Chapter 13 - The Choice That Belonged to Her
Spring arrived.
Wildflowers covered the valley.
Aayoka expanded her ranch.
Elias helped build fencing.
One afternoon Chayton visited.
His relationship with Aayoka remained cautious.
Healing was slow.
That was appropriate.
“I brought something,” he said.
He handed her a small leather pouch.
Inside was her mother’s necklace.
Aayoka stared.
“I thought it was lost.”
“I kept it.”
“Why?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
He looked down.
“And because I hoped someday you might let me return it.”
Aayoka closed her fingers around the necklace.
“Thank you.”
Chayton nodded.
Before leaving, he looked at Elias.
“Take care of her.”
Aayoka immediately said, “I take care of myself.”
Chayton smiled.
“Yes.”
Then he corrected himself.
“Take care of each other.”
Elias nodded.
“That I can promise.”
That evening Aayoka stood beside the spring wearing her mother’s necklace.
Elias joined her.
“Beautiful.”
“The necklace?”
“You.”
She smiled.
“You are improving.”
“I practice.”
Aayoka became serious.
“Elias.”
“Yes?”
“I think I know what I want.”
His heart accelerated.
She looked toward the Ward ranch in the distance.
“I don’t want your home.”
Elias waited.
“And I don’t want you to abandon yours.”
“Good.”
“I want both.”
He frowned.
“Both?”
“Two ranches. One life.”
Elias slowly smiled.
“That sounds complicated.”
“Yes.”
“Expensive.”
“Probably.”
“Long rides.”
“Definitely.”
He took her hand.
“I like it.”
Aayoka leaned against him.
For the first time, she had designed a future without asking anyone’s permission.
May you like
And Elias loved the future precisely because it belonged to her too.
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