Chapter 31
POV: Cole?
I’ve been thinking about it for days.
What this place would look like with Abby here. What some kids running around this place would look like. What a family would do to this place.
But it wouldn’t work unless Abby wanted it to. And honestly, I never knew quite what that girl ever truly wanted. She was a paradox that way.
Abby was still sleeping in my bed when I stepped outside, letting the cool air brush against me as I watched the sunset replace the nighttime sky.
Hues of orange, yellow and pink danced through the dark, and gave me the hope I so desperately needed—hope that with a new day, came change. Change for the better.
I tried to be quiet when I made my way back into the house, closing the screen door slowly and carefully.
But as I made my way into the threshold, she was already there, holding a cup of coffee to her lips as her eyes danced with mine. A smirk clung to her lips. “Good morning, cowboy.”
I wasn’t one for smiling, but she always brought one out of me. “Morning.”
“That’s it?” she teased, setting down her cup, picking up another and meeting me at the doorway. “Just morning? No, good morning baby or good morning beautiful?”
I took the coffee cup from her and wrapped my free arm around her, pushing her body into my chest. “Don’t expect me to change just for your sake.”
She laughed, tilting her head in the air and wrapping her arms further around me. “Who are you fooling, Cole? You already have.”
Goddamn her, because she was right.
I have changed. For her.
And not because she forced me or because I felt cornered…but because I wanted to. She made me want to become a better man.
“I’ll always be the man I was, Abby,” I reminded her.
“I know,” she smiled. “And that man is the only man I want.”
My cheeks warmed from her comment.
“Is somebody blushing?” she teased.
“No,” I cleared my throat, deepening my voice. “Cowboy’s don’t blush.”
“If you say so, partner,” she laughed, shuffling out of my grasp and going back to drink her coffee. “So what’s on the agenda today? Do we have to move more barrels of hay? If so, I think I’ll need a nap later.” She yawned.
“I was thinking we could go for a ride,” I told her.
“And what work do we have to do in the pasture today?”
I shrugged. “I figured, we’d check on the horses and cows.”
She cocked an eyebrow in surprise. “I thought you’d have more on your plate, you know as a cowboy and all.”
I fought back a shaky breath. “I figured I’d take a break for once. Take things slow.”
“Slow?” She shot me a look again. “You don’t do slow, Cole. I know you better than that.”
“Oh, I can do it slow, baby,” I replied, walking towards her, stopping inches away from her face. “You’ve seen that.” My hand found its way to the small of her back, stopping there before dipping my hand lower in order to squeeze her ass.
“Give me 5 then!” Abby let out a playful laugh, shaking her head, scolding me before she walked back down the hallway towards the bedroom.
Then we saddled up our horses and went riding.
The ride was mostly quiet.
Abby was preoccupied by the awe of the peaceful morning and the building sunrise, and I was preoccupied by her—her quiet and patient beauty that commanded me with ease.
Eventually, we came to a stop at the pasture overlooking my homefront.
This was my legacy. This farm and ranch. I had built my entire life around it. It was where I found my purpose. It was the thing that drove me. It was the thing that mattered most to me.
Until her.
Until Abby came into the picture.
Staring out at my land, my home, my future, with her by my side made something inside me awaken.
“Abby,” I began, glancing back at her—perched atop her horse, gazing into the distance with such captivation, that it took every ounce of courage I had just to speak.
She turned towards me, her blue eyes sparkling as a smile crept onto her lips. “What, cat got your tongue?”
“What do you see when you’re looking out there?” I asked, hoping she’d answer a certain way.
Her forehead crinkled along with her nose as she thought about my question.
“Everything,” she finally said.
And that made my heart beat faster.
“Everything,” she repeated louder this time. “Everything I’ve imagined my life would be. The animals. The peace. A life away from the city and my father’s expectations.”
“And you think you’ve found that here?” My tone was unsteady.
“Yes,” she smiled. “I think I have.”
I was always a brave man. I was never afraid. But damn, this woman made me a bundle of nerves.
“Then help me run it,” I said with conviction, my gaze tracking over hers, as our gazes connected.
There was a flash of emotion in her eyes, tears that built beneath them but did not fall. Her lips parted but she didn’t speak. She shook her head in shock, looking between me and the land and the sky before finally saying, “The ranch? You want me to help you run the ranch?”
“Yes,” I said instantly.
“But…”
“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t sure,” I told her.
She didn’t respond.
But her face said it all.
“I want this, Abby. I want you,” I paused, running my hand through my horse’s mane and looking away from her for a moment. I glanced back up at her and our gazes connected again. And I saw everything I wanted in her. “You’re part of my future.”
“I guess I’m just shocked,” she said, a smile creeping up at the corner of her lips. “I never thought I’d see the day that you went….soft.” She shot me her best grin before she took her horse’s reins in her hand and galloped away.
That girl would be the death of me.
I rode after her, catching up to her pace. “Tread light, Abby.”
She stuck out her tongue. “Oh, don’t worry! I’ll still let you boss me around.”
Our horses came to a stop across from each other.
“So, you’ll do it?” I asked.
She walked her horse up to the side and bent her body towards me. “There’s nothing I’d rather do, Cole.”
I ran my hand down her soft cheek, taking in the way her blue eyes shined then pressed a deep kiss into her lips.
“I could think of something I’d like to do, right now.” I shot her wink.
She rolled her eyes, breaking the kiss and smacking my shoulder playfully. “I’ll race you back!”