Page 31 of Falling For Her Cowboy (Silver Creek Ranch #9)

“ T his is Reggie!” Melah exclaimed.

She grinned wide. The large bull calf ambled over to them.

Reggie took his time leaving his adoptive mother’s side.

He hadn’t weaned from her yet, and according to Ridge, Reggie would do so when he was good and ready to.

His adoptive mother had been so gentle with him.

It hadn’t mattered that he had a slight deformity.

She’d lost her calf, and when they had introduced the two, it was love at first sight.

“Reggie? Why does he have a name and the others don’t?” her father, Vernon, asked.

The older man laughed at his daughter, but she didn’t care .

“I’m not sure you want to know.” Ridge chuckled. He leaned against the fence and folded his arms.

“Let’s just say that Reggie and I bonded when he was born.” She climbed up on the fence and leaned over to give Reggie a firm rub on his head.

The bull calf bellowed his greeting to them. His eyes were closed, and she scratched behind an ear. The past six months had flown by, and Melah couldn’t be any happier.

“Go back with the others, silly boy. I can’t stay here and scratch you all day.”

She gave him another pat on his head. He opened his eyes and huffed his complaint. The kid had attitude. She laughed and jumped down from the fence.

“I’m glad you are happy here,” her father said. He adjusted his veteran ball cap that he always wore proudly. He’d come to the ranch to visit. This was the second time he’d been out to see her.

She went over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He squeezed her tight.

“I am. I love it here,” she admitted.

She pulled back and eyed Ridge who was smiling at her and her father.

These past six months with Ridge had her realizing she’d never been loved properly before by any man.

Pierce was a distant memory now that Ridge had showed her how a man should love a woman.

She now appreciated Pierce revealing his true colors.

He’d gotten out of the way for her true love to come into her life.

No one spoke of what had happened to Theo. She knew better than to ask. The next time she’d seen Draven he’d been the same strong, silent man who she’d come to know. They worked alongside each other, and not once did he bring up that day.

If he wasn’t going to share what had happened after she and Ridge had left, then she wasn’t going to ask. Some things were better left unknown.

“I’m glad, but you need to come home soon. Your aunt and uncle are driving me crazy. They think you’ve forgotten all about them,” her father grumbled.

“What? That is not true. I talk to Aunt Sherrie at least every other day, and Uncle Billy is always in the background saying something.” She laughed.

Her uncle and aunt were being overly dramatic. When they’d all found out she was staying permanently on the ranch, they’d been concerned, but then they’d met Ridge. She’d gone home a few months ago and had taken him with her.

Her family had fallen for him just as fast as she had. Anyone could see how much this man loved her. Even Athena joked that maybe she should come spend some time on the ranch so she could find a man.

Melah ambled over to Ridge and leaned against him. When he was near her, she always had the urge to touch him in some way. She inhaled his familiar scent that always calmed her.

“You know how they are. You’re like their other daughter.” Her father leaned against the fence and stared off into the distance.

“I know. They’re more than welcome to come and visit. We have plenty of room here.” Melah glanced over at Ridge.

He tossed an arm around her shoulders.

“Would that be all right?” she checked.

“Of course. They’re welcome to come any time.” He flicked his gaze over at her father.

Something passed between the two of them. She frowned. What the hell was that?

“Melah.” Ridge turned to her and gently moved her to stand in front of him. He took her hands in his and brought them up to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of both of them.

“What are you doing?” She giggled .

She stared over at her father who was just watching them with an amused look. Her smile disappeared at the sight of Ridge getting down on one knee.

She gasped. “Seriously, Ridge. What are you doing?”

“What I’ve been dying to do for a while.” Ridge smirked.

He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a little black box. Her heart pounded at the sight of it. He kept a hold of her one hand and flipped open the box to reveal a stunning ring nestled inside. He cleared his throat and tightened his hold on her.

“Melah Battle. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Did you know about this?” She looked at her father who barked a laugh and nodded.

“I did. Now answer the man. Don’t leave him hanging,” Vernon said.

She turned back to Ridge who was patiently waiting for her answer. Love filled her at the sight of her man on his knee. He was her entire world. She hadn’t been truly living until she’d met him. She couldn’t imagine her life without him and didn’t want to .

There was only one answer for the man who loved her with every breath in his body.

“Yes.”

Thanks for reading book nine of the Silver CreekRanch series! Up next is Her Missing Cowboy by L. Loren! Make sure you snag the next book today!