Page 236 of Micah

Home.

Coffee calls my name next.

I fill a mug and wander out onto the back porch.

Morning has only just begun.

The sky is streaked with pink and gold.

The pastures stretch forever, wrapped in a blanket of mist that clings low to the grass.

Somewhere in the distance a cow bellows. Birds chatter from the fence line.

The whole ranch seems to wake slowly.

Peacefully.

Nothing like the chaos of yesterday.

I wrap both hands around my mug and watch the sun climb over the horizon.

For the first time in days...

I breathe.

Really breathe.

Then I hear it. The low rumble of a powerful engine.

My heart recognizes it before my brain does.

Micah.

I don't jump up.

I don't run.

Instead, I wait.

Something tells me he'll find me.

He always does.

A minute later the screen door opens quietly behind me.

I don't turn around. I don’t have to.

I know exactly who’s standing there.

Heavy boots.

The faint scent of soap carried on the morning breeze.

That familiar warmth filling the space behind me before he even touches me.

Strong fingers slip between mine. My smile grows without permission.

“Morning, Princess.”