Rolling her shoulders to get rid of the kinks after sitting in front of the easel for hours, she put the palette on the table.The diamond in Hunter’s ring winked cheekily at her.
Argh!She had to get this ring off her finger today and return it to Hunter, she couldn’t bear having to look at it anymore, it was too painful.Turning on her heel, she rushed to her room.She couldn’t have this done in Marietta; the news would spread like a wildfire.There should be more than one jewelry store in Bozeman where someone could hopefully cut the thing off if need be.She would try the one mall she knew well first.
An hour later, she was in the Gallatin Valley Mall in Bozeman.The whole place was decorated for Christmas, jolly music about sleigh bells followed her every step as she searched for a jewelry store.Around the next corner she saw one.Relieved, she hurried closer and entered the store.
A friendly older woman welcomed her with a big smile.“Good morning, how can I help you today?”
Putting her bag on the counter, Willow lifted her hand.“I can’t get this ring off my finger.I’ve tried everything.Do you have a solution, or can someone cut it off, please?”
The woman smiled as she took Willow’s hand.“It’s one of our rings, I’d recognize it anywhere.Probably because of the very handsome cowboy who came to buy it.”She chuckled.“He was clearly out of his comfort zone in a jewelry store but determined to buy the ring, nevertheless.I asked him to tell me about you.I see all kinds of people coming in here to buy rings, but this guy was something else.”
“What did he say about me?”slipped out before Willow could stop herself.
The woman’s eyes sparkled.“She’s beautiful, he said.But what made the words so memorable, was the expression on his face.He just lit up when he talked about you.”She pointed to Willow’s hair.“Even in his description of your long, dark hair and Irish blue eyes, it was clear he’s very much in love with you.Oh,” she winked, “and he also mentioned your gorgeous legs.”
Willow tried to swallow against the lump in her throat.“He… he said all that?”
The woman nodded.“He did.I showed him two trays with rings, he immediately knew which one he wanted.”She wiggled the ring on Willow’s finger.“He didn’t even look at the price.I’m not sure about cutting this ring, though.It isn’t a tight fit, you should be able to take it of easily.”
“I know!”Willow said.“But look…” Frustrated, she pulled at the ring to demonstrate her problem, but this time it easily slipped off her finger.
“I thought so,” the woman said.“It really is a perfect fit.He knew your size right away.”
Willow slipped the ring back on and took it off again.“I’ve been trying for days to get it off, I don’t understand.”
“Maybe it’s trying to tell you something,” the sales lady said.“Shall I clean it for you?”
“Yes, thanks.How long will it take?”
“A few minutes.There are chairs over there, if you want to wait?”
Sitting down, Willow stared down at her ringless finger.She’d only been wearing the ring for about a week, but her finger looked strangely empty without it.
Sighing, she closed her eyes.She was being ridiculous.Hunter had lef., She’d sent him away; she had to return his ring.Maybe the friendly lady would have a box or something she could put it in before she couriered it.Hayden should have an address of the ranch, surely?
*
Hunter was inthe barn late Monday morning, saddling his horse when Jade strolled in.He was hurting and needed to get away from walls and people.The wide-open spaces might help.
“Jade, hi.You just got back?”
“Yes, Wilder has just dropped me off.You okay?”
“Nope, but I’ll get there eventually.”
“I went to see Willow Saturday morning.”
He frowned.“Why?”
“Because I don’t understand what happened.”
Shaking his head, he got on the horse.“That makes two of us.I’m going for a ride.Don’t wait for me for lunch, I’m not hungry.”
“It’s cold out there.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“She loves you.”
