Page 10 of In Love with a Ranger

“On that note, I think I’ll go check to see how the cows like Duran Duran playing in the background,” she said, getting up quickly and curious at Daphne’s reaction. The woman looked extremely wary at the idea of sharing a cabin with someone – and she wasn’t sure why. Both Houghton and Jill seemed to be very kind, very loving people, and her cousin thought highly of the two of them. The last thing that she expected was for the duo to willingly throw everything in upheaval or disrupt the peaceful balance they had built here over time. That wasn’t the natural order of things, and both seemed very protective of who they took under their wing. Yeah, things were going to be just fine, and like Jill always said, “Friendship, trust, and understanding… remember that, girls.”

“It’s gonna be fine,” she said to Daphne once more before walking out the back door of the main cabin toward the barn, where it was starting to snow lightly. The mountains in the distance looked larger than life, with small bits of greenery that looked almost black in the darkening shadows while the tops glowed a pale pink, reflecting the sunset.

Oh yes, it has to be fine, Christina thought, tugging her gloves on as she walked. It has to be because I’m really starting to love this place.

4

* * *

GIDEON

I hate this place. It’s so empty here, Gideon thought and looked at his brother-in-law warily. “Are you sure about this, Austin? Giselle said that ‘I would fit right in and find my forever’?”

“Maaaaan… I’m a dude, and I do not deal in ‘forevers’ unless it’s your sister,” Austin grinned, looking over his shoulder at him as the plane taxied to a stop. “You know those are her words and not mine – and Giselle seemed pretty sure that you needed this escape in more ways than one.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You sure are grumpy,” Austin laughed. “She said, in no uncertain terms – and I quote, ‘If Gideon can get the stick outta his butt, relax, be open to new things, and give people a chance – he’s going to love this place, and his forever is waiting to begin’… now, does that sound like your sister or what?”

“Yup. Fairy tales, fables, and her head up in the clouds.”

“It’s where I found her,” Austin smiled easily and nodded. “Give something new a chance, brother. I know things are tough right now, but it’s almost like when you can’t handle anymore – the Big Man Upstairs steps in to say ‘Here, let me help you’… and I fully believe that.”

“That happened to you?” Gideon asked and then would have liked to kick himself, except his entire leg was in a cast. “Or are you preaching at me?”

“It happened to me – and I can’t imagine going back to how it was before. You’ll be fine, Gideon and ya’ gotta get outta the plane.” His sister’s husband grinned at him again before winking playfully and cutting the engines. “Let me help you.”

“I can get it.”

“Sure, you can…”

“You’re annoying.”

“And family,” Austin quipped, laughing. “Say what you want. I’ll still see you at the next Big Beck Bonanza.”

“You big dork,” Gideon chuckled, shaking his head as the door to the plane opened a moment later to let him out. “My parents do not call family gatherings that.”

“But they should.”

“No, they shouldn’t.”

“I’m gonna get T-shirts made,” Austin countered, chuckling.

“I’m not wearing one.”

“Where’s my marker? I should write that on your cast.”

“You better get away from my cast, or my sister will be a widow.”

“Temper, temper, Sir-Hops-A lot.”

“Oh my gosh…” Gideon muttered under his breath, getting frustrated as he had to hop slightly on his rear end, scooting toward the end of the bench seat to exit the plane slowly. Yeah, he was a little protective about the cast and the sore limb housed inside. He was finally off of every medication and feeling every stitch, every sore spot, every chafed area, and every single wound. Everything ached at this point – including his eyebrows, it seemed. He wanted some Tylenol or something and a bed.

“Your chariot awaits you, brother,” Austin began, causing him to look up at the cargo van in the distance where a man was standing beside it, with his arms crossed, waiting.

“Some chariot…”

“Don’t you know, Prince Charming always rides to his new castle with a magical chariot to start his Happily Ever After,” Austin mocked, chuckling.

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