Page 50

GIDEON

N ever has anyone been so beautiful covered in cow shit.

The sight of Winnow dressed in work clothes—namely a t-shirt with my ranch’s name on it—covered in dirt and God knows what else from helping me, Beau, and Levi muck out the barn while Gertie cleaned all the troughs, is enough to bring me to my knees.

She’s more industrious than I could have anticipated, and not once has she complained or turned her nose up at any of the tasks I’ve given her.

Not even the one that involved shovelling cow shit into a pile that we’ll use to make fertilizer for our garden.

In fact, the moment I said the word garden, her whole face lit up.

And when I saw how sweetly she took to the cows, and they to her—this woman may as well have taken the thumping vital organ straight from my chest, because if it hadn’t already realized it belongs to her, it certainly does now.

Cows are skittish creatures, and on top of that, many of my cattle are rescues, so it would normally take even more time to earn their trust. Like myself, they experienced the rotten side of humanity, and yet this woman has managed to put them under her spell in a matter of hours, just as she did me.

I can’t help but shake my head in awe as I watch her in the middle of the field, sitting in the grass, encircled by cows lying—yes, lying—in the grass around her and basking in the sun, as she takes turns with each of them, stroking their necks.

Trigger is with his friends–butterflies flitting in the air above him, always just out of reach as he chases them.

The sound of Levi’s voice snaps me out of my stupor from where I’m standing about a hundred feet away, just… watching.

“Is she why you’ve been heading home early lately?”

I huff a laugh. There’s no point in denying it. “Yep.”

Something in my chest settles when my eyes return to Winnow, lying against one of the cows and humming a tune that can only be described as ethereal as she idly strokes the neck and ear of a calf.

“There’s something different about her.”

My gaze gradually slides to Levi, unsure of where this is going.

“I’m happy for you.”

I huff a laugh. “Goddamn, me too.”

Levi’s dark blonde brows faintly knit together as a sardonic smirk attempts to mask the unmistakable longing shadowing his gaze.

The expression is gone so quickly, if I didn’t recognize his tells, I’d second-guess myself, but I know this man like the back of my hand, and he’s practically made from stone, both inside and out.

“You’ll meet someone too. One day.”

The words sound empty even to my own ears, despite my conviction.

Imperturbable as ever, his tattooed face is a blank slate of emotion. Whatever I saw a moment ago is already buried.

“Nah… I wouldn’t wish myself on any good woman.”

Heaving a sigh, I clap him on the shoulder.

“Whether you wanna marry your trauma, or a decent woman that might actually appreciate your grumpy ass, is entirely up to you, brother. I’ll love you either way.”

A rare, almost grin tilts a corner of Levi’s lips as he scrubs a hand over his short beard. “Can’t fault your logic, Lieutenant.”

Beau strolls out of the barn wearing the biggest shit eating grin I’ve ever seen, as he calls over to Levi. “Told you he was seeing someone.”

Levi smirks.

Beau sidles next to him and holds out his hand. Levi doesn’t break eye contact with me–a brief flicker of mischief in his gaze–as he pulls his keys out of his pocket and hands them to Beau. “My wallet’s in the middle console.”

My jaw drops, Beau winks, and Levi’s expression remains vacant of emotion.

“You bet money I wasn’t seeing anyone?”

Levi shrugs. “I mean… You aren’t exactly the epitome of charisma. And considering what happened with Satan-herself, who the fuck would blame you if you just wanted to die alone.”

Beau returns a few moments later with Levi’s wallet and Levi forks over the hundred bucks he bet just as Gertie leaves my office—a glorified supply room tacked onto the end of the stables with a desk and spotty Wi-Fi—gives us a wave, and heads off to sprawl in the grass beside Winnow and the cows.

The sight, coupled with the soft sound of their distant laughter, does something to me.

I couldn’t even tell you why I suddenly have emotion fisting my chest—I simply don’t have the words.

All I know is, my fucking traitorous eyes are burning because I’ve finally been given the gift of a good woman.