Carmen’s Reviews > The Last Real Cowboy / The Rancher's Runaway Princess > Status Update

His shirt smelled like detergent and the outdoors and the spicy scent that was distinctly Sam.

She was horribly afraid that if she said yes she'd end up losing the very best part of herself in the process, making them both miserable. They wouldn't make it. While she knew that Sam would never mistreat her the way Jack and Steve had, she was terribly afraid of losing the part of her she was just beginning to find.

Chatelaine - noun - a woman in charge of a large house. HISTORICAL a set of short chains attached to a woman's belt, used for carrying keys or other items.
mid 19th cent: from French châtelaine, feminine of châtelain 'castellan,' from medieval Latin castellanus

But they were both going to be so hurt at the end of all this. He wanted to care for her and shoulder her burdens. And what she needed was someone who could step back and let her fight her own battles.

And now Alward is trying to get me to believe no one has ever said "I love you" to the heroine before.

She went to him because now that it was over she was fragile. He hugged her close and she drank in his smell - a bit woodsy, a bit like citrus and the blankety-soft scent of sleep because she'd dragged him out of bed.

Yes, I agree you are a dumbass. Glad it's beginning to dawn on you what a dumbass you are.

Ok, so then it's good because he leaves her alone for a while. Then when she needs his help, she calls him.

That's good.

But then he's all like,

Angela wouldn't push him away this time. No matter what it took. No matter how much she might fight him on it. The days of her standing alone against the world were done.

Which is exactly the wrong approach to take with this abuse survivor. What the fuck?!

Don't push her! JFC! She's so skittish. You have to be really slow and patient. Why are you SUCH a MORON!?

It nearly cost her everything - and she'd nearly lost herself in the process. She couldn't do that again.

"It's not just wanting you, you know that, right?" His eyes gleamed at her. "It's the way you see the world. It's how you make me stop and think. Like with the kids today. I looked at them and saw trouble, but you made me see something else - potential. With Clara, too." He smiled gently. "I never considered