I step toward him, unbidden. “Colt, I—”
Knowing exactly what I need, his arms widen ever so slightly, calling me into him right as the tears start to fall. I swipe my cheek across my shoulder to wipe away the wetness and my body folds into his arms.
I bury my face in his collarbone, listening to the rough touch of his work-worn hand catch on my hair with every gentle stroke. He muffles the sobs in his large chest, flooding my nostrils with the calming sandalwood scent of his body wash.
My theory about his hugs was partially right.
I’m not cured, but I’m healing.
Colt
Once the sun has set, the air cools off in a hurry at the ranch’s high elevation. Still warm, but the bunkhouse no longer feels like a sauna.
I throw open my bedroom window and flop backward in nothing but boxers, letting the evening breeze lap over my skin and the sound of crickets echo through the plain, beige room. We’re pretty lucky in that this building used to be a family home, and the Wellses never bothered tearing down walls to create one giant open space. From what some of the other ranch hands have told me, a lot of places offer staff accommodation that resembles something like summer camp bunks.
Not here. A few of the newer guys share rooms, but those of us who have been around a long time get our own. Back when I started, my brother took a job with me, so we went from sharing a room in our parents’ house to sharing one here. To be honest, I’m not sure I would’ve stuck it out for as long as I have if I had to bunk with most of the other guys.
The phone rings three times before my mom picks up. There’s some sort of chick-flick sounding movie playing in the background.
“Hey, Ma. Sorry, didn’t mean to bug you.”
“Hey, bud. No bother at all.” She pauses the television. “How are you? How was your day?”
“Austin had me in the tractor for thirteen hours, so my back—”
She cuts me off. “Put some of that salve I gave you on it.”
“Already did.”
Tried, anyway.My arms don’t have enough reach. But I draped a salve-covered washcloth over the end of a hairbrush one of the guys left in the communal bathroom, and that hit most of the right spots.
“Anyway, aside from that, it was good. I’m about to go to bed now—back to haying at four a.m. tomorrow.”
“What are you doing awake still? Not having enough sleep has the same effects as being drunk. Get to bed.”
“I will, I will.” I roll my eyes despite knowing she can’t see my reaction. “Don’t you want to know why I called you?”
“Right. Of course.”
“Remember a few weeks ago when I said you’d be the first to know when I met someone?”
Her vintage floral armchair—I know it’s what she’s sitting in because it’s been her favorite chair since we picked it up at a yard sale a few years back—squeaks as she shifts positions. Likely sitting up straighter to help her fully take in what I’m saying.
I chew on the words for a fraction of a second before spitting them out. “I’m gonna marry this girl.”
My mom’s always preached that you’ll know you’ve found your person when you know. And I know.
She gasps. “You got engaged, and this is the first I’m hearing about her?”
“No, no, no. Haven’t even asked her on a date yet, actually. I just…know she’s it. Had anahamoment yesterday. I want to be with Whit.”
The shriek that escapes her lips practically reaches dog whistle frequency. In fact, Betty wearily lifts her head fromits spot on my bed to see what the commotion is about. I stroke the soft fur on her belly until she flops back over with a huff.
“We’re nothing more than friends right now. But…fuck,Ma.” I shut my eyes, reveling in Mom’s joy emanating through the phone. “Yesterday I walked into a…situation with Whit and Jonas. And she seemed so relieved to have me there.”
I can’t stop thinking about the way it felt to have Whit in my arms—like I was put on this Earth for no other reason but to be her safe space for the few minutes she let me bear her pain. Her head tucked perfectly between my collarbone and jaw, I rested the weight of my chin on her honeysuckle-smelling hair.
I want Whit Hart. In an all-consuming, heart-wrenching way, I want her.
