* * *
Her eyes shone, and after what she’d jokingly said earlier about moving in with him, he was already hopeful.
But he needed her to know everything.
He pulled his wallet from his pocket and slipped out the picture he’d had for so many years. “You’ve been with me forever,” he said.
She took the tattered photograph, breathing uneasily. “You carried this all those years?”
“I couldn’t let go,” he confessed.
Dana lifted the photograph toward the painting.
Then it was easy to see how brilliantly Ashley had brought new life to the image. Oh, she’d used a little artistic license when it came to making the rose bushes. Her style leaned toward three-dimensional, paint on paint, that looked a whole lot better when the viewer stood back instead of looking at it from inches away.
But the real magic was she had taken the image of Dana in her twenties and turned it into a current portrait. Just as beautiful, but her smile somehow more. The lines of her face, especially at the corners of her eyes and her mouth, showed life had not always been easy, but also that Dana was still young at heart. Still smiling, still hopeful.
She was still dancing.
Vibrant and glowing, the Dana in the painting held her arms out and embraced the beauty around her.
Mark pulled Dana’s hand down, turning the woman toward him. “I don’t need the photograph anymore,” he said softly. “Or even the painting, because I’ve got you. The real thing.”
She nodded, a series of sharp little head bobs that made him smile. Then she glanced back at the painting. “I think I needed this,” she said clearly. “I needed a reminder that it doesn’t matter that there’s a little more paint on the canvas, I’m still me.”
He laughed, and as she stepped into his arms, he accepted every bit of her. The young woman he’d fallen in love with and had never been able to tell. The mystery woman he’d dreamed of for so many years. And the strong, brave woman who was even now backing him toward the makeshift bed he’d placed in the room that he wanted to share with her forever.
“You are still you,” he agreed.
He brought her down to the mattress. Sunset danced as golden and orange rays filtered through the windows and played across their bodies.
Clothing stripped away, he kissed her softly, rolling over her as he breathed in the scent of roses. He kissed her harder, teasing all the places that he’d been learning over the past months. Every time they’d been able to steal away, testing, and taking, and enjoying.
Then he kissed her sweetly as they came together, the sensation so good, he wasn’t going to be able to be patient—
Except this was Dana, and for her, he would always find a way.
After, they lay tangled, the sheets kicked back because the air around them was heated from the summer day and their bodies.
Dana stroked her fingers through his hair, examining his face. “You look like you did that day when you took the pictures of me.”
Mark paused, thinking. “What look is that?”
She laughed. “Like you had some enormous secret, and as if you wanted to eat me up like an ice cream cone.”
Mark shrugged. “Pretty accurate.”
It was a good thing he was already lying down, because otherwise what she said next would have knocked his feet out from under him.
“I felt it,” she said. She took a deep breath. “I mean, I felt it too.”
His heart rate sped up.
She pressed her fingers over his lips to keep him from speaking. As if she needed to get this confession out. “Mark, I was attracted to you as well. It was a pure, sweet moment of something that wasn’t meant to be, not right then. It wasn’t wrong, because we never did anything about it, but it was very beautiful. And now I think it’s that moment that brought us here. It was one of those strange things, almost reverse déjà vu. Maybe something of today magically jumped back in time to that moment, and we felt a hint of what would be.”
Oh, hell, yes. Mark curled upright, hauling Dana with him. They both sat on the bed naked, grinning at each other. “Dana, I love you. Are you telling me—”
He couldn’t breathe.
She stared at the mattress for a moment before deliberately lifting her eyes to meet his. “Part of me isn’t ready to say it yet, but part of me has loved you for a long, long time.”
The sensation in his heart bloomed bigger and bigger until the entire room was pounding with it. “Does this mean you’ll marry me?”
Dana crawled over him, one hand on his chest to angle him back against the mattress. “I would like to move in with you, first,” she said clearly. “Because we have all that talking to finish up. Plus, it would be good to let Rafe and Laurel have some time to themselves.”
“Good thing I’ll soon have a place for you to move into, then,” Mark said. “But will you marry me eventually?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Eventually, maybe.”
She folded her arms over her chest, expression going teasing. He didn’t care, not with her perched over him, her naked skin heating his body and his hands on her hips where he could caress soft skin.
“Labour Day? Or maybe Thanksgiving?”
She snorted. “Eventually means longer than that…”
He didn’t stop. “New Year’s? Valentine’s?”
Her lips twitched. “You are so not good at the patience thing.”
“I know. Canada Day, next year. It’ll be the first time that the Wild Rose Colemans host the gathering. We can make it extra special by having the entire family here to witness our vows.”
Dana stilled, her expression softening. “You make it very difficult to not be charmed out of my socks.”
“You’re not wearing any socks,” he pointed out before taking control and rolling her under him again. He pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. “I love you, and I want everyone to know. But I will be patient until—”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Something deep inside him cracked wide open and happiness spilled out, washing over them both. “Yes, what?”
Just to be certain.
“Yes. I’ll marry you. July first, here at Wild Rose ranch. But between now and then you have to promise me—”
“Anything. I’ll do anything for you.”
Dana poked him in the ribs, laughter rising up. “Just love me. Promise to keep listening and keep loving. That’s all.”
“I promise.” He said it quietly, but somehow the words echoed in the room and bounced down the hall, slipping into the farthest corners of the house.
The place he would make sure was filled with listening and love. Because it wasn’t only a house. It was more.
Mark had truly come home.
28
October, Six Pack ranch
Blake caught Jaxi as she flew past him at high velocity. “Whoa, slow down there, Slick. I need to talk to you.”
“I’ve got two minutes,” she warned before wrapping her arms around him and squeezing tight. “Hey, love. Missed you this morning.”
“Travis had problems, and I was on call.” He slowed her enough to be able to kiss her, deep and lingering by the time he stopped.
She sighed happily. “Okay, you have my attention.”
“Anything else you need me to do for the party this coming weekend?” he asked.
Jaxi considered then shook her head. “Jesse and Joel came out yesterday and helped get everything ready in the space we’ve cleared in the barn.” She pressed her fists against her hips and looked annoyed as all get out. “Of course, there’s supposed to be a huge snowstorm this weekend, way ahead of normal.”
“I don’t know that it’s early. This is October in Alberta, sweetheart,” he reminded her, “but I’m glad we’ve got the barn as backup. If you think of anything else you need, let me know.”
“I will.”
She went to head away, but Blake kept hold of her fingers, tugging her back against him so he could hold her a
little longer. “How are you feeling?” he asked softly
Her expression went dreamy. “Really good. Really.”
He slid a hand between them, fingers spread over her belly where their baby was growing. “I still can’t believe it.”
“I guess we needed to have sex on a pool table sooner,” she teased.
“Still not telling anyone?”
Jaxi shook her head. “There’s a lot of other stuff to celebrate right now. Let’s let the rest of the family be the focus.”
Which was pretty much what he’d expected her to say. “Agreed. Love you, Slick.”
“You’re pretty much my favourite guy as well,” she agreed, dancing out of reach. “Go. Do big cowboy stuff.”
So he did.
He was on his horse and heading out the front gate when he saw another figure sitting tall on horseback across the road. Blake directed Thunder toward where his father sat waiting.
Mike leaned on the saddle horn as he grinned contentedly. “Was going to ride for a bit before that storm decides whether it wants to arrive or not.”
“Want some company?” Blake offered.
“Always.”
They turned their horses toward the trail along the extreme eastern border of the Coleman land. A little farther from the Rockies, with the knowledge that everything between them and the mountains was Coleman country.
It was an incredible feeling. An incredible rush to have the privilege of being a steward of the land and a part of something so much bigger than himself.
Blake stared off into the distance, thinking hard. Trying to figure out what it was that wanted to come to the surface, because the past year…
He’d watched and listened and learned, and there was a truth even bigger than the Coleman land that he needed to share with his father.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you told me at the start of the year.” Blake glanced over at Mike. “You know, there’s a big difference between what you had to do when your dad passed away and what we’re looking at going into the future.”
Mike lifted his eyes, surprise there. “You think?”
“Oh, some of the differences are pretty clear. The equipment we have, the technology. The amount of land that the Coleman clan has cleared and is using in different ways. Hell, the number of Colemans, period. All of that’s a lot more than you faced.” Blake shook his head. “That’s not what I’m talking about, though.”
Maybe it was a combination of having spent the past year looking through pictures, dredging through memories. Listening to his uncles tell stories about the things they’d dealt with, so often needing a bit of luck and a prayer to try and get through.
Today the wind blew cold, clouds building on the horizon, but where they rode, the sun was still shining, the brown grass of late fall ready to be covered with the pristine white of a fresh, clean winter.
Every month that had passed, every moment Blake had watched as his family had taken a long hard look back, seeing them enjoy the memories then turn to the future with bubbling enthusiasm.
Okay, maybe that last part was mostly Jaxi. His heart.
But here and now, his father needed to hear a powerful message.
“Travis is someone I trust with any part of the ranch. Trust him with my kids, and I like spending time with him.” Blake pictured his brother with Ashley and Cassidy, and while what they had wasn’t typical, it was totally right and so full of love, only a fool would try to deny it.
“Matt’s gone a little quieter over the years, but it’s a contented thing. He and Hope are like one of her quilts. Beautiful and yet content to stay at home and enjoy each other. Still, he works his ass off every time we’re out in the fields, and I can barely keep up.”
Mike was nodding, his smile growing. “Tell me about Daniel.”
His father was too smart and too perfect. The man had already clued in to what Blake was doing. “He’s my little brother, yet he’s already shown me there’s a solid path to follow where I’d feared to tread,” Blake admitted. “He and Beth have built something amazing, and they’re close to sending three mature, productive and caring adults into the world. Plus those boys of theirs are just as much a part of this family as any of the kids being born into it.”
Mike leaned forward in the saddle again, lips curled into a full out grin. “What about your little brothers?”
“Still learning. Still making me laugh and making me roll my eyes at times, but they don’t give up. Not on each other, never on family.” Blake examined his father from top to bottom then shook his head. “You had your brothers, but each of you had your own dreams, and for a short time, they pulled you apart. Plus, you had your troubles, and they were big, but Dad?” Blake paused to gaze out over the Coleman land. Over everything that had been accomplished during the past hundred years. Then he met his father’s eyes. “You were one man, and there was no way you could do it all. But you sure the hell tried.”
Mike laughed. “I guess I did.”
“You succeeded,” Blake told him plainly. “You might tell us that you didn’t do everything right, but still you somehow got six fiercely independent boys to all see which direction they need to head. You made it clear by the way you treated Ma over the years that she’s the number one thing in your life. And then us, and then your extended family, and then the rest of it. Every one of your children-in-law thinks you hung the moon because they know it was you who taught us by example how we’re supposed to treat our wives, and husband.”
Mike was listening, his expression gone a little tighter.
“So really, it doesn’t matter one bit if I have to tell you every day from now until you’re a hundred and ten how much I love and admire you, I’ll do it gladly. So will the rest of your sons. And your brothers. And your grandkids, and everybody else in this town you’ve made an impact on over the years.”
His father took a deep breath. Stared out over the land for a moment before dipping his chin firmly. “Then I guess I did all right after all.” He took a peek sideways. “Proud of you. And I’ll say it—I love you.”
Before Blake could respond, Mike tugged the reins, moving his horse into a little brisker of a walk. Blake followed, wiping at his eyes quickly before catching up and riding beside his father.
He didn’t need to take Mike’s place someday. No one could take Mike’s place. That was kind of the point.
But with their roots gone deep, the tree that was the Coleman family was strong and sturdy. Lots of branches, beautiful foliage. Good fruit.
They would be able to stand strong going forward.
Family, forever.
Coleman Memory book
~Dana (Wild Rose) Coleman~
July first. Canada Day. My wedding day.
The flowers are in full bloom at Wild Rose ranch, and the deck platform Mark built nearly a year ago is completely surrounded by fragrant blossoms. Rafe and Gabe built an arbour, and Allison and Laurel wove it through with extra flowers, and today Mark and I stood under it as we said I do.
Which means I became a Coleman for the second time.
The first time, I was a young woman, somewhat a stranger to this family, but I was welcomed in and loved. This time, I’m no longer so young but able to see far more clearly how rich and deep and strong love needs to be to stay true.
All the family was there today. Whiskey Creek, Six Pack, Moonshine, and Angel. Jaxi and Blake showed off their littlest one. At only a week old, Dane is adorable and the entire family was fawning over him. Rafe and Laurel shared with us the wonderful news that they’re expecting right around Christmas. I’m so excited for them. Rafe couldn’t stop grinning, holding Laurel as if she were precious.
Having the children here at the Wild Rose ranch house—with their children and all the rest of the family as well—was perfect. I’ve found a place to set down new roots so I can bloom as well.
I’m glad.
That the sadness is over, yes, but not that the sadness ever occurred. Because light
and dark are both parts of our world, and while pain hurts, it teaches. The memory of sorrow reminds me to cherish every moment of the sweet goodness I now have.
Also, somewhere along the way, I seem to have lost the thread of what these pages are supposed to be about, and it looks as if I’m sharing a diary update. But Mark (and Laurel, and Jaxi, and Marion!) have all assured me that the idea behind the memory book has changed over the past year. It’s become a living memento of what’s important. What’s happening now, and in the future—it will all get recorded in some way.
But for this, my first chance to add to the story, I want to affirm that family is laughter and tears. Sometimes you get more of one than the other, but if you hope and pray and dream hard enough, in the end, love wins.
Love wins.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed this story for Mark and Dana and all the Coleman clan. Thanks so much for reading, and if you do have a few minutes to leave a review for others, I’d appreciate it.
There’s also audio for this series.
At this point, I’m returning my attention to the new adventures happening in Heart Falls. The next book to read in chronological order is Book 4 in the Stones of Heart Falls in A RANCHER’S LOVE. After years of traveling and taking care of herself, Ginny needs to re-find her place in the family. She expected to have to deal with balancing her hard-won independence and her brothers’ protectiveness. She did not expect an annoying, bullheaded, irritatingly sexy newcomer to the ranch who’s constantly under her feet and getting under her skin.
If you have not yet ventured over to Heart Falls, WELL NOW! Have I got some exciting news for you!!! Start with A RANCHER’S HEART, Heart Falls Book 1, and you’ll find out exactly what happened to Tamara Coleman after she left Rocky Mountain House to be the nanny for a grumpy, growly rancher with two wonderful, yet needy, little girls.
Make sure you’re on my mailing list to stay up to date on these and future stories. The mailing list really is the best way to get information because I’m not super active on any social media. Sign Up Here.
Rocky Mountain Forever: Six Pack Ranch: Book 12 Page 23
