Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too.”
“Stop being so stubborn, old man.”
“I will when you will.”
I feel a little better when I drive off of the ranch and then head for Holden. But nothing with my father is resolved. I don’t know what to do or say to get him to talk to me about why he’s so against my marriage to Holden. I know he hates Holden’s father, but my husband never did anything to him. As far as I know, they’ve never said three words to each other.
Loving people is complicated.
I’m out of sorts when I drive up to Holden’s barn on his ranch. The property looks so much different than it did that first time I ever drove out here. And it feels like a weight has been lifted, from the land itself and from the man who owns it.
My husband saunters out of the barn door, his eyebrows climbing when I get out of the car.
“How did that go?”
I take a long, deep breath. “He’s so fucking stubborn.”
“I’m sorry.” He doesn’t stop walking until his chest is flush against mine, and his arms wrap around me in a tight hug. “I’m so sorry, Rosie.”
“Yeah, well. I’m stubborn, too, and he’ll snap out of it eventually. I need to go for a ride on Betty.”
He leans back and frowns down at me. “I’ll go with you.”
“It’s okay.” I shake my head, and when he tightens, mistaking my mood for pushing him away, I frame his face in my hands. “I just need an hour by myself with my horse, husband. It’s nothing personal.”
He exhales and tips his forehead to mine. “I don’t like it.”
“Nothing can hurt me here, remember? That’s all gone. This doesn’t even look like the same place, and it definitely doesn’t feel like it did. I’m safe.”
Holden’s serious blue eyes roam my face until, finally, he nods once. “Okay.”
With a grin, I boost onto my toes and kiss him on the lips. “I won’t be too long.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and shoot a text to Remington.
Me: Hey, FYI, I’m going for a ride and will probably cross from Lex to Wild property. It’s just me. Don’t have one of the cronies shoot me.
I smirk and push the phone back into my jeans as Holden lifts a brow.
“I had to let Rem know that I’ll be roaming around.”
Side by side, we walk into the barn, and I take my time saddling up my girl. I love the entire riding experience, including the prep and the cleanup when we’re finished.
It soothes me, being near Betty. She’s been my horse since my sixteenth birthday. We’ve grown up together.
“Has she been happy out here?” I ask, sensing both Holden and Levi not too far away. “I should come check on her more often.”
“She’s settled in well,” Levi assures me. “No issues with the other horses.”
“She’s a social girl.” I kiss her nose, and she nudges my shoulder in return. “Any bear sightings lately?”
“No, ma’am,” Levi replies, and I turn to see why Holden hasn’t said anything. He’s just staring at me, his arms crossed over his chest, those eyes hot and narrowed as he watches my hands move over my horse. “No bear in a couple of weeks. There was a mountain lion a few days ago on the south perimeter.”
I frown. “Mama?”
“We didn’t see any cubs,” Levi returns. “You know your shit, Mrs. Lexington.”
“This is in my blood, Levi. Of course, I know my shit. I have bear spray, but I don’t have a rifle. Do I need one?”
“No.” This is from Holden now, and he crosses to me and kisses the top of my head. “Nothing’s going to hurt you, little rose.”
I smile softly. “Okay.”
“There’s no cell coverage on the east border,” he continues softly. “Stay away from there, just in case. I want you to be able to call me at all times.”
I nod and then frown. “Wait, your east border is the Wild west border, and I planned to wander between properties.”
“Do it towards the north side, and you should be okay. That blind spot worries me, and we need to put a tower over there.”
“If you stay north of the creek,” Levi adds, “you’ll be golden.”
I nod and swing up on my girl, rubbing her neck as we settle. “North of the creek. Got it.”
Holden’s big hand rubs up my thigh and then over and down Betty’s flank.
“Be careful, wife.”
I nod and then urge Betty out of the barn. Once we’re in the warm spring sunshine, we take off in a gallop, headed for the north side of the property through the trees.
CHAPTER TWENTY
HOLDEN
“Boss, I’m going to say something, and I don’t want you to cut my dick off for it.”
My eyes don’t leave my wife as she rides through the pasture toward the tree line. “Say you think my wife is sexy, and you’ll not only be fired, I’ll take your fucking eyes out.”