*Since the next chapter was getting a little lengthy, I decided to split it and post this section first (while I finish up the rest of their day at the meadow).

Nothing like a friendly horse race to clear Nathan and Charlotte's mind.

P.S. Chapter 42- I'm really considering titling it "Aaaahhh". It's turning out super sweet and fluffy. Which I think we need after what I put y'all through in Chapter 40- A Year.

Chapter 41- Ready to Run

It hadn't taken Nathan long to tack up Newton and Bandit. Mr. Davis at the livery had sold Danny to a family passing through town soon after their return from the cattle drive in Brookfield. While Charlotte had been a little sad to see Danny go, especially after everything they had experienced together during the wildfire, she had been able to say goodbye to the faithful stead and meet the young girl who would be Danny's new owner.

Because of that, Nathan, Allie, and Charlotte had not recently ridden together. So, the thought of spending the day with Charlotte in her element, on the back of a horse, made Nathan's heart race.

Especially after he replayed the morning spent with her, thus far. Yes. it had been emotionally charged, but Charlotte had let him in. Physically, mentally, and spiritually.

She had kept her promise. To let him be there for her and provide comfort through the fears and pains of her past.

But what kept circling back in Nathan's heart were the soft spoken words Charlotte had whispered as she laid against Nathan's chest.

I do.

How could two words, three letters, cause such a stir of emotions in Nathan.

It was intimate. It was comfortable. It was progress.

'I do' was a response to Nathan's question of if Charlotte could see a future with him. But what hit Nathan the hardest was her choice of words. Charlotte was always so eloquent with her vocabulary and usually chose her words carefully. She always meant what she said. So why didn't she simply say, 'Yes' or 'Of course'? Instead, Charlotte had chosen, 'I do'.

In Nathan's mind it was as if Charlotte had not simply said 'I do' to a future together, but 'I do' to a future as husband and wife. Seeming to answer one of Nathan's questions from earlier in the morning. If their love was enough for Charlotte to change her mind on marriage. Did she want to be more than just friends and neighbors? Had Charlotte opened her heart to becoming a true family?

God knew Nathan wanted it. And he believed with all his soul, Allie wanted it too.

Leading Bandit, Nathan directed Newton down the road that led to the row houses, his eyes instantly falling upon Charlotte. She was sitting on the front steps of Nathan's porch; her eyes closed, and face turned towards the sunshine. Letting its warmth wash over her weary soul.

Charlotte had changed clothes. Now wearing a pair of trousers with a lilac purple long sleeve shirt. Her hair was brushed and pulled back into a braid. A small bag with their lunch and two canteens lay on the step next to her.

Her eyes opened when Nathan dismounted and led the horses towards the porch. A smile spread across Charlotte's face as he came closer. That was until movement further down the road caught her attention, causing Charlotte to jump up and quickly stuff their lunch and canteens into the saddle bags.

"Whoa! What's the rush?" Nathan asked as Charlotte took Bandit's reins from him.

"It's Elizabeth. She's heading this way!" Charlotte hushed, stepping between the two horses.

Nathan peeked over the top of Bandit's mane to see that indeed Elizabeth had just walked past the Coulter's house and was coming towards them.

"I'm sorry Nathan, but I can't bring myself to make small talk with her. Not today," Charlotte tossed Bandit's reins over the horse's neck and moved to place her boot into the stirrup. "I just want to be with you. Let's go. Please."

"Okay, but I just needed to grab something from my room really quick," Nathan turned to head into his house.

"What do you need to get?" Charlotte questioned as she effortlessly swung onto Bandit's back.

"I… I… uh…" Nathan was stumbling. "I just need to get…"

"I need to change my shirt." Nathan finally answered.

Charlotte furrowed her brow, analyzing his response. Nathan knew she sensed something was slightly off. But with Elizabeth coming nearer, Charlotte chose to not explore further.

"Nathan. Charlotte. Good morning!" Elizabeth called out as she was now only a couple houses down from them.

Charlotte glanced at Nathan. Silently pleading with him.

Nathan noticed the pain and fear in the look Charlotte was giving him. She was right. He didn't much feel like making small talk with Elizabeth today either. While it seemed rude to ride away, Elizabeth had done that exact thing to him once upon a time.

Then Charlotte's words hit him… "I just want to be with you."

Nathan gave Charlotte a reassuring smile as he strode back towards Newton. Part of his plans for their trip would just have to wait for another day.

"Last one to the meadow is in charge of Sunday dinner tomorrow?" Nathan asked Charlotte as he put his foot into the stirrup and pulled himself into the saddle.

"You're on!" Charlotte winked as she turned Bandit and quickly urged him into a gallop, directing him towards the road that led to the meadow.

Nathan turned Newton to follow Charlotte but paused a moment when he realized Elizabeth was already at the edge of their yard.

"Hi Elizabeth," Nathan worked to steady Newton under him. The horse knew that he was now in a race and Newton was not used to being held back. "Hate to run off, but it seems I just challenged Charlotte to a race, and I have some ground to make up."

He then eased up on Newton's reins, giving the horse his head to run off after Charlotte and Bandit.

"Have a nice day," Nathan called back to Elizabeth, enjoying the flabbergasted expression that was plastered on her face as he rode off after Charlotte.

Nathan's pause to talk with Elizabeth had given Charlotte a large head start. Even though Newton was the much faster horse, Charlotte's ease in the saddle made it difficult for Nathan to catch up to her.

Not that he was complaining about the view. Charlotte's fingers thread into Bandit's mane as she leaned forward in the saddle, giving the horse room to run. Nathan followed suit, Newton lengthening his stride, causing the world around them to become a droning rumble of hooves and wind.

Their pace caused Charlotte's hair to fly behind her and wisps of stray mahogany-colored strands to frame her face. Charlotte's blazing eyes glanced back occasionally to gauge her position at the lead. The filtered sunlight through the aspen leaves caused shadows to shimmer across Charlotte's cheeks when she would smile at Nathan over her shoulder. These challenging and playful glimpses spurring Nathan to push Newton closer and closer as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

Charlotte was still in the lead as they stormed past the entrance to their land. Not that she knew it was their property yet. While Nathan had been saddling the horses, planning their day, he had considered taking Charlotte there to show her what their future could look like. But that would have to wait for another day as Charlotte and Bandit were already to where the road narrowed as they neared the meadow.

Nathan followed closely as they weaved back and forth up the trail. Their pace had slowed to a crisp trot as the grade steepened in the climb. Soon enough though they came into the clearing. The lush, green grass lay out in front of them like an aisle runner leading to the crystal-clear alpine lake at the other end of the meadow.

Charlotte pulled up on Bandit's reins as she sat back into the saddle. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. Charlotte's wide smile beamed over to Nathan who had finally found his spot beside her.

"So, what's on the menu for dinner tomorrow, Mr. Grant?" Charlotte's teasing caused the dimple in her right cheek to become even more pronounced.

"I hope you like my trout because that's about all I'm very good at cooking. We can go fishing after church tomorrow to catch what we want to eat."

A chuckle escaped Charlotte. "Sounds perfect."

Nathan and Charlotte dismounted as they neared the lake, leading Newton, and Bandit over to the edge of the water to get a drink.

"Thank you," Charlotte murmured under her breath as she stroked Bandit's neck. "I needed this today. To run. To get outside. To clear my head doing something I love, with someone I..."

Charlotte caught herself. Swallowing the word she felt so strongly, but still was so uncertain of saying aloud.

Nathan came over to where Charlotte stood, gliding his hand down her forearm to thread his fingers into hers.

"I know." Nathan nodded in agreement as he squeezed her hand. "I needed it too."