Page 102 of A Rancher's Vow
“Nice and relaxing, thanks.” She rolled over him and kissed him firmly before whispering an order. “Now, no nookie—I can’t with my sister within hearing distance.”
“You’re the one who rolled of top of me,” he protested, tracing his fingertips along her ribs until she giggled then outright laughed.
“Hey. No fooling around where I can hear you,” Chelsea shouted from the other side of the wall. “Lordy, girl. Behave.”
“Sorry.” Charity grinned at him then kissed his nose and rolled to the side, cuddling in tight.
With a short way to go and very novice riders, Dustin was in no hurry the next morning. Which meant lazing in bed with Charity was followed by a leisurely breakfast with more bacon than he should have consumed.
They were saddled up and on the trail by ten a.m. After helping them load up, Shim waved them off. Kelli and Luke both stopped what they were doing in the nearest arena to offer cheers and encouragement.
“Make Dustin do all the chores, okay?” Luke shouted after them.
Charity lifted a thumbs-up. Everyone laughed as Dustin raised a hand as well, his middle finger on display instead of his thumb.
He guided them slowly but surely away from the ranch along the well-worn path toward the waterfall before switching to a smaller, more secretive route.
Charity was riding well. Suz sat bolt upright but safely on her horse.
Chelsea seemed a little more nervous, so he casually slipped beside her. Rocking gently in the saddle, he eased back and sighed happily. “Gorgeous day for a ride.
“It is.” She glanced at him. “I’m doing okay.”
“You’re doing great. Samson is a very reliable horse. He’s also fat and lazy. If you want him to go faster than we are now, you’ll have to work your ass off to make him pick up the pace.”
She visibly relaxed. “I’m now more okay than I was.”
He laughed. “Good. You really are doing great, Cee. Suz as well.”
A moment passed, then she spoke. Statement, not question. “Your brother didn’t blink yesterday when Suz was introduced as my wife.”
Dustin paused. “Um, no. We knew you were married. Charity talks about you guys all the time.”
“I’m glad.” Chelsea’s grin widened. “Let’s talk about my sister. You should tell me all about how wonderful you think she is.”
The razzing was as familiar as if Luke were there. “You want that list in alphabetical order?”
Chelsea laughed. “That would be a neat trick.” She eyed Dustin then nodded. “I like how you look at her.”
“She’s become important to me,” Dustin admitted. He didn’t want to go further, though. Figured Charity should be the one he admitted his feelings to for the first time. When it was appropriate and she wasn’t about to run away screaming.
Chelsea nodded slowly, as if hearing what he wasn’t saying. “You’ve got to understand that when Charity stands with you, she’s all in.”
“I’m realizing that. She’s been amazing. Throughout the entire social media circus, she just took it all in stride, which is even more amazing considering your upbringing. Even the home invasion—I mean, she was upset, but after the shock wore off, she’s just kept going.”
“That she does. We have our grandma to thank for that. Lily Dachice stepped up and became the supportive, rock-solid person we needed. She made up for a lot of the things we didn’t get from our parents when things fell apart.”
“Charity told me about the whole disaster. It sucks that you guys had to deal with all of that. The childhood in the spotlight and losing your family after.”
Chelsea considered him. “Sucks that you lost your parents when you were so young.”
He shook his head. “Yeah, thanks. But one thing I’ve been taught over the years bymyfamily is that life is not a comparison game. You don’t have to turn us talking about your bad shit into talking about what I dealt with. I’m not thinking about me right now, I’m thinking about you guys. I’m glad you had each other and your Grandma Lily. I wish I could have met her.”
Those so very watchful eyes were on him again. “I think she would have liked you.”
“A high compliment. Thanks.” The offered acceptance started a warm glow in his gut. He turned the conversation in a new direction, pointing to the north. The small clearing tucked beside the creek that flowed out of the lake at the base of the Heart Falls cascade was just visible ahead of them. “There’s our campsite.”
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