Page 57 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

Asher’s laughter mixed with hers as he said, “That is exactly what the cashier told me.”

Kelley sorted her flowers and asked, “Do you miss your day job?”

“I like what I do. But I have not minded this change of pace nearly as much as I thought I would.” Especially the part about getting to know Kelley. But it would all be coming to a close soon enough. Best to let the sharing stop here and now. “I guess that’s the most surprising thing. What about you? Any surprises in your day?”

“My mom and stepmom helped me prep for the rehearsal dinner this afternoon and they got along.” She smiled. “Thank you for letting me use your kitchen for that.”

“Anytime,” he said. “They weren’t bothered by the less than modern appliances?”

“My mom and stepmom both claimed they felt right at home and welcomed the blast from the past.” Kelley continued, “Mom even showed me a trick to get the light in the second oven to turn on.”

“That will come in handy,” he said.

“It was a good day for both of us,” she said softly.

And looking to be an even better evening. “We rode the pasture patrol trio to one of my mom’s favorite places this afternoon. She called it her own personal thinking spot.” It was on the opposite side of the property, far away from the stables and the constant buzz of activity. “I swear I heard my mom’s laugh mixed in with the rush of the water in the stream.”

“Was this before or after you jumped the stream?” she asked, her gaze bright.

“You should know it was my mom who taught me to jump,” he said wryly and reached for another handful of flowers. “She was the daredevil in the family and always up for an adventure.”

“So, she would have encouraged you today,” Kelley said, understanding in her words.

“She would have jumped first.” Asher smiled, welcoming the childhood memories. “Then she would have told me to lean in to my fear, go for it and trust it will work out.”

She nodded and bit into her bottom lip. “How did you know River Run, and you, for that matter, were ready to make that jump today?”

Some risks were easier to take. Leaps of the heart… Those were not so simple. And Asher did not make those lightly, if ever. He twisted a flower stem in his fingers. “River Run and I had an immediate bond. We’ve been learning about each other. Getting used to each other. The trust has been building.”

“Still, why today? Why not wait until tomorrow or next week even?” She brushed her hands together and searched his face. “Didn’t it feel too soon? Too rushed?”

“It felt right,” he said, simply.

Kelley pulled back and gaped at him. “Asher Blackwell, are you telling me that you jumped the river today because of afeeling?”

She did not have to make it sound so out of character. He had emotions; he just chose not to let them get the best of him. “Haven’t you ever followed a feeling?”

“Yes. I got married and opened a restaurant because of a feeling. Then lost both,” she stated flatly. “I think we can both agree feelings are not exactly reliable.”

Point taken. That was why he would not pursue whatever was building between them. Whenever he jumped into love, the landing was never clean. And he did not trust this time would be any different. Asher said, “You weren’t afraid to follow your heart. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I fell in love, and I followed my ex-husband,” she explained. “I went along with him not to simply get along, but because it was all supposed to be leading somewhere.”

“Where?” Asher lifted his leg and rested his arm on his knee.

“To a fulfilling life.” Kelley touched her finger lightly against the white petal of a flower. “The kind where work is challenging and frustrating and rewarding. Yet, it all fits because you are part of a team. You have a partner and life balance and a full heart.” She tossed the flower onto the growing pile and frowned. “My ex-husband sold me on that vision.”

“What’s the vision now?” Asher asked.

“Create it for myself.” She notched her chin higher.

“That’s probably for the best. It will save you disappointment.”

“What part don’t you like?” She shifted toward him and tipped her head to consider him. “The full heart or the work-life balance?”

He met her gaze and said softly, “I don’t like that your ex-husband let you down and hurt you.”

She pressed her lips together, then whispered a soft thank-you for that.