Page 139 of Branded Betrayal

“Good night, Blaze,” she whispers against my skin.

“Good night, Savvie.”

I watch her walk toward the house, my hand still tingling from her touch, my cheek burning from her lips.

After all this time, she’s finally here. She’s staying.

And for the first time in months, I let myself hope.

Chapter Forty-Two

Savannah

Six Weeks Later

I smile at the brightly lit Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. Glittery ornaments twinkle in the soft glow of lights strung around each branch. I breathe in the scent of eucalyptus and stare at the angel topper. It was Mom’s favorite part of the tree when we were growing up, a beautiful, glowing gold-glass angel that had been passed down through the years.

Now it’s mine, and someday it will go to my children.

My eyes flicker toward the window. Blaze is out by the barn, talking to the ranch hands. Today is the day we are herding the livestock to a new pasture as part of the rotational grazing process he implemented once the property was rented out. It’s the only way to preserve the land and keep it lush and well cared for, especially now that we’ve plunged into winter weather.

Six weeks ago, I’d have never predicted that things would have worked out the way they did. I came back here on blind faith. I left everything behind in Denver to take a chance to create the future I wanted.

I came back with no expectations and a closed-off heart. And over the past weeks, it’s slowly opened up again, finally letting in the man I fell in love with so long ago.

Once he cut ties with Harlon, he morphed into a different man, one who recognized he couldn’t control everything. For so long, he’d been out of control of his life, and now that he’s free of his father’s poisonous claws, he’s relaxed, happy, and easygoing again, no longer tormented by his demons. He’s finally laid them all to rest.

We even took a trip recently to see Liam’s widow. Blaze wanted to apologize for everything that had happened overseas and accept responsibility for Liam’s death. I know how hard it was for him to face her, and she was so gracious and forgiving. She told Blaze how much Liam loved him, how he looked up to him, how much he respected him. I know that was hard for Blaze to hear because he’ll never forget his last moments with Liam, but getting his wife Elena’s forgiveness gave him at least a bit of closure.

I slip on my shearling jacket and pull on a hat and boots before pulling open the door. I shiver before the frigid air sweeps into the house, wishing I could just stay inside and bake. But this is our ranch, and today, it’s all hands on deck.

I trudge down the front steps, my feet crunching on the freezing ground. The wind whips around me, and I hug myself to shield my body from the cold. Which is impossible, even with this thick fabric blanketing me.

“Hey,” Blaze says, flashing the smile that always makes my insides gooey. I jog over to him, and he grazes my lips with his own. “You sure you want to be out here for this? I can take care of it.”

“No,” I say. “I want to do this with you. For weeks, we’ve worked side by side. I’m a big girl. I can handle a little cold.”

He laughs, his breath clouding in the air. “Suit yourself. I hope you wore layers.”

“I did,” I say, slipping a gloved hand into his.

He saddles two of our horses, Glitter and Lacey. I mount Glitter, and he hoists himself onto Lacey. We trot over to the pasture where we position the cattle from the right. Mikey and Randy guide them from the left.

Blaze catches my eye across the herd and grins. I smile back, still marveling at how he was able to turn Red Rock from a mountain of issues and debts to the thriving, profitable ranch it now is.

My heart makes that flippy move it always does when he looks at me like I’m the only thing in the world worth seeing.

The loud, sharp backfiring of a truck pierces the air, turning a calm herd into utter chaos.

The Abbott cattle spook first. Their heads pop up, eyes wide. Then, before we can react, they bolt, heading toward the fence line in a blind panic.

Shit. They’re moving fast. Too fast. If they crash against that fence at that speed, they’ll tear right through it. Onto the road. Into danger.

My mind trips back to Miss Bea lying in the road after being hit by that truck, and fear grips me.

“Blaze,” I scream.

But he’s already on them, galloping hard toward the fence line.