With a few notable exceptions.
“I assume you’re Ashley?”
The blonde who’s setting down a basket of biscuits on the long dining table inside the Darlings’ ranch house gives me a grin. He holds his hand out my way, the room around us bustling with activity. “That’s me. But just Ash is fine.”
“Nice to meet you, Ash. I’m Oakley Beaumont.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of you,” he says, letting my hand go. “Lawson’s friend. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I can’t say you’re it.”
I don’t have time to inquire further before Jackson trails into the room, his eyes unerringly latching onto Ash. The two exchange a quick smile, the besotted look on Jackson’s face thesecondnotable difference at the ranch. His gaze finds me quickly.
“Oakley,” he says in greeting, plopping down in a seat across the table. “Welcome back. Looks like you’re already getting settled?”
“I am,” I tell him. “Ira’s been catching me up to speed.”
The older ranch hand gives a nod as he bites into a buttered biscuit from the gluten-free bowl. That’s new, too. When Laura was working here as a cook before Ash came along, there weren’t gluten-free options.
“Good,” Jackson says, preparing his own plate. “I’ll ride along with you today as a refresher. Hazel’s been retired, so we’ll get you set up with a new horse.”
“Something happen to her?” I ask. The mare is younger than the usual retirement age for a workhorse.
Jackson’s mouth twists. “Blind in one eye. Noah’s taking care of her now. You’ll probably see him around a good bit.”
“Noah,” I say slowly, when it clicks. “Noah King? The other farrier in town?”
“And Colton’s boyfriend,” Ash puts in, eyes practically twinkling.
I swallow my bite of food wrong, having to clear my throat before I can speak again. “I’m sorry. Colton’s dating his long-standing business rival? That Noah King? As in…a man?”
Ash is outright grinning now. “For the record, I totally called it.”
“When did this happen?” I ask, huffing a laugh.
Lawson’s mother, Marigold, takes a seat near the end of the table, her voice joining the fray. “Oh, not that long ago. They only made it official recently, but those boys were sneaking around for months before that. Welcome back to town, Oakley. It’s good to see your face.”
I give Marigold a genuine smile she readily returns, her brown eyes reminding me so much of Lawson’s. “It’s good to be back.”
She spoons herself some scrambled eggs. “Guess now I have an answer for why my son is smiling again.”
I go still, my pulse a heavy beat in my ears. I catch Ash wince, but I refocus quickly on Marigold. “You’re talking about Lawson?”
“Who else?” she says lightly, most everyone on the other side of the table involved in their own conversations, not paying us any mind. “No mother wants to see their child struggling. But you’ve brought a little light back into his life, and I’m grateful for it.”
I have no clue what to say. It’s one thing for Lawson to admit how much he missed me while I was gone and entirely another to find out he hasn’t even beensmiling. For how long? Since the divorce? Before then?
Guilt once again rears its head, but he neversaidanything. He kept telling me he was fine. That everything was fine.
Until he showed up on my doorstep and demanded I come home.
It’s so like the man to try his best not to pawn his troubles off on others. As if Lawson hurting is his own pain to manage and not anyone else’s.
Doesn’t he get it?
He’s not alone.
“Oh, I know that face,” Marigold says, a happy lilt to her words. “Sure am glad you’re back, Oakley.”
I grunt, trying to decide how early is too early to haul Lawson out of bed and have words. Seeing some of the ranchers push back from the table makes me realize the breakfast hour is nearly up. It’ll have to wait.
