His Outback Cowgirl(42)

His conscience overrode his caution. He couldn’t leave Bridie up there by herself. His emotions overrode his logic. He’d taken a huge risk going into the mountains alone with her on their first trip. Now he had to take an even bigger risk. No longer did he have time on his side to go slow, he had to do what he never did and rush in. He had to find her and tell her how he felt. If she knew he loved her perhaps she’d feel more confident that forever was within their grasp. Cordell was right. Bridie was worth taking every risk in the book for. He had to risk everything for ... love.

His hands fisted as he scanned the brooding and rugged peaks. “Henry, she could be anywhere.”

His father came and stood beside him.

“Son, trust your instincts. You of all people will know where she’ll go.”





Chapter Ten




Warm breath blew on Bridie’s cheek and soft velvet rubbed her skin. She awoke to the smell of damp earth and Molly nuzzling her. She uncurled from her cramped position on the saddle blanket and pushed off the rain slicker she’d slept under. The cave hadn’t proved any warmer on her second visit.

She rubbed the mustang’s buckskin nose. “Morning, how long did I sleep?”

The grey light beyond the rock shelter’s entrance confirmed it was past daybreak. She stretched and Molly ambled out of the cave to graze on the nearby grass. Bridie rolled her stiff shoulders. She had no idea what time she’d slipped out of the ranch house to saddle Molly but it had been pitch dark. After her talk with Ethan, she’d tried to sleep. What he’d said would be true. In the morning things would look different. The cold fear that she’d one day lose him wouldn’t continue to eclipse her deep love and need to be with him.

But sleep had been elusive and the more she tossed and turned the more her thoughts had raced and her fear had grown. In the end, she’d thrown off the covers and dragged on her jeans. She’d needed to go somewhere that would provide solace. Except she hadn’t made it to the high elevation lake where she’d found such happiness with Ethan. Somewhere on the ride through the north meadow her lids had drifted shut and she’d fallen asleep in the saddle, only waking when Molly had brought her to the cave.

Bridie pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them. She’d wake up a little more and then continue to the lake. She was certain Ethan wouldn’t follow. He’d know she’d need time alone. Wind rustled through the pine trees beyond the cave. The weather wouldn’t be great, but she’d grabbed a rain slicker from the mudroom, knowing Henry wouldn’t mind.

She watched as Molly grazed. Once wild and free, the mustang was now content to stay close. The instincts that once had kept her safe and told her to flee from humans now told her she had nothing to fear. Bridie swallowed. Could the same happen for her? Could her flight instincts that told her not to take a risk when the odds were stacked against her be appeased? Knowing that life could change in an instant with only a phone call or a single doctor’s visit, could she find the courage to let go of her fears and love?

She rested her chin on her knees. Wind again whistled through the pine trees and carried the scent of rain into the cave. She closed her eyes but instead of pain and loss, she remembered the happiness connected with such a smell. Riding her pony with her father through an overflowing stream. Hearing the joy in his laughter as rain drummed on the roof after a summer of no rain. The ache to see him and talk to him would always be there but now so too was the beauty of her memories.

Her eyes opened. Ethan had reassured her that it was okay to let go of her grief. And it had been. If she wanted to soothe her flight instinct she needed to now do the same with her fears. She needed to let them go or lose the one man who made her feel complete, who understood and accepted her for who she was.

She came to her feet. If she and Ethan didn’t have forever, that had to be okay. She’d make the most of each day. She’d laugh, live and love and have the family and home she’d always dreamed of and she’d do so without ... fear.

She whistled to Molly.

“Time to saddle up. We’re not going to the lake ... we’ve got a cowboy to talk to.”



Bridie hung the rain slicker in the mudroom, removed her boots and made her way into the kitchen. Heart in her throat, she looked around for Ethan but all she saw was Henry seated in his usual chair. His glasses might be on, but no pen filled his hand and the crossword book before him lay shut.

“I expected you back hours ago.”

Bridie ignored his gruff tone and slid into the seat in front of him. Henry’s heart was as tender as his strong son’s.