"What happened to your mom?"
"She got sick when I was really young. Most of my life it was just me and my dad."
"I'm so sorry."
"It was a long time ago and, besides, at least I got time with her. You didn't even know your father. I can't imagine what that must have been like."
"It wasn't as bad as everyone thinks. I never knew differently, so maybe I just didn't know what I was missing. And my mom kept me busy enough with her crap to worry over a missing father too much. Sometimes, I swear I was raising her instead of the other way around."
"I remember in school the kids used to talk about how she drank a lot."
"Drank a lot is a colossal understatement. But she's sober now, or so she says. I'm happy for her. I hope she finds some peace in her life."
"Do you think you'll ever let her see the baby?"
She lifted one shoulder and swallowed a bite. "I haven't thought about it. Mostly because I'm scared to think about it. She just wasn't very nice to me when I was growing up. I love that she seems to be changing, but she can't be trusted. Not ever." Erin swindling information out of her about Miles was proof of that.
"So, does that mean you've made up your mind on keeping the baby?"
"I think so. I want her. Watching you fight so hard for Dodge is inspiring. And I already love her so much, I don't know what to do with myself. I'd already made up my mind last week, but if I hadn't, today would've sealed it for me. I've never been so scared for someone other than myself in my entire life. She's my world now."
"It's so crazy calling her she now," he mused.
"Isn't it? I've been saying the baby or it for so long, it's a relief to finally know."
"Did you want a girl?" he asked.
"Yes. Mostly I just want a healthy baby, but I was really happy when Dr. Janson told me. What about you? Do you ever want baby girls running around the homestead?"
Dropping his gaze to his plate, he said, "Yes. I'd like that very much."
Those words stirred within her a vision of everything that could be. Years stretching before them, children playing around the homestead, and holiday meals surrounded by family. The imaginings were so beautiful, she couldn't take her eyes from Aanon. He had the capability to give her a life she hadn't dared to dream about. And if the emotion churning in his gaze was anything to go by, he felt the same.
The moment was interrupted by Luna scratching on the front door and whining. "I still can't believe you had the patience to potty train a half-grown wolf pup," he said with a smile in his voice. "I've got her."
He stood and opened the door, then disappeared onto the front porch. When she joined him, she slipped her hand into his and stared at the moon with the man she loved. He leaned into her, wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders, kissed her hair, and sighed. Moments like these were meant to be savored and remembered.
"I'm still not tired," she said.
His breath came out a huff of steam as he chuckled. "I know what we can do to relax you."
She cocked an eyebrow. "I don't think Dr. Janson okayed me for that kind of activity."
His surprised laugh filled the clearing. "No, I'm sure he didn't. I was thinking along the lines of a warm bath."
"With you?"
His smile lifted and fell in question. "If you want."
"I do," she said, tugging his hand toward the cattleman's cabin.
A sudden shyness took her as she and Aanon stood in her small living room. His arms flexed as he pulled the sweater over his head, and she traced the curving tattoo on his shoulder with her eyes. Steam frothed from the water buckets on the stove, and she shifted her weight, stalling.
"Do you know, when I saw your silhouette against those thin sheets you were using as curtains, I knew I was done for," he murmured.
With a trembling sigh, she lifted her shirt and tugged it from the dark waves of her hair. She hadn't been naked in front of a man for some time, and she'd never asked a man to enjoy her figure while pregnant. Her ribs were bound and her body felt like a bruised peach, but bearing witness to the growing hunger in Aanon's eyes, none of that mattered.
Water splashed as it was poured into the tub, and he added a fifth bucket of cold water to temper the heat.
After he unwrapped her ribcage, she undressed the rest of the way, then slipped into the tub, hissing at the heat that lapped at her battered body. Eyes closed in bliss, she smiled as Aanon slipped in behind her. The intimacy of his skin against hers sent delicious tingling sensations down her arms. If she'd been modest before, any hesitation was erased with Aanon's obvious attraction to her pressed against her spine. Leaning into him, she sighed as her body fit perfectly to his. He trickled water and smoothed her hair with his hands until her tresses were soaked through.
"Do you ever get bored out here?" He whispered the question, as if any louder and the beauty of the moment would be tainted.
"If all Alaskan winters were just like this, I'd live and die happily here."
His chuckle resonated off her shoulder blades, and the scent of cherry blossoms and lavender filled her lungs as he poured shampoo into his hands. Lathering her hair, his gentle rhythmic hands did all the talking. How could a man be so strong, yet so soft all at once? He was wild, a man with the ability to top the food chain in an unforgiveable landscape, yet he was tame for her.
"I had a crush on you in high school," she admitted.
"Oh, yeah? Then why didn't you say anything to me?"
"You weren't exactly approachable back then, Falk."
"I reckon I'll always regret that."
With her hair rinsed, she rested her head on his chest and watched water race from her dangling fingertips.
Aanon cupped a hand and caught the tiny waterfalls until it pooled, then overflowed. "You scared me today. I thought the baby would be hurt or worse. I can't lose you."
"You won't," she promised.
"I don't want you in the cattle pens anymore without a horse under you. I know you can handle yourself in there, but what happened today can't happen again. After the baby comes, maybe we can ease you back in there, but for now, I don't want you doing anything that'll put you at risk. I can handle the work around the homestead. I'm not picking up any construction jobs this late in the season unless I have to. I love you helping me, and if you need to get out and do work that won't be too hard on your body, you should. Whatever you're comfortable with. But if you need to lie in a bed from now until the baby arrives, I'm completely okay with that. In fact," he said, nibbling her ear, "I'd prefer to see you in my bed as often as possible."
"Mmm, is that where we're sleeping tonight?"
He eyed the small cattleman's bed. "I think we have to. We both won't fit in yours."
A vision of his long legs dangling off the end brought a smile to her lips. Gooseflesh rose across her skin as his finger drew languidly toward her face, and she bent and kissed his knuckle. The day had been both the worst and best of her life.
****
Crisp sheets rustled as she moved her legs in the dawn light that streamed through the window. She was stiff, painfully so, and so sore it hurt to move, but she was alive. Searching for warmth, there was none from Aanon's side of the bed. With a stretch, she rolled over and found an empty pillow. Her arm bent under her, she propped up and listened for his muffled sounds around the house.
Silence.
Boom! A gun sounded from a short distance, and she jumped, clutching the comforter to her chest. A jolt of panic, white and hot, pushed her into motion, and she dressed with frantic urgency.
Outside, Aanon unloaded the extra round from his rifle and stood, weight on one leg, like it was the most normal thing in the world to be popping off rounds at the crack of morning. A black cow lay in a heap near the shelter, and if she had to guess, she'd wager the tag in its ear read 417.
He nodded a greeting at her approach. "I don't usually butcher my own cattle as a rule. Bad for business, you know. But, she hurt you, and she's a troublemaker to the herd. And now she'll feed you and the baby through the winter. That's what I'd like to call Alaskan justice."
Huh. Now that was a cow she would thoroughly enjoy eating. "You want me to help prepare her?"
He set the unloaded rifle on the back of the four-wheeler and donned a smile that lit up the morning. "You never cease to surprise me in a good way. Nah, its messy work, and I'd rather you take it easy today."