What was that look in her eyes when he’d told her?
The pain in his heart almost equaled the pain in his leg. He’d never wanted to feel this way again—he was no good at love—but he’d risked his heart with Ann.
She’d wrapped him in a blanket, but the snow was getting thicker. It would be hours before she could get back with help, if she could even find her way.
God, please help her. Please, keep her safe.
Maybe he shouldn’t have told her he loved her, but he might not get another chance.
He shivered and struggled to stay awake, wishing he could just go to sleep and escape the pain. At some point, a warm, wet tongue stroked his cheek. Sam woke up to realize Ace had returned.
“Good boy.” He rubbed the horse’s muzzle. Ignoring the pain shooting through his body each time he moved, he worked to get Ace settled in the soft snow next to him. Heat from the horse’s body would go a long way to keep Sam warm.
Beyond that, there was nothing more he could do besides wait.
It seemed like a lifetime, and yet no time at all, when Ann brushed the snow from his face and whispered his name. The heat from his horse had likely kept him alive to see her sweet face.
His mother’s concerned face appeared in his line of vision. “You’re fortunate Ann could remember how to find her way back. Do you know …”—she frowned, apparently deciding to hold her scolding for later—“here, I brought something warm for you to drink.”
She helped him drink from a Thermos insulated bottle. Sam thought nothing ever tasted so good. It warmed him to the core, which was exactly what he needed.
“Can you get on your horse?” she asked.
Sam was stiff and sore like he’d never been before, even when he’d been thrown, trying to break horses. The two ranch hands tried to assist him to his feet, but blackness edged his vision. They decided it would be best to fashion a travois for him.
Oh boy. It was going to be a long ride down the mountain.
Sam woke the next morning, exhaustion from his battle with the bear and his own horse clinging to him. His mouth dry, he was glad when his door creaked and his mother stepped in, bringing a tray of breakfast food.
When he tried to sit up, the splint on his broken leg reminded him of the doctor’s work and his restless sleep. How was he supposed to guide the hunters now? His future seemed completely out of reach. Over. His life would have been, too, if not for Ann.
“You need to eat, Son. Eat and rest. Doctor’s orders.”
“Ann,” he whispered, not recognizing his voice. “She saved my life. I want to thank her.”
Something shifted behind his mother’s eyes, striking fear in his heart.
“What is it? Did something hap—”
She shook her head and moved to the window, opening the curtains. “Her father arrived yesterday. Sheriff Daniels brought him out.”
“She’s … gone?”
His mother turned to face him. “She didn’t want to leave. Not without saying good-bye. But her father had already arranged for travel. He insisted. She wanted him to see her photographs, but he wouldn’t even look.”
Sam sat up despite the pain. “What are you saying? She left them?”
“Most of them, yes. I snuck a few into her luggage when I helped her pack. Oh, Sam, I was sorry to see that girl go.”
Not nearly as sorry as Sam.
More than two months had passed. Ann had no idea how Sam would react to seeing her, especially since it was Christmas Eve. His family already had their own plans, she was sure, but she was fortunate to have persuaded Daddy to her way of thinking. Fortunate to have made it back to Jackson, at all. Before Sam forgot about her. She hoped she wasn’t already too late.
Daddy still owned the magazine but had turned management over to someone else, so he could spend more time with his new bride. Plus Ann knew he wanted to escape the depressing atmosphere in New York, especially after the stock market crashed in October, which had spurred his early return from his honeymoon.
She’d convinced Daddy and Marilyn to visit Jackson to see the last of the Wild West for themselves in the winter. She’d shown him a few of the photographs she’d been able to bring back, that is, after his anger abated. Finally, Daddy’s eyes had lit up.
For her.
For her photographs of Grand Teton National Park. He agreed she should take photographs of what had to be a winter wonderland. They’d traveled over the pass just fine.
Even if he hadn’t agreed, Ann knew she would have found her way back here. Back to Sam. Her photographs had created memories of her with Sam. She longed to see him again.
Packed snow crunched beneath her boots as she strolled around the Covington home, taking in trees and mountains painted in white, while she waited on Sam and his brother to return from delivering gifts to a neighbor. Sheriff Daniels had been kind enough to bring Ann to the ranch before he headed home himself to spend Christmas Eve with his own family, so she’d need a ride back to town where Daddy and Marilyn stayed at the Jackson Hotel. Ann’s sister stayed behind in New York to spend Christmas with friends.
At first, Sam’s mother had been stunned to see Ann. But her surprise quickly turned to genuine delight. Ann had always liked the woman and took a measure of relief at hearing Belle say that Sam would be pleased to see Ann.
Anticipation danced in her stomach. She was glad the roads over the pass had been clear enough to travel, or else—
“Ann?”
She whirled to see Sam hiking toward her, and favoring his left leg. Ann smiled and rushed to him. He gripped her shoulders and looked her over.
“Is it really you?” He ran his hands over her hair and face.
“Yes, Sam. I’ve come back to see Jackson in the winter. If you’re available, maybe you can be my guide.”
His brows flinched. “Is that the only reason you came back?”
“I love you, Ann.” She hadn’t forgotten those words. But had he meant them? He hadn’t written to her since she’d left. She’d written only to crumple the letters and throw them out. She hadn’t known what to say, where to start. If there was any hope of her return. Once she knew she would return to Jackson, she decided on surprising Sam.
“No,” she said, wishing he would inch closer and kiss her. Hoping she hadn’t lost him already. “That’s not the only reason.”
Sam’s vivid blue eyes searched hers, a smile edging back into his lips. “Come on. There’s something I want to show you.”
Holding her hand, he led her through the snow toward the barn. “Wait here,” he said. “I won’t be long.”
He opened up the barn doors and disappeared. Ann saw Belle watching from the window. She waved.
A ruckus drew Ann’s attention back to the barn where Sam finally exited, riding in a sleigh pulled along by two beautiful horses with bells on their tack, jingling. Bearing a huge smile, Sam maneuvered carefully from the sleigh.
“Want to go for a ride?” He assisted Ann into the sleigh and covered her with a blanket.
Sam climbed onto the sleigh and sat next to her. “My father made this. When he first came to the valley. Proposed in it, too.”
Her heart leapt at the words.
Wrapped in a blanket, all cozy next to Sam, Ann couldn’t remember ever feeling more content. Just over a rise, he slowed the horses, the Covington Ranch spread before them.
Ann sighed. “It is, indeed, a winter wonderland.”
He shifted toward her. “I never got to thank you properly for what you did for me that day. I wanted to save you, but you saved me instead.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“Are you sure?” Sam tilted her chin up and kissed her softly then whispered, “Thank you, Ann.”
When she responded, he turned to face her completely and wrapped her in his arms, kissing her thoroughly.
Ann felt a little dizzy when he ended the kiss. Dizzy and happy.
“I didn’t mean to startle you with that, but I had to make sure.”
“Make sure of what?” I love you, Ann.
“Don’t you know?” A sparkle flickered in his gaze.
Ann could no longer stand it. “That you love me?”
Sam gave a subtle nod. Ann knew he wanted to hear it from her. “Your words stayed with me all the way to New York. They never left me. Sam, your words brought me back. I … love you, too.”
Sam cupped her cheeks, taking in her face as if he were afraid he might forget what she looked like. “You once told me it could never work between us. I won’t lie to you and pretend to think that I could live in the city.”
“You wouldn’t be the man I fell in love with if you could.” Snow swirled like a vortex around them, landing on Ann’s face and eyelashes. But she’d never felt warmer.
“Ann?” Love mingled with terror in his eyes. “Do you think you could tolerate this cold, harsh environment, beautiful as it is, to become my bride? I promise you can take all the pictures you want. I’m not sure what, if anything, I have to offer you, at least yet. And—”
Ann grabbed Sam and kissed him, shutting off his excuses. Tears burned behind her eyes. “Yes, oh yes, Sam. You’re all I want—together we’ll make beautiful memories.”