Page 63 of Snowed In with the Rancher

“That’s true.”

“Only an idiot would think a couple of cracks and scratches means he’s broken and useless.”

“Well …”

“Only an idiot,” she confirmed. “Only an idiot would think that what we have is just a no-strings fling with zero feelings and that it could just be ended without anybody getting hurt. When in fact, I think both people got hurt more than they bargained for.”

“That’s true,” he breathed out.

“Only an idiot would think that he’s not fit to be a rancher when it’s so clearly in every fiber of his being, what he was meant to be. And he should indeed be responsible for other lives.”

He grunted.

She gripped his dog tags and tugged slightly to show him just how serious she was. “And only an idiot, would think that I’m not strong enough to stand at his side no matter what kind of shit life throws at him, no matter the triggers, the trauma, or the memories. You’ve got cracks, Asher, and maybe at one point you were broken, but you’re not broken now. When I look at you, I don’t see a broken man. I see a strong man with a story. And when you’re ready—if you’re ever ready—I’d like to hear that story so that I can better understand those cracks.”

“You live in Connecticut,” his voice was deep and hoarse and filled with emotion.

She nodded. “I do.”

“And I live in Colorado.”

“No, really?” She grinned at him.

He rolled his eyes but smiled. “How are we going to make this work?”

She shrugged. “We just do. We figure it out.”

“Would you move here? Leave your job, your clients, your life?”

“I’m not attached to Connecticut and the town I live in. I moved there because I got a job offer after I graduated from grad school. The money was good. But there will always be jobs for speech paths no matter where I go. I’m not concerned about finding work. Worst case scenario, I start up my own practice and freelance. I know lots of people who do it and they get to set their own hours and pick their clients.”

“We’ve been thinking about getting certified for therapeutic horse riding,” he said. “Would there be any way we could link the two?”

“Asher Harris, are you asking me to start a business with you?”

“I’m asking you to move here, be with me, and that I’ll support you in any way I can. If you want to start an entire therapy clinic here with speech paths, OTs, counselors, and therapists, I will make it happen. I will build you what you need and buy you the right horses for the job.”

Her eyes went wide. “You’ve known me for six days.”

Shoving his fingers into her hair, he held her head steady and pinned his gaze on her in that unwavering, solid way that had mesmerized her since the moment she met him. “And I’m ready to know you forever. It’ll take time to sort everything out, but think about it. I’m going to go to counseling to work on my PTSD, and I’ll get Nate to come with me to veteran’s meetings. Whatever it takes. I never want to say goodbye to you again.”

“Well, technically, you didn’t even say goodbye, you just told me to leave.”

“And I will never do that again.” He eyes softened. Beautiful, blue orbs with unfathomable depth that had seen more despair than any person ever should. And yet, hope and love still burned bright inside them. Hope for the future. A future with her. “I’m sorry for the things I said and for telling you to go. It was the idiot thoughts. I had a lot of time to think while I was dying in the snow and I realized I’ve never been this happy in my life and I don’t want this feeling to ever end.”

This time they were tears of joy that burned her eyes as she blinked at him. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time, either. But that’s a big step after only six days.”

“So we’ll wait until the spring, but don’t think this is the end of us, Triss, not by a fucking long shot.”

Laughing, she cupped his face and pressed her lips to his. “I’m game. I don’t want this feeling to end, either, so why should we let it?”

At that, he rolled on top of her, pinning her beneath his warm, solid frame. “Now, I’m sad but also happy, you’re sad but also happy, and I’m pretty sure I have a lot of apologizing to do … so …”

She tapped him on the head and he grinned when he knew she was doing a subtle head push. “Then get apologizing, cowboy.”

Epilogue

Two years later …

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