Page 117 of Wilde Flame

Emeline smiled as Marshall came to a stop. She ran her hand over one and said, “These two are sisters. This is Altair. A fast, bright star in the Aquila constellation. And this beautiful girl is Cassiopeia, but Cass for short. A northern constellation.”

“Are they twins?” I asked, running my hand down Altair’s neck.

“They’re not twins. They’re three years apart. They came to us from a ranch in Utah. The owner passed away and his kids were selling the ranch. The moment I saw their names, I knew I had to have them. Marshall and Luke drove there last week to pick them up and bring them back.”

“Can’t wait to ride them. You’re sure she’s safe for Lilibeth?” Caden asked, eyeing Altair.

“I’ve ridden them both myself and can promise you, they’re gentle giants.”

Caden held his hands out for me to step on them and boost me into the saddle. Emeline was right, this horse was a sweet girl.

“We won’t be long,” Caden called as we headed out of the paddock and down a trail.

I rode behind him for most of the way and simply enjoyed the peace and quiet of the ranch. We took a path I hadn’t been on before, and I realized we were headed downhill. When we emerged from the trees, we were in a small valley.

“You’re not cold, are you?” Caden asked, glancing over at me as I rode up alongside him.

Smiling, I shook my head. “Not at all. Oh my gosh, this is gorgeous! I don’t think I’ve ever seen this part of the ranch.”

Before me was the most beautiful view I’d ever seen. It was a small meadow with an adorable frozen lake directly in front of us. Beyond the lake, trees led straight to the mountains. I could imagine how stunning the reflection of the mountains and sky would look on this lake when it wasn’t frozen.

“This is my favorite place on the ranch, after the spot where my parents got married. See that little dock right there?”

I followed where he was pointing. “Yes, I see it.”

“That’s where I caught my first fish with my grandfather. He was the one who brought me here for the first time. When I need to think, I come here.”

“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I can just imagine what it looks like in the summer. Is the lake completely frozen?”

“Oh yeah. It’s not that deep, but it’s fed from the mountains, and on the other side, it runs into the river. In the summer, it’s freezing cold. Emeline and Ensley learned how to ice skate on this little lake.”

I smiled as I took it in, then turned to look at him. He was staring out at the lake.

“Caden…why did you bring me here?”

He didn’t speak or even look at me for a few moments. Then he smiled and glanced down at the horse. “This place has always been my spot, and my spot alone. I’ve never been here with anyone…except, of course, for my family.”

My brows drew together in confusion. I wanted desperately to ask if Rachel had been here. I didn’t have to. It was as if Caden had read my mind.

Turning his gaze to mine, he said, “I never brought Rachel here. Not once. I wasn’t sure why,” he said with a shrug. “I guess I never wanted to share this place with her. At the time, I had a suspicion she wouldn’t appreciate it like I did. Now, looking back…I think I didn’t bring her here because I knew deep down that we weren’t going to last.”

I wasn’t entirely sure which emotion I was feeling, but my entire body warmed. “And why did you bring me here?”

“Honestly? I’m not sure of that, either. I just knew I had the deepest urge to show it to you. I think I knew you’d find it just as beautiful as I do.”

I bit my lip and looked back over the snow-covered field and lake. If you looked up “winter wonderland” in a dictionary, you’d see a picture of this spot. It was like a blanket of pure innocence. Untouched by everything except for Mother Nature herself.

“The sunlight hitting the snow makes it glow almost,” I said softly.

Before Caden could reply, movement caught both of our attention as a moose suddenly appeared from the tree line and made its way toward the lake.

“He won’t walk out on the ice, will he?” I whispered.

“No, he won’t,” Caden replied in a quiet voice. “Come on, let’s head on out.”

We carefully turned the horses and started to head back into the tree line. Right before we were swallowed up by pine trees, I turned and looked back at the moose. He was standing at the edge of the lake, looking directly at us. Before I faced forward again, I saw another moose walking out of the woods…with a calf following behind her. They were making their way toward the bull moose.

“Caden,” I whispered. “Look.”