Page 153 of Shadow

“I am bossy.”

“Yeah.” His mouth curved. “She would’ve approved.”

The trail leveled out. Opened up. Suddenly, they were on a flattop, a rocky outcropping overlooking a valley.

Daphne stopped. Breathed.

Even in gray light, it was stunning. Mountains rising on all sides. Pine forests thick and dark. A valley spreading below them. And there—barely visible through the clouds—a ranch. Buildings. Corrals. Creek running silver through the land.

“That’s your ranch,” Daphne said.

“Yeah.” Asher moved to stand beside her. “Gemma and I hiked this trail on her eighteenth birthday. Three months before she died. She stood right here and said it was the most beautiful spot in all of Colorado.” His voice caught. “That someday she wanted to live here.”

“So you bought the ranch,” Daphne said quietly.

“Three years too late.” His voice was rough. “Maybe—I don’t know—hoping it would save me. Make me better.”

“Did it?”

“No.” He looked at her. “But you did.”

Daphne’s breath caught.

“I was living in the shadowlands,” Asher continued. “And it wasn’t the syndicate. It was anger. And grief. And feeling stuck there. And then…then you walked into my life, and I realized…maybe God hadn’t forsaken me.”

He reached for her hand. Held it.

“God used you to show me there was light waiting for me. I just needed to trust Him.”

She touched his face. “I love you, Asher.”

“I love you too…Daphne.”

Then he kissed her again.

Footsteps sounded behind them.

Asher let her go. “Right on time.”

“Hey, son.” A woman appeared. Fifty-something. Asher’s eyes. She wore a wool hat, a jacket, hiking boots. She carried a simple wooden box.

Gemma’s ashes.

“Mom,” Asher said, and hugged her.

“Thanks for meeting me here,” she said.

“Yeah. Sorry it took so long.”

She pulled away and looked at Daphne.

“Mom, this is Daphne Cross.”

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Daphne extended her hand.

“Nadine.” Asher’s mother ignored the hand. Pulled Daphne into a hug. Warm. Maternal.

The flood of warmth spilling through her took Daphne’s breath.