She laughed. “Is that even a thing?”
He looked up through his lashes. “I’ll make you a cape and everything.”
“Well, if there’s a cape, then I’m in.” She motioned to the dress she was wearing. “I’ve clearly learned never to say never.”
He lowered their joined hands, and peered up again, one eyebrow raised.
“Yes, yes, I accept,” she said, laughing, then paused when he settled back on his seat. “Wait, I forgot to ask. Where will this foundation be headquartered? Out west with Grant? Can you like, telecommute, or do your work from here? I mean, you wouldn’t really need to be on site for all of the—” She broke off, then deadpanned, “I’m already sucking at the ambassadress thing, aren’t I?”
He shook his head, even as he grinned. “No, not ever.”
“I’ll do better when I have a cape. I know it.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” he said, laughing. “Actually, though . . .” He gestured to the lake and land beyond. “This is the new home of Reed Planet. Grant talked with Bryan and the architect. They have to clear it with the town council, but they’re hoping to build the headquarters out here.”
“Like, here, here?”
“Yep, this very here right here. Bryan has his eye on a spot behind the lodge on the far side of the lake, so it doesn’t impede the view. It won’t be a big building, but we will need a conference room, and a few offices for core staff. We’ll likely have folks flying in from all over when we’re putting teams together for each project, so having the foundation near the lodge works out well.”
“I don’t see why the council wouldn’t approve. It can only mean more good things for Blue Hollow Falls.”
“I think so, too.”
She smiled at him. “So, I totally didn’t think this whole boat idea through, because I want to launch myself at you and kiss you and basically jump up and down for joy, but preferably without any drowning.”
Wyatt immediately picked up and positioned the oars and started rowing them to the dock in swift order.
“What about our picnic?” she said, holding her hat on her head as they cut across the smooth surface.
“I thought I was the drop-everything-and-go guy. You say it, I make it happen.”
Her smile was wry. “I can see I will have to be more specific about when I’m just wishing and when I really need you.”
He pulled up to the dock a few minutes later, then let her hand him up the basket and the rest, and finally helped her from the boat. Then he promptly picked her up and spun her around, right there on the dock.
“That’s more like it,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck as he set her feet back on the dock. “And who am I kidding?” she said, and tipped her face up to him. “I will always need you.”
Epilogue
“Does Vivi know yet?” Chey used the pitchfork to toss more hay into the stall, then turned to get another load.
Tory moved the wheelbarrow closer to the stall she was mucking out. “I don’t know. Bailey said she heard Addie Pearl on the phone with the mayor, talking about Grant wanting office space separate from the foundation offices, so what else could that mean?” She crossed her hands over the end of the rake handle and rested her chin on them. “Bailey’s quite certain he’s moving here full time and the ranch will become their vacation home.”
“One of his vacation homes,” Chey said. “And if Bailey thinks it’s happening, it’s a done deal as far as I’m concerned.” She laughed when Tory sighed.
“It’s all so romantic. All the good ones are officially taken,” Tory said.
Chey finished spreading the last of the hay and walked out of the stall. “I shouldn’t point this out to you, and I don’t want to get your hopes up, but the four of us were single when we moved out here two years ago. To the middle of nowhere. Leaving mankind and, basically, men, behind. Or so we thought.” She laughed. “People pair up so fast up here, it would make your head spin.” She snapped her fingers. “Maybe the new lodge should use that as part of their brochure. ‘Blue Hollow Falls is for lovers,’” she said, marking each word overhead with her hand.
Tory covered her ears. “Why would you tell me that? You’ve jinxed me for life now.”
“I’m just sayin’ is all I’m sayin’,” Chey drawled. “You’ll see.”
Tory groaned. “Doomed, I tell you.” Then she smiled sweetly. “That’s okay. When I’m old and have adopted all the barn cats, I’ll just move into the spare room with you and Wyatt.” She batted her eyelashes. “It’s the least you can do for this poor old maid.”
“Careful,” Chey said on a laugh. “I’ll get Avery to start making charts for you.”
Tory laughed. “Hey, I don’t knock her charts. She’s got a whole system set up for me now with the classes and field duties.” She finished her stall and rolled the wheelbarrow to the wide double doors that opened off the rear of the stables. “Did Bailey tell you we’re putting up barrels this week? I swear that child is like a duck to a pond with anything she puts her mind to. If it wasn’t so amazing to watch, it would be frightening.”
“Oh, it’s both of those things. And yes, she told me. I’m happy she’s learning.” She grinned. “And happier still that you’re the one teaching her.”
“I don’t mind,” Tory said. “It’s like the best of the good old days.”
“Speaking of good old days,” cut in a deep voice from the other side of the stables. Wyatt came strolling in and walked over to give Chey a quick kiss. “You ready?”
“I am,” she said, with a smile. “How about you?”
He lifted his hand. “I brought two apples. Granny Smith. Used to be his favorite. Thought that might help.”
Chey put her hand on his arm. “He’s not going to need any help. Now that he’ll get to keep seeing you, this is going to be the most wonderful reunion ever.”
“You sure he’s not going to associate me with what happened to him? I mean, he probably thinks I abandoned him. I did abandon him. I just didn’t know it.”
Chey took his hand. “Stop stalling.” They waved their good-byes to Tory, who had gone back to mucking out stalls, and walked out the rear double, then headed toward the fence that ran along the back field.
When they got close, Chey stopped and leaned on the railing. She didn’t look at Wyatt. She knew he had a tumult of feelings about this and gave him the time to work it out on his own.
Wyatt palmed the apple. Then he walked to the fence and looked out across the field, to the gelding grazing there.
Maybe it was the wind, carrying Wyatt’s scent, but Buttercup lifted his head, scented the air, then snorted.
Wyatt whistled, the whistle he’d always used for his horse. Just for his horse. It came out a bit weak and strangled the first time. Chey had a lump in her throat the size of that apple already, so she was surprised he could whistle at all.
Wyatt cleared his throat, then tried again. It was clear and pure this time, and Buttercup immediately turned his head. And without taking so much as a second, he immediately trotted toward the fence, toward Wyatt, his ears forward and, Chey swore, a skip in the old boy’s step she hadn’t seen once in all the time he’d been at the farm.