2. Reunited
TWO
Reunited
WILLOW SAMPSON-RHODES
I never expected to see Ash so soon or at this bus stop.
I thought we would have to somehow find our way to the ranch he worked at and surprise him there.
But here he was, taller and bigger than I remembered, broader in the shoulders, with those same dark eyes that once pinned me in place with a secret I couldn’t admit out loud.
His flannel sleeves were rolled up, thick forearms crossed, expression unreadable at first. Once recognition set into his eyes, I could tell he was just as shocked as I was. Perhaps furious, too? But still with that intensity that used to unravel me.
My gaze locked with his, as if time had stopped.
Ash Rhodes. My ex-brother-in-law.
My God, I didn’t expect him to be so breathtakingly gorgeous. Way back when, he had been the hottest guy in Golden Springs, and Scott a very close second. But while Scott was the sweet boy-next-door, Ash charmed with a wilder nature.
Here he stood, older now, worn, guarded. Like life hadn’t gone easy on him.
Everything suddenly got very real about my recent life decision to uproot my daughter and travel here.
“Willow?” His voice hit me, rougher than I remembered.
“Ash.” I swallowed, stepping forward with a wobble on the crutches. Stupid ankle. I hadn’t planned on looking this pathetic in front of him.
“What are you doing here?” he clipped, storming over.
“I got your address from your dad. We needed to get out of California for a while.”
His eyes dropped to my ankle brace, and for a second, something cracked in his armor. Concern? Or pity? I wasn’t sure which stung more.
“This is Rosie, your niece,” I added quickly, trying to pull my sanity back into place. “Rosie, this is your Uncle Ash.”
She crossed her arms. “You can call me Ro, not Rosie. Is this the man who never wrote you back, Mom? ”
“Er—I guess I am.” Ash rubbed the back of his neck. Awkward.
“Rosie,” I warned, with a sheepish grin.
She shoved her hand out between them. He shook it gingerly as if she’d break. Then she asked, “Can we go to the ranch now?”
“Uh, what?” He gaped at her, clearly never having read my latest emails.
“If it’s too much, we can find a hotel until I get us a short-term rental,” I blurted, disappointed, scanning the buildings around us as if a Holiday Inn might pop up beside the bus station.
His forehead creased as if weighing a dozen invisible burdens and options until finally his hardened face softened.
“You’re not staying in town, and there’s no hotel here. We have a place at the ranch.” Ash muttered. The bus driver set our suitcases and a trunk beside us.
Before I could say anything more, a man nearby adjusted his camouflage pack on his back and caught Ash’s attention. He’d been on our bus trip with us.
“Colt Calhoun?” Ash called.
The man nodded and walked over.
“I’m Ash Rhodes, foreman of the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch. Chris told me you’d arrive today.”
“Thanks for picking me up.” They shook hands firmly.
“My truck’s over there. You can load your stuff and grab this trunk here too while you’re at it. We’ll meet you there.” Ash pointed.
“Yes, sir.” The young man, very tan and muscular, maybe early twenties, his hair high and tight, stood at attention with a salute.
“Hey, you’re out of the military now. No need for ‘sir’ or salutes. Most of the ranch hands just call me Boss.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I arched an eyebrow once Colt walked off. “You’re running the ranch?”
Ash shrugged like it was no big deal. “Started it up last year. Chris Magnus brought me on to run the operations.”
“Guess I would’ve known that if you had written me back.” By the way he winced, I must have stabbed him with my words. “And I suppose you didn’t get around to reading my last few emails either, announcing our plan to visit?”
“No,” he admitted, jaw tightening.
“I got laid off from my position at the school. Your dad wouldn’t take us in. And mine?” I rolled my eyes. “You know how he is. ”
“Yeah. I do.”
Our fathers measured worth in obedience, not love. Mine ruled by the Bible. His with a fist. Their wives long gone, the two men had tried their best to raise their families. And they both did a shitty job of it.
“Rosie and I just need a change of scenery. We came here hoping to find you. I don’t know. Maybe this was a mistake.”
Ash exhaled as if the weight of the past settled on his shoulders. “There’s a cabin on the property,” he said. “Nothing fancy. But it’s new and warm and private. You can stay as long as you need.”
“Thank you. Really, we won’t be a bother.” A tremor of relief pulsed through me. But also a tiny speck of hope.
Our eyes met again, and the air between us thickened with everything we hadn’t said yet. Everything we’d buried long ago, like unfinished business. At some point, we were due for a really long talk.
He looked away first. “Let’s load up.”
With our things tossed into the back behind some logs, and my heart somewhere tangled up in my throat, we climbed into his truck. I avoided his offer of a hand to help me up, not ready yet to feel his skin on mine, even though I’d dreamed of the touch of him for far too long.