Chapter 154 Part 154
Asher
He stared down at the edge of the cliff. It hadn’t snowed in a week, and the cold air felt good in his lungs. It took him back to a year earlier, when he’d also stared down the expanse. A year ago, he wanted to die, but today, he felt free.
“If you want to jump, you’ll have to get off your horse,” Cassidy said, from behind him.
Asher chuckled, and glanced at her over his shoulder. “What are you doing up here?”
“I like the view,” she said.
He regarded her for a few seconds, something niggling at the back of his mind. “How often do you come up here?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yeah, it matters, Cass,” he said.
She sighed but didn’t look at him. She lifted her head up to the sky and closed her eyes. “Do you think you’ll make it?”
“Yes. I made a choice. No matter how dark it gets, it’s always light when I wake up. The ranch, my family, the boys, Emerson and Henri, they bring the light.”
“Asher.” Her voice was soft, filled with pain, and he knew she was still stuck there. He was, too, but not as often. The nightmares would get better now, he knew they would. Emerson was back at his side and it was all he’d ever needed.
“Are you going to stay?”
Cassidy opened her eyes, and Asher didn’t like what he saw. “Yeah, for a while at least.”
“Blair’s in love with you,” Asher said. She had to know that. She had to have seen the way his brother looked at her.
She shook her head. “No, he’s not. I’m too damaged to love, besides, am I really the woman you’d want your brother to settle down with?”
“You’re not damaged. You think you are, but you’re not. I thought I was damaged, too, but Emerson showed me that there is redemption at the end of that darkness. If you let yourself live, feel, and explore, you’ll find it, too.”
“It’s not as easy as you make it sound, Asher, we both know that,” she said.
“It’s not easy, but it’s doable.”
They rode back to the ranch together, and Cassidy gave him a smile as they dismounted the horses in front of the barn. Rick took both horses, and Asher turned to look at her.
“I’ll be here, Cass, every single time you fall, I’ll be here.”
A low chuckle started behind them, and they both turned abruptly. Blair stood with his hands on his hips, and shook his head. “She won’t fall.”
Cassidy smiled as she looked at him, and Asher nodded. “If she does, I’m sure you’ll catch her.”
Asher left them at the barn, and headed back to his house. He could smell the casserole the moment he opened the front door, and he smiled. Voices filtered from the kitchen, and he closed the door behind him.
“How was your ride?” Emerson asked, when he hugged her from behind.
The ring on her finger sparkled as it caught the light, and Asher knew that she was his forever. She would love him like nobody else ever could. She would hold his hand, and she wouldn’t let him fall.
“Cold,” he said, and grinned. She yelped when he pressed his cold cheek against her warm one, but he only held on tighter.
“I think there should be a canoodling rule in this house,” Oscar said, and they all chuckled.
“We weren’t canoodling,” Asher said, as he let go of her, and leaned against the counter.
“So…if you found me and some girl in that same position—”
“Fine, no canoodling in the kitchen,” Asher said, with a straight face.
Emerson laughed softly. “If you really love that girl, I don’t see a problem with it. It would be a problem if you had her in your bedroom with the door closed.”
Joel grinned. “Yeah, that might happen less frequently now that Emerson works from home.”
The smile fell from Asher’s face and his eyes hardened as he looked at Joel. “Excuse me?”
Oscar barked out a laugh, and shook his head. “He’s kidding.”
“It’s not my fault they flock to me,” Joel said.
“That’s it. No more helping Colt, he’s a bad influence,” Asher said.
“I’m kidding!” Joel said, as he grinned. “But I do have some news.”
Asher was muttering under his breath, but he pulled out a chair and sat down, looking intently at Joel. “What news?”
“I got accepted into college,” he said. He looked unsure of himself now, and Asher searched his gaze.
“That’s great news, Joel!” Emerson said. “What are you going to study?” Joel hadn’t said a word, not even that he was thinking of applying.
“Veterinary science, but it doesn’t matter…not really.”
“Why not?” Asher asked him.
“It’s only half a scholarship. I was hoping to get a full ride,” he said.
“Joel, if it’s money you’re worried about—”
“He’s going to college,” Asher said softly, his eyes glistening. “Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?”
“You are?”
“Yeah, Joel, I’m so damn proud.”
Asher couldn't remember moving, but he was pulling Joel to his feet, and hugging him tightly. Emotion swirled in Joel’s eyes, and he clutched Asher back just as tight.
“So…does this mean Joel’s going to college and I get to have a room all to myself?” Oscar asked.
Asher and Joel chuckled. “Yeah, Oscar, it means Joel is going to college.”
That night they celebrated Joel’s success at the main house, eating, and laughing as a family. Asher couldn’t ask for more. He had everything he’d never hoped for. Emerson gave him a life he never thought he deserved, but he was thankful all the same.
Asher was deep in thought as they lay in bed. The house was peaceful and quiet, everybody settled in for the night. Emerson turned on her side, and looked thoughtfully at him.
“Did something happen today?”
“I don’t know. Cassidy was up at the cliff,” he said.
Emerson laid her head on his chest, and tightened her arm around his waist. “I have a feeling everything will work out like it should.”
“They deserve to be as happy as we are.”
Asher closed his eyes, but a moment later they snapped open again. The last time his life had felt fulfilled, it had all been a dream. His hand found Emerson’s, and he squeezed it. Relief flooded through him. She was still there.
The End ... for now.