Page 163 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys

He made a sound that suggested he didn't believe me but wouldn't argue. A moment later, I felt him shift slightly, his body curving just a fraction more around mine, offering his warmth without comment. The subtle protectiveness of the gesture made me shiver again. He probably thought I really was cold now.

As we kept riding, Behaichi a steady, reliable presence beneath us, Boone pointed out a family of foxes darting through the brush. He showed me where Wade got the eyebrow scar, trying to fix a busted section of fence that still had the old razor wire curved around the top rail. He laughed when he recounted a very drunk Cooper dancing naked around a campfire during one of their fake cattle drives, something they did to keep their pack bond strong. I listened to him, feeling more content than I had in years. His deep voice became a lullaby and, though Sagebrush was mesmerizing, I found myself fighting drowsiness.

I hadn't realized I'd actually drifted off until Boone's gentle touch on my arm brought me back.

"Hey," he said softly, his breath warm against my ear. "Look."

I blinked away sleep and gazed ahead. Behaichi had brought us to the edge of a lake. The water’s edge was lined with hundreds of purple and yellow flowers swaying in the breeze. The fiery colors of the sunset sky above were reflected in the placid, peaceful pool below, making it feel like we were caught between two parallel universes.

"Oh," I breathed, genuinely awestruck. "Oh, Boone. It’s… it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”

"This is my favorite place on the ranch," Boone said, his voice a low rumble against my back. “I’ve never brought an outsider here, none of us have.”

I wanted to ask why he'd chosen to share it with me, but I was afraid of the answer. Afraid it would make me want to stay even more. A quiet voice whispered in my head that it wouldn’t matter, because my desire to stay was now a powerful, undeniable force.

Boone suddenly dismounted. The absence of his body touching mine was an acute sort of discomfort. I wanted him back in the saddle immediately, so I could stop missing him.

“Would you like to get down, Nelly?” He looked up at me, rich brown eyes colliding with my hazel gaze.

“Mmm-hmm,” I murmured with a nod.

He reached up, grasping my waist. The way his fingers curled around me made all my earlier daydreams rush back. He lifted me deftly, pulling me down into his arms. I hovered for a moment before he lowered me, but I stayed on tiptoes, wanting my face closer to his. His hands lingered on my body, and I wanted them to stay there forever.

We could kiss.

It would be so easy.

Boone cleared his throat. “Let’s sit by the water and watch the rest of the sunset.”

“Okay,” was all I could manage.

He led me closer to the lake, and we sat down among the wildflowers. Boone shifted once we were on the ground, putting space between us. The divide quickly became more than I could handle. I closed it in one scoot, pressing my hip to his thigh. Timidly, I looked at his face. His eyes widened imperceptibly, then returned to normal. Encouraged, Boone lifted his arm and wrapped it around my shoulder. In turn, I nestled even closer to him, tucking into the curve of his body.

Behaichi meandered nearby, and we focused on the view.

“I can’t believe I fell asleep on a horse,” I commented, the surprise I felt bubbling up in my chest, making me want to laugh.

"Means you felt safe," he replied simply.

I turned within the circle of his arm to look at him. He had such a striking profile, and the fading light of day softened the strong features. It made him look younger and unguarded, like life hadn’t hurt him yet.

"I did feel safe," I let the words tumble out before I had time to think. "I still do right now."

Boone’s head slowly turned, his dark eyes searching mine. "But you still want to leave.”

It wasn't a question, but I answered anyways. "I don't know what I want anymore."

I recognized the lie as I said. I did know what I wanted, but I couldn’t say it out loud.

Not yet.

We sat in silence now, watching nature's spectacle unfold. The water of the lake rippled once, then again, as fish rose to the surface. A series of quacks sounded, and a cluster of ducksappeared soon after, waddling in single file from the cover of reeds along the far shore. One by one, they entered the water, leaving ripples in their wakes. The birds were large, with mostly white bodies, but then black rings around the necks and a reddish-brown head.

"Canvasbacks,” Boone identified, “Wade's favorite. One year, he found some abandoned eggs and incubated them. Damn things followed him around the ranch for months. It’s also why the sentimental man named his horse Duck.”

I smiled. That sounded like Wade.

“My grandmother would love them,” I said out loud, not meaning to. Thinking of her made me remember the phone I’d left in my borrowed room; it made me face the fact that I’d been too much of a coward to call Serenity House as soon as Levi gave it to me.