Page 36 of Sunrise & Serenity

Her head jerks up, ears swiveling our way again, liquid brown eyes widening. She snorts, and as if on springs, the fawn leaps to its feet, all long limbs and small body.

With a rustle of leaves, the two of them disappear into the bushes.

As Holden releases me and steps back, I sag a little. It’s hard to tell whether the disappointment seeping through me is because the moment with the deer is over or because the moment with him is. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” His voice is a little rougher than normal. “They’re all over the place this time of year.”

“So not a rare sighting, then?”

He tugs his hat down over his eyes. “Rare for a city girl, I imagine.”

The words aren’t said with any particular emphasis, yet my heart does a weird little skippy thing. Not a rare sight for him, maybe. But the fact he actually considered what it might mean to me to see it is… touching.

As we continue walking, I turn his behavior over in my mind. Maybe Holden isn’t just a grumpy cowboy. Maybe he’s a cowboy who doesn’t want anyone to know he cares.

I smile a little to myself. Have I figured him out?

Eventually, the incline steepens, and I break into a sweat. I’m not overly fit, but the fresh air in my lungs makes my blood tingle. No wonder there’s a market for the type of experiences Wild Ember is creating for future visitors.

Holden kicks a larger stone in the middle of the path, knocking it to the side. When he does it again a few minutes later, I squint at him. “What are you doing?”

“We’re grading these trails for easy hiking. I’m getting rid of some of the stones that might be trip hazards.”

“Makes sense.” I spot a similar one and kick it into the grass.

He grunts. “Not sure we’re paying you for trail maintenance on top of taking photos.”

“Maybe I should offer more services. Make some extra money.”

His deep chuckle surprises me. I’m not sure hearing it should be as satisfying as it is.

After another twenty minutes or so, the trees become sparser, and we finally break out of them and step onto a rocky ledge that overlooks the valley.

Holden stops at the edge, and when I join him, I can only stare.

The view is spectacular.

From this height, I can follow the river that runs the length of the valley until it disappears between the foothills of the mountains towering in the distance. “Your guests are going to lose their minds when they see this.”

He crosses his arms. “Maybe, or they’ll snap a few selfies, then head back to the air-conditioned bar to watch the sunset from behind a wall of glass.”

I study him, but his eyes are fixed straight ahead.

“Isn’t that the point?” I say gently. “A slice of ranch life without the blisters?”

He runs his hand over his face. “Yeah. It just doesn’t feel right to package up all the mud, sweat, and broken fences and sell it as rustic charm. Anyway…” He nods toward the valley. “Is this the kind of thing you’re after?”

Despite the questions that dance on the tip of my tongue, I accept his change of subject. And when I raise my camera, I forget everything else.

The land stretches out farther than the lens can hold, no matter how wide the angle. I take several shots, adjust without thinking, and shoot again, framing the details that jump out at me.

Attention snagging on another group of buildings on the far side of the valley, I lower my camera and point. “Is that another ranch?”

Holden’s gaze narrows. “Yep. The Ashlands.”

“Do they do the same kind of things you all do at Wild Ember?”

His lips flatten. “They try.”