An hour later, we were pulling up to a ranch that was one hundred acres. It was just down from the Mathews’ cattle ranch.
“Wow. We’re just down the road from Ellie, Ari, and Jessie!” I jumped out of the truck and followed Josh over to where Patty was standing.
“What do y’all think?” Patty asked.
I looked out over the beautiful Texas hill country. It was breathtaking.
“If this was my place, I think I’d want the house right here for an almost three-sixty view of the whole ranch,” Patty said with a huge grin.
Josh and I looked at each other.
Could this really be it? It’s the first place we’ve looked at.
I had the most overwhelming feeling of peace come over me. Seeing this place first was almost like it was meant to be.
“It just came on the market this morning. Y’all are the first to look at it.”
The smile that spread across Josh’s face made me chuckle.
“A sign?” Josh asked.
“I’d say.”
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at me.
I nodded my head and said, “Yes.”
Josh quickly turned around and faced Patty. “Let’s put an offer down on it.”
Patty’s sweet smile faded. “Huh?”
“An offer, Patty. Full price. I don’t want to miss out on it.”
“Oh, um…well, um…y’all don’t want to look at any of the other listings?”
Josh shook his head. “Nope. This is it.”
“Okay. Well, let me call the seller’s agent and let her know that a full-price offer is fixing to come through.”
Josh clapped his hands together and did a little jump. When he turned back to face me, I ran into his arms and wrapped my legs around him, and then he spun us around. When he stopped, I looked into his eyes and knew he felt it, too.
“Welcome home, Princess.”
It was almost as if my father had spoken through Josh. I didn’t even attempt to hold back my tears. In this moment, I knew what was happening was meant to be. We were going to start our new life here on this hilltop.
Patty laughed. “All right, kids, let me call the selling agent, and then we will head back to the office.”
“Okay, Patty.” Josh set me down and placed his hands on my face. “I feel it. Do you feel it?”
I slowly nodded my head and bit down on my lower lip to keep from crying harder.
“Our kids are going to grow up in the most beautiful place. They’ll have so much room to run around.”
I tried to speak, but I couldn’t. I looked out over to the west. We would have the most amazing views of the sunset. I closed my eyes, and I could picture myself sitting on a porch swing, watching Libby and Will playing. When I opened my eyes, I saw something moving. I focused on a buck walking across the open field. He stopped and looked at me as I stared at him.
I turned to Josh. “Josh, look at the buck.” I glanced back and pointed, and then I dropped my hand.
He was gone. I quickly scanned the area for him.