Page 5 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Cassidy laughed and slapped his arm. “You know no one compares to you. But there is something to be said for that dark and broody thing. Right, Lia?”

Amelia shook her head with a laugh. “I’m not getting in the middle of it with you two. I value my life too much.”

Shane gave her a puzzled look. “Fair enough. But you’re not even going to comment on Ford?”

Amelia raised an eyebrow. “Do I really need to? He is a good-looking guy. He’s a good guy, too.”

Cassidy nodded. “I have a feeling it won’t be long before the two of you are inviting us over for dinner.”

Amelia opened her mouth to protest, but Cassidy waved a hand at her. “That’s all I’ll say for now. But if I’m right, you can bet your ass I’m going to remind you I said it.”

Shane laughed. “Speaking from experience, I can tell you that my lovely wife does enjoy saying those three little words.”

Cassidy waggled her eyebrows. “‘Told you so.’”

“I’d better get going.” Amelia shook her head with a laugh.

Cassidy gave her a hug, and then Shane leaned in to do the same.

“If I don’t see you around,” said Cassidy, “I’ll give you a call about coming over again soon. You don’t need to feel like you can’t come again or that we have to take turns or anything. We’ve known each other too long for that.”

“Thanks.” Amelia turned to go, and Shane opened the front door for her. They watched her jog down the steps and climb into her car. Shane didn’t close the front door until she’d started the engine.

She’d noticed that the guys around here all seemed to be that way. They looked out for everyone.

She wasn’t used to it. She never had been. Something in her wanted to be irritated by it, but she couldn’t quite manage to.

She might not be used to it, but a part of her liked feeling as though she wasn’t the only one who had her back anymore.

As she drove down East River Road, she realized she was still smiling.

She seemed to be doing that a lot since she’d come to Montana – well, with the exception of last weekend, when things had been tense. The day after she arrived, Shelley, the girlfriend of one of Cash’s friends had been taken hostage by some relative of an old guy who thought he could get Shelley to change the will.

Amelia was proud of herself; she’d been instrumental in the rescue.

Her smile faded, and she glanced through the windshield at the big Montana sky. It wasn’t quite dark yet, but the stars were already starting to shine.

A therapist she used to see back when she lived in San Francisco had this theory: that Amelia took such pride in her work – in being able to help save people – because...

Her shoulders sagged.

Because she hadn’t been able to save Danny.

She glanced up at the stars again. She liked to talk to them, to imagine that Danny could hear.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

It wasn’t her fault. She knew that. But that didn’t make it any easier to live with.

She eased off the gas as the road curved to follow the bend of the river. There was no point dwelling on what couldn’t be changed – she knew that. Then again, there was no harm in allowing herself a sentimental moment every now and then.

Looking up at the mountains, she had to admit that there was something about the landscape out here. The beauty of it made her more prone to... being emotional.

It wasn’t like her.

But it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, either.

When she reached the pullout next to the river, she turned off the road and parked. She wasn’t in a hurry. It felt important to pause and take in the moment.