“Holy shit,” he breathes, dropping his forehead against mine. “We’re going to have to figure something out because I need you, Sawyer. I can’t go weeks, let alone days without you.”
His words, utterly unexpected at this moment, cause my throat to tighten with emotion. I nod, agreeing with him because I feel the same way, but I don’t say anything because, despite how we feel, I don’t have an answer to our problem.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
HUDSON
“This is all your land?” I ask in awe from the passenger seat of the side-by-side. The kids are sitting in the back, enjoying the off-road ride, while Sawyer shows me around her property. The birthday party ended about an hour ago, and when she asked if I’d like a tour of the property, I couldn’t pass it up. It’s beautiful out here, and I can see why she loves it.
“Yep,” she says. “Over three hundred acres of farmland. My family deals in livestock… Cattle, dairy, chickens. We also have a large greenhouse with fruits and vegetables, and my mom breeds and trains horses as well.”
“I have a lot of horses,” Abby chimes in.
“I wanna ride a horse,” Presley adds.
“I can show you,” Abby tells her, pride evident in her voice. “I’m really good. Right, Mommy? I have three ribbons.”
“Yes, you are,” Sawyer says.
She’s driving toward what looks like the end of her property when I notice a for sale sign at the front of the road. “It’s for sale?”
“Yeah. My dad had set that property aside in case we wanted to build a house and live on the farm, but my brother had other plans, and my sister travels too much to put down roots in this small town. He doesn’t need all this land, and with big businesses taking over, the demand has reduced. With technology, they can produce higher quantities at a lower price… even if the quality isn’t as good. We sell to a lot of the businesses in town and some of the surrounding area, but it’s been a struggle. Dad’s going to sell this property and use the money to buy some much-needed equipment for the farm, to try to get caught up with the times.”
As she drives us around, stopping at the cows, chickens, and horses, I find myself asking a million questions, curious about everything. It’s a completely different type of lifestyle than living in the city, and I never pictured myself living on a farm, but as she explains everything, my mind is swirling with thoughts and ideas. Ones I’m not quite ready to voice yet…
When we get back to her parents’ place, where she lives with Abby, the kids ask if they can go riding, which gives me the perfect opening I need.
“Do you have to get going soon?” Sawyer asks, the look in her eyes telling me she’s dreading me leaving as much as I am.
“We have a hotel booked for tonight and tomorrow at the bed and breakfast in town. We’re not leaving until Monday.”
“Really?” she asks in shock. “What about training camp?”
“I took a couple of days off.” I shrug nonchalantly even though I got hell over it. Taking days off during training camp is frowned upon, and I’ve never done it before, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. Coming here, being with Sawyer, and spending Abby’s birthday with her was more important.
“How was the tour?” Charlie asks, walking over, now dressed in a pair of Wranglers, a button-down flannel shirt, and cowboy boots.
“Good,” I tell him. “Sawyer was about to take the kids to ride the horses. But I was thinking I could join you if that’s okay.”
Sawyer eyes me curiously, but before she can ask why, her dad nods and says, “Sure, I’m about to go do my afternoon chores.”
“Sounds good.” I glance down at my flip-flops. “Any chance you have a pair of boots you can lend me?”
Sawyer laughs. “I can give you a pair of mud boots.” She grabs the front of my shirt and drags me toward the barn and into the tackle room. “Why are you trying to hang out with my dad?” she asks, shoving a pair of black rubbers boots at me.
“I just want to learn about the place.” And see if the thoughts whirling in my head can possibly be brought to fruition.
She hits me with a you’re full of shit look but doesn’t push. “Fine. Have fun, cityboy.”
“You’re seriously not going to tell me?” Sawyer whines.
The kids are inside watching a movie, her mom spoiling them with popcorn and candy, while Sawyer and I are sitting on the porch swing with my arms wrapped around her, her head pressed up against my chest, and her body flush against mine. It’s dark outside, the only light coming in from the stars shining bright in the sky.