I didn’t have a good response to that. Shane was echoing my thoughts from earlier, but they sounded so much worse coming from him.
Shane held his hand out and I saw he had my car keys. “Here, man. I fixed your car. It’s parked outside. I suggest you get in, drive away, and never look back.”
I took my keys from him and handed him Tyler’s keys. Then I headed for the door, but not to leave town. Jake called after me to wait but there was nothing for me at the feed store. I needed to go talk to Shelby.
This was obviously what had been bothering her. She had argued with her brother, but it hadn’t just been about her parents. They had argued about me. And if her brother had this much venom in him, I couldn’t help but worry it would spread to Shelby too. If so, this dream I had been living in was already over.
Right when it started to get good.
CHAPTER 31
SHELBY
Iwas raking up the hay in one of the outdoor pens, eyeing a specific chicken. I had too many birds to get to know them individually or give them names, but occasionally, one of them would stand out, like the totally white bird with the single black spot on its back that I was watching right then.
Should I give her a name? Maybe Dottie?
The sound of an approaching vehicle distracted me from my important thoughts. A fancy-looking car was coming up the long dirt road that was my driveway. It seemed way too polished and sporty to be out here.
It had to be Carter.
Shane was back in town, which meant he had probably fixed Carter’s car. My heart soared. Seeing Carter was always a welcome surprise. The raking could wait, and so could the serious decision surrounding a possible name for my hen.
I leaned the rake against the fence, took off my gloves, and walked down to meet him where he would be parking. Noon was still an hour away, but I had been working since sunrise. Today’s chores had been fairly light, but I was a little sweaty. A quick sniff didn’t reveal any particularly offensive odors, though, so I figured I was fine.
If Carter said anything, I would tackle him into the dirt and make him as filthy as I was.
He pulled to a stop in front of me, and my smile felt huge on my face, excitement shining out of me like the sun. When Carter got out of the car, though, his stormy expression dimmed my sunshine.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, suspecting the answer.
“Your brother came to drop my car off at the feed store,” he said, shaking his head. “He was not happy that you and I have been hanging out.”
“Oh,” I said.
“Yeah, I thought he was going to hit me in front of everyone.” Carter ran a hand through his hair. “Jake stepped in, kept things from going off the rails, but Shane was pissed.”
I nodded and groaned. “I know. Shane saw us kissing the other day when you left the farm. He gave me an earful. I was going to tell you, but I didn’t know what to say. Besides, I’m a grown woman. I don’t care if my brother approves of my social life.”
“He says I’m going to break your heart.” Carter looked at me with anguish in his green eyes. “I’m worried he’s right. I’ll be leaving soon. I’ve run out of excuses to stay in Ferris. The thought of leaving you is killing me, and I don’t want you to feel the same way.”
“Too bad,” I said sadly. “I already feel just like you do. I can see the end coming, like I’ve fallen off a cliff and I’m waiting to hit the ground.”
He growled in frustration. “I’m so sorry, Shelby. I never should have let things get this far. I’m just hurting you all over again.”
I couldn’t stand to see Carter in so much pain. Without hesitating, I grabbed his shirtfront in my fists and pulled. His wide eyes looked down at me. “Carter, stop. This time we’vespent together, short though it might be, has been incredible. Some of the best days of my life.”
Carter smiled. “For me, too.”
“You’ve given me enough memories to last a lifetime.” I stood on my tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on his lips. “Whatever has to happen now, I’ll never regret it.”
“Shelby, I l?—”
I put my fingers to his lips and shook my head. “Don’t you dare.” Emotion choked me and I swallowed the tears down. “I’m keeping it together, but just barely. Please don’t make this any more difficult than it already is.”
He nodded. “You’re right.”
A wicked idea cut through the grief I was already feeling. “Do you have to leave right this second?”
