeves up on his black Henley, revealing sleeves of tattoos before he lowers himself down next to her.
“Shall we find a spot?” Ivy scans the riverbank.
As intimate and organized as we’ve kept this wedding trip… as much as Adira, Summer and the others are doing to keep everything running smoothly… it’ll be hard to find a moment for just Ivy and me until we leave for our honeymoon. We both needa moment that’s just us. Away from the stress and the never-ending list of details that need to be taken care of. “Want to sneak away, baby?”
“Alone?” Ivy leans into me.
“Yeah, baby.” I capture her hand and lift her knuckles to my lips. “Just you and me.”
And our security at a distance. He’ll give us privacy and safety at the same time. When she nods, I indicate Davis should follow at a discreet distance. There probably isn’t a safer place for us, but the need to keep Ivy protected is always there.
Ivy and I wander along the riverbank, away from the rest of our riding party. Including Burke and his cattle. The shade from the trees doesn’t take long to block the others out.
Davis does his thing and blends in, leaving us for the most part alone.
We step around spread roots where grassy tufts break through the sand.
Our love will be like these tree roots, buried deep inside the earth, so no matter what happens in the future we’ll be able to withstand it together. I promise to spend every day growing those roots—
