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Her beautiful, pure, courageous heart.
How the fuck did I miss that?
I don’t miss things. On a ranch, missing things means a horse gets sick. People get hurt. Crops die. You lose an entire working day because you fucked up.
I plan to rectify that fast.
Seated at my kitchen table, Ruby’s laptop in front of me, I research my questions about SVT to fill in the blanks. Everything I’ve learned about her heart in the last week isn’t enough. I have to do more. Stock the ranch with heart-healthy foods. Order a top-rated heart tracker. Find her the best doctor so she can get a real checkup. If anyone smokes around her, they’re a dead man. Most importantly, no fucking stress.
I wouldn’t be the man she deserves if I didn’t do everything in my power to learn about her condition. Not to fix her. To be there when she needs it. To protect her.
I click on an article and read.
I read another.
The heart will suddenly start racing, then stop racing or slow down abruptly. Episodes can last for seconds, minutes, hours.
A muscle pulses in my jaw. It explains so much about this summer. The racing of her heart. Her fainting spells. Her small sips of coffee, of alcohol. Everything about it terrifies me. It haunts me that every beat of her heart is tentative.
But even as worried as I am, I am in this. Walking away from this sweet, kind, fearless woman will never happen.
Even now, the memory stings. I hate she thought I’d reject her. That I’d give her up. That I could do anything but love her when she is the only thing I’ve ever wanted.
She’s continuously putting me on my ass.
For ten years, I walked around this world in a daze, breathing the same stale air when Ruby was gasping for it. And what did I do with my life? Drank it away, brooded while Ruby fought for hers.
My girl’s a goddamn force. Strong as hell. As worried and as pissed as I was, I’m also in awe. Ruby didn’t let fear stop her from living.
My gaze ticks to the screen door. The sky is dark with clouds, signaling thunderstorms are on the horizon. The empty ranch is silent except for the faraway clash of thunder.
I check the time on the kitchen clock. It’ll be evening soon.
Ruby left an hour ago to feed Winslow, and her absence has me desperate to see her. Worry lances through me. Worry that she fainted. That I’m not there.
I drag a hand down my beard, shaking off the grim thoughts that have taken root.
It’s something I have to work on.
Before my thoughts can get away from me, the screen door clatters open and Ruby stands in the doorway, her lips parted and a flower crown on her head.
I straighten in my chair, the tension immediately leaving my shoulders at the sight of her.
“Hey, Cowboy,” she breathes.
My lips curve. “Hey, Sunflower.”
She kicks off her shoes, wind-blown hair falling around her shoulders. The hem of her pink sundress flips up, fluttering around her thighs and highlighting her long, lean legs.
“I thought you’d be out on the ranch,” she says. The scent of sunshine and pine follow her in.
“Took the day off,” I rumble, reaching for her.
“Another day off?” She laughs and arches a brow. “Your brothers will think I’m a bad influence.”
With a growl, I catch her around the waist and tug her onto my lap. Press a kiss to her lips. “The best bad influence around.”
I told my brothers about Ruby’s condition. Instead of voicing their doubt or trying to change my mind, they understood. As always, they had my back.
