Page 11 of Autumn Feud With The Mountain Man (Ozark Mountain Men Falling For Love #1)

Thatcher

I could tell by the look on her face that the call hadn’t gone well.

But I’d already learned that sometimes Shelby needed to tell me things in her own time. So I didn’t press her further.

Instead, I held her tight, my heart hammering in my chest.

“I found a house today.”

She peered up at me. “You did ? Is it on Red Oak Mountain?”

He grinned. “Actually, it’s not. It’s right here in Deer Springs.”

“Would you want that? Long term?”

I loved the mountain. But it wasn’t far away. And Shelby’s work was here. Mine was all over the place. I didn’t like the idea of her commuting on icy roads in the winter. Better that she be close to the office.

Plus, it had just been my brother Hudson and me for years.

Buck had been off in the military, but he was coming home soon.

And we’d been trying to figure out where Buck would stay when he came back.

He’d given Hudson his cabin when he left.

I didn’t want Hudson to go homeless, and it seemed fitting that I give my cabin to Buck.

Evidently, there was only room for two Woods brothers on Red Oak Mountain at a time.

So I told her what was unraveling in my heart, a truth so real it almost hurt. “Shelby, I believe that from this day forward, home is wherever you are.”

Her eyes got wide for a moment. But then she settled back down on my chest again. “And you like the house you found today?”

“Yup. It’s big enough for us.” My cabin was too small. “And it has a really pretty garden in front. And a home office for you with stained glass windows. And a spare bedroom so your friend can have a room when she comes to visit.”

Shelby leaned over and took a sip of her cider before nestling her head on my chest again. It looked like she was going to live right there tonight.

“That’s all for me. But what does it have for you , Thatcher?”

“It’s got a big fenced-in backyard for our future dog.”

She laughed into my chest. “Tell the truth. You want it because of the backyard.”

“No,” I rumbled, “I want it because I think you’ll love it. And the backyard is a bonus.”

Then she peered up at me. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”

Rubbing her back slowly, I said, “Yep. It looks like we are.”

It had only been a month, but we hadn’t spent a single day apart.

And I knew I’d never grow tired of this woman. I knew it in my soul .

I wanted a life with her, and that life started right now. There was no need to wait.

“I love you, Shelby Mitchel. And I think we should go look at the house right now.”

“Right now?” She looked up at me in surprise.

“Yup. We can walk over.”

One thing I loved about her was that, as usual, she went along with whatever madness I sent her way.

We got up and put on our jackets. We were now at the midpoint between fall and winter. The walk would be invigorating.

It only took us a few minutes to bundle up and walk over. The house was three blocks away, and it had just come on the market.

When I let myself in she stared at me in surprise. “Are the owners here? Won’t they be mad that you’re just walking in?”

“No, it’s fine. They’re not here. We’re taking the house on a trial run tonight.”

Everything had been arranged.

As soon as we walked inside, she gasped. “This place is gorgeous!”

It was an old country home, with all the charm and care showing in its bones. It had been well-loved over the years.

The wood floors gleamed as they squeaked underfoot. The sound caused a flurry of activity as a big dog rounded the corner, running up to us.

Shelby dropped to her knees. “Well, hey there, big guy. Who are you?”

“That’s Bandit. His owners are relocating to Florida, and they’re afraid he won’t do well because of his fur coat.” He was a Siberian Husky with a thick coat on his body.

“They’re leaving him here?” She looked stricken at the idea.

“Not exactly. But… he can come with the house if the buyers are interested. He already knows the house. He wouldn’t even have to move.”

She sat her butt down on the floor and started laughing as Bandit gave her long, sloppy dog licks.

“So this is a package deal. A house and a dog? Sold!”

“Not so fast. There’s a man in the deal, too. Do you want the man?”

Shelby met my eyes, love shining through them. “As long as the man is you, the answer is yes.”

“How much of a yes?”

She looked at me curiously.

Then I gently grabbed the dog’s collar and pointed at the small velvet pouch hanging from it.

“What is that?” she asked breathlessly.

“It doesn’t come with the house. And you don’t have to say yes to the house, the dog and me all at the same time. But I hope you at least say yes to me.”

She got the pouch off his neck, then opened it. When she spotted the ring box inside, she started crying. “Are you seriously proposing to me right now?”

“Open it.”

She flipped the lid and gasped. “What in the world—how did you?”

There was a gorgeous ring in there.

“It’s an antique, too. As old as this house. The ring belonged to my grandma. And seeing as I’m the first Woods brother to propose to a woman, I got first dibs on the ring. Of course, if you want something more modern, that can be arranged.”

Shelby laughed and slid it right onto her ring finger. “Yes. Yes. And Yes. Yes to you. Yes to the house. And yes to the dog. I want all of it.”

“You haven’t even seen the whole place.”

She shook her head. “But I’m already in love with it.”

We kissed then, and it was a kiss of two people that had found their other half. Out of this wide, wide world we’d come together. A perfect match. A love to last through the end of our days.

Everything about this moment was perfect.

Just like her.

And even though our journey was just starting, I knew it was going to have a spectacular ending.