Belle back to the main house and celebrating their marriage the way a man and wife should. He’d expected the band around his finger to feel heavy. It had when he’d married Molly. This time was different. Despite the circumstances, this time felt natural. And his relationship with Belle was anything but.
He filled two travel mugs with coffee and headed out the back door. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. He didn’t know why. He’d poured her coffee knowing she was there. But seeing Belle muck the stalls confirmed yesterday hadn’t been a dream. She was back in his life. And the fine line between terrified and excited blurred with each passing second.
“Good morning. How’s Lillie?”
“She made it through the night and had two more feedings.” Belle continued to shovel without looking up. “She’s taking a nap before I bring her to work.”
“I brought you coffee.” Harlan set the mug on a hay bale, maintaining his distance. The closer he got to her, the faster his heart beat. “You don’t have to do this.” Outlaw poked his head out of the empty stall Belle had moved him into. “I don’t expect you to work for me or tend to my horses.”
Belle shrugged in acknowledgment. “It’s the least I can do. I would have fed them but I saw two different pellets in your feed bins and I didn’t know who got what. If you show me, I’ll take care of them for you.”
“Trying to keep me out of my own stables?” Harlan’s body tensed.
“It’s not that.” Belle’s shoulders slumped before she looked up at him. “Okay, maybe it is.” She rested the shovel handle against the crook of her arm and tugged off her gloves. “Everything else aside, I feel guilty about not coming to see you when your dad died. Your family has always been wonderful to me and I should have swallowed my pride and tried.”
Harlan picked up her coffee and handed it to her. “You did. I saw you at the cemetery.” Her eyes widened at his admission. “At first I wasn’t sure it was you off in the distance, but when Dylan noticed you, too, I had my confirmation.”
“It wasn’t enough.” Belle averted her gaze from his once again. “How is your mom?”
“Good. She remarried and seems happy with her new life in California. I’ve only been out there once.” Now it was his turn to feel awkward. Four years had passed since Ryder had been convicted of vehicular manslaughter. Harlan still didn’t believe the circumstances surrounding his father’s death, but he’d been forced to accept them after his brother pled guilty and had been sentenced to fifteen years in the state penitentiary. “I should fly out there sometime soon. I know Ivy would love to see her grandmother. Maybe over Thanksgiving.”
“Please give her my best.” Belle flipped open the top of the mug and took a sip. “Thank you. You even remembered how I take my coffee.”
“Light and sweet.” How could he forget? He used to tease her about it. Light and sweet, just like you. “But seriously, Belle, I don’t want you to feel you owe me anything for staying here. I know we can’t ignore the past, but we can try to keep it there. I appreciate the gesture.”
“I will still clean the stalls because, believe it or not, busy work helps me think. The sooner I can get my rescue operation open, the more animals I’ll be able to save.” She plucked her phone from her back pocket and tapped the screen. “Come look at this.” She sidled up to him as he entered the stall, her shoulder grazing his upper arm. “It’s a nonprofit with locations in California and Tennessee called The Gentle Barn. It provides a safe haven for animals in need while educating the community about kindness and compassion. They even have a cow with a prosthetic limb. Isn’t it remarkable?” Belle beamed as she continued to scroll through the photos. “My goal is to provide my rescues with whatever medical care they may require. If I can adopt them out into loving forever homes, wonderful. If not, that’s okay, too. Either way, they’ll never suffer again.”
The sincerity in Belle’s voice was another reminder why he fell in love with her so long ago. She did everything with purpose and her whole heart. The rescue was a great idea. Ivy would love it, especially since she wanted to become a veterinarian.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Belle stepped away from him.
“I have a proposition for you.” Harlan feared he’d regret what he was about to say, but even worse, he feared he’d regret it even more if he didn’t. “I have more acreage here than I need. You and I chose this property because of its spectacular views of the Swan Range. I think it’s only fair for you to use part of it for your rescue. No strings, no cost. We’ll call it your first donation.”
She opened her mouth and for a second he thought she’d balk at the idea. “Are you sure you want me this close to you and your daughter?”
“Belle, I have nothing against you. And I admit, I am concerned with you interacting with Ivy. She’s an inquisitive child and as soon as I pick her up after work she’ll want to meet you. Are you okay with that?”
“I don’t harbor any resentment toward her.” The corners of her mouth turned downward. “I resented the situation and a part of me still does. But Ivy is an innocent child who became the victim of a bad situation. I can sympathize with that. I know what it’s like to have a mother walk out and never return. I’ll be her friend, but I don’t want her to believe you and I are a real couple because it will break her heart when I leave.”
Leave? Of course she would leave eventually. But if she accepted his proposal, she would just be on the other side of the property. Granted he wouldn’t see her every day, but he’d know she was there.
“Ivy’s aware of your grandmother’s illness. She doesn’t know the specifics, but she knows enough. I’ll remind her so there’s no confusion. Does that mean you’ll accept my offer?”
“I’d be a fool not to.” She exhaled slowly. “And I might be a fool to say yes.”
“I have a little over a hundred acres. You’re welcome to half of it.”
Belle shook her head. “Fifty acres is much more than I can handle.”
“I’ll deed you whatever you feel you need now, and if you want to add more later, you can. There’s another entrance to the ranch on the back side of the property. Start with that parcel. The land’s fairly clear and there’s already an outbuilding there. I can’t guarantee it’s not a complete teardown. I haven’t been out there in a while. But if it is, I’ll help you with that, too.” Harlan fought to stop rambling. “It’s up to you. You need to be comfortable with it.”
Her expression filled with worry. “Are you comfortable with it? Or is this an attempt to clear your conscience?”
“Belle, I’ll never escape the guilt of leaving you at the altar, but that’s not why I’m offering. I have one major concern. I can’t have my daughter affected by your sometimes reckless choices. If you can promise to call me before doing anything rash, I would be happy to help you start your rescue.”
“Then I think we have a deal.” She gave him a soft, warm smile.
Belle held out her hand. This time he knew enough to shake it. The feel of her palm against his set his heart aflame. A small ball of forbidden desire burned in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to seal their arrangement with a kiss. To give her what was rightfully hers and what should have been hers all along. The land and his heart. But he couldn’t. He’d had his chance. If he hadn’t bolted on their wedding day, Belle never would have faced half the challenges she’d endured. And she most likely wouldn’t have a police record. He’d set off a chain reaction eight years ago and it had deeply affected Belle and his daughter. He might be able to right some of his wrongs, but he’d have to live with the consequences of never knowing what could have been.
* * *
FOR THE SECOND day in a row, Belle couldn’t believe how much her life had changed overnight. Harlan’s generous land offer touched her more than she’d ever admit. At least