Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“What a great idea.”
“That was Emeline’s idea,” Charlotte chimed in with a smile.
“Do you stay on the premises?” Levi asked her.
Charlotte shook her head. “No, no. I love it here, but after my long work hours, I enjoy heading home to my own little log cabin a few miles outside of River Falls. It’s not far from here, though.”
“Well, you do a great job of making the place look so good.”
She smiled. “Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a ton of work to do.”
“See ya around, Charlotte.” Gesturing to Levi, I said, “Let me show you the cabins.”
We walked a short distance. Like the main building, they were all log cabins, and each could hold up to ten kids. I’d had a hand in designing them when I was younger, and to this day, they’re still one of the things I’m most proud of.
After we made our way through one of them, I turned to Levi. “If Rhett decides he’d like to join us, he’d stay in one of the four cabins over there.”
“So it’s co-ed then?”
“The camp, yes, but not the cabins. Boys stay with boys; girls stay with girls. We also hire a couple River Falls police officers to come and provide security at night. They watch to make sure we don’t have anyone coming in or going out.”
“Like, as in kids sneaking out?”
“Yes. We had a group of fourteen-year-old boys one year who decided it would be fun to meet down at the pier and do some night fishing. Unlucky for them, Caden found them. I don’t think I have to tell you how that turned out.”
His brows shot up. “I bet he scared the living shit out of them.”
“Let’s just say they won’t ever try that again.”
He chuckled and looked around. “Do you live on the ranch?”
I nodded. “I do. I live in my great-grandmother Lileth’s cabin. It’s back behind that row of trees. I kind of remember her, but only a few vague memories.”
“I don’t remember her, if I’m being honest.” He looked around and said, “I think Rhett would love this.”
I leaned against a tree. “And what does Levi think about volunteering to teach the kids all about the animals?”
He shook his head and stared off into the distance, a smile on his handsome face. “Well, when a pretty woman’s asking, it’s hard to say no.”
“I’ll be sure to let my mother know you said she was pretty.”
Levi let out a bark of laughter. “She is, but I was talking about you, Em.”
I felt my cheeks heat, and I pushed off the tree and started toward his truck. I turned and walked backward as I called out, “I hope that means you’re paying for lunch!”
The drive into town was filled with easy conversation. Levi asked about the ranch, my parents, my uncles, and inquired further about the camp, as well as how I’d been doing over the last few years. And, finally, whether I was dating anyone.
“I’ve dated off and on. A couple of relationships, but they didn’t last long.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged and didn’t say what I wanted to say. Oh, because they weren’t you, Levi. So I went with the second reason they never lasted.
“Apparently, I work too much. Both of the guys I dated long term said that the ranch and the camps consumed all my time, and that I never made time for them. First of all, they knew that going in, and nothing will ever take me away from the ranch. I love that place, and I love my job. The horses are…well…they’re everything to me.
“And the camp? Well, I can say they made me realize I was taking on too much. I’m the camp director now, but there are some tasks I should be delegating to others. I’m slowly getting better at that. So, I guess I can thank those guys for opening my eyes a bit. But no one is going to tell me how to live my life or spend my time.”
He laughed. “You for sure have Wilde blood pumping through those veins.”
Smiling, I turned to look at his handsome profile. “Wilde as in my last name, or W. I. L. D. kind of wild?”
“Both.”
I grinned. “Fair enough.”
When the conversation about me had nowhere else to go, I took the opportunity to ask Levi the one question I’d been dying to ask, but wasn’t sure I should.
“So…you and Caroline?”
He glanced at me and shrugged before focusing back on the road. We were about to drive into town, so it was probably a question I should have saved for the drive back to the ranch. Or maybe he didn’t want to talk about it. I was pretty sure it had everything to do with Brooke and the accident.
“Things between us hadn’t been great for the last few years. Hell, our whole marriage, if I’m truly being honest. We fought a lot. Basically, if she wasn’t sleeping, she was picking a fight with me. On the day of the accident, I told her I thought we should separate. She freaked out on me and said she’d never give me the kids. She went on about some other crazy things, then grabbed Brooke and said she was leaving.”