Page 18 of The Forever Cowboy (Noble Ranch #1)

Sterling’s muscles burned from the exertion of pulling Violet on the sled. But the ranch was in sight, and he’d kept the two women safe for the duration of the long hike down from the miner’s cabin.

Although they’d left early in the morning, it was already past midday.

The journey had taken twice as long as it usually did, not just because the sled had slowed them down but because the snow had been thick and treacherous in some places.

He’d had to circle off the trail so that the way would be smoother.

A few times he’d even lifted Violet onto his back and carried her through areas that had been too rough for the sled.

Relief and gratefulness welled inside him that they’d made it back. He hadn’t wanted to cause Violet more pain during the journey, but he also hadn’t wanted to chance staying and having another storm blow in, trapping them even longer. Not when the amount of food had already been slim.

He paused on the final rise and took in the sight.

Nestled in the valley, the ranch was picturesque, with the rugged mountain range in the east rising up and dwarfing the house and the barns and the outbuildings.

Everything looked so peaceful with the fresh snow covering the pastures, and the cattle milling about in the field also appeared to be fine.

Were they, though? How many more steers had died while he’d been gone? The closer he’d gotten to home, the more he’d begun to dread what he’d find.

Behind him, he could feel Violet wiggling out of the sled.

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Hold on now.”

But he was too late. She was already climbing to her feet and using her crutch to propel herself upward.

“I want to see the view too.” She was bundled in layers of clothing and her coat and hood and mittens.

But none of the heavy garments could hide just how beautiful she was, especially with her cheeks flushed, wisps of dark hair loose from her braid, and the green of her eyes so bright in the sunshine.

Hyacinth, who had followed behind the sled, halted beside Violet and steadied her.

The snow on the precipice was thinner, almost melted in some places. At least the rocky terrain was easy to cross as Violet hobbled forward.

She’d been there several times with him in the past. They’d even shared a kiss one time while standing and overlooking the ranch.

He’d been brimming with such excitement at that time, holding her in his arms and thinking he had his future secured—a soon-to-be wife and the start of his own family, and the ranch that his dad said would be Sterling’s someday.

He’d believed he had everything he needed.

But once again the plans had been about him. He hadn’t stopped to consider what Violet might want. He’d been too focused on how she was making his life better and fulfilling his dreams.

Her crutch slipped in the snow, causing her to wobble. Even though Hyacinth still had a hold of her, Sterling slid toward Violet and latched onto her other arm. “I’ll carry you.”

She hesitated.

“I’ll have to help you down the last hill.

It’s too steep for the sled.” The sled, while rudimentary, had done the job of getting her out of the mountains.

He had his brother Jameson to thank for having some carpentry skills.

His younger brother, the middle child of their family, had a knack for building things and had always had a special place in Sterling’s heart, probably because the two of them hadn’t gone to college the way their dad had wanted.

But Jameson had taken off midway through the summer after a heated argument with their dad.

Sterling hadn’t been present during the argument that morning.

Apparently it had been like so many of the others, with Dad telling Jameson he needed to stop riding into town and spending so much time at the saloons, except at the end, Dad had issued an ultimatum and told Jameson to stop all the carousing or find a new place to live and work.

The next morning, Jameson had packed his bag and ridden away. They hadn’t heard from him since. They had no idea where he’d gone or even if he was still alive.

All Sterling had left were memories of his brother, and he’d thought of Jameson a lot while creating the sled.

He’d appreciated that, during their stay at the cabin, Violet had asked about his family and specifically Jameson, that she’d remembered Sterling’s connection with his brother.

He’d also appreciated how well she’d listened to him as he’d shared his worries and grief that Jameson was gone.

Violet had always been a good listener and still was.

“Climb up.” He cocked his head toward his back.

She sighed and reached for his shoulder. “You’ve already carried me enough.”

“I don’t mind.” Truth be told, he’d relished the few times he’d already had her on his back. He’d liked having her close and feeling the pressure of her body against his.

As she began to hoist herself up, he bent and helped to situate her.

She tossed her crutch onto the sled with their valises, and then he started forward again with her legs wrapped around his torso and her arms snaked around his neck.

She was lithe and light, but under her weight, he sank lower into the snow and had to work harder to propel his skis.

“I haven’t had the chance to thank you yet, Sterling.

” Her voice rumbled behind his ear, and in the next instant, he could feel her warm breath against his neck.

She was closer than the previous times he’d carried her.

Or maybe she was just leaning in so she could talk to him and didn’t realize how intimate the movement felt.

Maybe it wasn’t intimate, and he only thought it was because he couldn’t get the image of her lips around his fingers from his mind.

He hadn’t meant to create a charged moment with her last evening, but what had he expected after putting a piece of the snow candy into her mouth?

Anything that had to do with her pretty lips was sure to make him think all kinds of thoughts about what it would be like to kiss her again.

As usual, Hyacinth had noticed, had easily seen through all the walls he’d tried to erect to keep Violet out and prevent himself from letting her in. Hyacinth had seen something in him—maybe the long-buried feelings for Violet—and had warned him to do better this time.

He’d almost protested, but Violet had beaten him to it. He agreed. There wouldn’t be a this time . But he respected Hyacinth for loving Violet so much and pushing him to be careful.

“So thank you for coming after us.” Violet’s words seemed to caress his neck. “We wouldn’t have made it if not for you.”

“I only did what anyone else would have.”

“No, you didn’t.” Her arms tightened around his neck as she leaned in even closer. “Most people wouldn’t have taken the risk in going out to the cabin, especially for someone they didn’t like.”

Was she right? Sterling couldn’t imagine just sitting back during the storm and leaving the two women to fend for themselves, even if he didn’t like them. Which wasn’t the case anymore. Maybe it had never been the case.

“I don’t dislike you, Violet.” He could at least make that clear.

“You’d rather not be near me, though.”

He was finding her nearness at the moment thoroughly enjoyable, but he couldn’t say that. “We’re fine now. We forgave each other, and we’re moving on. Right?”

“Right.”

As he approached the trailhead at the edge of the precipice, he glanced over his shoulder to see how Hyacinth was doing. Instead, he found his face mere inches from Violet’s, close enough that she could press a kiss to his cheek.

But he didn’t want her kissing his cheek or breathing on his neck. He didn’t want to raise to life the attraction that needed to remain dead. That desire had already tried to resurrect itself, and he kept having to shove it back into the casket.

He shifted his focus back to the trail ahead and the difficult navigation, sidestepping carefully down through the rocks.

She expelled another breath that was warm and much too distracting. “When we get back to your ranch, I’ll send Hyacinth over to High C Ranch to talk to Hazel about staying with her.”

Staying with Hazel probably would be for the best.

Even though he’d vowed he would make amends to Violet and help her out of the situation with her father, he couldn’t have her stay at his ranch with him, could he?

Her presence there would cause all kinds of pesky gossip and rumors.

And after the failed wedding, he’d already been the center of conversations enough for one year.

“I’ll see if Alonzo is available to drive Hyacinth over.”

“I’m sure she would like that.” Violet’s arms loosened just slightly from around his neck, or maybe he was imagining it.

She was quiet the rest of the way down the hill, which was for the best so that he could concentrate on not falling.

When they reached level ground again, he went back for the sled.

At his return, he helped situate her back on it with the bags wedging her in.

Then they began crossing the last field that separated the ranch from the foothills.

As they drew closer to the house, one of the ranch hands spotted them and called out. A minute later, Beckett was on his horse and riding toward them. As he drew up, something in the young man’s face set Sterling on edge.

Had the vaccine started killing off the cattle in addition to the blackleg? How many more livestock had died in the few days he’d been gone?

“What’s wrong?” He halted and tipped up the brim of his Stetson.

Beckett twisted a piece of hay between his teeth, as he usually did. He took in both Violet and Hyacinth before settling his gaze on Sterling. “Glad you made it there, boss. Was worried.”