Page 25

Ava

I sit on the front porch, sipping my coffee and propping my feet against the spare chair—a book in my hand and the crisp breeze through my hair.

The air out here feels different, the subtle scent of pine mixed with a certain sense of clarity.

I survived my first mountain winter. Wyoming winters can be brutal anywhere, but even the short spree I had here was rough.

I shouldn’t hold my breath, though. Just because it’s finally June doesn’t mean we’re free and clear from the snow.

But today, the sun is out and the birds are chirping, so I can feel the seasonal depression leaving my body.

My eyes close as I lean my head back, resting my book in my lap.

I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.

My bills are paid, I finally have a steady income, and training is going well.

For the first time in forever, I don’t think I have anything to worry about.

Well, except for Maverick getting his ass killed by a bull.

The time he’s away for rides always passes slowly, mostly because I’m paralyzed by the fear I’m going to get a call that he’s been hurt, or worse.

But he’s on his way home from a week away, so even that isn’t a worry.

My breathing levels out, and I sink deeper into the rocker.

The gentle squeak of the chair against the wooden porch lulls me to sleep.

I feel a hand running through my hair and snuggle into the touch, still halfway in dreamland. My mind slowly comes back to reality, my eyes fluttering open, and I can’t help but smile .

“You’re home.” Sitting up, I stretch my arms over my head, taking Mav in.

His T-shirt hugs his chiseled chest. He squats in front of me, gear bag still slung over his shoulder as he rests his hand on my thighs.

I love that about him, his constant need to be touching me.

His touch makes me feel a little bit safer than I have ever before. Grounded, steady, and seen.

The edges of his eyes crinkle with his smile. “You must be really bored if you’re passed out on the front porch.”

“Just comfy. How was your drive?”

“Too long. I missed you.” He leans forward and presses a quick peck to my lips, leaving my heart galloping in my chest.

When my lips pull back from his, I smart off, “Of course you did. I am a delight.”

He dramatically rolls his eyes. “ Ohkayyy , well I was going to see if you wanted to go for a horseback ride around the ranch, but clearly you are too tired and I was not missed. I’ll ask Weston." He winks before he saunters into the house.

I’ve been itching to see more than I can see while wandering around during my walks. I get a little scared I might get lost or, I don’t know, find a bear or something. Death by bear is not how I plan on going out.

I launch out of the chair, quick on Mav’s heels into the house. “I’m awake, and I missed you.” The floorboard creaks as I come to a halt in front of the bed.

“Where do you sleep when I’m gone?”

“What?” My brain takes a few seconds to understand what he is asking.

My cheeks instantly blush when he asks because I sleep in his bed.

It smells like him and makes it feel like he’s still here even when he’s gone.

I don’t care if it’s weird. We sleep together when he’s here, so I guess I never thought much of it when I officially broke up with the futon.

The smile that stretches across his lips tells me he hears all the words I’m not saying. “Yeah, you missed me alright.” He walks to me, slowly, as his hands encircle my waist, wrapping his arms around me. Contentment fills my body. I get on my tiptoes and throw my arms around the back of his neck.

“Maybe just a little.”

“I like the thought of you warming my bed when I’m gone.” He leans down until his forehead rests against mine.

“Well, in that case, I may have slept in it a time or two.” More like every single night, but he doesn’t need to know how down bad I am.

“The messy sheets gave you away, sweetheart.” Damn, the one time I forgot to make the bed.

He leans down to kiss my lips, and I melt into his embrace.

I’ve been so tough for so long, but finding someone I can be soft for feels safer than anything else ever has.

He pulls away and studies me for a second. “So you want to go?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, it might get a little chilly, so throw on a sweater and we can head to the barn.”

We start the trot up a trail that cuts through trees.

Without the sun, it does feel a bit colder.

I lean back into Maverick’s warmth as the horse trots below us.

Taking it all in, with the snow gone, the grass has started to green and leaves are growing back on the aspen trees.

The sound of the horse’s hooves hitting the ground is the only sound around. It’s a different kind of peace. Serene.

“This is my favorite trail to ride when it finally gets warm enough. It gets even better a little bit ahead.” My eye catches what looks like a cabin. I saw another one but figured it was some sort of outhouse.

“What are all the half-crumpled cabins for?” Curiosity gets the better of me, and I have to ask.

“Those used to be occupied by those who owned the land before Jack and Mabel. They’ve kind of just slowly deteriorated over the years.”

The view expands when we pass the trees, showcasing the valleys, pine, and aspen trees covering the mountainside. “Holy cow.”

“You haven’t even seen the best part yet.

” We keep trotting down the road, and a little stream comes into view.

With the bright blooming flowers coming up, contrasting the wild grass beneath it and the flowing water, it could pass as a postcard.

My eyes close as I take a deep breath in, feeling a sense of home like I’ve never felt before.

I get why Maverick is so obsessed with this land.

It’s like nothing I've seen before. I’ve been into the mountains, yes, but getting into the brush and diving deep into the ranch is different.

It’s a whole other world, where life isn’t crushing down on you.

“You were right. Windy Peaks isn’t what I expected.” It’s a town so small, you’re likely to be related to someone in a ten-mile radius. But the freedom up here is worth being an hour away from a fully stocked grocery store.

“Hold on, let me get my phone out so I can record you saying that.” His chest shakes with laughter behind me.

“I might have been wrong about the town, but I was right about you. You’re an asshole. ”

“Hey now, I can leave you here.” As beautiful as this place is, I don’t think I am built to bear the elements without electricity. That is my limit. So I change my tone real quick.

“But you’re my asshole,” I reassure him.

He grabs at my waist, tickling my ribs.

“Damn right I am.” He leans his head into my neck, planting a kiss on my bare skin as his forearm wraps around me. My body curls into the touch. The feeling leaves goosebumps across my skin. “How do you feel about learning how to ride by yourself?”

“The horse?”

“Unless you’re scared?” The taunt is obvious but still does its intended job.

“No, I want to learn.” He wastes no time, I feel his body slip off the horse, and my eyes go wide, realizing I'm on top of this giant beast without him.

“Alright, you’re going to take those reins.

If you pull back, she’ll stop, but if you pull too hard, she will walk backward.

If you pull right, she’ll go right. Same with left.

” He looks to me to make sure I am absorbing it all.

So far, it seems pretty straightforward.

“Alright, to get her moving, you will use your heel and give her a little kick. It doesn’t have to be hard, just enough for her to feel. Want to walk her in a circle?”

I nod. Gripping the reins like my life depends on it, I kick my heel lightly, and sure enough, she takes off. Not fast, but a good little trot. I pull my reins to the right, trot a little, and then take us back to Maverick.

I couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across my face if I tried. Pulling on the reins, I bring her to a stop as elation runs through me.

“Way to show off, sweetheart. You’re looking like a real cowgirl. ”

“Before you know it, I’ll be out-riding you on a bull.” I raise my eyebrows in challenge, and a crisp bit of laughter shoots out of him.

“I’d love to see you try.” He crosses his arms with far too much confidence.

“You do it. How hard can it be?” I wink at him, and he shakes his head at me, tongue in cheek.

“Well, do you want to put your money where your mouth is and ride us home?”

“The whole trail?”

He quirks a brow up at me, “I thought you were a professional?”

And now he’s made me a woman with a point to prove. A dangerous position he’s put himself in. “Get on the damn horse, Mav.”

With far too much ease, he hops back up on the horse. Thank God we didn’t have a full lesson on that, because he had to hike my little ass up on this horse.

His hands land on my thighs, and I turn the horse around, keenly aware of all the places his body is touching mine. “Alright, show me what ya got.”

Turning the horse around, I direct us back on the trail and back toward the ranch.

When we get back to the barn, Mav hops off to open up the stables, and I guide Lucy in.

“Alright,” He claps his hands, and rubs them together, “now let’s see you dismount.”

“Uh, I don’t know if that is a good idea.

” Over my dead body am I about to crawl into the very ER I work in with a broken ankle.

Talk about embarrassing. Especially if they find out it was from riding a damn horse.

I would never hear the end of it. You can’t live in Windy Peaks and not know how to ride a horse .

“You can do it, sweetheart.” He puts his hand on my thigh, giving it a little reassuring rub. “Plant your foot in the stirrup, swing your free foot around, and hop off.” He removes his hand and gestures for me to get going.

My burning desire to rise to every task in front of me is fighting with the very reason that has kept me alive all these years. But if I have a weakness, it will always be my damn pride. Maverick stands close with a handout, ready to catch me just in case.

Planting my foot firmly in the stirrup, I swing my free leg around, keeping a grip on the saddle tip pommel. Three incredibly scary seconds later, I’m landing on the dirt floor, both feet on the ground.

Well, it looks like my pride will remain intact another day. Smiling, I turn around and look at Mav, ready to mouth off, but the look in his eyes makes me stop dead in my tracks. They burn into mine with an emotion too strong to put words to.

“What?”

“Nothing, just proud of you. That’s all.” My brow furrows in confusion, but before I can ask what he means, he reaches his hand out. I push mine forward and lace our fingers together.

My mind reels for more than one reason, mostly because I can see myself here. I can see myself with him. Life here is so much easier, I feel like I can breathe. And that scares me because that makes this just another thing I stand to lose.