Page 120 of Healer’s Betrayal

I give him a look. “The owner still doesn’t mind that we’re on his property?”

“Nope.”

“Jackson,” I start.

He chuckles. “Just ride along; you’ll see soon enough.”

We drive a little further before he turns onto yet another dirt road. Soon, we come to a clearing. The grass has all been cut down here, and the dirt plowed up. Several bulldozers and other heavy machinery are parked on the dirt. “It looks like they’re going to build here or something,” I say as Jackson opens my door and takes my hand. He keeps my hand in his and we follow a path through the high grass. “Where are we going?” I ask, but he doesn’t say anything. I hear a small sound but can’t place it. A moment later, I see a fence come into view and then...“Are those pygmy goats?” I nearly squeal. I drop Jackson’s hand and rush over to the fence. “Oh my goodness; they’re adorable.” I reach over the fence to pet one. “Hi there,” I gush. Jackson walks over to the gate and opens it and then cocks his head in clear invitation. I can’t not follow him. “Wait, Jackson!” I follow him right inside the gate. “Whose goats are these?”

“Ours.”

I stop and turn to him, even as the goats gather around us. “What?” My wide eyes meet his. “What?” I ask again.

He reaches out, and I take his hand without thinking. He tugs me towards him and turns me so that my back is against his front. I lean back against his chest. “See that construction site? That’s the future site of our home.”

I go still. “What?” I can’t help but ask.

He leans forward and kisses my neck. “And these are our goats.”

I whirl around. “Jackson, are you serious?”

His eyes meet mine. “Yeah, Baby.”

“What? How?” I can’t wrap my mind around this. “You said you knew the owner, that you had business with him.”

He shrugs. “I do business with myself all the time.”

I stare at him. “Jackson, you owned the land then? But that was before...” my words trail off. “That was before all this,” I say, pointing at the two of us. “I don’t understand.”

“The day you told Raechel that you really love it here, I made a few calls. I owned this property by the weekend.”

I clamp down on the feeling rising inside me. “But what about Alabama? What about your home? Your pack? I don’t want you doing this just for me.”

“Baby, when are you going to get it?” He reaches out and palms my cheek. “My home is wherever you and Noah are. If you wanted to live in Alaska, I’d go there.”

“I really don’t,” I say, trying and failing not to cry.

He gently wipes the single tear away with his thumb. “I want to do this; I want to live here. I love this land.”

“What about Alabama? And what about your pack?”

“We took a pack vote. Twenty-four to zero in favor of moving here.”

“Jackson, no,” I say as another tear drips.

He catches that one too. “Sweetheart, we just want to be together...all of us. None of us care where. If it helps, Ransom and Martin love it here. They were both highly in favor of the move.”

“But starting over...” I try.

“We build log cabins for a living, Baby. We can do that anywhere.” He makes sure my eyes are looking into his. “And we want to do that here.” I can’t help it. I throw my arms around him, and he holds me. He places his large hand around the back of my head and holds me to him. “This is probably a good time to ask...do you like log cabins?”

I smile against his chest. “Yes. I love them, but this is too much,” I tell him. “And pygmy goats?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“I kind of like them,” he says. For some reason, it makes me laugh. And once I start, I can’t stop. “I didn’t think it was that funny,” he says dryly.

My laughter dies off, and I bury my head into his chest. “You’re too good for me; I don’t deserve you.”

He pulls back and frames my face with his large hands. “Baby, you’ve got that all turned around. I don’t deserve you, never will. But I’m hanging on to you with everything I’ve got. You’re my life now,” he breathes the words against my forehead and kisses me. “You and Noah.”