by Vivian Arend
Laughter welled around them as always. The four of them, carrying the nearly year-old twins, moved up the hill to join the party. Tamara came forward, hugged her cousin and Dare, then handed toddler Royce to Kelli before stealing little Ryan for herself.
Ginny and Dare ended up sitting outside the cottage minutes later, babies safely off in the arms of their sisters-in-law. Joey played with Tyler under Sasha’s watchful eye.
Tucker and Jesse stood on the lawn halfway between the party and the cottage, as if ready to move at a moment’s notice whichever way they were needed.
Which—pretty much summed it up, Ginny realized. Their guys and what they stood for. Ready to do what was right.
Dare glanced behind them at the cottage where she’d lived while growing up. “I’m glad she’s yours now. Yours and Tucker’s.”
“It’s a sweet sadness to be here without you, but I swear I can still feel love radiating from the walls,” Ginny said softly.
Dare nodded. Then she thrust out her hand. “Show me.”
Placing her fingers with the shiny new engagement ring in her sister’s hand made bubbles dance in Ginny’s belly. “I really had no idea he’d already gotten me a ring.”
“You happy?” Dare waved off the question. “What am I saying? Of course, you’re happy. You’re so perfectly happy you’re glowing.”
No denying the truth.
Dare pointed at Ginny’s other hand. “Now the treasure ring.” Ginny switched hands, and Dare let out a hum of happiness. “It’s beautiful. Eight stones and all.”
Ginny tilted her hand as the sunlight caught the stones, sparkles flashing bright. “I really love it, but it’s not just the ring. It’s how every time I see it, I’m reminded of everything connected to it. The puzzle, and Mom’s planning, and her journal, and the one she made me.” She lifted her gaze to Dare’s. “Reading Mom’s thoughts has reminded me over and over how lucky I really have been. I had good roots. I’ve been surrounded by people who truly love me. I have a forever friend and sister in you—that makes me so happy.”
Dare wrapped her arms around Ginny’s neck and squeezed tight. “I love you, too. I love that you’re my sister.”
The sweet joy of hearing that was a rush like the river in the spring.
A mischievous expression slid onto Dare’s face. “You have one hell of a sexy man at your side. Add that to your list.”
That was a funny part of the past six months. “I actually have lists these days. I guess Tucker’s been wearing off on me.”
“Ha, try again. You’ve always had a list when it came to that man,” Dare said. “And he’s always thrown his lists to the wind to make you happy. It’s part of what makes you perfect for each other.”
Another sweet thought.
“Even after all the frustrations involved in solving the puzzle, I don’t wish any of it away,” Ginny confessed. “In fact, I’m a little sad I don’t have more boxes to open. More things from Mom and Dad. They really did give us good roots.”
“They did, and I’m grateful too, but mostly, thank God.” Dare let her head fall back and let out a groan that hung on the air. “I thought you’d never say it.”
What was going on? Ginny mentally repeated her words, but had no idea what Dare was talking about. “What did I say?”
“Jesse.” Dare leaned forward and shouted at her husband. “A miracle just happened. Get it out of the truck and bring it here. Please?”
Jesse hooted, then motioned to Tucker. “Come on. It’ll be your responsibility to haul around from here on, so you may as well get in training.”
Tucker glanced at Ginny, but all she could offer was a shrug. “No idea, but if he shoves you in the back and drives off, I promise I’ll find you before he can hotwire a tractor to dig a hole and bury you.”
“So bloodthirsty, that one,” Jesse said with a wink at Ginny. “Nah, I’m not getting rid of the body. He seems well behaved. So far.”
“Relatively,” Tucker said.
Jesse was still laughing when he marched up and deposited a banker’s box at Ginny’s feet. “Right here, Tucker.”
A second box landed on top of the first. “You pawning off financial records, Dare?” Tucker asked.
Dare cleared her throat and looked Ginny in the eye. “When I moved to Rocky, I cleaned out this cottage. Everything, including stuff my mom had tucked in the tiny attic area. These two boxes were up there.”
Ginny eyed them, but still had no clue what was going on. “And you brought them back because…?”
“She brought them back because I said it was okay to cheat a little,” Jesse said quietly. “If she had to.”
“Didn’t come down to that.” Dare grinned widely. “There’s a tag on the side that says Do not open. Give to Ginny or Deb when they ask for them. Until now, you didn’t ask. When your mysterious present showed up at Christmas, I wondered if the two things were connected. Which is why I kept pestering you to solve the puzzle page.”
Tucker settled beside her, and Ginny felt another pulse of excitement. “Do you think?”
“That this is your missing number three gift?” Tucker shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
The edge of the cardboard box was taped down. She broke the seal and lifted the lid.
A dozen red journals were lined up neatly inside. “Oh my God.”
Dare peeked in and gasped. “More journals?”
“Wow.” Tucker laid a hand on Ginny’s thigh and held on. Centering her. Keeping her grounded while her heart took flight.
A quick check confirmed it—both boxes held journals. Ginny lifted a book from the pile and opened it at random. Her mother’s familiar handwriting once again covered the page with stories, and memories, and tales of love.
She stared at the ordinary bit of magic in her hands before turning to her sister. “It’s a treasure I never knew I needed. Thank you for guarding it for me all these years.”
“I love you, Truth,” Dare said softly.
“I love you, Dare,” Ginny said back before lifting her gaze to Tucker’s.
She couldn’t say another word, not even to tell him how much she loved him. How grateful she was that he was there, and that he’d promised to always be there. Her throat closed up with too much joy and sadness and full-on contentment.
It seemed she didn’t need words.
“I know, goddess,” Tucker said with a wink. “I know.”
Three months later.
The wooden stairs creaked a warning, and Tucker gave up on the idea of surprising her. He paced slowly to the small area still tucked to the side of the loft and discovered Ginny right where he expected her, doing what he expected.
She glanced up from the journal she’d been reading, wiping uselessly at the tears on her cheeks. “Hey, you.”
“Hey.” He noticed the tears, but also the sweet smile. He noticed everything about this woman who was his heart and soul. He settled beside her and leaned in for a quick kiss. “You okay?”
“Yup.” She glanced at the Operation Prove It headquarters. “I guess I need to accept this will vanish soon.”
“I don’t know. I think I have some pull with the powers that be. It’s important to have spots for…cats…to play.”
A laugh escaped her then, dancing away the sadness. “That’s good.”
“Face it. Hay lofts are multi-purpose at the best of times. The Stone family takes that to the extreme.”
Ginny nodded. “Secret forts when we were little. Operation Prove It headquarters this past year. Mysterious birthday treasure hideaways. It’s a bittersweet thought that so many years ago, my Mom crawled up here and hid my gift, all the while thinking about our family. She probably laughed over the tangled confusion she was about to cause, but I know she planned on clapping extra hard when the mystery was finally unraveled.”
“She would be proud that you solved it.”
“We solved it together.” She linked her fingers with his. “I love you.”
Get
ting to say it back was everything. “I love you, too.”
He leaned in, intending on offering a kiss, but she leaned away and held up the book in her other hand. “I’ve been reading the most fascinating entry in Mom’s journal. This one, you need to hear.”
Kisses temporarily put on hold—very temporary if he had any say in it—Tucker stretched back and pulled Ginny’s feet into his lap as he offered his full attention. “Go for it.”
She cleared her throat, glanced up at him with a shine in her eyes, then read out loud.
Walter gave me a family ring for Christmas. I didn’t say anything in front of the kids because thankfully none of them noticed, but I had to tease him.
* * *
The ring has eight stones, not seven.
* * *
I asked if he had someone on the side I didn’t know about, and for a minute or two, he clearly had no idea what I was talking about. The man is adorable when he’s flustered.
* * *
Then he told me he’d screwed up, but in the end decided it wasn’t really a mistake. See, he’d made a list of the kids and all our birthdays then sent it to the store. All our kids—as in he’d automatically included Tucker’s name and birthday.
* * *
We both sat there for a moment after he told me that, and I realized he was right. The boy might not be my flesh and blood, but he’s mine as much as if I birthed him. I’m proud to have Tucker as part of this family, and I hope in the future, we can find a way to make it not just a summertime thing, but an all-the-time thing.
* * *
He deserves a big happy family around him, and he’s already part of Silver Stone. When it’s appropriate, we’ll make sure it happens.
The longer Ginny read, the more Tucker’s throat closed as emotion swamped in. Having Deb and Walter’s approval and love stated so clearly meant…
Meant everything.
He took a deep breath and focused to control himself.
Ginny rearranged herself, wrapping her arms around him and holding him tight. Her cheek pressed to his, their torsos meshed. Not sexual, but intimate and connected. One soul, one heart.
He held her and let the tears come. Just now. Just once.
In the end, they both needed tissues to clean up and be ready for the next thing.
“You happy?” she asked, climbing back into his lap.
“Very,” he confessed.
“Good.” Mischief danced into her eyes. “Tucker? I want you. Today, tomorrow. Forever. I love you so much.”
Then she kissed him until he couldn’t think straight. Ginny, generous and warm, teasing until there was nothing to do and nowhere to go but right here and now. Slipping together intimately in another way. Bodies heating, kisses and panting breaths until she covered her mouth with her hand and her face twisted with pleasure. Coming hard around him. Taking him over the edge.
Together. Always.
Forever.
I hope you enjoyed this story for Tucker and Ginny. 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.
* * *
I know, Dustin is still waiting for his happily-ever-after. Let’s give him a few more years to grow up, first. Don’t worry, I do have plans for him! We’ll let you know via newsletter when A Rancher’s Vow is in the works.
* * *
Chronologically, the next thing to read in the overall Heart Falls series is A Cowboy’s Christmas List. Yup, Alex Thorne is coming back to Heart Falls, and ready to make some big moves!
* * *
He’s positive he and Yvette Wright belong together. Only after years of butting heads, it’s going to take a holiday miracle to convince her he’s right.
* * *
A miracle aided by a hand-made Advent calendar filled with the perfect gifts to check off everything on their list.
A Cowboy’s Christmas List
So 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.
Are you new to my books? Check out my handy newbie guide for all things contemporary romance by Vivian Arend!
About the Author
With over 2.5 million books sold, Vivian Arend is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 60 contemporary and paranormal romance books, including the Six Pack Ranch and Granite Lake Wolves.
Her books are all standalone reads with no cliffhangers. They’re humorous yet emotional, with sexy-times and happily-ever-afters. Vivian pretty much thinks she’s got the best job in the world, and she’s looking forward to giving readers more HEAs. She lives in B.C. Canada with her husband of many years and a fluffy attack Shih-tzu named Luna who ignores everyone except when treats are deployed.
www.vivianarend.com
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Rancher’s Love
Copyright © 2021 by Arend Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 9781989507377
Edited by Angie Ramey
Cover Design © Damonza
Proofed by Linda Levy
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations.
First electronic publication: August 2021
www.vivianarend.com
