Page 34 of His Wilde Little (Saddle Up #2)

Our miniature vacation together told me I never wanted to spend any time away from Jace.

I know he’d joked about me about to propose, but in my heart, and in my mind, I couldn’t see myself ever wanted to break up, or to be with someone else.

I refused to even entertain the idea that our lives weren’t connected together forever.

I finally saw my first real winter. Snow covered grounds, no longer mushy beneath my feet.

The icy grass and the rainfall that left icicles dangling from all corners of the barn and stable.

I’d adjusted the horses to get used to having the heater on in the stable and also giving them all the blankets as well as dressing them appropriately for when they were outside, but they weren’t out for as long as they had been.

Jace was in the kitchen most evenings, making desserts, and not keeping them secret from me.

He was preparing for the livestock show and hoping to get himself one of the coveted ribbons.

I’d thought about making chili for the event a couple times, but I wasn’t a cook, and I definitely didn’t need to be known as one.

The moment you got a reputation, it followed you, and I didn’t want to be known as the one who could cook—even if the Wilde ranch was my fixed place of work, it was still a thought I’d carried with me for many years.

While Jace did his preparations, I was doing mine.

I was preparing the stables and making sure it was all taken care of before the investors showed up after the new year.

It wasn’t my only focus. I was on the hunt for alpacas too.

I knew the family weren’t planning on getting any for the ranch, since conversation had turned to new horses, even though four was plenty for right now.

There were a number of ranches across the US that sold alpacas, some would be in attendance at the livestock show.

I’d even contemplated seeing about getting some of the cheaper ones that didn’t come with papers, but I didn’t want to put the ranch in an uneasy place when it came to auditing.

I knew the ideal number would be two, and they could range from two to ten thousand dollars.

I had a small nest egg saved for when I would retire, and these animals were going to be for the man I would one day hope to retire with.

It made sense to spend some money on him, especially since they were his favorite animals.

We spoke at length about his love for alpacas as he cuddled up to the soft alpacas crocheted stuffed animals he had in his collection. And he would have me taste every one of his desserts, thankfully, I was getting in a whole lot of exercise in the cold.

“Do you think I should submit the pecan pie or a cherry pie?” he asked, laid on my lap on the sofa. I was busy focusing on my phone, looking at an alpaca seller’s page. “What are you reading?”

I flipped to the Kindle app on my phone. “Just about two cowboys who fall in love, start an alpaca ranch where they create some of the finest alpaca fibers known to the crocheting and knitting community.”

“Sounds like us, doesn’t it,” he said.

“Well, if you want to start an alpaca ranch, sure.”

Shuffling his head up my lap, he tried to look at the phone. “I wanna read as well.”

“Oh, well, I just got to the end of this chapter,” I told him.

“But I’m also taking inspiration from it.

I don’t want you to know what surprises might be coming next from me.

” In reality, I had no clue, except for the alpacas, and seeing some of these sketchy sellers, I didn’t know if it was going to happen this year.

“It would be a dream to have a whole lot of alpacas,” he said.

“What’s like the things you look at when you’re deciding which alpacas you want?” I asked, a question I probably should’ve asked sooner since it could’ve helped with the search.

“If they’re friendly, that’s a big one, but they all spit, so some people take that as hostile,” he said, getting his head comfy again on my lap.

“For us, because we use the fibers to make the whole yarn stuff, they need to have good coats. I’d love one that’s won awards, just because of the prestige, but they’re very expensive. ”

I hummed, it was a knowing sound. The prices of which were not within my budget. “Is that the first thing you’re going to look at when we get to Texas next year?”

“Absolutely!” he said all excited. “I think we’re flying down as well, which I prefer because we’re only there to look to buy anyway.”

I was still very happy that they weren’t trying to sell the horses I’d spent time recuperating in the stable.

They were a package deal anyway as of right now, and nowhere near completely ready for people.

It was one of my current worries when it came to the potential of a riding school since I didn’t want another accident on my hands.

Freezing in thought. I had to remind myself that he was fine. He’d pushed to ride the more aggressive horses as training for the bronco. I should’ve put my foot down, and instead, I just let him do what he wanted because he pleaded that he could make money doing it.

“You ok?” Jace’s soft voice pulled me out of those spiraling thoughts. “I was asking you what type of things you’re going to be on the look for? I’m sure my dad will want more horses, even if it’s just one. He might have a spending problem.”

“Right, right. We’ll probably have to wait until those investors come by, they might already have horses waiting to be rehomed,” I told him.

“You know how rich people are, especially if they’re always on the move, they’ll want someone to look after their prized assets.

” At least, that’s how some of the more upscale places were in Texas, and they tipped well when I was just a kid helping out in the stables.

“I want to talk more about these alpacas we’re going to have on our ranch,” he said.

I stroked my fingers though his hair, gently massaging his head as I spoke about what I thought was a very real future for the two of us.

A future with all the animals he wanted, and a nice stable of horses, granted, in this world, there were also cattle since that’s what I was most used to.

I didn’t get involved in the business side of that, but I mentioned a field of cows.

“I think we should stick to goats,” he said.

“Ok, then a field of goats.”

“Maybe not too many goats, you know, with all the milking they need.”

“With that many goats, we’d have workers take care of the goats. You take care of the alpacas, I take care of the horses, and maybe we could get some sheep in too. I bet they’d do well on those fields.”

He shrugged. “I’d prefer cows over sheep, but in this world, we can have all the animals.”

“I think you’re wanting a zoo at this point.”

“We already have a petting zoo, so an actual zoo might not be too far,” he said. “And then, I could get models of all the animals made, and they would look so good in my collection. I wonder if Mason could do that for us.”

“It’s still all a dream at this point,” I reminded him. “But let’s say it happens and you get your alpacas and everything, what would that look like for us?”

Jace paused for a moment, humming. “Well, we’d need a barn for them, and maybe they could be given more field space. But for us, well, I would like to say we’d have a bigger house and an actual dining room. I don’t want to get too carried away.”

“No, get carried away, baby.” I liked hearing what he had to say, even if they were just dreams to him.

To me, they were ideas on what I could do to make this place better for him.

It was almost my job to make his dreams come true, because he’d made mine come true already.

I was living a romance stripped right out of the pages of a book.

All we needed now was some hot chocolate, a warm open fire, and a blanket. It was everything I’d seen on shows and movies and didn’t ever get to have. But Jace made me want it all, his warmth was enough though, and his cuddles were enough to see me through the winter.

The holiday season came and went. It was over in a blink. It seemed like we were doing the same day over and over, but with small differences each day, like what dessert Jace had cooked up and which onesie he would wear. The best kind of changes each day.

As the seasons changed to spring, the icy grounds thawed, and the sun came out in full force revealing the new green leaves from all the surrounding trees.

It was awe inspiring to see so much change happen in such little time.

I was so used to the tiny changes that had everything feel the exact same, all year round.

Back in the habit of riding, I traveled through the field with Jace as he rode Bramble. I’d finally managed to dress and mount Coal, although he was a bit more temperamental, after the first time, he settled slightly, knowing he would be rewarded a little more than the other horses.

We rode in quiet, taking in the fresh air and surveying the fields.

“Maybe we could have a house out here,” he said. “You know, away from the family, but not too far away that we’re in a different zip code.”

Since the investment into the ranch had been successful, there was a rush of money coming in from wealthy people requesting training for their kids and horses.

It also meant we could talk about making the house bigger, but his family had still shelved the idea of them footing the bill for more alpacas.

“Personally, I’d love to stay close to the horses,” I told him.

“And I don’t see your father agreeing to relocate the stables after paying to have a new one constructed.

” It was a large stables, more modern looking.

I preferred the look of the old one, it had stood the test of time, and none of the horses minded it.

“True, I just want some space for us,” he said. “Like, my space.”

“You remember MySpace?” I asked.

He chuckled. “No, well, I know of it, I never had it. Did you?”

“No, my parents restricted internet time and then I never had the time.” I didn’t do anything on social media. I think I had an old profile set up to stay connected to people I met over the years, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d logged into it.

“I suppose we’ll eventually get more space,” he said, going back to the conversation about moving the house. “I mean, eventually, the ranch will be handed over to me and Olivia. I’ll let her keep the house as long as we can build our dream place somewhere out here.”

“Whatever you want, baby.” I knew those were some far future plans and ideas. I supported all of them, even the wild ones, but he was Wilde by name, so wild by nature. “And by then, we’ll be able to have the stables closer. We’ll just have to work towards it.”

“Good idea,” he said. “I still want a field of alpacas too.”

“Done,” I proclaimed. “Consider it done. Everything you want, I’ll make happen.”

He giggled as he got closer on his horse. He leaned in and kissed me. He’d become much braver on horseback now. “Now I have to think of some things to do for you, you know, to make sure it’s not all take. I want to give too.”

“Just give me your love,” I said. “It’s all I need. And it’s all I want.”

We rode around for a little while longer.

It was the last time we’d be on the horses for a week.

The Saddle Up event was a flight away, and my contacts there setting up had mentioned a ranch with alpacas for sale.

I wanted to be there first to put my bid in, and hope to sell Jace’s love for alpacas for some form of favor that they’d sell direct.

“Race you home,” he said to my surprise.

This is what he’d done for me, he’d trusted me to teach him how to ride, and here he was, almost putting me to shame.

Except Coal was a speed demon, and we were back at the stable with time to spare.

Time to check my phone and make sure my plans were all in place.

They were.