30. Sadie
SADIE
The ranch was quiet.
For the first time in weeks.
No strange trucks.
No threatening notes.
No fear.
Just peace.
The morning sun spilled across the pasture.
The horses grazed.
The boys were arguing near the barn.
Apparently they had moved on from manure and were now debating the proper way to repair a fence.
I wasn't getting involved.
Some battles couldn't be won.
I sat on the porch swing, day dreaming.
Enjoying something I hadn't realized I'd missed.
Normal.
The screen door opened.
I smiled before I even looked.
Because I already knew.
Beast.
The giant Ranger stepped onto the porch.
Freshly showered.
Freshly shaved.
The bruises along his face were fading.
Though not fast enough for my liking.
He carried two coffee mugs.
One for me.
One for him.
Without a word, he handed mine over.
Then sat beside me.
Close.
Not touching.
But close enough that I noticed.
For several minutes, we watched the sunrise.
Comfortable silence.
The kind that felt surprisingly nice.
Then Beast sighed.
"I owe you an apology."
I blinked.
"What?"
His mouth twisted.
Like the words physically hurt.
"I should've listened."
I nearly laughed.
"About what?"
"Everything."
Now I was definitely smiling.
"That's a long list."
"Yep."
"You hate apologizing, don't you?"
"Yep."
I laughed.
The sound earned a faint smile from him.
A real one.
Rare.
Dangerous.
The kind that made my heart do stupid things.
"I was wrong about Gerald."
His gaze settled on the pasture.
"I thought he'd quit."
The admission sounded difficult.
Honest.
"I should've taken it seriously sooner."
I stared at him.
At the man who had slept on porches.
Chased stalkers through the woods.
Taken a pipe to the head.
And spent weeks protecting me.
"You saved me."
His jaw tightened.
"That's my job."
"No."
The word came out softer than I intended.
His eyes found mine.
"That's not what I mean."
The porch suddenly felt very small.
Very quiet.
Very private.
For several seconds neither of us spoke.
The moment stretching.
Growing.
Changing.
Something shifting between us.
Something that had been building for a long time.
Finally Beast looked away.
Toward the mountains.
Toward anywhere except me.
Which told me everything.
The giant Ranger was nervous.
The realization was adorable.
I intended to enjoy it.
Thoroughly.
"Beast?"
"What?"
"Look at me."
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
He did.
My heart immediately forgot how to function.
Stupid heart.
"I need to know something."
His expression grew serious.
"What?"
I smiled.
Small.
Soft.
The kind I'd been saving.
"Are you planning to stop watching over me now?"
The question surprised him.
I could see it.
The answer arrived instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without thought.
"No."
Something warm settled inside my chest.
"Good."
The single word seemed to hit him harder than expected.
Because suddenly Beast looked like a man standing in the middle of a minefield.
One wrong move from disaster.
I took mercy on him.
Briefly.
Then reached over.
And slid my hand into his.
The giant Ranger froze.
Completely.
Absolutely.
Utterly.
Frozen.
I smiled.
Because for a man who could fight armed criminals...
Holding hands apparently required tremendous courage.
His fingers tightened around mine.
Carefully.
Like I might disappear.
Like I mattered.
The realization made my heart ache.
In the best possible way.
Behind us, the screen door opened.
We both ignored it.
A mistake.
A terrible mistake.
Because Mrs. Jenkins immediately gasped.
"Oh my goodness."
Beast closed his eyes.
I started laughing.
The Magnolia Ladies had arrived.
Again.
And judging by the delighted squeals coming from the porch...
The entire town was about to hear about this.