other crops that the bee nation loves. You have so many good ideas and I always appreciate how you see the world, and how it touches you daily. Being with you makes me feel good. Even hopeful, despite Dirk being on the loose.”
“Thanks for sharing that with me,” he said, giving her a relieved look. “Ever since you came here, Cari, I’ve felt lighter and happier than I’ve ever been. At first, I didn’t know why, but later, in quiet moments when I was alone, I began to ask myself why being with you did that to me. Over time, I realized I was falling for you in a serious way. At first, that shook the hell out of me because I was not looking for a relationship, either. I was involved in work, keeping the ranch in the black, and liking what I did.” He gave her a look of awe. “You were like fog stealing into my world and you changed it, Cari. I know you weren’t doing it on purpose. I know you were completely immersed in your job, and I liked that you loved your bees and cared for them so deeply. That drew my heart out and I began to see things, or try to, through your eyes. I wanted what you already had, that fey, mystical, otherworldly way of living and seeing life. It appealed so strongly to me, the connection you have with what is invisible, but is all around us. Mary calls it energy, and says that it’s everywhere. I used to scoff at her as a kid, but later, as a sniper, I came to realize just how much I was connected to the unseen, becoming part of it, and surviving things I shouldn’t have because I trusted it completely.” He cleared his throat. “Just as I see you with your bees, who obviously adore you as much as you do them. That first time when I saw those bees fly to your shoulder, they seemed to be one with you. I fell for your magic then, Cari. Who you are. And no, I didn’t want to change one thing about you. Rather, I wanted to be around you whenever I could, to learn about you, how you are a part of Nature, of that invisible yet very real energy Mary always talks about.”
“I do live in that world, Chase. My mother is that way, too. Maybe it’s our DNA. I don’t know.”
“Well, whatever it is, to me, I call that magic. And you’re magic to me.” He touched his heart. “As scared as I am, I’ll admit that I’ve never been more serious with a woman than you. You’re like fog, disappearing under the sun’s rays, but then you come back in the coolness of evening, the mist reminding me so much of the Earth magic that surrounds us.”
“That’s beautiful . . . I mean, how you see me. I guess I’m not aware of that, Chase, because I live in it.” She smiled a little. “And as scared as I am? I’ll admit that I’m powerfully drawn to you. I like your ‘live and let live’ attitude toward everyone. The people you employ respect you, like you, and I see it all the time. I’m afraid of relationships because I’ve chosen three patriarchal men three times now.”
“But it sounds as if those men in your life didn’t respect you, tried to remold you into the way they see all women. And you just wouldn’t be put back into a box. Am I right?”
“I hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but you’re right. I was always in arguments with all of them, that a woman shouldn’t do this or that. They wanted to shelter me, keep me as a pet on a leash. At least, that’s how I felt.”
“I hope I don’t make you feel that way.”
“No, not at all. You give me the freedom I need. I won’t stay around a man anymore, even in business, if he won’t treat me with respect and as an equal. Most of my clients are women, because I demand that fairness across the board.”
“Did you feel like you were taking a chance with me? I was an unknown male.”
“Yes, but remember? I had talked to Mary a number of times before. She spoke well of you and she is certainly fully matriarchal in every way. I found myself making the easy decision to choose your ranch because of that. I was