Page 93 of The Rancher's Wedding

“Yes, sir,” Estelle said.

“I’m good,” Michael said.

“I’m all set!” Megan shouted from the back.

Carefully, Jacob opened the gate, allowing Estelle to rid through.

“Keep it slow, Estelle,” Michael said. “Just a gentle trot. We’ve got plenty of time.”

She nodded and let Orion determine a comfortable pace back to the barn. She looked back at the cows, grouped together, letting out the occasional “moo” and shaking their heads and bouncing back and forth as they marched forward.

Daisy and Buckley, the two shepherds, circled the gentle beasts, nipping at their hooves and barking to keep them bunched up. Michael circled in the opposite direction, serving much the same purpose. And Megan and Angel pushed through the gate after the last cow hobbled forward, trying to keep up with the group.

Megan told Estelle about the futility of “What if”, but perhaps there was a beauty in it, too.

What if Estelle had never left Philadelphia? She would have been inside at this moment, looking out the window, sitting by a fire. It would have been comfortable and warm, and perhaps she’d even have a book to serve as an escape and keep her company as she counted down the hours until nighttime.

The image made Estelle sad and the saddest part was that version of herself might have been content, perhaps even seeing herself as happy. Estelle wanted to reach into her imagination and pull that woman out. She wanted to show her what life could be and what she was capable of. She wanted to introduce Content Estelle to Michael and let her know that he could be her husband.

But then she thought back to what Megan said. Content Estelle didn’t exist. There was only Estelle. And she wasn’t locked up inside on this beautiful day. She was leading a herd of cattle to their winter home on the back of a beautiful horse. When she was done, she would tend to the other animals, ensuring they were well fed and warm.

And once the sun went down, she’d be comfortable and warm, sitting by a fire in the arms of her perfect husband eating a meal made by her best friend and, when it got late enough, she’d reluctantly go to sleep so she could wake up early the next day and do it all over again.

She didn’t need an escape because she was exactly where she wanted to be: paradise.

THE END?