Chapter Thirty-Seven Wade

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Wade

" S ee if you can keep up, Chief," Ivy says as she hops up onto the steed I've brought her, Sheffield. And then in one split second, she's gone, holding her cowboy hat to her head, her hair flying out behind her like the wings of a raven.

I knew Ivy could ride fast, but what I didn't know was how fucking beautiful and effortless she would look doing it. I squeeze my boots around Apollo, signaling him to speed up to catch the little spitfire.

For someone who just healed up an ankle she doesn't seem to have any worries of getting hurt. That tells me either she's damn good on a fast horse and she knows it or she simply has no fear. Either answer is just as fucking sexy as the other to me. We ride like this for some time through the property until I finally breeze by her. She might be fast and impulsive but I'm good with the long haul and know how to work my horse better than anyone.

"Gotta pace him," I call as I pass her, winking as I tip my hat.

Ivy grunts the cutest little sound as she catches up to me at the same time I slow, so we can ride side by side at an easy jog.

"Your family's land is so beautiful," she says as the sky begins to litter with stars.

We are almost at my favorite spot on our 650 acres. The large pond we learned to fish in as boys with my dad. There is a tiny cabin at the base of it where we'd camp in the winter to ice-fish. It feels like a late summer night out here tonight, as Ivy comes to a halt when the water comes into her sightline.

"Stunning. This is all still yours?" she asks

Hard to believe when she puts it that way. Mine. My job to carry on his legacy.

"Yep," I say.

"That's a lot on your shoulders, isn't it?" she asks. "How do you feel about that? Is it a weight you welcome or weather?"

I blink because fuck, in my entire life no one has ever asked me that before.

"It's my birthright," I answer.

Ivy rides over to me, circling the space where Apollo and I have stilled.

"That's not what I asked you. What I asked was, do you want it?"

I huff out a breath and try to be as honest with her as I can.

"Sometimes." I pull ahead and move closer to the water, watching the moon shine off of it for a second. "I have to do this, there's never been another choice. My dad got sick and passed so quickly. Cole was already the Deputy Sheriff, now he's fixing to become Sheriff. I could never sell it, it's the way I feel the closest to him, it keeps him alive, if that makes sense."

"Perfect sense, actually," she answers immediately. "But what I mean is, what about you, Wade? If you could keep this dream and still have something for you, what would it be?"

I have to deep-dive into any dreams I had for this place, because it's been a long fucking time since I've thought about it. I shrug and decide to be honest with her.

"I always wanted to build, maybe add some more cabins, and offer weekend escapes. Maybe a rustic barn to house weddings. Bring in more income by running this place as a destination as well as a ranch. We have the land to add a hospitality side."

Ivy flashes me a moonlit megawatt smile.

"That's fucking genius, you know that, don't you? Why aren't you doing that? With this view of Sugarland? It's picture perfect."

I shrug, pulling my hat up to rub my forehead. "It's been a long time since I've considered what I wanted, Trouble."

She laughs and starts off in the direction of the barn.

"Sometimes you need to forget about what everyone else wants, Wade. Follow your own dreams. From what you and your family have said about Janelle"—I wince at her name—"she didn't allow much time for you to think about yourself. Sounds like you've been only giving to her and to your family, and somewhere in there you stopped giving to yourself. Gotta fill your own cup sometimes too." She looks out to the water for a beat, then back to me, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

"If you want to make this beautiful place into something other people can enjoy, do it. Where there's a will, there's a way, my dad always used to say."

"Sounds like a smart man," I comment as I ride beside her.

"He was … the best man I ever knew." She's got that distant look in her eye again for a second before her smile returns.

"Race ya back." And then she's off.

But this time, I'm using my knowledge of this land to my advantage. I take off more west, close enough that I can still see her but knowing there's a break through the trees that cuts across the field. I ride hard and fast back to the barn, with Ivy finally catching on and chasing her way behind me.

By the time I make it back, I'm a hundred feet ahead of her and dreaming up all the ways she's gonna reward me for my win.