The tension at the corners of Wes’s eyes eased. “It must’ve been traumatic. But do you really think you’re just gonna leave town and forget all about Charlotte?”
What if he couldn’t? His chest tightened. He pushed through the anxiety. “It’s always worked before.” His heart refuted the thought. He’d found places he’d liked. Places he could stay. People he could embrace as friends. But he’d never been in love.
Wes gave a wry chuckle, shaking his head slowly. “Buddy, you are kidding yourself.”
Okay, now the guy was ticking him off. Gunner snatched his duffel off the bed. “Glad I could amuse you. It’s been real, but I should get going if I’m gonna make it over the mountains before dark.”
Gunner exited the cabin with Wes on his heels, locked the front door, and tucked the key under the pail on the porch.
Wes grabbed his arm. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I’ve never walked in your shoes. It’s just—I’ve been where you are right now, heading out of town with other plans, leaving the woman I love behind. And, friend, let me tell you—you’re making a mistake.”
“I’m not you, Wes.”
“You’re more me than you know. Do yourself a favor andrethink this. You and Charlotte have something special. That kind of connection doesn’t come around every day.”
It had taken thirty-four years for it to come around at all. If Gunner was lucky, it never would again. His gaze sharpened on Wes. He was a good guy, trying to be a friend. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do. But I have to go.”
Wes’s countenance drooped with resignation. He nodded slowly. “All right. Okay. I wish you the best, buddy. I really do.” Wes gripped his hand, pulled him in till their shoulders bumped, thumped him on the back a couple of times. “Keep in touch, man.”
With every mile Gunner drove, it seemed an elastic line stretched taut between Charlie and him. The tension pulled at him. He took the road out of the valley, waiting for the line to snap. He hugged the mountain curves, waiting for it to snap. He left Riverbend, left Madison County, waiting for it to snap.
He was still waiting forty-five minutes later when he came to a stop behind a line of cars. Road construction. Great. Just what he needed. He stopped his bike and set his feet on the hot pavement, hands gripping the handlebars so hard they ached.
Thoughts of Charlie had plagued him as he rode, the memories forming a knot in his throat. The first time he’d seen her, ogling Gavin through binoculars out the barn window. Riding Rogue across the pasture, auburn hair flying behind her. Laughing at herself when she tripped over nothing but air. Kissing him so passionately the night Daisy foaled. Holding him so tightly as she fretted over the conundrum with Craig and her brothers.
He wanted all the images of her out of his head. He also wanted to memorize every detail so he didn’t forget a single thing. He gave his head a sharp shake. What was wrong with him? He’d lost his mind.
No, he’d lost his heart.
“Do you really think you’re justgonnaleave town and forget all about Charlotte?”
Wes’s words reverberated in his brain. How had Gunner allowed this to happen? He’d been so careful all these years to keep his guard up. But there’d been no keeping Charlie at a distance. She’d just sucked him right in and made him love her.
And here he was, in that place he’d always feared: having too much on the line. And now he was walking that familiar, dreaded path of pain he’d sworn he’d never walk again.
The realization hit him like 120 volts, shocking his system. Waking him up. He was leaving Charlotte because he was afraid of losing her. But by leaving he was just losing her now instead of later. Just because the pain was self-inflicted didn’t make it hurt any less.
He worked the insight around his brain, turning it every which way. It was a new thought. But it made more sense than all the previous ones. His pulse raced and his palms sweated on the handlebar grips.
Leaving was pointless.
Leaving wasstupid.
He could suffer definite heartbreak now or go back and perhaps lose her later. Or maybe have a long, happy life with her. Why hadn’t he seen that before?
He recalled his last words with Charlie and guilt hammered him. He’d left her. He’d disappointed her. He’d hurther. She might not even want him back now, and he couldn’t even blame her.
But he loved her, didn’t he? So he had to try.
Gunner turned the bike’s front wheel and throttled forward, leaving his left foot out as he made a U-turn into the other lane. Once the bike was pointed in the right direction, he throttled again and eased off the clutch.
He was heading home.
Forty-Two
It seemed like every family in North Carolina had decided to attend Trail Days. And half of them wanted pony rides for their kids. Charlotte had abandoned the booth hours ago to assist Emerson. The long line extended across the green and into the game area.
Charlotte had no idea what time it was, but she was pretty sure supper had come and gone. Her empty stomach complained. The delicious aromas of funnel cakes and blooming onions hung in the October air.
