Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Blayze gave a thoughtful nod, then said, “He might not…but Travis would. I don’t trust the guy. Caught them trying to put a camera up here in the main barn. I told him I’m ripping it down if I find one, but not before I give him my thoughts on this show.”
“Did you tell Dad? That’s a clear violation of the contract they signed.”
He shook his head. “No, but I’ll tell him if they pull something like it again.”
I put everything away that I’d used to groom Iceman, put my jacket on, and led him out to pasture. I enjoyed watching him take off in a mad run when he was set out. He loved it here on the ranch.
As I released the horse, a sudden sense of melancholy washed over me. I had the distinct feeling I was missing something from my life, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Turning, I studied the main barn. It was the largest on the ranch. Everything that happened here started in that barn. My brother’s office was there, and my father’s as well. There was even an office for Uncle Tanner and Uncle Ty to share, even though they rarely used it. They both had their own businesses running from their areas of the ranch, but they still had a say in the running of Shaw Ranch as a whole.
We were the largest cattle ranch in Montana, with Uncle Tanner raising some of the best cattle horses. Iceman was one of his horses, actually. Aunt Timberlynn was the first person to climb him and train him for roping cattle. He would be used here on the ranch, but Uncle Tanner thought he’d make a great team roping horse. He gifted him to me my junior year of high school, and together, we’d won a few championships.
When I looked over my shoulder, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Iceman was still standing at the fence, watching me.
I smiled. “It’s okay, boy. Go have fun with the girls.”
He bobbed his head and finally trotted off to join the rest of the herd.
I let my eyes sweep across the vast pastureland and up to the mountains. The sun was shining brighter now, which made the freshly fallen snow look like someone had tossed glitter all over the ranch. I loved this place, and I knew in my heart that I wanted to raise my kids here with the woman I love.
It struck me that this was the first time I’d ever thought about kids of my own.
My hand came up to rub the back of my neck. What in the hell was happening to me?
Approaching the pasture from a smaller barn, my father placed his arms on the wooden fence and looked out over our land. “You look deep in thought.”
I shrugged and looked his way. “I guess I was.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I followed his gaze. “I was just thinking that I always saw my life going one way, and now…” My voice trailed off.
Dad turned and looked at me. “Now you see it going a different way.”
I nodded. “Do you think I’m too young to fall in love?”
He tossed his head back and laughed—hard. “You’re almost twenty-two, Hunter. I don’t think that’s too young to fall in love. When it happens, it doesn’t take into account how old you are.”
“It’s just…I never really saw myself falling in love.”
Quirking his brow, he asked, “Why?”
I placed my hands on the fence, doing a few half push-ups for some unknown reason. Nervous energy, maybe. “I don’t know. I guess because I’ve never had any strong feelings for anyone before. I mean, I’ve been attracted to a few women more than others, but not in a way that ever made my heart feel like it was floating around in my chest, bumping into everything.”
He grinned. “Until Kipton?”
“Until Kipton,” I replied with a nod. “Dad…the moment I saw her, I think I fell in love.”
“Wow, that’s a pretty bold statement to make.”
I looked at him. “And you know me. I wouldn’t make it unless I believed it with my whole heart and soul. I love her, and I’m so scared I’m going to do something to mess it up. And this damn show isn’t helping anything.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Hunter, if you both feel the same way, and if you want a future with Kipton—communicate. You’ll need to especially when you both go back to school and have the distance between you. Talk to each other. It’ll be hard the next few weeks with the show, but you can make it through. You had no intention of ending up with any of these women when you signed on. Just go on dates with them, be polite, and swipe left afterward.”
I laughed. “You make it sound easy.”