Come Sundown(178)
She swung off, waited for him to do the same.
Together they led the horses over land where the trees sighed in the wind, the grass waved in it, and wildflowers bloomed.
“I was so scared,” she admitted.
“Me, too.” Now he stopped, turned, yanked her to him. “Jesus, Bodine, I didn’t know a man could be that scared and breathe.” And he’d never, never in his life erase the image of her standing there, her shirt torn and bloody, her face pale and bruised.
“I knew you’d come, but I couldn’t wait.”
“You had an agenda.”
Laughing, she kissed the side of his neck. “I did.”
“Just like you, ticking off boxes. Thank God for it.” He drew back, cupped her face, kissed her. “I’ll make good on that fancy dinner, sooner or later.”
“I’ll make sure you do. Meanwhile … I like the land here. Can’t beat the views.” She gestured toward the mountains as the sun slowly slid through the wide blue sky toward them. “Plenty of room to spread out.”
She walked over, looped Leo’s reins around a branch. Curious enough, Callen did the same, and went with her as she wandered.
“Already got the ranch road—an easy ride, horse or truck, to work. I figure the house goes right about here, facing west for those sunsets. Barn over there, and a paddock. If and when you’ve a mind to do any serious ranching, you might want to add a bunkhouse. Good grazing here, horses or cattle. I wouldn’t mind chickens,” she added thoughtfully. “I’ve always found chickens oddly soothing.”
Maybe his brain was still frazzled some, all things considered, but he had a hell of a time following her.
“You’re talking about building a house here?”
“The house is your part—though I have several nonnegotiable requirements for it. My part’s the land. My parents promised each of us five hundred acres. More if we want it, but that’s more than enough for me to start. If you did so well back in California, you ought to be able to pay for a house.”
He was catching up now, and liked the direction just fine. “I did well enough.”
“Good. I want a good wide porch, all the way around. Big windows, too. Fireplaces. I want one in the bedroom. In fact, I saw a picture in a magazine of one in the master bathroom. I want one of those.”
“You want a fireplace in the bathroom?”
“I do. And one of those big steam showers. I think double porches, though the top one wouldn’t go all the way around. And … I’ll make you a list.”
“I bet you will. How many bedrooms am I building?”
“I think five would do.”
He shook his head. “Six.”
Eyebrows arched, she slanted him a cool look. “Do I look like a broodmare?”
“Six. And one of those rooms where you put up the biggest of big-ass TVs and watch movies.”
Her eyebrows arched higher yet. “How well did you do in California?”
“You have to marry me to find out.”
“I’m talking about building a house. I didn’t say I’d marry you.”
“You’d better.” He only had to glance at Sundown to have the horse give her a solid head butt, sending her into his arms. “You’re outnumbered. Let’s build a house, Bodine. Let’s make a family.”
“I knew you’d come.” She laid her hand on his cheek. “I was so scared, but I knew you’d come. I couldn’t just sit and wait, but I knew. I wonder now if I always knew you’d come back. You’d come back home, and you’d come to me. I couldn’t sit and wait, but I wonder if I knew. It’s nice to think so. One thing’s for certain: When I had the knife you’d given me all those years ago, and I worked on that lock, I knew when I got out, got away, I’d come back to you. I’d come to you, and marry you.”
She wrapped around him for the kiss, swore she felt their roots planting together on that spot.
“I love you, Bodine. You’ll know it every day.”
“I love you back.” She looked into his eyes. “I love you so much back.”
“You hear that?” Callen swooped her up, gave her a spin.
Sundown gave a whinny of approval, hip-bumped Leo into a snort.
With a laugh, Bodine leaned her head on Callen’s shoulder. “It’s going to be a hell of a sunset.”
“Every night.”
“Speaking of nights. Five bedrooms.”
“Six.” He boosted her into her saddle. “And I’ll throw in a hot tub on the top porch, for the master bedroom.”
Bodine looked at the land, imagined the house. “A hot tub,” she murmured.