“Today was something special, wasn’t it?” she whispered, her voice barely louder than the rustle of the sheets.
“Sure was,” Andy replied, his smile audible in the darkness. “I think days like this are what life’s all about.”
“Seems like it,” Cassie agreed.
Andy reached out, his hand finding hers under the covers. Their fingers entwined, as natural as the intertwining roots ofan old oak tree. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek.
“I’m looking forward to building something with you, Cassie. Not just the ranch, but...everything.”
Cassie felt a shiver of joy, the kind that comes when the future is ripe with possibilities. She squeezed his hand, her answer clear in the pressure of her grip.
“Me too, Andy. Me too.”
“Goodnight, Cassie,” Andy murmured, his voice low and husky with emotion.
“Goodnight, Andy,” she replied, her words floating on a sigh.
In the space between wakefulness and sleep, Cassie’s mind wandered to images of a bustling dress shop, its windows filled with her creations, vibrant and alive. She saw Andy at the ranch, his face alight with pride as he surveyed fields of thriving crops and healthy cattle.
Her dreams were the same as his. A future together, filled with love and success. What more could they ask for?
