Page 127 of Finding Peace
“Own—you—wait—what?”
“We want you to own the ranch. With us.” The corners of Lincoln’s lips twitch as he repeats his requests as simply as possible.
My mouth drops open so wide I’m surprised my chin doesn’t put another dent in the table.
“Not that it matters,” Jas adds, scratching the back of his neck, “but Chris and Billie are fully on board too.”
My head shakes automatically. “No. I can’t. This is—it’s too much. I-I don’t—I could never ask you guys to—”
“It’s not too much,” Lawson interrupts gently. His voice is firm in that calm and steady way he knows will get me to recenter myself. “This ranch has been in our family since our grandparents bought it. We want it to still be here long after we’re gone. Which is why we’re fighting so hard to keep it.”
A quiet look passes between the four of them.
“You are part of that now, Abigail. And so is this baby.”
Emotion clogs my throat as he gestures softly around us.
Beau reaches across the table and brushes his fingers gently against mine. “This place has a way of finding the people who need it most. Of pulling them in and giving them a family when they thought they’d never have one again.” His thumb drags slowly over my knuckles. “It knows who belongs here. Who will take care of it the way it deserves. And you, my sweet girl, were always meant to belong to it.”
“You’re our home now, Abbie Girl.” Jasper’s emerald eyes shine bright as he looks at me. “We found one in you. Let us give one back to you in return.”
For a moment, I can’t speak. Looking down at the folder, I find my name is typed neatly across the top page, and behindit are legal documents, ownership agreements, land percentages. “You guys are serious,” I whisper.
Beau scoffs. “Abbie, I think I can confidently speak for all of us when I say that we would give you this entire ranch if you asked for it. So owning itwithyou… a no-brainer, Darlin’.”
Linc nods in agreement. “If you want it, all you have to do is sign. Everything’s already ready to go.”
My finger hovers over the pen sitting on top of the pile of paperwork.
I look around the table one more time.
At four men who had a life before I got here. One that was everything they wanted it to be. One that, from the outside, looked like it had no room for a woman like me. And yet—they made room for me anyway.No.They didn’t just make room. They put me at the center of it and made room for everything else.
“You’re really sure?” I ask softly.
Four voices answer at once. “Absolutely.”
Permanence.
It was something I wasn’t sure I’d ever have.
And here I’ve found it with them.
I’ve found a home.
I pick up the pen, my hand trembling just slightly as I sign my new name across the dotted line.
Abigail Adams.
I say a silent thank you to the woman I once was. The woman that was brave enough to run. To fight. To be free.
Anya Akimov was who I once was. But Abigail Adams was who I was always meant to be.
The second the pen leaves the paper, I look up to find four huge smiles greeting me.
Lawson leans closer, pride shining in his eyes. “Congratulations, Abigail Adams. You are now co-owner of Willow Creek Ranch.
Chapter thirty-six
