Page 41 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
“Exactly,” Aubrey said, a smile tugging at her lips. “A place where more of the action is. Where I can walk downstairs and be surrounded by people and life.”
As she spoke, Aubrey could almost see it—a modern kitchen with gleaming countertops, large windows letting in natural light.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Willow said, her voice warm with support. “Nothing is decided on my end yet, but we can revisit this down the road for sure.”
“Agreed,” Aubrey said.
They touched their coffee mugs together in a playful toast, the ceramic making a satisfying clink. As they finished the last bites of their breakfast, Aubrey felt a surge of possibility that maybe this feeling in her gut that she didn’t fit in within Timber Falls would finally go away.
An hour later, showered, with a fully belly, Aubrey’s hands gripped her steering wheel as she navigated the winding road to the ranch, the landscape outside transforming into a winter wonderland. Willow sat beside her, their animated chatter filling the car with warmth despite the frigid temperature outside.
“I still can’t believe how much snow there is here in February,” Aubrey marveled, her eyes wide as she took in the pristine white blanket covering everything in sight.
Willow laughed. “I know. It’s wild.”
As they rounded a bend, the breathtaking view of Timber Falls unfolded before them. Snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance, their jagged peaks piercing an impossibly blue sky. The sun glinted off frozen streams and icicle-laden trees, creating a dazzling spectacle.
“It’s like a postcard,” Aubrey breathed. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m starting to understand why people fall in love with this place.”
“Even at a balmy five degrees?” Willow teased.
Aubrey chuckled, shaking her head. “Okay, I could do without the arctic temperatures. But this view, it’s something else.”
As they approached the ranch, Aubrey’s heart began to race, anticipation and nervousness fluttering in her stomach. “I wonder what Gunner’s got planned for his talent show kids today,” she mused, trying to keep her voice casual. He’d had this surprise excursion planned for a month now but kept the details to himself.
“Knowing him, it’ll be something special,” Willow replied with a knowing smile.
Aubrey agreed with a nod, pulling into the ranch’s driveway, and her jaw dropped. The scene before her was like something out of a fairy tale. A crackling bonfire cast a warm glow over the snow-covered ground, surrounded by hay bales draped with cozy blankets. To one side, a quaint wooden stand was set up, steam rising from large urns of what could only be hot chocolate.
But what truly took her breath away was the magnificent black horse hitched to an old-fashioned sleigh, the horse’s coat gleaming in the sunlight.
“Oh, my god,” Aubrey whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. “This is gorgeous.”
“No kidding,” Willow agreed, stepping out of the car.
Aubrey followed, the crisp air nipping at her cheeks as she took in the thoughtful setup.
Willow gave Aubrey’s arm a gentle squeeze before heading off toward the campfire, where Eli was stoking the flames. Aubrey found herself alone, surrounded by the bustling energy of the kids, along with their families.
“Aubrey!” Charly called out, waving from the hot chocolate station. “Come try some of this cocoa. It’s to die for!”
Aubrey made her way over, her boots crunching in the snow. “This is incredible,” she said, accepting a steaming mug. “I can’t believe how much work you all put into this.”
As she sipped the rich, creamy cocoa, Aubrey felt a warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the drink.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Jaxon commented, sidling up to them. “But this was all Gunner. We’re just helping.”
“Amazing,” Aubrey said, before saying goodbye and heading off.
As she wandered through the event, greeting familiar faces and meeting new ones, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being so damn happy she could nearly burst.
Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her, and warmth enveloped her senses. Turning, she found herself face to face with Gunner, his eyes twinkling with joy.
“Hey there, darlin’.” He leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’m glad you could make it.”
Aubrey’s heart fluttered, her body instinctively leaning into his. “Gunner, this is amazing. I can’t believe you did all this.”
He smiled, a hint of bashfulness in his expression. “Well, I wanted to do something special. For the kids and their families.”
