Page 81 of A Cowboy's Claim
“I’ll come,” Aiden offered.
In no time, the two of them were on horseback and headed out into the warm sunshine.
There was something medicinal about being out in nature. In doing nothing except stare at the horizon and sway easily in the saddle as Cobalt picked her way down the muddy trail.
Aiden too seemed thoughtful and far more quiet than usual.
“It’s been harder than I imagined.” Aiden finally said. “And yet so much more than I’d ever dreamed of. Being in the right place at the right time—it’s tough.”
“We always knew it would be.” Declan glanced at his brother. “Wouldn’t want to be doing this with anyone else though. You, Jake.”
“Petra. Tansy.” Aiden smiled. “Sydney.”
“Hopefully.” He met Aiden’s gaze straight on. “She’s got my number, and I meant it. If she needs to move, I’m going with her.”
“I know. It won’t come to that, though,” his brother assured him. He lifted his chin. “That was one of the things that Jeff taught us. Family sticks together. We’ll find a way to make things right for Sydney. We’ll deal with Logan’s bullshit. They’re family. We’re in this together.”
It was a bit of a benediction. Declan didn’t need to sayamen—it was already true. He stared into the pale blue sky and entertained himself thinking up ways to get Sydney to say that she loved him.
He’d already figured out that she did, but chasing the words could be fun.
It was intoxicatingto realize she’d become the target of a very large, very determined stalker. Or did it even count as stalking when Sydney secretly loved having Declan underfoot as often as possible?
She’d slept at his place, and he’d slept at hers. He’d made sure that she knew when he was headed to the Nagy farm to deal with the animals and help with the road, and he’d still made it home in time to bring her to High Water to enjoy supper and an evening by the fire.
He showed up at lunchtime at the clinic with enough food for the entire staff and a special carrot cake selection for Edison.
“I heard from someone that this is your favourite,” Declan offered in that soft, gruff manner that made Sydney’s heart ache. “Thank him for it, not me.”
Edison blew Declan an exaggerated kiss. “The delivery boy still gets a pat on the back. Thank you.”
“Welcome.” Declan raised a brow. “You’re invited to dinner at High Water anytime you’d like. You know that, right?”
“I know.” Edison cocked a hip and offered a flirty smile. “Just making sure Kevin doesn’t take me for granted. Sometimes a guy’s got to keep the mystery going in their relationship.”
Sydney walked Declan to the door, and he paused, glancing to make sure the waiting room was empty before pulling her into his arms. “I hope you coming over to dinner every night at High Water doesn’t mean we don’t have mystery in our relationship. Whatever that means.”
“It means you have a girlfriend who is happy to be fed on a regular basis,” Sydney assured him.
Even as he kissed her, she felt his smile against her lips.
Saturday morning after a lovely wake up, sunshine pouring in the window and highlighting the sheets, Sydney took her happily sated self over to the main ranch house. Declan held her hand as they walked, and despite the frustrations still weighing on them, Sydney didn’t think she’d ever been happier.
Inside the house they were greeted with a chorus of calls, including Jeffrey, who ran straight up to her and hugged her knees. “Auntie Syd, Daddy’s making pancakes!”
“Delicious news,” Sydney offered back.
Declan swept the tyke up in his arms. “Are they horse pancakes?”
Jeffrey’s eyes got wide. “Made of horses?”
Sydney laughed. “Have fun with this one.”
While Declan reassured Jeffrey that it was theshapethat counted, not the materials, Sydney slid up to the counter and got their coffees started. She caught herself watching him—this mountain of a man talking nonsense about pancakes—and wondered when he’d started to feel like home.
Distraction needed, stat.
She hip checked her friend when Petra entered the room. “Morning. You look far perkier this morning than last night.”
