Page 94 of Hunting for her Heart
“I love you, Ronan,” I say, unable to hold the words back, even if I wanted to.
He kisses me again and smiles. “I love you too, Willow. What do you say? You ready to go home?” We look toward the island that now takes up the entire horizon and I nod.
“Yep, take me home.”
I expect us to veer toward the high peaks but instead the birds dip down toward the center of the island and the large sandy beach, where they finally land.
Ronan quickly slips off Valor’s back then reaches up and pulls me off. Immediately, he removes the saddle, thanks the bird, and it takes off, followed by Tilly and Sky as they head toward the peak in the South.
I glance up and down the beach and smile. “This looks nice.”
“It’s great for swimming,” Bo says as he comes over and gives me a hug and a kiss. Hawk does the same before they lead me down a small path that leads into the forest.
“How far is your village?” I ask after a few minutes.
“Not far,” Bo says from in front, sounding excited. “We’re almost there now.”
I start to hear a couple of voices in the distance, then the trees thin and small wooden structures start to come into view.
When we step out of the forest into a large clearing, my eyes move everywhere, unsure where to look. It’s definitely primitive compared to my old world, but the buildings made of wood look sturdy and well built.
There are half a dozen people meandering around, all who look at us in surprise. My hand in Ronan’s squeezes tightly with worry until the stranger's expressions turn excited and people start yelling out their names in greeting.
They say hello to a few people but don’t stop as they walk through what I suppose is their version of main street.
“Sorry, we must meet with Torran before we stop,” Ronan tells a few people who ask who I am. It makes me nervous that they aren’t introducing me, but I notice everyone who sees us starts to follow until we arrive at a large clearing where there are many more people around.
A slightly older man looks our way, his eyes widening before he turns to the two men beside him and says loudly, “Our sons have returned. Go get Miryam and tell the others.”
The two men run off as the man walks toward us, meeting us halfway across the clearing as he yanks Bo into a tight embrace that almost looks painful.
He laughs happily and pulls back, holding him by his shoulders as he looks him up and down as if assessing for damage. “You look good, son.” His eyes lift to meet Ronan’s then Hawk’s and he nods. “You all do. Tell me, are you all well?”
“Better than well,” Bo says and I can hear the happiness in his voice.
“So you were successful?” the man asks in hope.
“We should wait until the others arrive before we explain,” Ronan tells him. When he moves to look at Ronan, he catches sight of me and his eyes widen comically before his jaw drops open, making Bo laugh.
“Yeah, we have a lot to tell you, Dad.”
“I can see that,” the man says, staring at me and the way I’m clutching Ronan’s hand. I wrap myself around Ronan’s arm as he continues to stare, feeling the need to be closer to him. The man, who must be one of Bo’s dads, smiles, a huge grin covering his face.
“Where is he?” a woman yells from the side. I glance around Hawk and see an older woman practically running with three men surrounding her as she searches the street. When her eyes land on Bo, they widen. “My boy! You’re really here!” she exclaims, all but throwing herself on him.
“Hello, Mother.”
“I’ve been so worried. Are you okay? You look thin. Have you not been eating enough? I’ll cook your favorite meal for you tonight. Would you like some apple pie? What am I saying, of course you would!”
“Mother, calm yourself,” Bo chuckles, grabbing her arms as he tries to soothe her. “There is plenty of time for celebration. After all, we have plenty to celebrate.”
“We do?!” she asks excitedly.
“You found it then?” one of the men standing with her asks.
“Let me say hello to my other sons first,” Miryam says, ignoring the man who is probably one of her husbands as she steps around Bo to embrace Hawk. He hugs her back, a little awkwardly, before she opens her arms out to Ronan. She doesn’t even seem to notice me, still wrapped around one of his arms as he gives her a one-armed hug.
When she pulls back, she’s smiling at Ronan, then her gaze shifts to me.
