Page 28 of Catching the Cowgirl

“I want to show you something.”

“Show me what? It’s my parents' land.” I love this side of the property. We don’t use it anymore. There are fields of wildflowers. Sometimes I’ll bring the horses out here to ride for the view alone, and then over to the pond.

“It’s not theirs anymore.” Luka says this as the SUV rolls to a stop right near the pond.

“What? They wouldn’t sell it.”

“You’re not wrong there.” Luka gets out.

“What?” I shout after him, unbuckling my seat belt. He opens the door for me. “What are you talking about?”

"I wanted to build a home for us here in Cottonwood. I’ve been searching for land, but your parents told me this is where you’d want a home.” He motions toward the field of sunflowers. “But like you said, they won’t sell it to me.” They would never sell it. They also wouldn’t want to take Luka’s money.

Luke pulls out a piece of paper from his back pocket. I take it from him and open it. My eyes scan over it. They signed the deed over to me. I don’t miss that my name is printed as June Graysen Woods.

“Luka?” When I glance up from the paper, I see Luka on one knee in front of me.

“I love you, kitten.” I hold my hand out as Luka slips the ring onto my finger. A beautiful teardrop diamond. It’s simple but breathtaking. “I didn’t know what love was before you. I didn't know that I could love in this capacity until I met you. I never want to be without you.”

“Like true love?” Through tears, I smile at him.

“You have taught me the most important lessons in life.”

“I am pretty smart.” I sniffle, making him chuckle.

“You’re brilliant.” He stands up, picking me up in the process. Then he sets me down on the SUV's hood, stepping between my thighs. “I want to raise a family here with you.” He runs his hand across my stomach.

“You know?” I don’t think my mom would have told him.

“You left a test behind.”

“Oops.” I might have done that. “Wait, is that why you’re here? The ring?”

“No.” He cuts me off before I can ramble on more and panic. “I had this ring before. I’m done with the project. They can finish without me.”

“But—”

“No buts, kitten. I’m where I want to be. That isn’t my life anymore. Wherever you are is where my life will always be.”

“I love you so much.” I sniffle again.

“I love you, and I want to spend every second showing you just how much, Mrs. Woods.” I smile, loving the sound of that.

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. That may be the case for some, but for me, being present and making memories with the ones you love is what life is all about.

EPILOGUE

LUKA

Many years later

“That’s so stupid.” Mabel scrunches her nose when she sees that her twin sister, Faye, has braided a ribbon into the horse's hair.

“It’s pretty.” Faye pulls out another ribbon. This one is pink. "I can put one in your hair, too." She doesn’t wait for her sister to give her a response.

Faye is already skipping over to Mabel, tying a bow to her ponytail. Mabel doesn’t fight her on this. They can be as different as night and day and cause each other considerable annoyance, but they are an inseparable pair. If you mess with one, you get the wrath of the other.

Mabel is a copy of her mother in terms of appearance, with her long, dark hair and wide eyes that catch everything. She’s fucking smart too. The girl was reading by the time she was three. Mabel always has her nose in a book and loves to cook.

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