Chapter 16
The sun hung low over the pasture, washing the fields in gold. I leaned against the fence post and watched Ryder work.
He had one boot propped against the bottom rail as he pulled a length of wire taut, his sleeves rolled to his forearms and his hat pushed low over his eyes. Kash lay stretched out beneath the shade of a nearby tree, completely unconcerned with anything happening around him.
“You know," I said loud enough that he could hear me, “most people would hire somebody to do this.” I was trying to get a rise out of him, which wasn't exactly difficult.
Ryder glanced up and gave me a mock scowl. “Most people don't trust other folks to do things right.”
I smiled. “That sounds exactly like something you'd say.”
“Because it's true, darlin’.”
I stepped around the post and reached for the pliers lying beside him, straightened, and went over to the post, intending to get my hands dirty.
He looked at me with a harder scowl on his face. “What're you doin'?”
“Helping you,” I teased with a wink.
“You don't know what you're doing.”
“Neither did you the first time.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Fair enough.”
For the next hour, we worked side by side beneath the fading light, with Ryder teaching me how to properly rewire a fence. We barely spoke, but the silence didn't feel strange. It felt comfortable. Familiar.
I paused, wiped my hand over my sweaty forehead, and looked out across the land stretching toward the mountains.
Fourteen years ago, I'd spent every waking moment dreaming about leaving this place behind.
Now, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
As if he sensed my thoughts, Ryder came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against him, loving the scent of leather, clean sweat, and the man himself that surrounded him.
“You alright?”
I tipped my head back and to the side and looked at him, smiling.
“Better than I’ve ever been.”
His arms tightened around me.
“Good.”
I looked out across the ranch one last time. The place I'd once sworn I'd never return to sat bathed in the golden light of sunset.
Fourteen years ago, I'd run from Rootstown Creek believing I'd left everything behind.
I never imagined the one thing worth coming back for had been here all along.