Page 32 of Healing Her Cowboys
“Are you sure you don’t want to press charges?” the officer asked them. “You’re within your rights.”
Atlas talked with Brik and Reese about it, and they all agreed. Tony was just a kid who acted after being hurt by the horrible hand life dealt him. Atlas owed it to Tony and his soldiers to see to his care.
“We just want him to get help,” Atlas said. “Whatever it costs, we’ll pay for it.”
The officer shook his head as if they were making a mistake. “Fine. We’ll have someone be in touch.”
Reese quickly moved to Atlas and Brik’s side, her eyes wide with relief and gratitude. “You did the right thing. No matterwhat anyone else thinks. Tony just needs someone to look after him.”
Atlas smiled, but it didn’t reach his face. He was exhausted and happy that their woman only walked away with a few bruises. “Do you know how amazing you are?”
Shea leaned into them. “You both can use the rest of your lives showing me.”
“Deal,” Atlas said.
“No complaints from me,” Brik said. “But let’s get the hell out of here. Even I’m starting to hate boats.”
***
The drive back to the ranch was silent, each of them lost in thought as they processed the night’s events. Reese sat between them in the truck, her body still tense from the fear she’d felt and the relief that came after they rescued her. Having them on either side of her felt natural this time.
She could feel Brik’s hand resting on her knee, his thumb tracing soft circles around it. Atlas’s eyes stayed focused on the road ahead, but he held her hand with his free arm. It was like neither one of them wanted to take their hands off her for fear they may lose her.
They pulled up to the ranch house, and Atlas cut the engine. No one moved from the truck. They just sat there together in the silence.
The quiet was thick between them as they stepped out, the weight of unspoken words settling around them.
“Reese,” Atlas said, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “I owe you an apology. I should have realized who Tony was sooner and never should have put you in danger like that.”
Reese turned to face him, her eyes searching his, and she saw the sincerity in his expression, the regret that lingered in the lines on his face. “Atlas,” she said softly, “You did nothing wrong. I know you have a good heart, and I love you for it.”
“What did you say?” Brik asked.
“I said I love you. I love both of you. Listen, I know we haven’t known each other long, but if anything, tonight told me that waiting is a nightmare. I’d rather just let people know how I feel.”
Atlas pulled her close to his chest. “I love you too, Reese. More than anything in this world.”
“Hey, don’t I get to say anything to her?” Brik asked.
Atlas looked at him. “She’s all yours.”
Brik sighed, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words. “I’ve spent years building walls, thinking I was better off alone. And then you came along, and it felt like those walls crumbled faster than I could rebuild them. I pushed you away because I thought you would hate being with someone so broken.”
She reached out, placing a hand over his, grounding him. “You don’t have to feel that way with me. Not anymore. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. Why don’t we take time to heal each other? We can all be a bunch of broken messes together.”
Brik’s gaze softened, his hand turning to grip hers, his voice barely a whisper. “I don’t deserve you, Reese. You need to be sure you want us because, after tonight, I don’t think either of us will let you go.”
“That sounds fine to me,” Reese said as they walked into the main house together as one.
Epilogue
The day felt brand new and invigorating to Reese. The Colonial Hearts Ranch had a slight mist of dew on the entire property. It was finally feeling more like fall as she stepped out onto the front porch.
She pulled her heavy coat closer together to keep the warmth inside. The now familiar scents of hay, horses, and nature filled her lungs, and she couldn’t think of waking up to any other place but the life she had on the ranch.
Reese closed her eyes for a moment, letting the sounds of the ranch fill her, feeling a quiet happiness settle over her. Life had become more than she’d ever expected—a place of belonging, love, and peace.
She looked up at the sky and quietly thanked her parents. Although Atlas and Brik would never get to meet them, she knewher mom and dad would have loved them just as much as she did.
