Page 119 of High Water

“Good. Good.” Aspen nods. “I’m so glad to hear that she’s able to move on—both of you. And I’m so excited that you’ve decided to go ahead with the wedding too.”

“What are we going to do when we’re all boring, married-and-settled-down types?” Levi grins at Aspen and me.

“Find some new hobbies, I suppose,” Aspen teases him. “And honestly, with the right person, it still keeps you on your toes.” She looks over at me, and I swear that woman still makes my heart pound from just a smile. I kiss the back of her hand and flash her a grin in return.

“Anything but boring,” I agree.

FIFTY

Bishop

4 months later

“All right. This way.”

I take Aspen’s hand in one of mine and Fallon’s in the other, checking to make sure both their blindfolds are still in place. We’re walking from the homestead across the field to the barn. The homestead we moved into a few months ago, and it’s become our own little sanctuary up here in the mountains. There were just a few things still missing that I had plans to remedy, ones I made sure to have finished just in time for Aspen’s birthday.

“We don’t even get a hint, Pops?” Fallon tilts her head in my direction. Pops is my new nickname, courtesy of my daughter. It started as a joke when I told her she might have to find something else to call me besides Bishop, and it stuck sometime after I admitted to Aspen that I kind of liked it.

“No. Careful.” I pull her closer to me as we walk over some rocky ground toward the barn.

I’ve been spending a hell of a lot of time out here all summer. Whenever I wasn’t helping Ramsey with his attempt to bring cattle back onto the ranch or spending time with my family, I was here fixing it up.

The old barn is on the Fool’s Gold Homestead property that Ramsey gave me in exchange for helping him bring the ranch back to its glory, but it was so dilapidated I wasn’t sure I could salvage it. Hundreds of hours of elbow grease and a heavy dose of blood and sweat later—plus a little help from my brothers-in-law and Anson—and she almost looks good as new. I’ve even gotten the whole thing renovated inside. So I thought we’d celebrate Aspen’s birthday with a gift for both her and Fallon.

“All right. Hang on for a minute. I gotta open something,” I say when we get to the doors, letting their hands go in favor of unlatching the barn door.

“Can we take the blindfold off yet?” Aspen asks.

“Not yet. You’ll ruin the surprise.” I grin at the way she tilts her head from behind the mask.

“I have theories,” Fallon tosses out as she shifts on her feet, impatiently waiting for me.

“Well, just give me a moment.” But the second I work the latch free and open the door, my surprise is determined to give me away.

Pepper whinnies loudly, and Clover sticks her head out a moment later to join in the greeting. Fallon lets out a loud squeal and rips her blindfold off.

“Oh my god! You didn’t!” She bursts through the barn door and hurries straight for Pepper, who greets her happily.

“Bishop…” Aspen kept her blindfold on, but her lips part in surprise as she turns to me. I take her hand and pull her close, taking her to the other stall, slipping the blindfold down around her neck to show her Clover, who leans out to investigate her new owner. “Oh my god. She even has the same coloring.” Aspen runs her hand down Clover’s gray nose that fades to a deep black.

“She’s from the same rescue organization,” I explain, grinning back at her, and her smile grows wider and wider. “It’s still around, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to see, and when I saw her…” Clover looks just like the horse Aspen had as a girl.

“You are amazing.” She looks at me, her eyes wide and bright. Her attention turns to Fallon, who is currently doting all over Pepper. “You gave her her own horse.”

“I thought she earned it. She’s been working hard helping Hazel in the barns at the main house, and I know she wants to do more than just ride the trails. Figured that would be easier to do if she had her own.” I watch as my daughter looks like she might burst from joy as Pepper nudges her.

“You’ll have to help with the chores,” Aspen reminds Fallon.

“I don’t mind!” Fallon shakes her head, still smiling at Pepper.

“Mucking the stalls. Getting up early before school to feed the horses with me.” Aspen rattles off a few of the responsibilities, and Fallon just nods along.

“Yes. I promise!” Fallon looks back at us both and then rushes me, throwing her arms around my waist and squeezing me tight. “Thank you. Thank you so, so much. You are the best!” She squeals as I squeeze her back.

“You’re welcome. But your mom is right. It’ll be more work than you’re used to.”

“I’m ready for it.” Fallon nods and looks back at Pepper just as Scout, my horse, cranes his neck out to figure out what the big commotion is today. “When can we go for a ride? Today? Now?” Fallon looks back at me wide-eyed.