“The fact that you’re worried about it shows that you’re a good man who has fallen for his One regardless of a mountain spirit or a prophecy,” Cora says. “You care and you’re thinkin’ aboutherin all of this and not just yourself. It’s totally an Austin move.”
“AnAustinmove?”
Cora laughs and reaches over to pat my hand. “You always put others first, especially those you love. We were talkin’ about it today.”
I arch a brow at her. “You were?”
“Yep,” she says with a knowing grin. “And don’t bother askin’ what else we said because that’s sacred.”
“Yeah. What’s said at girl lunchesstaysat girl lunches. I’ve learned that one,” Rhett adds, making me chuckle.
“Must be the secret society of womankind again,” I mutter.
Rhett’s eyes widen. “What?”
I shake my head, feeling warmth spread through me at her words. “Thanks, Cora.”
My brother claps me on the back. “She’s right though. You’ve always been the one to look out for us and keep those who need it in line.”
“You mean Tobes and Landry back in the day?”
“Who else? It meant I could focus on ridin’ and not have to get involved in whatever trouble those two got themselves into,” he says. “Is tellin’ Charlie about the Call really the issue here?” Yet again, Rhett proves he knows me well.
I shake my head. "In some ways, it's like she never left but then I hear about her travels, the people she's met, and the things she's done, they’re all things I could only ever dream of doin'. No matter how I feel, the doubt still creeps in."
Cora and Rhett frown at each other, having some silent conversation that only they understand.
"Maybe it's not about what she's seen and done, Austin," Rhett begins, his tone serious. "Cora has traveled too and has had a much more colorful life than any of us. I think you're focusin’ on what could go wrong rather than what could go right.”
“That happens when you want somethin’ so much and have wanted it for so long and when youfinallyget a chance at it,” Cora adds. My small nod gives her the confirmation she needs. “But listen to me when I tell you this, Austin. You’re lookin’ at it all wrong.”
I jerk my head back. “Huh?”
“Yeah. Huh?” Rhett repeats.
“Ugh, you poor clueless men. Have you thought aboutwhyCharlie came back? I get you two have a history and youboththought it was a case of unrequited love, but everythin' I've heard from Mags about it tells me youbothmade a mistake back then," she smiles, her eyes bright and shiny. “Now you've got a chance to live that forever you both always wanted. This timewithoutyouworryin’ about holdin’ her back and withouthertryin’ to work out how to have her cake and eat it too.”
“Did someone say cake?” Red asks, walking into the kitchen with Nelly trotting along behind him.
“You got yourself a stalker now too?” I ask, nodding at his goat tag-a-long.
“Damn thing won’t leave me along. It’s like she thinks I’m her adoptive daddy while Lan and Star are away.”
“Aww. Maybe you’re her granddaddy, Red. Gettin’ in the practice before Wyatt starts reproducin’,” Rhett muses.
Red groans. “Please, no. He’s seventeen goin’ on thirty. Let me have a few more years please.” He looks around the room. “Anyway, where’s the cake?”
I chuckle, wrapping an arm around the man’s shoulder, patting his arm. “Sorry, old man. There ain’t no cake around here. Cora was just givin’ me a pep talk about tellin’ Char about the Call.”
Red frowns. “You haven’ttoldher yet? What are you waitin’ for?Anotherfifteen years?”
The itch in my neck rears its ugly head again and I reach up to rub the irritated skin again. “No. Why?”
“She needs to know, Austin,” Red says, shaking his head. “You should’ve told her from the start.”
“Is that what you’d do?” I ask, suddenly questioning everything.
“Yes… I mean, no. Shit. This isn’t my kind of situation and since I’m not ever goin’ to be in the same predicament, I can't tell youwhatI'd do. But–"
