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He shook his head, ready to dismiss my forgiveness. He didn’t think he deserved it. I stood from the chair, letting the blanket pool at my feet before stepping in between his legs. My hands went into his hair, and I tipped his head up so I could get lost in his smoke as I poured my heart out to him.
“You are a good man, Denver Langston,” I whispered. “Your past doesn’t define who you are now. The mistakes of your father and brother haunt you. Your mistakes are still haunting you. The promise you made your father weighs down on you every single day. Hallow Ranch is yours. It’s all you’ve ever known. Hallow Ranch has branded you, my dark cowboy.”
“Val…”
I cupped his scruffy cheeks and leaned down an inch away from him. “You. Are. Good. You. Are. Worthy. Of. Happiness.”
“Stop.”
“I understand. I understand why you did it. I understand you were hurt and felt betrayed. You lashed out, Denver. You did the same thing that any other human would do,” I explained, stoking his skin.
“I hurt you.”
“I hurt you, too.”
His eyes closed and his arms wrapped around my middle. “You did nothing wrong.”
“Accept my forgiveness, Denver,” I pleaded. “Accept it so we can move on.”
He hadn’t—not yet, but he was working on it.
He was also seeing a professional about his PTSD, provided by the Corps. Once a month, he goes to Denver for therapy. He completed his second session on Monday. My cowboy doesn’t talk about it, and I don’t push him. He was fighting his demons in a healthy way, and I couldn’t be prouder.
As for me, the smoke from the fire could’ve done severe damage to my throat and lungs, but after several visits to Dr. Martin’s office, I was cleared. My lungs were healthy and clear. I should have rejoiced, but there was another set of lungs on my mind.
Mom’s.
The cancer was getting more aggressive. Dr. Martin told me it was best we make her comfortable for the time being, that he would still do her chemo treatments, if she wishes.
Her last treatment was yesterday.
That was her decision, and I was trying my best to accept it. Every night, aside from tonight, Mom and I would sit on the porch swing together. Sometimes we would talk, and sometimes, we would just sit in silence.
Because sometimes, you didn’t need words.
Sometimes you just needed the person.
“You alright?” Denver’s deep voice rumbled from behind me. I was sitting in his lap. I twisted my head and gave him a small smile as I nodded.
He studied me for a moment, his gray eyes searching mine. His smoke surrounded me, and my heart fluttered. I could breathe easier with his smoke. “You ready to leave?”
I looked at the boys, who were currently arguing about the cards Beau just played, and then went back to Denver. “I think I’m going to sit with Mom.” His hands slid over my thighs, squeezing them gently.
“You want me to walk you up?” he asked softly.
I leaned into him, pressing my lips to his. “I’ll be okay, cowboy.”
He grunted.
The boys said their goodbyes, and as soon as the bunkhouse door shut behind me, I heard Denver say, “Beau, you know that hand is bullshit.”
Smiling to myself, I put my hands in my jean pockets and started up the hill. The warm, welcoming light of Denver’s house—our house—guided me home. Mom and Jackie weren’t on the porch swing, but I could see their silhouettes in the front window. They were on the couch, watching a movie. My eyes lifted to the second story front window to the little boys running around and playing with swords. Or they could be lightsabers. Or wands. The possibilities were endless with that kid.
Once I was close to the house, I heard a throat clear.
I let out a scream, jumping and spinning around. There, parked back up behind Denver’s old red Chevy was a new, all black, Z71 Chevy Silverado, but my eyes weren’t focusing on the truck. They were on the cowboy sitting on the tailgate. His long legs stretched for miles, hands hanging between his knees. He was wearing a black cowboy hat, a dark Henley, jeans, and boots.
Gray eyes assessed me, trailing up my body slowly, drinking me in. The five o’clock shadow that dusted his jaw couldn’t conceal the tension. My eyes snapped up to his.
