Page 62 of Home to the Cowboy

Dylan shook his head. He hadn’t even thought about asking her, they were still trying to figure things out. “She’s in Seattle, I’m here. Besides, I don’t even know if she wants to get married.”

“You won’t know if you don’t ask her,” Willow said. “So how do you think this will work? She’s in Seattle and you’re here and you’ll what? Visit one another every other weekend?”

Getting more uncomfortable by the minute, Dylan sat down. “We haven’t figured out everything yet, but that is a possibility.”

“Leave the poor guy,” Hunter said. “He’s still processing.”

“Okay, I just want to say one more thing,” Willow smiled.

Shaking his head, Dylan looked at his cousin. “Just one?”

“In Bozeman, there’s a beautiful jewelry shop. If you tell the very nice lady who works there what June looks like, she’ll show you the perfect ring. Ask Hunter.”

“It’ll actually be great if someone is going to Bozeman sometime this week,” Hayden said, not looking up from his food. “One of the tractors is down and we couldn’t get the part we need at our hardware store in Marietta.”

“I’ll go,” Dylan said. “For the part, I don’t know about … about …”

“Getting a ring?” Rose grinned.

Dylan got up. “Text me what you need, Hayden, please?” Whistling for Daisy, he left. A ring for June? Was getting married even something she would consider?

His mind went back to the conversation June had with his brother last night as he opened the door of his truck and waited for Daisy to jump in before he got in behind the wheel.

June had mentioned he didn’t want anything permanent, but surely, she knew everything had changed now that he’d told her he loved her? He couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than permanence with June.

Two pings on his phone brought him back. One was a text from Hayden, telling him what to get in Bozeman and the other was a name and address from Willow. For the jewelry store.

Grinning, he started his truck. “Well, Daisy girl, looks like you and I have some shopping to do in Bozeman.”

Chapter Twenty

It was already dark when June drove through the gates of The Weston Ranch on Wednesday evening. She was a tad hysterical and couldn’t decide whether she wanted to laugh or simply burst into tears.

The last few days had been crazy. The conversation with Barry had been difficult for her, mostly because she had no idea whether Dylan would even want her to be here permanently.

Barry, bless his romantic heart, was all teary-eyed when she’d told him about Dylan. “Go get your cowboy,” was all he said when she’d finished explaining why she wanted to move to Marietta, even if it was only for a little while. She’d put her apartment on the market, packed what she could in Fat Ruby, and hopped on a plane to go and see Dylan.

Only Abby knew she was on her way to The Weston Ranch. She’d thought about telling Ellie but in the end had decided against it. If one Weston knew something, the others would know about it in no time, and she’d wanted to surprise Dylan.

Fortunately, she’d been here before, so she easily found the turn off to his house. The rental car swerved and tightening her hands around the wheel, she leaned forward trying to see better. For the first time she understood why everyone who lived here drove a truck. These roads were not made for ordinary cars.

Maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea to drive at night, to arrive in the dark. It probably would’ve made more sense if she’d stayed in Bozeman overnight.

Gritting her teeth, she swallowed. Well, here she was and whether Dylan was ready or not, she was going to see him soon. Bumping along, she tried to just keep her eyes on the dirt road.

Finally, after what felt like a very long time, she saw the light of Dylan’s house in front of her.

Exhaling slowly, she parked and switched off her car. Maybe Dylan wasn’t even here, maybe he was in town, having the time of his life with someone else, maybe he hadn’t meant what he’d said …

The door flew open. Barking excitedly, Daisy stormed out. Behind the dog in the doorway a silhouette appeared. June’s heart sighed. Dylan was here. As she opened the door, Daisy was there, yapping and wiggling, jumping up against June’s legs.

“Hello, sweetie, look at you!” Crouching down, she tried to pet the excited dog. “You’ve grown so much, you’re gorgeous.”

Licking her face, Daisy turned around and ran back to where Dylan was still standing in the doorway.

Slowly, June got up and walked closer. Dylan hadn’t moved. With his hands in his pockets, his eyes hooded, he just looked at her.

“Hey, cowboy.”