Page 9 of Curvy Girl and the Ex-Military Cowboy

This might work, I think, with a surge of something like hope. This crazy arrangement might actually work. I open the door to find Vincent waiting, a knowing smile on his face that I choose to ignore.

"Lead the way," I tell him, and follow Elena out into the hallway, ready to show her the first piece of what might someday be her home too.

Chapter 4 - Elena

I follow Aaron and his brother down the hallway, still surprised by the past two hours. I can't believe I talked so much—I, who am usually so measured with my words, who carefully considers each sentence before speaking.

Yet with Aaron, the conversation flowed naturally, words spilling out of me as if we'd known each other for years rather than through a handful of video calls.

More surprising still was how he opened up to me. The stoic, reserved man from our online conversations transformed in that bedroom, revealing layers of himself I hadn't expected to see so soon. His PTSD, his struggles with civilian life, the weight of his military service—these were merely hinted at in our previous communications, but now I can see how deeply they run.

He's suffering, more than I realized. Behind the strong, capable exterior is a man still fighting battles long after leaving the battlefield.

The thought creates a protective feeling I wasn't prepared for. As we step outside into the golden afternoon light, I watch Aaron walking slightly ahead of me, his shoulders squared in that military posture that seems to be second nature to him now. There's a tension in him that never fully dissipates, as if he's always on alert, always ready.

This is the man I've agreed to potentially marry. The thought should terrify me, but strangely, it doesn't. Perhaps because we've been honest from the start about what this is—an arrangement, a contract of sorts. As unromantic as it sounds, there's comfort in the clarity.

As his mail order bride—the term still feels odd in my mind—I have a responsibility to him, just as he has to me. We've agreed to support each other, to try to build something meaningful together. It's transactional in the most basic sense, but that doesn't mean feelings can't grow within that framework.

"Here we are," Vincent announces as we approach a smaller barn separate from the main structure. "The nursery barn, where we keep the mares and foals."

Inside, the air is warm and smells of hay and horses. A woman with curly hair is standing by one of the stalls, Lily perched on her hip.

"Charlotte," Vincent says, his voice softening noticeably, "this is Elena, Aaron's friend who's visiting."

Charlotte turns, her face open and friendly, and I immediately sense an ally. "Hi there! Welcome to the chaos."

"Thank you," I reply, grateful for her warm smile. "It's lovely to meet you."

"Elena's from Spain," Lily announces importantly. "And she likes horses and dogs."

"A woman of excellent taste," Charlotte says with a wink at me. "Come see what we've been admiring."

She leads us to a stall where a chestnut mare stands protectively over a wobbly-legged foal that can't be more than a few days old. The foal is bay colored with a perfect white star on its forehead.

"Oh," I breathe, unable to help myself. "It's beautiful."

Aaron moves to stand beside me. "This is Duchess and her new filly. Still unnamed."

"She needs a princess name," Lily declares. "Because her mommy is a Duchess."

"What do you think, Elena?" Aaron asks, surprising me by seeking my opinion.

I consider the delicate foal, who looks at us with curious, liquid eyes. "Something regal, certainly." I think for a moment. "Perhaps Stella? It means star in Latin."

"Stella," Aaron repeats, testing the name. "I like it."

"Stella the princess horse!" Lily claps her hands in approval.

I catch Charlotte watching us with interest, her eyes moving between Aaron and me with a speculative expression.

"How long have you two known each other?" she asks casually—too casually.

Aaron tenses slightly beside me. "We met online a while back," he says, sticking to our story. "Through mutual connections."

Charlotte nods, but I can tell she's not entirely convinced. Still, she doesn't press further, which makes me wonder if Vincent has said something to her.

As Lily chatters about the other horses, Aaron leans closer to me. "You okay?" he asks quietly. "It's a lot, meeting everyone at once."

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