I climb over the fence, scan the field, and see her way out back, leaning against Freya.
“Josie.”
The horses jerk their heads up, looking in my direction. The three Belgian draft horses trot over, nostrils flared as they sniff for treats. “Sorry, guys,” I say, reaching up to pet one’s muzzle. “I didn’t bring anything today.”
Lucy nudges me again, demanding more attention. Surrounded by the three large horses, I lose sight of Josie.
“I’ll come back,” I tell the horses. Baldur, the newest draft horse to join the little herd is slowly gaining weight and looks happy to be with the other old plow horses. Kim really would be proud, and I should have known better than to ever question her judgement.
Josie is willing to do what it takes to keep this place afloat.
“Jacob?” Josie’s voice floats over the pasture, and I pat Lucy’s neck once more before gently pushing her away so I can safely move around her. There’s too much space between us, and I break out into a jog, needing to close the distance between us, not stopping until she’s just a foot from me.
“What are you doing here?” she asks. “Is something wrong with the—”
I pull her to me, putting my lips on hers, kissing her like my life depends on it because, right now, it feels like it does.
“I had to tell you,” I start, fastening my hands on her waist. She hooks her arms around my shoulders and looks into my eyes, searching.
“Tell me what?”
“I don’t know where this is going, but all I know is I want to be with you wherever it leads. I’ve fallen for you, Josephine Walker, and I don’t have a clear vision of what my life will be like next year or the year after that, but I know I want you in it.”
Tears fill her eyes and her lips part. A beat passes without anything being said. Then she blinks and a tear rolls down her face. “Jacob” I can’t stay away any longer and lean in, resting my forehead against hers. “I tried so hard to ignore what I felt, but then I started falling for you too, and who am I to fight gravity?”
I pull her to me, bringing one hand to the side of her head. I rake my fingers through her hair, tipping her head up. “I love you, Josie.”
“I love you, too.”
We kiss again, and everything feels like it’s exactly how it should be.
Chapter Forty-Five
JOSIE
“Am I doing it right?” I take a few quick steps forward, moving my hands above my head.
“No.” Everly shakes her head. “That’s not even close. Watch and follow me.” She shows me the dance move again and I can’t for the life of me follow along. I’m not very coordinated when it comes to any sort of dancing.
Everly and I both laugh when I trip and almost fall, catching myself at the last minute on the pasture fence. We’ve been out here for the last half-hour or so filming videos for social media. Phoenix Horse Rescue and Rehab is official now, though we’re still waiting for our tax exemption paperwork to come back from the IRS. Louisa helped me file everything before she left two weeks ago, and while I read online that some charities got their paperwork back within weeks, it’s most likely going to take at least three months before we see anything.
“Just watch, by the end of summer. I’m going to be a TikTok dancing sensation.”
Everly laughs a little too hard and then shakes her head. “Mom, it’s the first week of summer break and I already know it will take more time to make you even halfway decent at dancing.”
“Hey, now. Go easy on the woman who birthed you.”
Everly rolls her eyes and walks over to the ring light, taking her phone off the stand. “It’s almost five, Mom.”
“Oh, shit. What would I do without you?”
“Be perpetually late for everything?”
“You are seriously fourteen-going-on-forty,” I tease and snake an arm around her, pulling her in so I can kiss the top of her head. “And I love my little old lady of a daughter.”
“Mom,” she protests.
I kiss her once more and let go. “We do need to get a move on. Can you handle setting out grain while I shower?”
“Yeah,” she says like it’s no big deal. “I’m going to set up my phone and record a time-lapse of bringing everyone in for dinner, so don’t come back out.”
I raise an eyebrow as I fold down the ring-light stand. “I know you’re having fun with this, but don’t forget to live too,” I remind her. Everly’s horse rescue social media blew up recently, thanks to another viral video of Pongo’s progress as well as Jacob’s soon to be sister-in-law reposting several videos. And she, as it turns out, is famous.