Page 87 of The Cowboy Who Came Home

They are, she said. Really. But my therapist thinks I think I can’t be loved. That even if Finn ever does tell me he loves me, I won’t believe it.

Her mother didn’t respond instantly, and Edith looked toward the hallway as she heard the bathroom door open. Finn’s bedroom sat right across the hall from it, so she didn’t see him before she heard another door close.

Why would he think that, Edith?

I don’t know, she said. Probably something I said, but I’m not sure why.

Do you think you’re lovable?

Edith paused again, but she really needed a break from all the heavy thinking. She tried to listen to her inner self. Her spirit. Her soul. She pressed her eyes closed and really felt like she saw herself for who she truly was.

Yes, she typed out just as Finn said, “All right. What do you want to watch tonight?”

She tucked her phone under her leg and watched him come around the back of the couch, pulling a T-shirt over his head as he did. She caught a glimpse of that broad chest and those ripped abs, her mouth going just a bit dry at the sight of them.

“I don’t care,” she said.

“You put the food away.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t sure if you wanted to eat right now or later.”

“Now, and later,” he said with a grin. But he didn’t get out the food. He came around the open end of the couch and crawled toward her, his smile bright and wide and full of pure white light. She hadn’t seem him like this in ages, and she giggled as he bear hugged her, toppling her back onto the cushy couch.

“Finn,” she giggled. He smelled like musky soap and minty toothpaste, and she had no complaints when he kissed her again. She kissed him back, and she definitely felt like she could be in love with him. He kissed her like he could love her too.

“Tell me about the ranch,” she said when he moved his mouth to her jaw and then down to her throat.

He pulled back, exhaled, and lay down facing her as she shifted to press her back against the couch. “It’s so great, baby.” He stroked her hair off her forehead with long, loving strokes, his voice soft and filled with emotion. “It’s the Bentley place. Do you know it?”

“Not really,” she said. “I know they live kind of across from Alex, right?”

“Right. It actually borders Three Rivers, and if I can get it, that means Daddy and I can share grazing land. I could have more cattle than my ranch could technically support, because I’d be able to use his land.” He sighed, and it was a happy, blissful sigh.

“I talked to Kevin a little bit today. He’s not sure how much he’ll list it for, but he’s using Jerry too. I’m gonna call him in the morning just to make sure I have all the bases covered.”

“Wow,” Edith said. “You’re serious about this.” She stroked her fingers down the side of his face, his beard soft and still a touch damp.

“If I can’t afford it,” he said. “I’m going to ask my daddy to help me. Because that ranch…it’s just perfect for me. It’s not a perfect ranch, but it’s a one-man operation, and I can do it, Edith. I just know I can do it.”

“I’m sure you can.” She smiled at him, at the softness his face held while he had his eyes closed, at the tan-ness of his skin that told everyone he worked outside a lot. She touched her mouth to his, glad when he pulled in a breath through his nose and kissed her back.

She maybe carried on a bit too long, and maybe she kissed him deeper than she intended to. But when he broke their kiss this time, and Edith tucked herself against his chest, she absolutely felt like she could be loved.

“It has a log cabin for a house,” he whispered. “And a cute red barn. Chicken coop, pig pen, and a little goat house with a paddock. I think you’d love it, and there’s room for your she-shed.”

She nodded, a special kind of warmth moving through her as he spoke about this ranch like they’d be living there and running it together. Now, she just had one more thing to weather, and maybe, just maybe she and Finn could truly be together.

“Finny?” she asked, her voice as quiet as his had been.

“Yeah?”

“I have—I go to the cemetery on the anniversary of Levi’s death every year,” she whispered. “I never let Alex or Aggie or anyone come with me, but this time…would you—I mean—would—could you come with me?”

He didn’t immediately blurt out that he would. He held her close and pressed those warm lips to her forehead. “I sure will,” he murmured. “When is it?”

She swallowed. “Less than a month now. September second.”

“Four years?” Finn asked gently.

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