Page 67 of Mystery in the Mountains

She leaned back and let the fresh mountain air fill her lungs to the sound of the Indigo Girls with Asher’s hand on her thigh.

Perfect moments in life are few and far between, but this was one of them.

The truck slowed as they turned up the road to the mountain, and the magic enveloped her like a warm, shimmering hug.

“That feeling never gets old.”

“It sure doesn’t. Have you ever thought . . .” He focused on the road.

“Thought about what?”

“It’s probably dumb.” He chewed on his lip.

Sunny didn’t like it one bit.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, but maybe you could move up here? Like I said, it’s a dumb idea.”

“No, that’s not a dumb idea. I would love to live on the mountain . . . It’s just . . .”

“No, it’s fine. I totally get it,” he said as he pulled the truck to a stop in front of his and Abe’s workshop.

“Asher, stop.” She reached out and stopped him from opening his door. “I want to be here with you.”

He cocked his head and turned to her. “You do?”

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to live on this mountain. But?—”

Before she could even get the words out, he was turning to leave the truck again, but she wouldn’t let go of him.

“But,” she continued forcefully. “But I’m just worried that if I move up here, the coal company will get their hands on my land and will be one step closer to getting the mountain.”

Asher let those words sink in. “Yeah . . . you’re probably right. It was just a thought.”

“And a wonderful thought—I mean it. I would love to move up here, but let’s figure out the stuff with the coal company soon.”

“You’re right,” he said as she leaned over and kissed her.

Gravel crunched underfoot as she followed Asher into their workshop.

It was a large barn-looking metal building, but when they got inside, Asher’s artistic fingerprints were all over it.

It made her smile.

Two of the walls were huge murals. One was the mountain, and it was beautiful. The animals represented his family. The other wall was something else altogether. It was a field of sunflowers, but there was a trippy quality to it.

This was the style of Asher’s she loves. It was bright and colorful, with little pieces of their relationship all over it. It almost took her breath away.

“Asher,” she murmured. “This is beautiful.”

“Sunny!” a voice boomed behind her. “I should have known Asher wouldn’t leave you behind.”

Abe was making his way from the back, brushing his hands on his jeans.

“I’m here to work,” Sunny said in mock defense.

“Do you want to help me build a rabbit hutch?”

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