Page 28 of Possessive Rancher

“If it’s not too much trouble, you’d save me a trip.”

“How many?”

“Three or four should do. I can work with the rest of what we got out here. Just get a move on before this rain comes and you end up hauling 200 pounds of wet sand versus 20 pounds of dry.”

I load the ATV and head out to the lake house cabin. We’re making so many intense memories on this land. I appreciate why Hudson doesn’t want to ever let it go. Hell, even if we don’t rent out the cabins, his family can move out here, and we can figure out another business to run.

The path out to the lake is well-worn. The wind whips across my body as my mind wonders about Hudson and his family. They all take me in like I’m a Haven, born and bred. Halo’s a dream to be around and their sister, Harper, has a sense of adventure that I love.

Despite her brothers doing their damndest to keep her on the ground, that woman does what she wants and dares anyone to stop her.

It’s nice to be a part of this, to not be so alone anymore. Having a family like the Havens looking after me makes every decision an easy one when I don’t have to make it out of fear.

I pull up to the lake house cabin and stop the ATV. Something looks off. Autumn is in full swing so I expect to see dead leaves on the ground, but what I’m looking at is a trail of tiny purple petals. There’s a ton of them blanketing the ground, leading into the home.

My pulse quickens as I step inside and look around to see long-stem flowers, the size of Baby’s Breath but varying shades of lavender and purple. Hudson steps out as my eyes continue to take in everything around me.

“What is all of this?”

“This is Heather, Heather,” he chuckles and rubs the back of his neck. “Did you know that in Celtic times, this beautiful flower symbolizes independence and good fortune? I ain’t looked into the meaning of many things, but when you came into my life, this is exactly what you’ve brought me.”

“This is so sweet, Daddy,” I smile and step closer to him. He wraps his arms around me and lowers his mouth to capture mine. Our tongues do the dance they’re so familiar with and my core clenches with desire.

When Hudson pulls his lips away, the grin spreading across his face tells me he’s not done as he lowers himself to one knee.

“You’re the most beautiful person in my life, Heather. Your heart is as big as the ocean, your eyes are a storm of love and fire, and the way you soak up everything, always wanting to learn something new, makes me want to do the same thing just to keep up with you. I love you, Heather.”

“I love you too, Hudson.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring. There isn’t some fancy box or anything, but it’s simple and beautiful. The gold band looks more like tree roots winding around one another with a large diamond sitting front and center.

Hudson slides the ring onto my finger and asks, “Heather Marsden. Love of my life. Independent, fighter, feisty, fierce, beautiful, intelligent, intuitive, and the center of my world, will you give me the honor of loving and protecting you for the rest of our lives? Will you be my wife?”

“Yes! Of course, I will Hudson. I love you and I’m going to love being Mrs. Heather Haven.”

He grins up at me and then eyes my crotch where I shove him back playfully.

“Don’t ruin this moment, Hudson,” I tell him, holding my newly adorned finger into the light.

He laughs, “I was just thinking if Mrs. Heather Haven tastes different than Miss Heather Marsden. I’m going to have to sample you just to be sure.”

That playfulness in his eyes tells me everything I need to know as laughter erupts between us. I back away from him before he can grab me.

Hudson gets onto his feet, calling me with a silent hook of his finger. “Get over here, little girl, and let Daddy taste his fiancee.”

I stare him in the eyes, challenging him as always. “Make me.”

EPILOGUE

HUDSON

One Year Later

Two for the price of one is always a bargain except when it comes to babies.

I’m staring into two pairs of light gray eyes and freckles. They have my dark brown hair. Their mother’s beauty is going to take them a long way in this life but may drive me to shoot somebody by the time they’re teenagers.

Harlow and Hazel Haven are a few months old, laughing and staring up at me while I’m trying to figure out this latest contraption the store sells as a toy for them. Something about tummy time or whatever since Heather insists we teach them things before they can even walk or speak.

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