Page 42 of Cozy Cabin for Two
Later that night, after Ro slept, he bundled me up and took me out to where he’d built two snow people and a snow child. The female had a diamond ring hanging from her twig arm. He took a knee, but I said yes and plowed into him with kisses before he could even ask.
I spent the rest of the winter planning our wedding, and just last week, we got married at the First Church of Forest Grove, with a celebration party afterward at the Sapphire Saloon. Daisy and Ivy were my bridesmaids. Colt and Knox stood by Ash. Our first song we danced to was the same one we heard long ago when we first kissed at the lake. Ash had a special song dedicated to Ro and danced with her, too. The day was everything I could have ever wanted and the start of our new beginning.
Wedding done, now we had this wonderful trip together to look forward to.
Ash picked Ro up and gave her a hug and tickledher, too. “Don’t you worry, little miss. I’ll get your mom to California and back safe and sound.”
He put her down and gave a final order to Knox with a knowing glance. “I'm counting on you to take good care of this place while I’m gone.”
“I've got it under control, Boss. Besides, I have a great team with me, too,” Knox sidled up to Daisy and put his arm around her shoulder. Surprisingly, she didn’t shake him off. In fact, she kind of blushed.
Colt and Ivy stepped up next to them, with Ro getting in between them all. Ivy swore she and Colt were just friends, but at the Sapphire during our wedding reception, Ivy had walked right up to Colt and kissed him. I didn’t know if that was for show after her ex walked in, or what, and I’d been too busy with my new husband to ask her about it.
No time to ask now, either, as Ash checked our suitcases were secure in back one last time for the trip ahead. We planned the whole thing together, starting with a drive across Washington to hit the coast. From there, we’d take our time, stopping at little beach towns along the way south to California. We’d rent a trailer and pick up the things Ro and I had stashed in storage, then drive back home to Montana.
I hoped we’d even call on our fathers while there, and also stop by the cemetery where Scott and hismother had been buried. But we left that part of the trip open and would wait and see how we felt about it, if for nothing else it would help to lay the past to rest at last.
“Ready, wife?” Ash held open the passenger door of his new blue truck and helped me in. He always insisted on buckling me in, too. It was a habit we had developed after that night last fall when the fugitive forced me inside the old truck. This was a way for Ash to assure me he’d keep me safe, and I let him.
I blew my girl kisses and waved out the window as we left, and tried not to cry. A new feeling came over me—like leaving home, which Montana had become, and the people on the ranch like family. Ro and I were so lucky.
Every single day, I grew more and more thankful that I took a chance and got on that bus with my daughter. I left everything we knew behind and took a leap of faith that I’d find love in Ash’s arms. The diamond ring on my left hand proved I did.
“I love you, Ash.” I leaned my head on his shoulder, looking out at the scenery, vowing never to take a day with him for granted.
“I love you, too, bright eyes. And when I say I love you, I mean forever.” He kissed the top of my head.
This gorgeous mountain man was my past,present, and future. I couldn’t be prouder of him and how far he’d come. Maybe I had to force him to face the things he needed to at first when I arrived here, like he told me, ‘You came to Montana and kicked my ass into high gear.’ Exactly what he needed.
I didn’t give up on him, and it paid off. I rescued him, but he also rescued me. Now the future was all ours. We couldn’t have picked a more suitable setting for it thanthe Off-Duty Rescue Ranch.
