Page 110 of Beautiful Exile

Pouringwater into makeshift troughs for the horses, my muscles screamed in protest. I was in damn good shape, but apparently not the sort of shape I needed for riding.

I set the jug down and attempted a stretch, even though my muscles were not pleased with me. As I fought through the discomfort, I really took in our surroundings. I’d been many places in my life, but I’d never seen one as beautiful as this.

It was a hidden gem, tucked away from prying eyes by a dip in the landscape. The spot was nestled between Castle Rock and the Monarch Mountains, and if I thought my new property had good views, it had nothing on this campsite.

It was as if both rock formations towered over us, trees bordering us on the north side, and meadows on the south. A creek that gathered in a little dip ran through the landscape, forming the world’s most perfect swimming hole. And the quiet…

It was a silence I’d never known before. Nothing but the sounds of the horses getting settled and the breeze rustling tree branches. Perfect.

But none of it was as perfect as the woman standing in the middle of our campsite, wind lifting mahogany strands of hair as she scratched Brutus’s ears. When she straightened, those tendrils swirled around her, creating their own work of art.

She moved toward the swimming hole, kicking off her boots as she went. I had no choice but to follow. It was as if she had woven some sort of spell around me. Arden sat, rolled up her jeans, and sank her feet into the water. She tipped her face up to the sun, the rays making the apples of her cheeks glow.

I couldn’t resist. I leaned over and pressed my mouth to hers. Arden’s eyes opened, taking me in as I kissed her, not missing a moment.

“Thank you for this,” I whispered against her lips.

Something passed over her face, but it was gone before I could pin it down.

“It’s my favorite place,” Arden said, turning her focus to the horizon.

I lowered myself to the bank of the swimming hole, then pulled off my own boots and slid my feet into the cold water. “I can see why.”

“Sometimes, I come for a week. Bring my sketchpad and load one of the horses with supplies.”

I tried not to think about Arden out here all alone or imagine all the things that could go wrong. “I bet you could create a lot of beauty out here.”

A small smile played on her lips. “It definitely fills my bucket. And Brutus loves it.”

I glanced over my shoulder to find Brutus passed out on one of the saddle blankets. He’d practically run the whole way here, so I could only imagine how tired he was.

A flicker of movement caught my eye. A dragonfly skimmed along the water and then floated up to rest on Arden’s knee. Soft wonder filled her expression as she took in the creature that was a riot of color: pink, blue, and teal. “Well, aren’t you beautiful?”

“In some cultures, they’re supposed to bring good luck,” I said quietly, not wanting to frighten it off. “That or be a sign of rebirth.”

Arden’s gaze flicked to me, emotion swirling there. “Rebirth.” Her focus moved back to the dragonfly still resting on her knee. “Feels like I’ve been working toward that forever.”

“Maybe she’s telling you that you’re already there.”

Arden watched as the dragonfly took flight again, dipping and rolling before taking off into the wilderness. “Maybe she is.” Her focus turned back to me, a smile playing on her lips. “This place really is magic.”

“It is.” I glanced around at the beauty engulfing us. “I wonder what trails I’ll have off my property. You know, I think you can see it from up here,” I said, turning and squinting into the distance.

“Really?” Arden turned, following my line of sight.

“See the creek that runs along the base of the mountains?”

“Damn, Cowboy. You got yourself a spot.”

I pulled out my phone and tapped my photos. I knew I wouldn’t have any service, but I’d already downloaded what I wanted to show her.

Arden leaned over and sucked in a breath. “Linc…”

“This is the first sketch of the exterior. Your brother has a gift.”

“He does.” Her gaze roamed the sketch, seeming to memorize every detail.

“Anything you’d do differently?” I knew I’d be lying to myself if I said I asked for any other reason than I hoped like hell Arden would be spending a lot of time there.

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