Page 98 of Heart & Hope

Rules, who?

We wash up and dry off. Reed smells divine once again as he pads his way to an oversized enamel bowl and jug. I sit by the small table as he shaves with a single-blade razor. Like something you would find in an old western. Minutes later, he is clean-shaven and dressed, and we head from the tent to find the others.

Mack strides over, grinning like the cat who got the cream. “Rubes! Nice surprise.”

“Hey, Mack. How was your week?”

“Oh, you know, same as everyone else’s. Slow, cold, and tiring.”

“Aren’t soldiers supposed to be tough?”

He chuckles. “Something like that, little lady. Be seein’ ya.” He slips through the tent flap, pulling off his hat. Louisa sure hasdrilled the manners into these four boys. Reed hugs me into his side as we approach Harry and Lou.

“Come to make sure your client is in one piece, darlin’?” Harry says with a wink.

“Actually, I was wanting to help, if I can.”

Reed rubs his thumb over the back of my hand before letting me go and moving to help his mom.

“The easy part’s done, but you can help Louisa. Catering to this bunch is the hardest task, especially after the last seven days we’ve had.” Harry folds his arms, eyes tracking his wife.

“What happened? I mean, apart from that last bit.”

“Had a few run-ins with some wolves. Same pack, too. They get more brazen every year.”

“That’s why you carry the rifles?”

“Sure is. Every beast counts. But I don’t need to explain bottom lines to you.”

“No, business is pretty standard, no matter what industry. And it’s always hard to make ends meet.”

“You got that right, darlin’.”

“We will make this holiday ranch a success, Harry, I promise you.”

He turns, locking his gaze with mine. His mouth tips up in a smile. “I know you will.”

He walks off, heading toward Louisa. With orders to help her, I follow. His words replay in my mind. Was that a compliment from Harry Rawlins? Hope the devil’s still got his snow boots, because he’s gonna need them with hell freezing over and all.

The last of the soft furnishings for the cabins were delivered to the house yesterday. I stand in the living room by the fire, doing a last-minute inventory check before Reed is back to help me deck out all three of the new structures. Hudson and Mack are busy converting the largest barn into something we can use as a function room, with a dance floor, bar, and small catering kitchen included.

I’m beyond excited for this opening. I’ve shattered the Ruby Robbins Rule List, and so far, nothing dire has unfolded.

Give it time.

I keep telling myself this is a test, to discover how life works without the rules. Maybe I have been too rigid for too long. Have I missed opportunities and people that could have enriched my life if I hadn’t been so stuck on six arbitrary rules?

I guess I’ll never know.

The front door opens to a grinning Reed. The space between us collapses the instant his gaze finds mine, and he scoops me up, planting me on his waist.

I waste no time smashing my mouth to his. Every day we are closer to the opening for R & R Ranch.

Every day is a day closer to me going back to the city.

His hands wander through my hair as my fingers tangle in his shirt. I bite his lower lip and he groans, pushing my back against the wall by the stairs.

Each day that creeps closer to my final two events in Montana, the air thins a little more. I devour Reed at every chance I have, like he’s my oxygen and I’m starving for it.

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