The snow is mostly gone now. Everywhere I look, there are patches of green pushing up through the thawing ground, but the ranch still feels cold.
Empty.
It’s been just over two months since Kali drove away, and I’ve felt every single second of that time.
The work is fine. The ranch is fine. The horses are fine.
I am not.
I walk the fence line, looking for more things to fix. There are always things to fix. I check on the new foals, focus as much energy on the horses as I can, and keep myself busy. At least until the sun goes down and there’s nothing left but silence.
Then, she’s all I can think of.
When I close my eyes, she’s all I can see. The way she throws her hair back when she laughs. The sweet sight of her standing at the stove, burning dinner. Her lips open as ecstasy claims her. Her hair spread on the pillow. Her eyes wide and full of?—
No.
I still can’t believe I’d been so wrong about her. That I could have been so blind.
That I’d let my guard down and let her in.
I knew better.
I’ve trusted my gut my whole life. It’s never let me down. Until now.
She tried to call.
For weeks, my phone lit up with her name. And then it stopped. I deleted the voicemails without listening to a single one because hearing her voice try to explain the unexplainable would have broken me.
I’m in the barn when Wyatt and Travis catch up with me. Their boots are heavy on the floorboards as they stamp past the stalls to me. “You planning on hiding in here forever?”
“Not hiding.”
Wyatt grunts. “I don’t call this living, brother.”
I start to protest, but before I can, Travis drops a glossy magazine on the feed barrel beside me. I can’t stop myself from looking.
A copy ofFlourish.
Kali’s magazine. And there it is. The article.
My chest goes tight.
Rock Creek Ranch: The heart behind the horses.
With a snort, I look away.
“Read it.”
“I don’t?—”
“Cash.” Brody’s tone sharpens. “Read the fucking article.”
I sigh, they won’t leave until I do, so I wipe my hands on my jeans, pick up the magazine, and flip it open to the feature.
The first picture stops me cold.
It’s me leading Diesel through the corral, sunlight reflecting on the snow. Kali must have taken it the day she stood by the fence, breaking down my walls.
