Emmerson's Heart Read Free Page B

online. I could see my parents’ whole issue with the college and making sure we knew we weren’t tied down to the ranch, but forcing Emmer to go, that was hard. He didn’t want her to go. She definitely didn’t want to go. And I really didn’t want her to go. But a year was something we could get through. Easy enough.
    And n o matter what, I wasn’t going to miss this day. Not today. I wanted this time with her to let her know this wasn’t ending here. I would be here, there when she needed me to be there, and we would stay together. She would be mine and I would always be hers. Emmerson’s heart was mine and would always be mine. I missed being her first date, but that was all I was going to miss of her firsts. Graduation included, even if I had to chain Ben to the corral. I wasn’t missing this.
     
    With twenty minutes to spare, the kitchen was cleaned and back in order, Emmer reeked of Ben, and my dad was still having water issues with his eyes. It was time. Taking Emmer out to the porch, my stomach sank hard. My dad told me I was to stay back to keep Ben on the ranch, but how could I tell her? She was upset earlier when I gave her the boots and I knew she was upset about today. Now, I would have to let her know I wasn’t going to be there. But when those tear filled aqua eyes shifted up to me, whatever part of me she didn’t have, she owned now. Everything inside of me was hers, melting, swirling, and completely lost into that one girl I brought home after finding her bloody and damn near frozen to death.
    “Are you ready?” She wasn’t , though. Emmer was the ranch. This was where she wanted to be, no matter what. Making her go was hard. Very hard, seeing as, even though she has been with us for a while, this was something that was hard for her to do. Having this day be about her was something that she absolutely hated. But she had to go and I had to make sure she followed through.
    “You’re not going to be there, are you?” The tear trickled down her cheek , kicking me square in the stomach; a drop kick unannounced taking my heart from my chest. She already knew. “Paul?”
    What could I say to her? I might sneak over to watch, but for the most part, I had to keep her crazy horse here for her sake. “I will be there a little later.”
    “I’m scared.” As she drew that bottom lip through her teeth, I almost choked. If that wasn’t the sexiest sight I ever saw. The heat pooled through my body even more, enough to melt the chocolate in my eyes.
    “About what?” Cupping her cheek, I swallowed hard hoping I would be able to contain myself until tonight. I had to wait until tonight to kiss her. Tonight, it would come no matter what. I wasn’t her first date, but I w ould be damned if I wasn’t her first kiss.
    “This. Everything. I’m graduating high school and this is going to change everything.” In Emmer’s world, this every thing that was something so small to others was a huge time for her life. If I didn’t know about her past, I would have just shoved it off, but this was my girl, my Emmerson. I could see she was scared, but she was a part of our family. That would never change and someday, I will make her a Huck through marriage. “I will have to go to that damn college and-”
    “Don’t you even worry about that. We have the summer to work on my Dad about that. We will show him that your place is right here….with me.” Taking the chance, I leaned in closer. As I did, I caught the horsey scent of my Emmer as it began intoxicating me completely. I just wanted to kiss her, but I knew if I took that chance, I would never stop. As I brushed my lips against her cheek, she let out a breath to take it in. Oh, yes. She lingered there, her eyes closed, capturing it all in her heart. “Today is yours, Emmer….but tonight is ours.”
    Her eyes opened wide , and then a smile spread across her face, lighting it up like a wildfire on the prairie in the driest of summers during the darkest