“I’m okay,” she says. “I should have never tried to make that trip. I just didn’t want to miss breakfast with my dad again, you know?”
“None of it matters.” I yank her close again, kissing the top of her wet head. “All that matters is that you’re okay.”
“Of course I’m okay,” she says. “I know how to deal with a flash flood, although this is one of the worst ones I’ve ever seen.”
“What were you thinking?” This from her father, who has joined us. “Trying to drive in this?”
I loosen my hold. A little.
“I didn’t want to miss our breakfast again, Daddy. I didn’t want you to think… well, that happened anyway.”
“My God.” Mayor Vance rubs his forehead, droplets of water sliding down his cheeks from the action. “Carly, precious, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She gives him a soft smile. “I’m fine. See? I was going to call you to tell you I wasn’t going to make it, but when I got out of my car, I dropped my phone. I couldn’t find it because the rain was coming down so hard it was blinding me. The water rose so fast, before I knew it was ankle deep. I knew I had to get to higher ground. There was no way I could drive. I tried to back out and my car started to lift.”
“Where did you go?” I ask, glancing around.
“I walked up the road a bit, back toward the ranch, and found one of the old sheds on Bridger land.”
“Damn,” Chance says. His Stetson has kept his face dry, but droplets fall off the brim and wet the shoulders of his shirt. “One of the tasks on my list was to get rid of all those old structures that we don’t use anymore. Now we’ll get them stocked for emergencies instead.”
“I’m glad it was there,” Carly says. “I was able to get out of the rain and wait it out. I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”
I kiss the top of her wet head again. “I know that. We all do. Right, Mayor?”
He nods, which is the first time he and I agree on anything.
“My God,” I breathe. “Nothing else matters now. You’re here, and you’re safe.”
She pulls away then and I let her. Barely. Goes to her father and hugs him. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“You don’t have to be sorry.” Vance tips his daughter’s chin up so she looks at him. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m sorry I’ve been so…” He shakes his head.
“It’s all right, Daddy. I understand. You and Mom are just scared. Scared of losing me again. But I promise you that I’m not going anywhere.”
“He’s leaving, only here for the will,” he tells her.
I stiffen at the implication, but he’s right. Was right. “I’m not leaving Carly. Who knows what a year will bring? She might leave me for vet school. But I’ll follow her anywhere. Hell, I’ll even stay here with my pain-in-the-ass brothers if that’s what Carly wants.”
“I want to be with Austin.” She glances at me. Love shines in her eyes.
My heart nearly bursts. Love for this woman flows through me, and the intensity of it astounds me.
I want to confess my love to her, but right here? In front of my brothers? In front of her father?
Carly steps away from her father then.
I take my chance to grab her.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again, Carly Vance. Don’t you ever leave me again.”
She sinks her head into my chest. “I don’t want to, Austin. Not ever.”
“Good. Because I love you. I love you so damned much.”
Yeah, I didn’t wait. Because I’ve learned that I have to live in the here and now. Grasp happiness where I can. And I’m going to find it with this woman. She and I. Together.