Well, so much for a profession of undying love. It clearly wasn’t happening. They were obviously not on the same page. She sniffed, she was not going to cry over the man. She was going to pack up her car and drive to California and enroll in school.

The tears in her eyes were tears of joy, not sadness. She refused to cry over a man that wouldn’t even see her off, or tell her goodbye. The jerk.

She’d just finished getting dressed when Alyssa knocked on her door.

“I came to help you pack. I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you, too.”

“No, you won’t you’ll be so busy in college you won’t have time to miss me. You’re going to have so much fun.”

Rachel forced a smile, knowing her friend thought she knew what was best. “I’ll still miss you. But I can always stalk you on social media.”

“For sure, and you’ll have to post some of your work as you learn new stuff. I’ll be waiting with bated breath.”

Rachel laughed. “I’m sure you will, in between breeding the cattle, and delivering new calves, and sewing up hurt animals, and getting caught in snowstorms.”

“I’ll still have time to check for new pictures.” Alyssa put her hands on her hips. “Now let’s get you all loaded up. It’s a long drive to California.”

They spent the morning packing and filling the car with all Rachel’s belongings. Meg brought her out a hamper of food to eat on the journey and the whole family came to say goodbye and wish her luck. All except for Adam, he was nowhere to be seen. After they all said their goodbyes, Rachel got in the car and the family went inside for lunch.

All that was left was to start the car and drive off.

* * *

Adam rode Jake back into the yard and saw Rachel’s car sitting there still loaded and waiting for her. He groaned, he’d been a chicken-shit and had tried to hide out until she left, but it hadn’t worked. She was still here. He hadn’t wanted to have to say goodbye. He’d done that last night with his body. Loving her with everything he had. Showing her in every way how much she meant to him. He didn’t think he could actually say the words without begging her to stay. But he couldn’t do that, she was young, and she deserved to go to college and lead her life, maybe even find a younger man to love.

Grandpa K walked out of the barn and looked at him still sitting on his horse staring at her car. “You owe her a goodbye, even if you aren’t brave enough to ask her to stay.”

He sighed. “It’s not that I’m not brave enough, it’s that she deserves the time to find herself.”

“Never saw her act like she didn’t know exactly who she was, or what she wanted. Are you sure you’re not the one that needs to find himself?” Grandpa K said with a lifted brow.

“But her college…”

“Seems to me she never was too excited about going to college. In fact, it seems to me that the idea of opening up that old photo studio in town was the thing that excited her the most. Might just be she’s waiting for an invitation to make this her home.” He shrugged. “But I’m just an old fool, you probably shouldn’t listen to me.” Then he started walking toward the house.

Adam scoffed at the idea. His grandfather had one of the keenest minds he knew. “Grandpa?”

He didn’t turn, just pointed. “She took a horse, went that way.”

Adam was certain he knew where she’d gone. His land was that way and she loved that old swing that sat by the river. Adam turned his horse around and urged him into a run. He couldn’t get there fast enough.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her horse tethered to a tree. He tied his next to hers and walked toward the river.

She sat cross-legged on the swing with her back to him. She didn’t turn as he walked up behind her and knelt on the ground. She looked so damn beautiful in her ragged jeans and white T-shirt.

He whispered, “You’re still here.”

She nodded, but didn’t answer or look at him.

“Why?”

She stared at the river and then shrugged. “I don’t want to leave.”

She said it so quietly he nearly couldn’t hear her. But his heart leapt with joy, maybe he had a chance.

He cleared his throat. “I don’t want you to leave either.”

She finally turned and looked at him. “You don’t?”

“No. I couldn’t bear the thought of you leaving, that’s why I left this morning while it was still dark. I couldn’t watch you drive away. I love you.”

“Then I’ll stay.”

“And marry me?”

She sighed and closed her eyes as a smile curved her lips. “Yes. I’ll marry you. I love you too, Adam. So very much.”