Page 31 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

Maxwell backed up a step. That was an impulse that couldn’t be acted upon. Not yet, not without careful forethought. Making sure he was ready for some sort of commitment.

Making sure she was.

He held her gaze. “I never met anyone I wanted to get to know in that way. Until now.”

Her blue eyes widened. “Me?”

“You.” Maxwell nodded. “I asked you at the reunion if we could get to know each other. That wasn’t a casual line I’d toss out to just anyone. In fact, I had never used it before.”

Eryn shook her head slightly, still meeting his gaze. “But you lived in Montana, and I lived in Kansas. It was… never going to work.” Her voice grew breathless as she finished speaking.

“When I heard about your dad’s situation, I knew I could help, and I wanted to. And the side benefit was that I hoped you’d come, too. So, then we’d both live here, in Montana. On the same ranch.”

She blinked and looked around as though seeing the forest for the first time. “I… this is crazy. I can’t believe I uprooted my entire life and moved over a thousand miles away. I can’t believe Dad did.”

Maxwell wanted to ask her if she’d noticed Keith’s reaction to Weston’s mother, but it might be too early for that kind of speculation, both for the older folks, but also for him and Eryn.

“I don’t think he regrets it,” Maxwell said at last. “He seems happy for the new opportunity.”

“That house is cute, too. Nicer than our house on the farm.”

“It’s been well kept,” Maxwell agreed.

“It’s all so overwhelming.”

He wanted to ask her for a date, but maybe he’d wait a few days before springing that on her. He might have upended his life on a whim several times over, but she was clearly uncomfortable with the big move she and her father had undertaken.

Soon, though.

The sound of hoofbeats coming back down the trail had him reaching for their horses’ reins.

Paisley’s horse skidded to a stop first. “Oh, there you are. We just realized we’d lost sight of you.”

Maxwell stifled a snort. That pair had been so wrapped up in each other’s eyes as they trotted out, he doubted they’d remembered for five seconds that they’d invited him and Eryn along.

“Is everything okay?” Weston asked.

“We’re good. Minor mishap.” Maxwell turned back to Eryn. “Want to keep going?”

She gave him a shy smile. “Sure.”

He boosted her into the saddle, unable to keep the smile off of his own face as he mounted Nutmeg. “Lead on. We’re right behind you this time.”

Chapter

Eleven

Dad ushered Eryn into the foyer of Creekside Fellowship on Sunday morning. Attending church wasn’t required for Sweet River staff, but it seemed expected for those who weren’t on duty.

“Good morning! I’m Eli Bryson, the youth pastor here, and this is my wife, Harper.” The young man reached out to shake Dad’s hand.

“Keith Ralston and my daughter, Eryn. We just moved here from Kansas to work at Sweet River Ranch.”

The beautiful blonde on Eli’s arm beamed at Eryn. “It’s a big change for you, but you’re going to love it here. I grew up in Atlanta, so this was a bit of a culture shock for me.”

“A bit?” Eli laughed at his wife.

“Okay, a lot.” Harper winked at Eryn. “And it will soon be winter again, but you’re probably used to blizzards from Kansas.”

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