Page 19 of Rugged Mountain Man
“Sadie, grab that towel,” Cole says, nodding toward the supplies Tom has brought in. I move quickly, handing it to him, and he flashes me a quick smile before focusing back on Clover.
Time blurs as the labour progresses. It’s messy and intense, and my heart pounds with every contraction that wracks Clover’s body. I feel useless at first, but Cole guides me, tellingme what to do, and I find myself completely immersed in the moment.
When the foal finally slips into the world, wet and glistening, a wave of emotion crashes over me. Cole works quickly, clearing the foal’s airways and rubbing it down with the towel, his movements efficient but gentle. Clover lifts her head, nickering softly as her baby lets out its first tiny cry.
I’m crying before I realize it, the sight too raw and beautiful to contain. Cole glances at me, his face shining with sweat and something deeper—pride, relief, love.
“You okay?” he asks, his voice low.
I nod, wiping at my cheeks. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“It’s life,” he says simply. “Messy, beautiful, and worth every damn second.”
As Clover nuzzles her foal, the realization slams into me like a freight train. This isn’t just beautiful—it’s everything. It's not just beautiful—it's grounding. Anchoring. Like the earth beneath my feet has finally found its proper weight.
I glance at Cole, who’s watching mother and baby with that steady, quiet pride. His broad shoulders are streaked with sweat and dirt, his face worn but glowing with a kind of peace I’ve never known. It’s in this moment, with the smell of hay and new life in the air, that the lightbulb goes off in my head, blinding and brilliant.
I can’t leave. Not even for a day, a week, or however long it would take to tie up loose ends in the city. The idea of walking away from this—of walking away from him—makes my chest ache with a desperation that feels like grief. Why should I go back and be dead for a few months. What would I even be goingback to? Late nights and empty rooms? Hollow successes that don’t fill the void inside me?
Here, life is messy and complicated, but it’s full. Real. I’ve never felt more alive, more connected. And I’ve never been more certain of what I want.
I want him. This life. This barn filled with warmth and sweat and hope. I want every second of it. Forever. And I don’t want to waste another minute.
Cole turns to me, his eyes softening as they meet mine. “Sadie,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough. “You’re crying again.”
“I just realized something,” I whisper, wiping at my cheeks. “I’m not going back. Not even for a little while.”
His brow furrows, confusion flickering in his gaze. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’m staying here,” I say, the words tumbling out like a confession. “With you. For good. No city, no loose ends. Just… this.” My eyes flick to Clover and her foal, then back to him. “Just us.”
The worry in his face melts, replaced by something deep and raw that makes my heart stumble. Without a word, he pulls me into his arms, holding me so tightly I can feel the wild rhythm of his heart matching mine. His lips find my temple, his breath warm as he whispers, “You don’t know what you’ve just given me, Sadie.”
“I think I do,” I murmur, my voice shaky but sure. “Because you’ve given me the same thing.”
Back at the cabin, I pick up my phone and call my boss. It’s the final thread tying me to the city, and it’s time to cut it.
“Sadie,” she answers, her tone clipped. “I assume you’re calling about your return.”
“I’m not coming back,” I say, the words steady and sure.
There’s a beat of silence, and then she scoffs. “Not coming back? You realize the position you’re in, don’t you? This could—”
“Could what?” I interrupt, my voice sharp. “Do you know how miserable I’ve been, working for you, in that place? You’ve never valued me, and frankly, I’m done trying to prove my worth to someone who doesn’t care. I’m done.”
She sputters, but I don’t wait for a response. I end the call and set the phone down, my hands shaking slightly.
Cole is watching me from across the room, a slow grin spreading over his face. As soon as I hang up, I feel like I’ve shed a thousand pounds of baggage. The city, my boss, the job that sucked the soul right out of me—it’s all gone. For the first time, I feel like I can breathe again. Like I can live again.
I turn to Cole, who’s leaning against the counter, watching me with that lopsided grin that always makes my heart skip. His arms are crossed, but there’s a softness in his eyes that I’ve only seen a few times. It’s a look that makes me want to run straight into him.
And I do.
I leap into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist as I bury my face in his neck. His laugh rumbles through his chest as he catches me easily, his strong hands holding me close.
“All mine, and you are never leaving me. Ever.”
I pull back, just enough to look him in the eyes. “I guess I’m your permanent stable hand now.”
