The Cowbear's Christmas Bride (Curvy Bear Ranch 4) by Liv Brywood Page B

winter. Even though I’ve lived here all of my life, I still can’t get over how beautiful it is. President Grant was a smart man when he signed The Act of Dedication Law to preserve the land,” he said.
    “Okay. I’ll go with you”
    The second she agreed to the trip, a rush of energy burst through every cell in his body. He couldn’t wait to feel her arms around his waist, or the wind in his hair, as they drove through the open meadows.
     
    ***
     
    Carol wrapped her arms around Hank’s waist and clung to him. She’d put on a brave face when he’d described the snowmobile, but to actually sit on one out in the open with nothing to protect her sent quivers of trepidation through her belly. She had to trust that he knew how to drive the thing.
    “Go ahead and put your visor down,” he said. “Don’t open it until we stop. I know several great places along the way, so we’ll stop from time to time to look at them. How does that sound?
    “Sounds good.”
    She closed the visor and returned her hands to his waist. Leaning against the big, strong man while straddling the vibrating machine was enough to awaken an avalanche of lust. All of the stress of seeing her mother for the first time was getting to her. The sudden rush of desire had nothing to do with him. She’d just enjoy the day for what it was—a distraction.
    The snowmobile rumbled as Hank drove onto the road. When they passed under the Curvy Bear Ranch sign, instead of turning right to continue on the road, he turned left and cut a path through the pristine wilderness. She looked over his shoulder as trees whizzed past. Through the branches, sunlight cast a glow across sporadic patches of sparkling snow.
    It didn’t take long to reach town. They flew past a few brave shoppers who hurried from store to store in the below-freezing temperatures. Weighted down with shopping bags, they smiled and waved as the snowmobile passed. That would never happen in New York. Making eye contact on the street was either considered weird or an invitation to fight. It was refreshing to be around people who weren’t constantly riding the edge of insanity.
    When they reached the grand entrance to the park, Carol’s eyes began to water. Something about being out in nature always touched her soul. Maybe it was the peacefulness, or the silence. She felt so much closer to her true self when she was outside. In the past, she’d considered moving to upstate New York. She could definitely get closer to nature there. But she’d been too afraid to leave the city in which she’d spent her entire life.
    Hank flashed a badge at the park ranger, who waved him through. As they cleared the entrance, they passed a sign which read Road Closures: Canyon to Norris . She barely had enough time to read it before the snowmobile rushed forward faster than ever. She squeezed Hank until he reached down and patted her hand. She was probably smothering the poor guy, but she’d never felt so physically exposed before.
    To the left, a huge river rushed past them. She blinked as light flashed across the rolling water. Momentarily blinded, she snapped her eyelids closed. When she opened them, she gazed across the river to the snow-laden prairie. A few trees dotted the landscape on the far side of the river, but they weren’t nearly as dense as the trees to her right.
    She tried to take in the beauty of the forest, but they were going too fast. He’d said he’d stop at some point, so she’d wait. It wasn’t like they were suddenly going to run out of trees.
    After a few more minutes, Hank pulled into a turnout on the river side of the road. He turned the engine off then flipped up his visor. She did the same.
    “We’ll stop here for a minute,” he said. “I’ve always loved this spot in the river. If you’re really quiet, you can hear the water rushing over the rocks.”
    He climbed off the snowmobile and held out his hand. She took it and joined him. As they walked toward the river, she