Page 118 of Wilde Hearts

We drove another half mile before I told Colt to park. “Stop right here. We’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”

He parked in the middle of the road, turned off the truck, and slipped out. He jogged around and opened my door, holding his hand out to help me down. I zipped up my jacket, slipped my hat and gloves on, and drew in a deep breath. The air was crisp and clean.

“Okay, now where?”

Pointing toward a small hill covered in trees, I said, “We’re going there.”

He followed where I was pointing. Without another word, he started walking next to me.

We climbed up the hill, and when we got to the top, Colt stopped. “Wow. This is beautiful.”

Down below was River Falls River, meandering through the ranch like a road headed to the unknown.

In the distance was a mountain range covered in freshly fallen snow.

“After you left, I would come up here and watch the river run. I used to think I was just like that river. Some spots were calm; others were raging, as if in a rush to get somewhere. Like it was being called. For some reason, I felt connected to it. Just flowing through life, drifting toward…something. Or someone. It was when I sat on this very hill, looking down, that I felt the closest to you.”

“Me?” Colt asked softly.

Pulling my eyes from the river, I turned to him and nodded. “My grandfather was the one who first brought me here. I think he brought each of us to a different spot on the ranch, all his favorites. Now we all have one. Caden’s is this hidden lake where he and Lilibeth got married. Emeline’s is up in a meadow. And Gatlin…”

I shook my head. “I don’t know where Gatlin’s is. He’s never told anyone. Or at least, he’s never told me.”

Turning back to the river, I went on. “The first time my grandfather brought me here, he told me that river was drifting toward its destiny, and so was I. Some spots of the river, like life, would be easy. Other spots, I’d be fighting against the current. At the time, I didn’t understand what he was saying. But as I got older, his words made more and more sense.

“I never showed you this spot while we were dating because I wanted to keep it for myself a while longer. A place where I could go to feel peace.”

“Did it bring you peace, being here?”

Nodding, I said, “It did. Like I said, it made me feel connected to you.” I let out a laugh. “I’m not sure why, since I never brought you here. But somehow…it did.”

Turning to face him once more, I said, “I also feel closer to Grady here, though he never got to see it, either. Maybe it’s the river below, or the endless views of the ranch for miles and miles, but this place is…special.”

He smiled. “I can feel that.”

My heart started to pound in my chest. What if he thought my idea was stupid? I drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“Last night, my mother said we could build anywhere on the ranch, if we wanted to.”

Colt smiled once again. “You want to build a house here?”

I nodded. “I do.”

Taking a step closer, he took off his gloves and pushed them into his pocket. I did the same. We took each other’s hands, and Colt looked into my eyes. His were filled with love, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was being lifted off the ground and floating on a cloud of happiness.

“I think this is the perfect spot to start our life together, Ensley Wilde. To raise a family. I can already picture us sitting on rocking chairs years from now, two old people watching the sunset.”

I chuckled. “I can see that, too.”

He placed his hand on the side of my face, leaning down and gently brushing a kiss across my lips. When he drew back, he rested his forehead against mine.

“This journey called life, that you and I have been on, has brought us to this very moment, and this very spot.”

“It has,” I whispered.

“We’re finally home, Pippa.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. When I opened them, I felt the heat of my tears move down my cheek. I said the only word I could manage.