Page 44 of Careless Hope
“Thought they’d suit you better than roses or something fancy. They remind me of you, remember? Growin’ where they please, not caring much about where or how.”
She laughed at that, and the sound sent a ripple through me, stirring up something that felt a lot like hope. “I didn’t take you for a philosopher, cowboy.”
“Ah, well,” I shrugged, trying to keep the mood light despite the weight of my thoughts. “Life on the ranch gives you plenty of time to think.”
“I like it. Thank you, Walker,” Caroline said, finally taking the flowers from my hand. Her fingers brushed against mine, sending an unexpected jolt of warmth up my arm. “No one’s ever given me wildflowers before.”
“Guess there’s a first time for everything,” I replied, my voice sounding strangely hoarse.
We stood there for a moment, the space between us filled with unspoken words and the faint scent of the earthy flowers.
“Shall we?” I gestured toward my truck, parked at the curb.
“Absolutely,” she said, the bouquet cradled gently in her arms. “Let me just put these in water and grab my purse.”
“We got all the time in the world, darlin’.”
15
Caroline
The wooden entrancesign of Red Downs Ranch stood proud as Walker turned into the drive. I had only been on the ranch a handful of times, back when Sutton and I would play here sometimes as kids. It seemed different now that I was grown, but still familiar.
I could already see the porch light casting a golden glow into the dusky evening, and my heart did a little skip—not only from nerves, but from this newfound thrill that seemed to accompany me whenever Walker was around.
“You must be happy your plan worked.”
“Hmm?” He asked, pulling off to the right down a separate driveway that led right to the main ranch house I knew Gray and Eryn lived in.
“This whole fake dating plan. Gray must have caught wind of us from the diner date we had.”
“Oh, yeah.” He pulled into a parking area in front of the house and put the truck in park. “Said there were rumors. Seems like we got people talkin’.”
Somehow, despite knowing this was just an arrangement, Ifelt a pang of something unidentifiable. Longing? I couldn’t tell for sure.
“Ready for this?” Walker asked, his light blue eyes catching the last bit of sunlight as he turned to me with a crooked smile.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, smoothing down the fabric of my dress—a futile attempt to calm the butterflies in my stomach.
We stepped out of the truck, and before my I could set foot on the second step leading up to the porch, the front door swung open. Eryn, a bohemian dream filled with effervescent energy, stood in the doorway like a vision from one of those glossy lifestyle magazines.
“Caroline! Walker!” she exclaimed, wrapping us both in an embrace that felt like coming home. Her amber eyes sparkled with genuine pleasure, and I found myself relaxing into her warmth.
“Look at you two,” Eryn continued, stepping back to appraise us with a playful twinkle in her eye. “I swear, Walker, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were simply waiting for our town’s lovely new doctor this whole time.”
Walker laughed, the sound rich and easy, and draped an arm over my shoulder, pulling me close. “Well, who’s to say I wasn’t?” he teased, giving me a squeeze that sent a jolt straight through my core.
“Come on in, you two. We’ve been looking forward to this all day,” Eryn said, ushering us inside. The smell of something savory wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the scent of pine and leather that seemed so intrinsic to the Anderson household.
As I walked through their home, a sense of belonging began to weave its way around my heart—a feeling I hadn’t realized I’d been missing until now. It was as if these walls, these people, werequietly reminding me what it meant to be part of something greater than myself.
As the mainstay of Whittier Falls, the ranch connected us all, in one way or another. And coming back home to find friendship again—kinship—felt like the kind of legacy that was as enduring as the land itself.
Eryn led us to the backyard patio, where Gray had set up an array of outdoor heaters that cast a cozy glow over the space. A table, set with white linen and herringbone china, was adorned with tea lights floating on water in glass bowls. A fire pit in the corner of the patio was surrounded by Adirondack chairs, waiting for people to gather. The heated pool on the right side of the yard reflected the strings of lights hanging overhead, creating an ambiance that felt both luxurious and inviting.
“This is so lovely,” I said.
Eryn beamed, her dress flowing gracefully as she moved throughout the space. “Gray went all out. But then again, he always does when family’s involved.”
