Your Ranch or Mine? by Cindy Kirk

Author:Cindy Kirk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2009-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Mitch moved to stand close to Anna, wondering about the lost look in her eyes. But the construction crew milling around made it neither the time nor the place to exchange confidences. Instead, he followed her lead and refocused on the house.

He couldn’t still the pride welling up inside him. He’d come such a long way from his humble beginnings. Finally he would have what he’d longed for all those years ago. “This will be my first home.”

Just saying the words made it feel real. He may have purchased the land, drawn up the plans and hired a contractor. He may have helped pour the foundation. But only now, with the windows glimmering in the sun and the house starting to look like a home, did it sink in that his dream was in sight. It felt right. Just like having Anna by his side. That felt right, too.

“Your first home?” Anna slanted a sideways glance at Mitch. “Didn’t you have a house in Chicago?”

He lifted a shoulder. “I owned a town house. This feels different. More permanent.”

“I know what you mean.” Anna nodded in agreement. “Stacie, Lauren and I had a condo in Denver. Of course, we only rented, but even if we had owned it, the place didn’t have that forever-after kind of feel.”

Mitch was amazed. In a few short sentences Anna had managed to articulate his feelings. All his life he’d longed for the permanence he’d missed as a child. He wanted not just a place to hang his hat but one that would be there year after year. He wanted a woman like that, too. One who would be his best friend. One he could trust with his innermost thoughts and feelings. One to grow old with…and love forever.

Dear God, where had that mushy sentimentality come from? Mitch chuckled and took Anna’s arm. “See the guy by the sawhorse? That’s Jake Rossie, the job foreman. Let’s see if we can get an update.”

Confident he’d eventually end up back in Sweet River, Mitch had purchased the land they stood on from Henry three years ago. Last winter the clock had started ticking. He’d given himself twelve months to make the move. In May, he’d returned to Sweet River to kick off the construction of his new home. And this past summer, he’d spent several long weekends in Sweet River checking the progress. Each time he’d been impressed by Jake and his crew.

After listening to Jake this time, Mitch realized the news was better than he’d anticipated. If the weather continued to hold, he should be in his new house before Thanksgiving.

When Jake excused himself to take a phone call, Mitch and Anna headed inside to check out the main level.

Though Anna wasn’t nearly as talkative as she’d been on the drive out, she oohed and aahed over everything from the massive wood-burning fireplace to the state-of-the-art kitchen with all the latest appliances.

Upstairs, she admired the large rooms, walk-in closets and open floor plan.

“Tell me what you don’t like,” he urged.

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