But I can’t afford to think about her now. Not when everything’s hanging by a thread.
Not when someone’s trying to tear us apart.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Dakota
“Oh,Charlie, you willlovethe rodeo!” Violet laughs, squeezing his hand as they walk ahead of me down Main Street. “I can’t believe your mom hasn’t ever taken you to one. As a Colter Creek native, it’s sacrilege!”
I watch Charlie bounce along beside her, his face lit up with excitement. I don’t think he has a clue what Violet’s going on about, but he’s definitely hooked on the idea of horses.
I swear, that’s all he’s thought about since we’ve been here. Horses, cowboys, and everything else that comes with it.
I can’t believe I kept him away from this life for so long. Colter Creek has always been here, this rich, wild place that’s been waiting for him, for both of us.
I’ve spent years avoiding it, but now that we’re here, I wonder if I was running from something I should’ve been embracing all along.
I catch up to them, and Charlie turns to look at me, his eyes wide with that familiar, eager look. “Mama, will there be real horses at the rodeo?”
I grin, nudging him with my shoulder. “You bet. And real cowboys, too.”
His face lights up as if I’ve just promised him the moon. “Cowboys? And they’ll do tricks? Just like the ones in my book?”
I nod, trying to keep my own excitement in check. “Exactly like in your book. Only these tricks are even cooler.”
Violet laughs beside me. “That’s right. You’re about to see the real deal, Charlie. No cartoons or make-believe here.”
Charlie gives a triumphant “yes!” under his breath as we keep walking, and I feel that familiar tug in my chest. The one that tells me I’m doing things right, for once.
He’s finally getting the chance to experience something I had so much of growing up, and I can see him soaking it all in. The horses, the wide-open spaces, the way everything feels different here.
He’s starting to feel it, too, even if he doesn’t fully understand why yet.
As we walk past the old diner, I glance inside. Millie’s behind the counter, her head bent low, focused on something, but she glances up at the sound of the bell as we pass by.
She gives me a wave, and I wave back, oddly comforted by the simple gesture. There’s something amazing about this town.
It doesn’t need to change, even if I have.
Violet stops at the corner, looking up at the small storefront with a grin. “Alright, I think it’s time for a little shopping therapy. Sophie’s Boutique has some new arrivals, and I know you could use a pick-me-up. Actually, you probably haven’t even been here, have you? It wasn’t here six years ago.”
“Oh yeah, it looks cool.”
Violet links her arm with mine, pulling me toward the door. “You’re gonna love it. Sophie’s got the best stuff. I’m due for some new clothes myself, so this is my excuse.”
We step inside, Charlie trailing behind us, and I immediately feel I’ve walked into a cozy little world of pastel colors and delicate fabrics. Soft music plays overhead.
Sophie’s Boutique has a warm vibe, the kind of place where you can tell the owner’s poured a little piece of her heart into everything.
I’m about to wander toward the racks when a woman calls out, “Well, well, if it isn’t Violet Barnes!”
Violet’s face lights up, and she waves toward the back of the store. “Hey, Sophie! How’s it going?”
Sophie walks over, her smile bright and easy. She’s got the same warm energy as Violet, and immediately, I feel I’m talking to someone I’ve known for years, even though we’ve just met.
She’s got dark hair, a little longer than Violet’s, and she’s dressed in a bohemian-style top with a pair of well-worn jeans, the kind of outfit that looks effortlessly chic.
“This is my friend Dakota,” Violet says, nudging me forward. “She just moved back to Colter Creek with her son Charlie. Dakota, meet Sophie Stone. Reid’s sister.”
