Coop took his eyes off the dirt road lining the edge of his family’s property. “You ever ride a horse?”
“I’ve ridden with Olivia a couple times.” Their boss and his wife owned a beautiful, secluded ranch about an hour south of where they were now.
“Okay, sure. I’ll have Dad get the saddles ready so we can go out in the morning after breakfast.”
Mac’s lips curled up high. She didn’t have much experience with horses, but the few times she’d ridden with her friend had been a lot of fun.
As they continued down the road that seemed never-ending, she imagined what it would be like to live in a place so beautiful. Coop had told her his parents’ farm was pretty, but his blasé description hadn’t come close to doing it justice.
Earlier, before she and his mom had gotten started on the flowers, he’d given her a quick tour of the house, barn, and immediate land surrounding them. Mac smiled, remembering how proud his dad had been when he’d been pointing out all the different vegetables he’d planted in his garden.
Sitting here now, with the wind in her face and her body swaying from the slight bumps in the uneven road, Mac couldn’t help but wonder if Coop realized how lucky he was.
Robert and Cheryl Cooper were as close to perfect as two parents could be. Sure, she’d only known them a few hours, but Mac could already tell they were genuinely kind, caring people.
She thought of her own parents. Of how loving they’d been with her. She also thought of the business her dad and uncle had been in. Mac didn’t want to admit it, but she knew in her heart, her mother had to have known.
She’d known and had still chosen to be with her dad. With parents like hers, was Mac destined to continue making the wrong choices, too?
“We’re here.”
Mac blinked away the painful thoughts, her eyes refocusing on what was before her. The truck breached a section of trees, and Coop slowed the vehicle to a stop at the top of a large hill.
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh, Sean,” his name came out breathlessly. “This is incredible.”
“Just wait.” Lightly pushing his booted foot down onto the gas, he turned the truck around before backing up a smidge.
“Why are we facing away from the view?”
“You’ll see.” He winked. “Come on.”
Reaching for the door handle, Mac took in the incredible view behind them as she climbed down out of the truck. Walking across the soft grass, she stopped a safe distance from the steep drop-off he’d backed up to.
Looking down, she felt in awe of the slow-moving river below them, as well as the enormous rock wall nature had created on the other side. It was absolutely breathtaking.
“It was my favorite spot to come to when I was younger.” Coop lowered the truck’s tailgate before coming to stand beside her.
Warmth from his hand spread across her lower back and into her heart as he rested it there. It seemed crazy but being here with him felt so…right.
“My folks’ land starts down there, on this side of the river.” He pointed below to the water’s edge. “When I’d come here alone, I’d either sit on my tailgate or on that rock over there.”
Mac turned to where he was pointing and saw an enormous, flat rock partially embedded in the ground a few feet from the edge.
“Anytime I needed to think or get some time away for myself, this is where I’d come.”
Making his way over to the truck, Coop pushed himself up onto the tailgate, letting his denim-clad legs dangle over its edge.
Still standing in the same spot, Mac continued looking around. “I can see why. Those hills and trees over there go on for miles. And the sound of the water is so peaceful. It’s like you have a little piece of Heaven right here at your fingertips.”
When he didn’t say anything, she looked back over at him. He was wearing the oddest expression.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
One corner of his lips curved upward. “That’s exactly what my dad has always said about the land here. That we’ve been blessed with our own tiny piece of Heaven.”
“Well, he’s right.” She gazed down at the river again. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.”
“Neither have I.”
