She was flapping the plaid to cover the ground, kneeling to smooth out the creases. “There are moments when some things feel so familiar and other times so different. The air smells sweeter than I remember, and the mountains seem higher and more jagged, like a giant god from the sky came down and took a bite out of them.”
He laughed quietly as he started to unpack their picnic, deciding she didn’t want to spoil their time with feelings about the past. “Cooper would like that description. I’ll tell him later if he’s awake when we get back.” He hoped so. Making sure Cooper continued to be his usual happy self was critical after the other night.
She sat down on her calves and extended a bottle. “For the bugs and skeeters.”
Opening the topper, he wrinkled his nose. “This blend is a might stronger than the one I remember you making.”
Smiling, she glanced over as another eagle cried out above. “It is and more effective. Catnip and Ravensara are new additions.”
“Is this what my son came home smelling like?” He’d been trying to wrangle him into the bath and hadn’t had time to ask.
“Yes, although he wanted me to put some on Tank too for ticks.” She touched the hollows under her ears. “Go ahead and dab some on.”
He scrunched up his nose. “Only if you agree you’ll still want to sit next to me while we eat.”
Her laughter lightened his already hopeful heart. “Even when you used to dab Liquid Smoke on yourself for cologne when you were a kid, I didn’t jump back. I think you’re safe.”
He’d forgotten about making up his own cologne to impress her. Since using her creations made her happy—and they did work—he did as she bid, then handed her the special bag of Old Man Roy’s Crispy Spuds he’d bought from a ranch hand who hadn’t opened them yet. “To go with your chicken.”
“Like I said before, you McAllister men know how to tempt a lady.” She opened the bag and made a show of munching on a few chips. “God, I missed these.”
He lay back, propped up by his elbow after waving off her offer to share. Fire sparkled in her hair while her eyes closed in bliss. He could watch her forever. The feeling of deep gratitude stole over him that she was back with him. “What else did you miss?”
She lifted her shoulders with a giant inhale, like she was trying to breathe in all the goodness around her. “So much. The call of a quail. The sound of aspen leaves dancing in the wind, but also the smiles on people’s faces as I walked through town. Having them call me by name. The city is more solitary. People don’t really know you, and don’t get me wrong, there is some freedom in that. After a while, people in your little neighborhood recognize you, but the Scots take a while to accept you. They don’t smile straight off. I was alittle lost when I first got there, but Neil told me not to take it personally.”
Neil again. Ben fought back his continued jealousy. “I’m glad you had someone to help you find your way.”
“Oh, Duncan was great in his own way. A tough teacher, but goodness, he knew his herbs. He found me the internship at the wellness center three months into my scholarship, believing in the value of clinical experience. That’s where I met Neil and my other colleagues. Things took off from there. I had a friends’ group through them, along with the promise of full-time work. Having a job waiting made the visa stuff easier.”
He stretched out his leg, watching her across from him. They hadn’t applied for a visa for him when they’d been planning on leaving, hoping to figure it out when they arrived. But he’d felt daunted by the task and had used it as another reason not to go. What a fool he’d been. “I’m glad it was all you could have wanted and more.”
For a moment, she only studied his face. Finally, she nodded. “I believe you meant that.”
“I do.” He took his Stetson off and set it down beside him. “Healing people makes you happy. Clearly, you’re damn good at it.”
She finally lay back on the blanket, looking up at the sky. “When I help someone, I always feel Sarah with me.”
His skin prickled at the sudden rush of wind.“She’d be proud of you.”
She turned on her side. “I’d like to think so.”
How many hours had they spent lying on the grass under Big Red talking like this? “I hope it’s okay to say it, but I missed you something fierce, you know.”
“I missed you too.” She looked down and traced the lines of the plaid. “Those first months, I’d reach for my phone because I wanted to tell you something so badly.”
God, he’d been such a fool, but those thoughts werecounterproductive. They were moving forward from the past. Maybe they needed to share more of the good stuff they’d missed with each other. “Did you bring your phone?”
“Yes…why?”
“How about you give me a slide show of your time in Scotland?”
She gave a hearty laugh as she looked up, clearly charmed from the teasing light in her eyes. “Really? You want to see seven years’ worth of photos?”
“Well, noteveryplant and flower you took a picture of,” he joked, making her sweet lips twitch. “Knowing you, that’s the majority of your photos.”
Swatting him playfully, she practically lunged for her phone in her excitement. “I do love them. Scotland is a treasure trove of wild plants and places. Wait until you see.”
And he did see—seven years of experiences and moments he hadn’t shared with her. Ben breathed past lingering regret, then gritted his teeth at the multitude of photos and videos Neil was in with her, always smiling, often with his arm around her. She glossed over meeting the Scot’s family, both those who lived in Scotland and his American relations when they visited.
