Escaping Reality (Hart Ranch Book 1) (19 page)

~ ~ ~

R
hythmic beeping echoed in Logan’s eardrums and something tightened around his upper arm like a boa constrictor. He opened his eyes and grimaced.

As his eyes adjusted he located the source of his discomfort—a blood pressure cuff strapped on way too tight. He peeled it off and rubbed his arm. It was an odd feeling to be a hospital room as a patient instead of a doctor. He didn’t even know which hospital he’d been taken to.

Logan turned his head to study the sterile environment and took a double-take. An angel slept in the chair beside his bed. She looked so adorable unconscious but he couldn’t wait a minute longer to see those beautiful jade eyes. He smiled and touched her arm. “Addie?”

Her eyes fluttered open and she gave him one of her signature radiant smiles that he loved so much. “You’re awake. Oh, I’m so relieved.”

He cleared his parched throat. “Dylan. How is he?”

She sat forward and held his hand. “He’s fine but worried about you. Ava made peace with your family and she decided not to move away after all. She’s even talking with Belle about running the ranch together.”

He sighed with relief. “I’m glad to hear that.”

She nodded and her eyebrows knitted together. “What about you? How are you feeling?”

“Terrible.”

She chuckled and shook her head. “Well it serves you right for trying to be the hero again and scaring me half to death in the process.” She cupped his cheek in her palm. “But I must admit, you look pretty good considering all you’ve been through.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you still think I’m a beautiful man then?” She blushed and looked away, making him laugh again. Then he winced as pain radiated through his leg. “Oh, don’t make me laugh. Remember to never let a tree fall on you. It hurts.”

She held his hand again. “Now you’re making jokes. I think the hypothermia went straight to your head. Belle said you were about half frozen when the search team found you. It was a miracle that you were able to stay awake.”

He nodded. “Yes, it was. I passed out one time…almost gave up. But then I heard your lion.”

Addie’s eyes widened. “My lion? What are you talking about?”

He grinned. “Somehow I ended up right about where you fell off Skipper on that trail ride. It was so cold and I knew if I fell asleep I’d probably never wake up. Then the lion started circling me. I never saw it but I heard its screams.”

She stroked his cheek with her thumb. “That must have been terrifying.”

“Yes, but really I think I owe that big cat my life. It kept me awake…kept me fighting so I could come back to you.”

She sighed. “Well, I guess God works in mysterious ways, huh?”

“I couldn’t agree more. The fact that I’m alive proves that.”

Her face turned serious. “I was so scared when I came back to the ranch only to find out you’d gone out in that storm.”

He stared at her for a moment. “Wait. You came back, even after what I said to you in the barn? Why would you?”

Addison’s eyes filled with tears. “I came back because I left something at the ranch that I didn’t want to leave behind.”

“Left something?”

She nodded. “Yes. I left a piece of my heart. A piece that now belongs to you. The thing is…I don’t want it back.” Addie managed a shy smile and picked at the hem of her sleeve. “Do you think you can ever forgive me for what I did?”

He lifted her chin with his index finger and gazed into her eyes. “Oh, Addie. I’ve already forgiven you.”

She leaned forward and caressed his cheek with her fingers. “You have?”

“Yes, and now I’ll never let you go.”

Her smile faded and a tear dripped down her cheek. “Are you sure this is going to work, Logan? We live in two different worlds. I mean, look at what happened to Belle and Colton. Their dreams tore them apart.”

A smile tingled at the corners of his lips. “Let’s merge our dreams together then.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying…I would follow you anywhere, Addison Lewis. Even all the way to LA.”

She stared at him with a bewildered frown. “Are you serious? You would do that for me? Deal with all the paparazzi and the crazy life of the rich and famous?”

“Yes. If it means we get to be together.”

“But what about your family…your job at the ranch?”

A wide grin spread across his face. “That’s the best part. My parents gave me their blessing to leave. I received two acceptance letters from medical programs the other day. I’m going to choose the residency at Kensington Medical Center. I’ll be continuing my medical training and be located very conveniently close to you. How does that sound?”

“Absolutely wonderful.” She leaned in and gave him a passionate kiss that left him dizzy. Then she sat back and grinned. “Did you ever think that you’d fall for a rich accident prone girl from LA?”

He pulled her close again and brushed a few strands of hair off her cheek. “Well, maybe what you said a while back holds true for more than just interior design.”

“And what’s that?”

“Sometimes people don’t know what they want or
need
until its right in front of them.”

~ ~ ~

Five Months Later

A
ddison fidgeted with the blindfold over her eyes as Logan’s horse moved up a steep incline. “Are we there yet? The suspense is driving me crazy.”

Logan chuckled from behind and tightened his grip around her waist. “You’re about ten times more impatient than a child sometimes. Has anyone ever told you that?”

A mischievous grin formed on her lips. “My dad says that a lot, yes. But can you blame me? I mean my dad and sister came all the way to Montana just to meet your family. You’ve been gone doing who knows what all morning and now both of us are leaving them alone
again
to come up here.”

“Oh, they’ll be okay for a little while. This is important.”

After a few minutes the ground leveled out and Logan helped her off the horse. He took her by the hand. “Come with me. We’re almost there.”

She obeyed and allowed him to guide her across the uneven ground.

Finally they stopped. “Okay you can take off the blindfold now.”

She lifted the fabric off her head and squinted in the light. As her eyes adjusted she saw that they were in front of Gramps’ old cabin on the mountain. There were stakes surrounding it, connected by strings.

She searched Logan’s face. “What’s all this?”

He motioned toward the cabin with his arm. “Gramps left all of this to me. In his will he stated that I could do anything I wished with it, so I want to build a house.”

She stared at him, puzzled. “Are you reconsidering your decision to move to the city? I’m sure you miss your home here in the mountains.”

He shook his head. “No. My home is wherever you are, Addie. I love living a few miles from you. I’m talking about a vacation home or something to enjoy on the weekends to get away from the city.” Logan reached for her hand. “Come on. Let me show you.” He stepped over one of the strings and she followed. “The living room will be here.” He pointed to the large sectioned off block at the front. “And there will be three bedrooms and two baths.

She paused, seeing an extra section. “What’s this? A bonus room?”

He crossed his arms and smiled at her. “Well that’s the room I’m most excited about. It’s your office and design studio.”

Addison looked up in surprise. “
My
office?”

He lifted his eyebrows. “Where else are you going to come up with those amazing design ideas of yours when we come here?”

“
We?
Am I  missing something here?”

He leaned down and plinked one of the strings, revealing a ribbon tied to it. Something shimmered in the afternoon sun. “What do you think?”

She covered her face “Oh Logan. Is this really happening?”

He knelt, unwound the ribbon from the diamond ring and held it in his fingers. “Addie, when I first met you out in the middle of that thunderstorm I never dreamed the happiness you would bring me.” Logan lifted one eyebrow and grinned. “Honestly, I thought you were nothing but trouble.”

She giggled. “Now, who’s giving the razor-tipped compliments?”

“I guess you’re rubbing off on me.” He paused and kissed her hand. “Before I met you I thought I was happy with a simple life in seclusion. Now I know that God brought us together for a reason, Addie. The fact is, I love our adventures and the way you complicate my life into a beautiful mess. I love your spunk…your creativity…your heart. Most of all, I just love
you
.”

She wiped away a stray tear. “And I love you.”

“Will you marry me Addison Lewis?”

She choked back a sob and nodded. “Yes. With all my heart, yes.”

Logan slipped the ring onto her finger and Addison’s heart felt like it would burst. She’d been trying to
escape
reality and found it instead. True love was her new reality—a happy future with Logan. She would never need to escape again.

~ ~ ~

1
.
What made Logan so suspicious of Addison when she first arrived at Hart Ranch? What was her real motivation for escaping LA? Have you ever made a false assumption about someone?

2. Why do Ava and Dylan travel to Chicago? Logan thinks she’s running away from something. Is that true? If so, what is she running from?

3. Jared’s betrayal makes Addison reluctant to trust men, but Logan seems different. List some differences between the two men. What qualities about Logan draw her closer to him?

4. Addison’s new friendship with Belle causes her to question the true motives of her “friends” back home. Why does she connect with Belle so quickly? What qualities do you look for in a friend?

5. What does Addison learn during her fishing lesson with Gramps? Why does she decide to let her first fish go free?

6. Jared blackmails Addison, forcing her to lie in order to protect her sister. Would you have done the same thing? If not, how do you think she could have handled the situation differently?

7. Logan blames himself for Nathan’s accident. Was it really his fault? How does God provide healing?

8. Why does Addison call herself a chameleon? What does she find in her suitcase after returning home and how does it help her discover her true identity?

9. Logan feels betrayed after finding out about Addison’s deception. What finally convinces him to forgive her?

10. What is your favorite aspect of Addison and Logan’s love story? How do their differences compliment each other and make their relationship stronger?

For more discussion questions

and book club information please visit:

www.rachelskatvold.com

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Hart Ranch Series

Escaping Reality

Chasing Embers

Coming Soon!

Riley Family Legacy Novellas

Beauty Within

Beauty Unveiled

Beauty Restored