We stay there together for a long time. Holding each other. Touching each other. Kissing. Exploring. But also talking. She tells me about her business degree and how she hated the city. I open up and tell her about the army. That it was probably what I needed when I was young, but not what I want anymore.
We talk about school and how I like to build things. And we talk about our future together. And for once I understand why my older brother is so damn happy all the time. Because he found love. And now I’m going to be the one who is annoyingly happy. Because I found Willow and the whole world feels like springtime and flowers and fresh mountain air.
Chapter 9
Willow
“And just where did you disappear to?” Erika asks.
“You missed the second day of the Spring festival.” Annie adds.
“You can put those concerned looks away. I was with Falcon.” I answer.
“With Falcon, orWITHFalcon?” Erika is grinning. Annie is grinning.
And I am grinning. In fact, I have been grinning all morning, so the girls can guess the answer to the question. But I still give a little nod.
“He said he texted Thorne about the goats.”
“Yes, that wasn’t a problem. But we were curious what was going on.” Annie said with a smile.
“Like we don’t know what was going on.” Erika laughed. “I think we both know that the Kingsley men like to indulge themselves when they find a new….um, passion.”
“But is it real?” Annie wants to know.
“It’s real.” I answer. Grinning like a loon who spent the day before being thoroughly loved.
“And is that Falcon I see over there? What’s he doing?”
“He is helping to clean up after the festival.” I answer with a big smile. “It was his idea. He said that since he is making a fresh start, that it is time that he gets more involved with the town.”
Both the girls look surprised and impressed. Both nodding at me like I have some sort of super power. But they don’t know that it is me who gets the best fresh start of all. No longer doing what I’ve been told is right. No longer trying to achieve something I don’t really want. From here on out I’m living life on my own terms. Doing what makes me happy.
“And is that Ridge arguing with Thorne?” Erika asks.
We all look over to see what appears to be a heated argument between the two older Kingsley brothers. It looks like Thorne is trying to push a broom into Ridge’s hands.
We watch as Ridge simply turns and walks away. Completely unaware that there are several women watching that particular Kingsley bachelor.
Erika shakes her head. “The last one.” She whispers, as though Ridge is the Holy Grail.
Annie shrugs. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure out a way to get him settled. It is obvious to everyone that these Kingsley men do better when they have a woman to love.”
I look over to where Falcon is sweeping up some hay. The leather jacket resting on a chair nearby. I’m not sure Annie’s right about them doing better. I think we make each other better. And that is the best fresh start a girl could hope for.
Epilogue
Willow
Three months later
“That’s two bags of chicken feed and we’ll take four bags of goat feed too.”
I put the bags up on the counter. “But Falcon will carry it out to the car.”
I smile at my dad who shakes his head. “You sure you two can make money with goats?”
“Oh yes. You would be very proud of me, dad. I’ve made up a business plan and everything. We can rent out our herd of goats to people who want their land cleared. It feeds the goats and it is good for the environment. Plus, we are breeding them. More and more people up here on the mountain are wanting their own goats these days.”
