“Make sure you keep that state of mind, sweet pea.” He shot her a wink before nudging Orion. “Giddyup!”
Whooping and hollering came from the hot little mama racing beside him. They thundered across the meadow like it was yesterday. He could feel Orion wanting to race, and he gave him the signal to go full out, trusting Hannah had her seat back and was up for the fun.
She matched him and then some, Flame galloping next to him like she was as happy as her old friend. They flew across the meadow. He led them in a wide arc toward the north face of Wild Mountain. As they neared, he slowed his mount down, watching as Hannah did the same. At the tree line, he signaled for her to follow him up the trail.
They passed through the mighty pines, the smell fragrant with warm resin. There was a stillness, a peace here—one that made him believe in all the goodness in life. He took a moment to bow his head.
Thank you.
He figured he didn’t need to say more.
As they continued along, he gazed around at the lush beauty. Perhaps that was why he’d chosen this spot so long ago for what he’d hoped would be her twenty-third birthday present. Except she’d left, and he’d set those plans away, like he had all their dreams. But when she’d talked about finding a place away for just the two of them, his old plans had come to mind. He’d been finishing it with the other hands he’d tapped when he’d gotten the emergency call about Amber.
When they reached the forest, she came up with Flame beside him. “It’s still so beautiful, Ben.”
He reached out and took her hand, wanting to feel her reaction to his gift when she caught sight of it. As they traveled deeper into the endless rows of trees, he didn’t have to wait long. She gasped as her hand tightened in his.
“Oh my God. You didn’t.”
Since she was six years old, she’d talked about having a tree house. For a time, the one Gramps and his father had built had been hers as much as his. Will, Hannah, and he had played in that dear old tree house, swinging from the rope attached to the top branch and scampering up the ladder after one another. She’d been the first one he’d let look through the telescope he’d gotten one Christmas, and for many nights after, they’d climbed up there and looked at the stars.
At one time or another, she’d mentioned hearing about tree houses for adults. How they had modern furnishings and even beds. A place to come to tangle themselves up. A place to get away from all the people on the ranch. A place for just the two of them.
“I’d scouted the tree I wanted and drawn up the plans thesummer you left,” he told her as they swung out of their saddles and tied their horses to a nearby tree. “I’d planned to give it to you…”
He trailed off.
“For my birthday?”
He could see why she’d think that. Her birthday was little over a month after his and Will’s, which was on October 26. Every year on November 24, he’d thought about what she was doing to celebrate. But that hadn’t been the occasion.
Then her face crumpled. “Oh, Ben, you meant it as a wedding present.”
They might as well face it. So far they’d been able to get through everything. “Yeah.”
She cupped his face and kissed him softly. “That’s for telling me the truth.” Another kiss had his breath easing out. “And that’s for building this for us.”
Right.Thattime didn’t matter. She was here and staying, and that was all that mattered. This time he laid his mouth over hers until they both sighed.
“Now come and see your place,” he told her, taking her hand.
“Our place,” she answered with a squeeze.
He watched her eyes scan the simple pine exterior and the large windows that had been a bitch to install. They’d used horses to lift them and almost dropped one once.
“Oh, Ben, you even built us a screened-in porch like I used to talk about so we can sit outside and listen to the crickets at night.” She launched herself into his arms. “I love it!”
“Glad you’re pleased.” Wrapping his arms around her, he nuzzled her neck. She smelled like the outdoors and all woman, and right now, he wanted her in his arms. “Once we go up that ladder, that’s it. I’m yours, and you’re mine. Are we in agreement here?”
She shoved him back playfully and started walking to the tree house, twitching that sweet little butt of hers. When shereached the ladder, she looked over her shoulder and pinned him with a smoky look. “What do you think, cowboy?”
With a laugh, she scampered up the rungs, disappearing from view. He raced after her, the blood in his veins pulsing with life. She was his again, and he planned to have her.
When he swung out onto the main room, he found her standing beside the full bed he’d dragged up. Raiding Reba’s linen closet had been harder. He’d used Will as a decoy while he’d grabbed what he needed and snuck out the front.
“You were thorough. Sheets and everything. Even fluffy pillows. I’m impressed.”
He snorted and walked over to her. “I’m a thorough man.”
