Page 124 of On the Wild Side

My gut tightens, and I pull out my phone, dialing Abbi’s number. She answers on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Where are you guys?”

“We’re at the ranch. Wait, where areyou?”

I shake my head and walk back out, headed for my 4Runner. “I’m at home, Blue Eyes.”

“Well, shit, I wasn’t expecting you for a few more hours.”

“Swear jar,” I hear Daisy say, and it makes me grin.

I’ve already pulled out of the driveway and am headed to the ranch when I say, “Are you at the farmhouse?”

“Huh? Oh, no. We’re atourhouse. There’s no crew today because it’s Sunday, so Daisy and I brought a picnic breakfast up here.”

My heart stalls in my chest. Just when I think I can’t love her any more than I already do…

“Baby, you’re having breakfast at the new house?”

“Yeah. We love it here, Cowboy. Hurry up and join us. There’s plenty to go around.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

It actually takes me nine minutes to pull up to a stop in front of the house. The driveway has been built already, so it’s easier to get out here than it used to be.

The house is just a frame, but my girls don’t mind. Abbi has spread a blanket on the ground about twenty yards from the house, and there’s a big basket open beside her. It looks like they’re eating bagels and cream cheese.

“Daddy!” Daisy jumps up and runs to me, launching herself into my arms. “You’re finally home.”

“Yeah, I am.” I kiss her sweet cheek. God, I love her. Since that day a month ago, Daisy has called me Daddy.

And I’ll never tell her to call me anything else.

“Hey,” Abbi says with a sweet grin as she stands to greet me. “I’m sorry we didn’t wait for you.”

“I’m just happy you were still here.” I set Daisy down, kick off my boots, and join them on the blanket. Abbi pours me some juice and passes me half of her bagel, and then the three of us chew while looking out at the mountains. At the land. The cows and the red barn off in the distance. I plan to see this exact view, every day, for the rest of my life, with Abbi by my side.

I glance her way and find her smiling at me.

“What?”

“You look so good out here. Such a cowboy, right at home on his ranch.”

“I look good here becauseyou’rewith me. Both of you. You’re my home.”

Daisy smiles and reaches over to pat my arm.

“When can we sleep here?” she asks me.

“Not for a long time. Probably next spring. But we can come out here whenever we want to.”

“Okay.” She shrugs a shoulder and eats her last bite of bagel. “Where will we put my cows?”

“One cow,” Abbi says, but I just chuckle.

This girl can have all the damn cows she wants.

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