Page 85 of High Water

“Did you tell him where you buried it?”

“No. He didn’t want to know. Claimed the fewer people who knew, the better. Said it had already caused enough trouble for one lifetime.”

“Can you imagine if you’d died? We’d never have known.”

“That was the plan, I think. For me to take it to the grave. Whatever your uncle was doing with it, Kip was upset about it.”

“Well, I’m not sure we’ll ever know the answer to that, unfortunately. But if we can at least get it back to Zephyrine to take to the abbey, hopefully, it’ll give this family some peace at last.”

“And once we’re done?”

“Once we’re done?”

“What does the day-to-day look like for you after this? Workwise, are you planning to keep up with the university and commuting?” Levi’s put the question in my mind and while I don’t intend to push her, I am curious.

“I’m hoping something more substantial opens up there. If it does, I’m not sure what that’ll mean for us. More commuting, I suppose. I may have to get an apartment up there, but I’m hoping that I could have a class schedule which wouldn’t make that necessary. Obviously, I’d rather be home with Fallon, but I don’t want her to move schools again.”

“How’s she adjusting where she is?”

Aspen shrugs. “Well enough, I suppose. It’s not easy for her. She had a huge friend group back in Boston. She was a big fish in a big pond there. Here she’s a little fish in a little pond. It’s an adjustment not to have all those friends all the time, but I know she’s working on making new ones. She’s gotten involved in some extracurriculars. Hazel’s been letting her help out with the horses, too, which has kept her spirits up.”

“Would you be all right with me giving her riding lessons?”

“Of course, but I know where that’s going to lead.”

“Wanting a horse?”

“She’s been begging since the day we moved here. When we were staying at the ranch, I told her no. That Lady Luck and Admiral needed company in the offseason, and she could do trail rides with Hazel. But she wants off the trail. She wants to learn to barrel race.”

“Barrel race?” I raise my brows.

“A couple of the girls at school she’s been hanging around with are into it. And there’s a boy, I think.” Aspen presses her lips together and shakes her head.

“A boy? At her age?”

“She’s the same age as I was when I—” She stops short.

“When you were madly in love with the asshole ranch hand who would barely speak to you?” My only regret was taking so long to let her in.

“You did like being the strong-and-silent type. Very mysterious.”

“Yeah, I hate to burst the bubble all these years later, but it was less mystery and more that I was terrified of looking like a fool in front of you. Saying the wrong thing. Doing the wrong thing. I thought if I just kept my mouth shut, you’d keep coming around sometimes.”

“It worked, clearly.” She points her fork at me.

“Paid off pretty well, all things considered.” I grin at the ring on her finger as she takes the last couple of bites of her food.

“Don’t get any ideas. The other night was a slipup thanks to that little piece of artwork on your back. It won’t be happening again.” She sighs, shaking her head at her own alleged misbehavior.

“And the wedding night?”

“That was the whiskey.” She glares at me. “You set a trap.”

“Speaking of,” I say as I pull the flask out of my jacket and hold it up. It earns me another roll of her pretty green eyes.

“No way. Especially not when we have to share that tiny bed in there.”

“I know. No pillow wall to keep me safe from your wandering hands.” I grin at her as I unscrew the cap and take a sip. The nights are still chilly up here, and while I love the fresh air as we eat dinner, I’m close to wanting to head in.