Page 92 of Ethan

The rest of it got swallowed by the roar of the crowd.

Naomi dropped her face to Vader’s neck and laughed and cried at the same time, her whole body shaking, her hands buried in his mane.

She managed to say, “Good boy. Good, good boy.”

She straightened and turned him back toward the gate and saw them all.

Ethan’s family on their feet in the stands, Ada with both hands over her mouth, Gus clapping slowly and proud. Cole and Seth hollering at each other like they’d won something themselves.

And Ethan.

He was at the gate, waiting, his hat in his hand and something on his face she’d never seen before and would never forget.

She rode straight to him. He reached up, pulled her off the horse, into his arms and held her.

“That’s my girl,” he said into her hair. “I knew you could do it.”

Naomi laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, right there at the gate with the crowd still roaring and she didn’t care who saw it.

His family closed around them before he’d even set her down. Ada pulled her into a hug that said everything without a single word. Gus shook her hand with both of his and looked at her the same way he looked at his sons, like she’d always belonged in the circle. Cole touched her on the back, Aftyn hugged her, and Sethlifted her off her feet briefly before Ryan pulled her away for a hug of her own.

Johnny pressed his hat to his chest and bowed elaborately until Serena elbowed him. Rowdy, Kurt, and Curly stood at the edges grinning like proud uncles.

Naomi moved through all of it laughing, squeezing hands and blinking back tears she refused to shed twice in one day.

She found Ethan at the edge of the circle, watching her with that quiet expression she’d come to love more than almost anything.

She went to him and he put his arm around her. She leaned into his side and looked at the people surrounding her.

She was on cloud nine. She knew that. But it wasn’t the win that had put her there, not entirely. It was this man beside her and these people around her who had taken her in without hesitation and made her feel like she’d always had a place here. A place she would gladly stay for the rest of her life.

Epilogue

Ethan pushed open the barn door and stepped inside, clapping his gloved hands together against the cold.

Christmas Eve in Montana was no joke. A storm was predicted by nightfall, and he wanted to check the horses before it hit.

He stopped at Vader’s stall first. The gelding pushed his nose through the bars immediately and Ethan rubbed the soft spot between his nostrils.

“Hey, boy. Bet you’re glad to be in here, aren’t you? It’s damn cold out.”

Vader blew into his hand in agreement.

“Boss.” Johnny appeared from the far end of the barn, moving toward him with his hands tucked in his jacket pockets.

“Johnny. How’s the new mare settling in?”

Johnny stopped beside him and gave Vader a rub of his own. “She’s good. But I don’t think she’s Vader good.”

“I’m not sure we’ll have another one like him.” Ethan looked at the gelding fondly. “He loves what he does. You can’t train that into a horse.”

“You’re not going to sell him, are you?”

“That was the plan. After he was trained and had competed.” Ethan grinned. “But Naomi loves this horse.”

Johnny looked at him. “So, what are you saying?”

“I’m giving him to her for Christmas.”