Back From Hell (Marine For You Book 2) (Contemporary Military Veteran Romance) by Marissa Dobson

year, Mom forced us to move to Nashville. Said we couldn’t live here any longer with his memories haunting us at every turn. It had been just over a year since his death and that move felt almost like losing him all over again. That was the last winter I lived here. I came back in the summers and when Mom needed a break, because the Clines were like grandparents to me, but it was never the same.”
    “This winter the place will be ours and we can make happy memories.”
    “I still can’t believe it.” She glanced back out the window. “My emotions are all mixed up at the moment. I’m happy to be here, thrilled with our new adventure, saddened by the negative memories this brings back of my father’s death, and feeling ill at the thought of telling my mother.”
    “This is your life and you need to live it on your terms. You’ve done that with your degree, this ranch, and, well…me.”
    “You?”
    “Mrs. Pence has never once tried to hide the fact that she’s unhappy with us . She doesn’t want you with some sorry excuse for a man.”
    “Kyle!” She slapped his leg. “I won’t sit here while you use such a degrading term to refer to yourself. You’re an amazing man.”
    “You see what you want to see and not the outer shell that everyone else can’t get past. The point still is she isn’t happy about this. Especially since she thinks I’m to be her son-in-law soon.”
    “I don’t care what she thinks. I’m happy being with you.”
    “Wow. Look at this place.”
    She turned back to the road and noticed the white fences that marked the horse areas had disappeared and they were heading up the incline to the main house. The log ranch home stretched out wide so that every room had a view of the land. It was set up in such a way that two of the four bedrooms had views of both sides of the ranch. She remembered waking up on the mornings when she was visiting and looking out over the grounds. The master bedroom had more stunning views, not just on the front and back but also the side. The back end of the property overlooked the lake. Mr. Cline worked around the lake because his wife had refused to let him fill it in.
    “Wait until you see inside.” She smiled and let the memories wash over her. “On the other side of that barn you’ll find the workers’ quarters. He’s never had a large staff, only one or two, but it’s set up for six workers, each with their own living quarters and a shared kitchen. At least it was so last time I was here.”
    “According to what information I have, it still is. There’s also a cabin a little farther behind that the ranch manager and his family live in. He’s been with the Clines for years and now handles a lot of the stuff Mr. Cline used to do before his wife got sick. He was the main horse trainer before he took this current position. His son now works as trainer.”
    “Not Clifford. He can’t still be here.”
    “Yeah, I think that’s his name.” He pulled the car in front of the main house and put it in park. “Do you know him?”
    She nodded. “His son was just a kid last time I saw them. He can’t be older than sixteen now.”
    “I’m not sure but I know he’s being homeschooled.” He nodded toward the house. “Ready?”
    She glanced at the log home and nodded. “I still can’t believe this is really happening.”
    “Believe it, sugar. In three short weeks, this will be our home and the ranch you’ve always dreamed of owning will be yours.”
    “Ours…” She leaned toward him and pressed her lips to his. They were on this journey together. Business partners and so much more.

11

Chapter Eleven
    T heir tour of the ranch had some high and low points as it also brought to life what work needed to be done. Staci was excited to get her hands back into it, but going around the place had given her an idea she hadn’t fully considered before. A way to make both her degree and the ranch work for her. This seemed like more of a possibility now