Page 122 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

"Relax, Lil’ Bit. I know what you meant, and I think you know what I meant, too."

She studied his face for a long moment. "I think I do. And I think... I think I love the idea of what you're talking about. But everything's happened so quickly already. We don't need to rush into anything. Maybe we should take our time. Our relationship is still so new, and..."

He tucked his finger under her chin and made her look up into his eyes. "You're right. I'm not saying that you're not, but you want to know my take?"

"Of course I do."

He nodded as he searched for the exact words he'd used back when Wade first met Sierra. Wade had been concerned that things were moving so quickly between the two of them, and Ford had said... He smiled when the conversation came back to him so clearly that he was able to quote himself word for word.

"You know how things moved so fast for Wade and Sierra?"

"I do. I was so proud of Sierra when she ran out on her wedding, but I don't mind telling you that I was not happy at first when I heard she'd gone and met some cowboy in Montana."

He chuckled at that. "Now you know for yourself that it's not such a bad thing, huh?"

She smiled up at him. "It's a wonderful thing."

"Well, my take on us moving so fast" – he glanced over at the kids again – "is the same as what I told Wade back then."

"And what exactly did you tell him?"

"I told him that you don't find the truth of a relationship in months or years; you find the truth in moments. The moments that light you up, the ones that take your breath away, and the ones that set your heart on fire – that's where you find it."

He had to clear his throat when he finished and gave her a rueful smile. "Honestly, at the time when I said it, I wondered where the hell it had come from. But those words are how I feel right now. We haven't been together for years or even months, but the moments that we've shared... you've done all of that. You've taken my breath away, lit me up, and set my heart on fire." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I know the truth of this relationship, and I know I want it for the rest of my life."

Her eyes shone with tears. "You know I told you the other night that I don't understand romance? Well, I think you might just have made a believer out of me."

He chuckled and then froze when Nat turned in her seat to stare at them. Amelia tensed in his arms, and he wondered if he shouldn't have been more careful about what he said in front of them. He relaxed a little when she smiled.

"For what it's worth, I think you guys are good together."

"Thanks," said Amelia. "I do, too. How were those omelet rolls?"

Ford relaxed even more when Nat smiled and said, "They're really good. Thanks. I like those."

He grinned. "I do, too. And they're handy to take with you when you're in a hurry in the morning."

Nat met his gaze. "Are you thinking about us going to school?"

"I wasn't. I was thinking about myself going out to work in the morning, but do you want to talk about school yet?"

She glanced over at Hunter, who piped up with, "I don't want to go. I like it here."

Nat looked so much older than her years when she sighed and said, "I know. But it’d do you good to go."

"And what about you, Nat?" Ford asked. "Do you want to go?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. But it's not about what I want."

He went over to her and squatted down beside her chair. "Yeah, it is. And you need to get used to that. I know you're only looking out for your brother, but you have us to help with that now. And to look out for you, too. You don't have to carry it all on your own anymore, kiddo. You don't have to carry any of it if you don't want to."

She gave him a sad smile. "Maybe."

"Definitely," he said with a wink. "I mean, it's definitely on offer. We've got your back." He looked up at Amelia, and she nodded.

Before the moment had the chance to get awkward, Hunter set his fork down with a clang and asked, "Do we get to ride horses today?"

Ford loved the smile that Nat and Amelia exchanged and loved that Amelia let Nat be the one to answer.

---