Page 25 of Autumn Feud With The Mountain Man
She peered up at me. “Youdid? Is it on Red Oak Mountain?”
He grinned. “Actually, it’s not. It’s right here in Deer Springs.”
“Would you want that? Long term?”
I loved the mountain. But it wasn’t far away. And Shelby’s work was here. Mine was all over the place. I didn’t like the idea of her commuting on icy roads in the winter. Better that she be close to the office.
Plus, it had just been my brother Hudson and me for years.
Buck had been off in the military, but he was coming home soon. And we’d been trying to figure out where Buck would stay when he came back. He’d given Hudson his cabin when he left. I didn’t want Hudson to go homeless, and it seemed fitting thatI give my cabin to Buck. Evidently, there was only room fortwoWoods brothers on Red Oak Mountain at a time.
So I told her what was unraveling in my heart, a truth so real it almost hurt. “Shelby, I believe that from this day forward, home is wherever you are.”
Her eyes got wide for a moment. But then she settled back down on my chest again. “And you like the house you found today?”
“Yup. It’s big enough for us.” My cabin was too small. “And it has a really pretty garden in front. And a home office for you with stained glass windows. And a spare bedroom so your friend can have a room when she comes to visit.”
Shelby leaned over and took a sip of her cider before nestling her head on my chest again. It looked like she was going to live right there tonight.
“That’s all for me. But what does it have foryou, Thatcher?”
“It’s got a big fenced-in backyard for our future dog.”
She laughed into my chest. “Tell the truth. You want it because of the backyard.”
“No,” I rumbled, “I want it because I think you’ll love it. And the backyard is a bonus.”
Then she peered up at me. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
Rubbing her back slowly, I said, “Yep. It looks like we are.”
It had only been a month, but we hadn’t spent a single day apart.
And I knew I’d never grow tired of this woman. I knew it in mysoul.
I wanted a life with her, and that life started right now. There was no need to wait.
“I love you, Shelby Mitchel. And I think we should go look at the house right now.”
“Right now?” She looked up at me in surprise.
“Yup. We can walk over.”
One thing I loved about her was that, as usual, she went along with whatever madness I sent her way.
We got up and put on our jackets. We were now at the midpoint between fall and winter. The walk would be invigorating.
It only took us a few minutes to bundle up and walk over. The house was three blocks away, and it had just come on the market.
When I let myself in she stared at me in surprise. “Are the owners here? Won’t they be mad that you’re just walking in?”
“No, it’s fine. They’re not here. We’re taking the house on a trial run tonight.”
Everything had been arranged.
As soon as we walked inside, she gasped. “This place is gorgeous!”
It was an old country home, with all the charm and care showing in its bones. It had been well-loved over the years.
