Page 6 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

She braced her hands against the steering wheel and leaned her head back to look up through the sunroof. The sky was getting darker now, and the stars were coming out in full force.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to stay in Montana, although she wasn’t completely opposed to the idea. Her best friend, Sierra, had lived here for a few years now. Cash had decided he was staying. And from what Mav and Blane had said, they were planning to move the whole operation out here and set up base on Mav’s ranch.

She enjoyed working with them. So, it would make sense for her to stay.

But stay wasn’t a word – or even a concept – she was used to.

She didn’t need to decide yet.

She stared at the river rushing by, its constant motion reminding her of the way she’d lived her life since...

She blew out a sigh.

Since Danny died.

She didn’t know why he was on her mind so much lately. She was used to him not being around. He’d been gone for years. She could go days without even thinking about him – weeks, if she were honest.

But lately, even before she even came to Montana, he’d been on her mind a lot.

She checked her rearview mirror at the sound of a vehicle approaching. A farm truck sped by.

She smiled. She’d already noticed that drivers with local plates acknowledged each other with a one-fingered wave, and barely slowed down when they passed vehicles with out-of-state plates parked at the pullouts and lookout points.

She couldn’t blame them.

But it wasn’t just that she picked up on that detail. It was because she knew she was an outsider.

She was used to not belonging. And mostly, she preferred it.

It wasn’t like she was looking to belong somewhere. She hadn’t felt as though she’d belonged anywhere since her dad passed.

And yet... she’d been saying to Cash just this morning that she wanted to buy herself a vehicle here.

Not because keeping the rental she was driving would get expensive.

But mostly because... she wanted local plates.

She frowned. Even if she was finally looking for a place where she might belong, she could hardly see it being here in Montana. Even though Sierra and Cassidy were here. Even though it looked like her work was going to be based here. Even though she’d gotten to know – and like – the MacFarland tribe.

She still felt like a spare part.

Sierra had her own little family. Cassidy had Shane and the Remington crew. Pretty much everyone she knew here was coupled up.

Of course, Cash wasn’t. But Cash was... Cash.

Not only did that man seem to belong everywhere, but he also seemed to own every room he walked into.

The only other … She realized she was smiling again, without even meaning to. The only other singleton around that she could think of was Ford.

Not only was she smiling – she was also starting the engine again.

Ford was having dinner with his nephew this evening. She’d been kind of shocked when he told her that. But she was undeniably curious to hear how it had gone.

She drove the rest of the way back to the ranch a little faster than she needed to, telling herself it wasn’t really because Ford sometimes turned in early and she wanted to see him before he did.

She turned off the road under the carved wooden archway that marked the entrance to the ranch. As she drove up the long driveway toward the big house, she spotted him walking toward the barn, a small boy at his side.

She didn’t really know Ashton yet, but she recognized him.