Abandoned at 19, She Met the West’s Richest Cowboy—And He Refused to Let Her Go
Chapter 13
Fifteen years after Clara first arrived at the ranch, Grace was twenty-three.
She had finished college and returned home.
She wanted to work in environmental law.
Her mother was proud.
Her father was terrified.
“You’re going to argue with developers for a living?”
Grace smiled.
“Apparently.”
Ethan laughed.
“Good luck.”
Clara looked at him.
“You married one.”
“I know.”
Grace looked at both of them.
“You really did meet by accident?”
“Yes.”
“Mom was lost?”
“Very.”
“And Dad picked her up?”
“Yes.”
Grace smiled.
“You two sound like a movie.”
Clara laughed.
“It wasn’t.”
“What was it?”
Clara thought.
“It was messy.”
Ethan nodded.
“Very.”
Grace looked at the family photograph on the wall.
Her parents.
Her.
The ranch.
Everything they had built.
“I want that.”
“What?”
“A home.”
Clara smiled.
“You have one.”
“I mean one I build.”
Ethan looked proud.
“Then build it.”
That night, he and Clara stood outside.
“She’s ready.”
Clara nodded.
“So was I.”
“What do you mean?”
“The night I met you.”
She smiled.
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“I was just desperate.”
He squeezed her hand.
“And still brave.”
