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Every fiber of her wanted to run to him, but her ankle screamed in protest.
Booth sprinted through the grass. “Nova! Nova!”
Disheveled and smoke-stained, he was still the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.
And he was here. Impossibly here. Striding toward her with that wide grin on his face.
Then his arms enveloped her. Bonds of warmth and muscle that felt like coming home.
Despite her pain, Nova clutched him. Breathed in his scent. Nuzzled the soft whiskers on his jaw. This was no pain-induced hallucination. He’d really come for her.
“Thank God. I’ve been going crazy looking for you,” Booth rasped. One broad hand brushed her tangled hair.
Nova withdrew enough to angle her face up. “I’m so glad it was you.”
His searching gaze took in her features. “Are you hurt? How bad?”
“Nothing serious.” Nova dismissed her aching injuries. She didn’t want to waste another second not touching him. She framed his face in her palms. “I can’t believe you found me. By some miracle, you’re really here.”
His arms tightened. “I couldn’t stop—wouldn’t stop—until I found you.”
She smiled even as emotion clogged her throat. Nova lifted her mouth to meet his. She fisted her hands in his shirt, pulling herself closer. Booth kissed her until she thought she might melt into him.
Heart hammering, Nova eased back. Booth kept one arm around her. The other hand traced her cheek tenderly.
“I never want us separated like that again. When I heard you’d disappeared in the fire…” Deep lines creased his brow.
“I started thinking no one would ever find me. Especially not you. How could you possibly have tracked me to the middle of nowhere?”
“God. It had to be God leading us here.” Booth looked up at the plane passing overhead. “Aria and I went a little rogue, but we can talk about it later. Speaking of…” Booth pulled his radio out of his pocket and confirmed he’d found Nova alive and well.
The call came back with cheers and promises that a chopper would be there to pick them up in less than thirty minutes.
Nova pressed impulsive kisses across his jaw. His chin. His lips. “I love you. Beyond life itself. I’m sorry for being so pushy—or bossy. Whatever. I can do better. I will do better.”
“I love you too. Just the way you are.” He pressed a kiss into her forehead. “I’ve got you now, and I’m not letting go.”
Booth kissed her again. This time slow and gentle. She slipped her arms behind his neck and pulled him close.
When they paused for breath, Booth nodded over his shoulder. “So…what’s with the horse?”
Glancing over, Nova beckoned the mare closer. She stroked her velvet muzzle while Abilene investigated Booth’s shirt for treats.
“This is Abilene. My guardian, transportation, and guide.”
Booth’s eyebrows went up. “You? You rode this horse? I thought you hated horses.”
“I don’t hate them.” She’d been terrified of what they represented in her life. Every horse had dragged up painful memories that she hadn’t been able to face. “I’ll admit, I didn’t think I’d ever ride again after the wildfire that killed my parents. But I had to face my past if I wanted to find my way home. My father loved me so much he put me on that horse. He didn’t choose me over my mom. He just chose love.”
“Brave. You’re so brave. How’d you figure that out?”
“I used to measure God’s love by comparing what He did for me with what He’d done for another person.” She paused for a shallow breath. “But that isn’t right. I have to look at what God does for me, period. That’s how I’ll see His love. God’s good all the time.”
“And all the time, God’s good.” Booth smiled and stroked the white streak blazing down Abilene’s face. “Where’d she come from? We may need to get her home before the chopper comes.”
Nova tucked herself close beneath Booth’s arm and pressed her ear over his heart. The strong steady rhythm seemed to echo inside her own ribcage. “It’s a long story, but I finally believe everything you’ve said about Crazy Henry now.”
Booth looked down. “That’s a bit out of left field.”